The Laurels in Highland Creek

I recently moved my mom from a facility I “thought” was great to get her closer to me. Boy was my perception of a care facility wrong. Not only is my mom So MUCH CLOSER to me, she is SO MUCH HAPPIER! When your loved one is happy where they are at it brings you so much more comfort in the decision you make in placement. To be totally transparent, I was unaware of The Laurels and so thankful I found it. The rooms are so much bigger than other communities I looked at and updated. The care partners have treated my mom with so much respect and love. And let’s just talk about the dining room. Where my mom came from the food was bland and the choices were weak. Here, her options are vast. She has seasoning (this may seem like a small thing to mention but this was a huge issue as they never even offered salt or pepper). The activities she loves and has already made many friends in the time she has been there. She is an avid walker and the area inside and outside is perfect for her daily strolls. One last thing to mention… There were just a few needs we had asked about in her closet to make it more adaptable to her needs. They were taken care of prior to the move in. My mom tells me daily how happy she is living there and how thankful she is to be closer to me! Also what she has had to eat. It’s that good. My mom is blessed to be there! Sorry this is long, but really it is shot as I could go on and on!

My review is about The Haven (memory care) specifically. My mother-in-law moved there at the beginning of December 2024 and at first it seemed just fine. Just a couple of months later, we were finding loose medication pills all over her room, soiled clothes in the bathroom that made her entire room smell like urine and she complained about the wailings of other residents during the night. Staffing was so low there that my MIL was able to wander the building during the night and managed to pull the fire alarm two separate times. She also got hold of a fire extinguisher and tried to break a window and we were told that she was threatening other residents. She also got hold of a glass water dispenser top and threw it. Again, I equate this behavior to low staffing and no one able to keep an eye on her activity and redirect her which is critical for dementia sufferers. It was suggested to us that we should look for another facility by the current executive director. We walked away from thousands of dollars in a community fee, but we did find a better facility. Unless administration at the Haven makes very critical changes, I would not recommend this facility to anyone.

We knew if we needed to move our love one to a residence to help assist in his GOLDEN YEARS, The Laurels of Highland Creek would become his new home, hands down. The initial visit was very receptive, warm and inviting. Bethany took her time before the tour in providing information in regards to the property, it's corporate values and what the 5 Star Family insures in its residents as well as its employees, and so far they have been right on spot. When making the official visit once again Bethany did exactly what she needed to do to close the deal with the one that mattered most. She talked to him and gave him answers for questions he asked and did not ask. He met folk who were invested in the community not just other employees but residents who had been there from 3 weeks to 5 years. Not only was he impressed he was excited about the possibility of his new journey. As with any change, you can imagine that for an 87 year old person it can definitely be a struggle, as the conversation went back and forth with what his decision would be. Returning for a second visit and seeing that this was what would be best for him at the time the decision was made. Once the official move was done, I believe all involved knew that the Laurels was to begin this new journey. There have been a few bumps but they were taken care of immediately and it was nothing that impacted the quality of care or attention that has been received nor do I expect anything to change. Every aspect of the transition to moving into the Laurels from the administration team to the environmental team was on board. This made the move an easy one, physically.....Mentally is a different challenge because mentally is something that one has to deal with on their own normally, however family members are not excluded and left out in the cold. The entire team at the Laurels understands and realizes that the family has a hard time releasing the care of their love one to someone else. There has not been a day that I have not been given a genuine smile, how's it going, it gets better or we're here if you need us from multiple team members, regardless of their position. The emmployee stakeholders take ownership of the facility and each resident there has an abundance of love and care for the Laurels as you can see from the entrance of the grounds, the inside of the building, each residential residence, how each resident is treated and for a lot of them "the food" (this is not your typical facility food, the chef, sous chef and cook will have you think you are eating at your mama's table) It's all healthy but taste good healthy. The residents also take ownership in the Laurels. I mean why not? They live there. You can tell the proudness of garden items that are displayed outside of their rooms on the grassy knolls, the way their doors are decorated, and in the evening how they make sure the "living room" is closed down and ready for the next day's adventure of laughter and camaraderie. I feel as with every team member I have encountered it is definitely not a mandate from the Five Star Community, this is apart of their spirit. You can't make an individual be kind , nice or polite this has to come from a place of love for one's own self.  When you see this in employees of any  establishment you know that it is a place where employers are appreciative of their employees and  employees are very satisfied with their work environment , which means your family is being taken care of with the upmost respect and love. Give them a call, set up an appointment, visit...... You may just love it enough for your love one(s) ( There are couples there) or better yet for yourself.

Hands down, this is one of the best assisted living and memory care facilities I have encountered. It is located in a beautifully placed neighborhood, allowing residents to feel like they are part of a suburban community. Every time I visit, it warms my heart to see how engaged the staff is with both the residents and their visiting families. They organize wonderful events, such as prom week happening this week. Bethany and Jordan take the time to understand each resident’s story and goals, providing an exceptional level of customer service. I wish I could give them 10 stars instead of just 5!

My dad, Garry moved in to The Laurel’s in January. Our overall experience has been incredibly positive. Very friendly and caring staff. Good food with nice variety meal by meal. Therapy has been a game changer. The personnel in the therapy room have been outstanding. Minor details fall through cracks occasionally and that appears to possibly be related short staffing. The Laurels has a community feel and has been a welcoming spot for dad to call home.