Olivenhain Guest Home

I have worked here previously and the managers are horrible. Suzanne &her EX husband Hank run this place &it is just horrible. They treat u with such disrespect, once I was told to get off my 30 min break by Hank (when this break is obligated by law). when I still had 15 mins to eat my food and clock back in. Hank comes off very nice at first same with Suzanne but they are so stuck up. They treat u like slaves working 10 $ an hr. Suzanne would always walk around the facility looking for something to yell at. I would feed hospice patients &they assigned me to 3 which is fine but I would give one a spoon full and then give the other a spoon full while the others processed their chewing and give the third something to drink, I was juggling all 3, anyway Suzanne doesn’t get it because she feels to high in her thrown she comes by &yells at me &accuses me of not feeding the other two only because she walked in &I was working on one patients spoon full. The way she yelled at me with such disrespect in front of my co worker &the patients in hospice was out of line. I tried to explain to her that I am multi tasking &I am indeed feeding all 3 I’m just juggling &then she said «YOU GOT IT?!» she was talking to me like I’m stupid. I am a Certified Nurse Assistant, so for her to talk to me like this is just so disrespectful. I’ll never forget it. Another time the whole facility caught the shingles because they were so unsanitary, the staff does not like to change the table cloths every breakfast, lunch and dinner, I remember cos I took it off after breakfast cos it was dirty and my co worker complained how we had to wash them now. These patients are in Hospice of course their gonna get the cloths dirty, anyway this virus spread quickly. Started with one patient then it went on to the next and the next and so on, even the caregivers got it went home &gave it to their families. One of my coworkers gave it to her child &had to take her to the doctor because of this virus. They then had to give every worker a pill to help take off the shingles &I never got one (I was new about 2weeks in) LVNs &staff didn’t want to give me one cos I was new, but I kept insisting because I was Full-​Time &didn’t want to catch this disease either. Everyone got one expect me and it took them 3days after to finally receive mine after I kept bugging them for it because God forbid I wanted to take it home to my family. I’m surprised I didn’t give it to anyone in my house because after I took my pill I realized I was positive &had received the shingles too. All they did was bag all the sheets &put them outside for 24 hours &bring them back in &wash them but one patients face was severely damaged by the shingles she was unrecognizable, she should have been sent to a hospital with professional care but instead they isolated her in another patients room by herself for weeks. It felt like they were hiding her. I’m surprised this business is still up &running. When I went in for the first time it looks so nice &peaceful but really the management & staff don’t care but for your slave work &getting paid. They leave u to lift more than 100lbs on your own. Staff doesn’t like to attend to certain patients cos of their bowel movements. I witness the cook forget this –certain patients– in hospice meals several times, I always had to check in on her even when she wasn’t ever assigned to me, because even the staff would leave her. Once I got her up &asked for her meal 3times &all we got was the kitchen window where they served the meals slammed shut in our faces. She kept asking me where her food was at (keep in mind this patient wasn’t assigned to me I would just go and visit her because I new staff would forget her, she slept a lot, so they would leave her sleeping all day but I would wake her up to eat &she would cooperate) anyway I had to get off my shift &I’m not sure if she ever got her meal that afternoon:(pretty sad. &I know this has nothing to do with it but the staff talks a lot about other staff members, there is so much drama, I once walked into my shift at 6am &herd them all talking bad about me and it got back to one of the managers &they didn’t do anything, they didn’t have a care in the world, I was new first few days &the staff is already talking behind your back. I have worked in PLENTY of facilities &I never seen anything this bad, I never been treated so horribly by any facility I worked for. I never been neglected the way I was or witness the staff neglect the patients like this place. I never had co workers talk behind my back like this &the managers not care. I never had the main managers treat me like a slave, like this place. I never seen any disease spread so viral &quick like this place for unsanitary reasons. But this place is very nice looking on the outside just the people it’s run by don’t care about you. Each time there is a family member coming in to visit they make sure to tell everyone so they can fake this «happy place».

My Mother has been a resident at Olivenhain Guest Home (OGH) for over a year. She is 87 years old and has Alzheimer’s. I looked at over 20 facilities before selecting OGH. They are a private, family run home which allows for some flexibility. The owners are very hands-​on and available by email and phone immediately, as well as in person. They are willing to solve problems and listen to suggestions. The cost is a very reasonable set price for all services.
When my Mother moved in, one of the owners stayed with her the entire first night to make sure that she was adjusting. There are about 7 to 8 residents per caretaker, but because the entire staff is alert to helping at any time, it seems like there is a lower ratio. I have arrived many times to find the chef or the Director sitting with my Mom.
I drop in unannounced several times a week when I am in town. So, I see things as they really are. OGH is not a 5 start resort. It is «homey» and does not have a visual wow. The residents are in the later stages of life. Many are confined to wheelchairs.
There is a nurse and med tech on duty. We use the mobile doctor who visits the residence, as well as other medical services. My Mother had fallen many times in her previous assisted living home and we were constantly in the emergency room. She has not fallen once in the past year thanks to the awareness of the caregivers at OGH. We have not had to make any emergency room visits (knock on wood).
The facility is clean and has a large, beautiful out-​door patio area. The out-​door area is accessible to the residents and gives a sense of not being in a locked facility (necessary for Alzheimer’s). Many of the activities are also conducted outside when the weather allows.
Meals are simple, but nutritious. Laundry is done in-​house. On occasion, my Mom’s clothes or shoes have been lost or misplaced in other residents’ rooms, but it’s minor when compared to the fact that my Mom is always in clean clothes. The caretakers also have «spa» days and my Mom loves getting her nails done in bright colors.
The activities are designed to help brain function and to enhance the quality of life. My Mother particularly enjoys the exercise, music, and discussion activities. Kelley, who coordinates the activities knows the residents well and manages to find ways to stimulate even the most dreamy of them.
My only frustration is that communication is haphazard. This is why there are 4 not 5 stars. However, an example of how the owners respond to (my) complaints is that they have recently adopted a new computerized system for coordinating communication and care instructions. I am hopeful it will allow me to get immediate answers to all questions and will ensure better coordination between staff. I appreciate the fact that they are trying to solve this problem.
My Mother is there for the superior level of care and love that she receives. This is what they do best. Chandeliers do not compensate for good care and love. Notice how the caretakers will stop talking to a visitor to immediately assist a resident because that is their first priority. Notice how many residents have family members visiting daily. Notice how the Director’s door is always open (unless there is a meeting). I advise anyone having to find a «home» for their loved ones to consider OGH.