ENCORE AT AVALON PARK

This review is specifically for Melissa and the quality care we witnessed while touring this place. In the past 24 hours weve had a family emergency and needed to find a place for my grandfather. Out of all the assisted living facilities we reached out to, this was the only place that had availability. The had 1 room left, and invited us in warmly and gave us a lot of really good information. Melissa was the Marketing Coordinator, and she guided us through the whole process. The care and love she has for this place was truly like no other. And shes only been there since January! We were very impressed with the level of care and attention shown towards people throughout this place. There were so many laughs and smiles, everyone knows eachother and the love really does show.

My mother was at Encore Memory Care at Avalon Park for almost three years. The facility is clean, the price is reasonable compared to other memory care centers, and they accept the Medicaid voucher — which was essential for us, since memory care is incredibly expensive. In the beginning, everything went well. My mom had a kind roommate, and most of the nurses and aides spoke Spanish, which was important to us. They treated her well. So why only 3 stars? Communication. If communication with staff is important to you, this may not be the best facility. The head nurse is extremely difficult to reach, and she rarely responds to messages. I was lucky that someone from administration gave me her personal number so I could get updates about my mom. But once that person left, I had no one to reach out to. As my mom’s Alzheimer’s progressed and she became more aggressive — which is common in the late stages of the disease — every time I visited, all I heard were complaints. I understand this is a difficult job, but if you work in memory care, you should be trained to handle these behaviors. That’s why families trust facilities like this — because they’re supposed to be equipped for these situations, not just report back to the family with stress and frustration. My mother passed away a few days ago. I still haven’t heard back from the head nurse regarding the last seizure episode my mother experienced and my email to her was sent 15 days ago. Thankfully, the hospice nurse was in direct contact with me and kept me informed, otherwise I wouldn’t have known what was happening. Most of the aides were kind, and the facility itself is solid. But the lack of communication is unacceptable, and I strongly believe the head nurse needs to be replaced. Alzheimer's is already a heartbreaking disease — families deserve reassurance and reliable communication, especially when their loved one is nearing the end.

Placing my dad in memory care was one of the hardest decisions my family has faced, but Encore was the right call. The administrative team was kind, responsive, and efficient, making the placement process feel less overwhelming. The caregivers and nurses are exceptional. They care for my dad around the clock with patience, compassion, and genuine warmth. The caregivers' hands-on work and unwavering dedication are truly admirable — they treat every resident with dignity and care. I wish I could name them all here (but it'd be the longest review ever!). The activities team is fantastic and does a wonderful job of keeping my dad engaged with a full calendar of daily events. Andre, the Activities Director, is especially patient with my dad on their weekly outings, which is something we’re extremely grateful for. Monica, the Director of Nursing, has been an incredible support in managing my dad’s complex medical needs. She’s worked closely with us to find thoughtful solutions and always has his best interests in mind. From the moment you walk in, the receptionists create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and even the food is good, which was a nice surprise! We’re so grateful to Nurse Jennifer Brown for recommending Encore. If you’re looking for a memory care facility where your loved one will be truly cared for, I highly recommend them.

Last year my sister and I needed a safe place for our mother who was still living at home at the age of 95, but was showing signs of dementia. A friend of hers had recently moved to Encore at Avalon Park and she and her daughter let us know how much she enjoyed it there. We met with Simone at Encore and she was happy to give us a tour of the facility. She also helped us through the application process and all of the details regarding moving and making sure Mom was comfortable there. We moved Mom to Encore in June of 2023 it was her home until she passed in July of this year. The core staff were kind and caring and it showed in how she was treated every day. She spent her last year involved in the different activities put on by the wonderful activities staff at Encore. We feel that her care at Encore and being involved in the activities greatly enriched her last 13 months of life. I truly appreciate Simone, the nursing and caregiving staff and the activities staff at Encore. 🩷

Leaving a loved one in memory care is heart wrenching, but the people at Encore made this whole process so much easier. Simone was our first contact and the perfect first person to introduce us to the community. She made us feel like we were family! There are a lot of moving parts with a move like this and she was a tremendous help with making this transition go smoothly. The nurses and entire staff have been so welcoming and loving to my mother. It’s heartwarming to see how kind and caring they are to their patients. We know our mother is in great hands and appreciate the role they are playing in her care.