American House

not for us

Overall our experience with American House Riverview was not a good one. After they did their assessment they told us they would be able to take care of our loved one, but unfortunately this did not end up being the case. They were unable to handle the memory care issues that she had. Eventually they told us that we would have to look for a new community for her, and that in the meantime we would have to hire full time caregivers to watch her, which were very expensive. The facility itself seems very nice, and the staff were all very friendly, but make very sure your loved one is appropriate for the community. Either they made a big mistake in their assessment, or they just told us what we wanted to hear to get us in. Either way it ended up being a very negative experience.

Basically an 'independent living' apartment complex, with a restaurant and meeting rooms. Any 'assisted' living help would need to come from a third-party vendor. Month-to-month rent is a positive (unless it allows the facility to increase rent more frequently). No emergency pull-cords in the apartments ... but each resident wears a LifeLock. Again, a memory care resident might never know what the thing is around her neck in an emergency. Medication reminder 1 time daily = $185/month. Shuttle is only available on Friday, but a taxi is available on preperty for $4 within the downriver area. Mom commented that this place looked 'cheap' and she wasn't impressed. The restaurant was full, and the women outnumbered the men by 10-to-1. One Bedroom cost: $2,400

The lady who showed me around was very nice. The location was poor and seemed crowed I did not care for it.

We have had a bad experience with Elmcroft from issues with the community to issues with the staff. We don't think the staff is as careful as they should be when deal with some residents. They have a very poor response time when the emergency call button is pushed; it was taking about an hour to get someone to respond. Some of the staff members have short talked our loved one and have been disrespectful. We have just had numerous problems. They recently changed the director and we feel there will be changing coming to Elmcroft and the new director seems very sincere in what he wants to change. Right now we could not recommend Elmcroft to anyone. Hopefully things do change for the better.

Did not like. Older and very dark. Did not like activites centered in basement.

I wanted to love this place based on reviews. I am very disappointed. The care is mediocre and there is always a lingering smell of urine when I enter my father's room. It appears the staffing is minimal. American House is fine. It's the services from the medical team that leave a lot to be desired.

Since Atria bought this facility, there has been a drastic reduction in the assisted living services offered. Residents who received a certain level of care from this facility when it was Brookdale are now being told that their options are to hire private caregivers to pick up the slack, or move. For a long time there was no wellness director and only one nurse. There is no nurse or med tech available on Saturday nights. Staff is bare bones on weekends and the trash is not emptied for days at a time. At times the med. staff has forgotten to administer medication. At best, the Atria model of "assisted living" includes managing medication and providing an escort to meals and activities. They will not check blood pressure or vitals. All they will do is call 911. We have not found Atria to be a welcoming community for residents requiring assisted living services, and are getting the impression that they are attempting to phase out assisted living entirely.

Poor medical team service.

Cost almost six thousand a month in memory care. Pillow cases stained with blood sheets torn or very worn edge. Cleaning once a week never done only bathroom cleaned and garbage emptied. Every Sunday night only half a sandwich and a small bowl of soup. Medicine hardly ever given on time. Supervisions hardly mixed with tenants. Short staff most of the time and staff changes all the time they just cannot keep good help. Staff having to work extra shifts all the time but not upper management they never cover. So because of the turn over there is NO training!! Really needs big improvement!

Medical Team is terrible. American House would be better off hiring its own people and not use Medical Team. They're never around, they never answer when you buzz. If you try to call their Corporate office, nothing happens. They truly don't care and that's a shame. My mom is spending a lot of money for their services. My rating for the American House part would be much better if it weren't for Medical Team. They drag this facility down.

I was there for Respid care for my father. The first time we were there was great. 2 months later we came back again for 2 weeks. The first night he was there was scary. I got there at 6am as he needed me to drop off something. He was wet in his bed and needed to be changed. I called for assistance with the call button he received from them. After waiting 20 minutes with nobody coming, I went looking for the staff. I found 4 beepers going off in the nursing station with nobody around. I walked around the facility and finally found somebody. Over the 2 weeks several problems occurred. He was not given 2 of the medicines he was prescribed on the doctors orders. He was also given meds that were not ordered for him. This was very scary as it could have had catastrophic results. The medicine was ordered from Z medical, an in house doctor. The worst part is that doctor did not remember doing this when asked and did not recall why this was ordered. They have been going through major staff changes that has made the care there suffer. I wish it was like the first time we were there.

Dining room is not adequately staffed, as a result long waits for poor service. Activities are not well attended, not of interest to most. Very few outings offered. Not a community environment.

This facility was very nice and very well run when it was Oak Crest. Since American House has taken over the care and staffing (what staffing they have) has gotten horrible. My mother is in what is supposed to be an assisted living, they have been moving Alzheimer patients into her building, and now she has to lock her door to keep these patients out of her room. Some days, she only eats once a day because the food that is prepared is not elderly friendly. Family members have to come daily to make her bed, make sure she has clean towels, toilet paper, empty trash. Many nights she is not getting her medication because the ONLY STAFF person is not in the building. Yes, there is only ONE person assigned to be on staff, and that person is out of the building, so if something should happen, there is no one in the building, and we have watched this person leave the building and not come back for 30-60 minutes. The other day while I was visiting, a resident in another room pulled the call cord.....the annoying buzzer went off for over an hour. My mother said that sometimes she hears that noise all night long. Very disappointed with American House!!

My father was in the memory unit at Elmcroft for 6 months. I would have moved him sooner had he not been in the nursing home or hospital 4 times during this stay. It took a while of being there to witness the negligence in care. There are long periods of time where there are no techs in the main living areas and the residents are on their own. The family members of residents end up watching after the residents to insure no one gets hurt. I was once handed a towel to clean up where water was spilled by a resident when I reported it - the techs and staff were in the hallway talking and laughing at the time and ALL the residents in the unit were left unattended. I moved my dad as soon as I could. They dropped him once because one person tried to move him instead of the 2 that were required. He fell and broke a hip TWICE while under their care. I was promised change but that never happened. Be careful putting your loved one in this place. And yes, I was there every day. At the end of his stay I had to pay for sitters to make sure he was taken care of until I could get him moved. I would not recommend this place for anyone loved ones.

My loved one has been at this American House for 2-1/2 years. Since first moving in the level of care needed has increased for my mom. I do not see the level of care and compassion among the employees as was evident when she first moved in. There is, for the most part, a revolving door for staff. The staff from housekeeping to the kitchen to the medical team are unfriendly at best, and grumpy. I'm pretty sure my mom doesn't get all the care we are paying for. Except for administering drugs, she doesn't get the escort service to meals that we are paying for, nor does she get the service of bathroom help that we are paying for. When I'm there I have never seen the escort service help her to meals or the bathroom. Laundry isn't always done on the scheduled day. There used to be scheduled entertainment at least weekly. Now, rarely. Workers are punching a time clock for a pay check, and the residents are mostly sad and unhappy. This place needs a complete overhaul from cleaning to services offered to the food served, and mostly, the attitude of the employees. There are a few who are kind and friendly, but that should be the rule rather than the exception. For $4000 + a month, I'm very disappointed.

We were really not happy with this facility for my Mother who was in very poor health. It might work for someone who can get around by themselves without a wheelchair or assistance but still the three floors and one small elevator are a problem. Many of the seniors are so bored they just go up and down in the elevator all day! My biggest complaint though was the medical staff, they are totally incompetant when in comes to medical care. If your parent has any special needs like oxygen, regular bood sugar checks or blood pressure checks this is NOT the facility for you!

Never put your loved one American House. They do not communicate with the family. I had to report a tech the 1st week she was in memory care for picking at her. Her name was [name removed]. They do not have enough staff to help with changing diapers or showers. Her room was never clean. The woman's daughter that was sharing a room with my mother had to clean their bathroom on the weekend. Poop was on the wall and the toilet. These people need more care in memory care. They never gave my mother all her clothes back from laundry but she'd receive other people's clothes. Never changed her sheets on her bed either.

My father was not given the amount of care we expected. We were told things would happen but they didn't. Ex: RX could be provided by us and not their pharmacy. They were required by law to check on everyone every few hours but they didn't. If someone doesn't report their findings, it didn't happen. They are short staffed and only care about the money. Charge you for items they said were free!! My dad passed after only 2 months. We could have kept him home and he would have lasted at least 6 months! Since he passed, 5 or 6 other men have passed from that facility!! I would highly NOT recommend this place to anyone that loves their family! This doesn't even cover the damage and stress it caused my mother!

From the outside the facility looks organized, but inside it is not managed well. Night shifts are understaffed,communication is poor,& areas like residents rooms are left in unacceptable condition!! Hopes this reviews helps out.