If anyone has been through the process of trying to find the right spot for their loved one, you know it's a very emotional, stressful, and confusing process. You want compassion and understanding from those you are getting help from. With that being said, it's important to always keep in mind board and cares and similar facilities for the elderly and in my father's case, a dementia patient, it's a business. And when I say business, believe me, a very lucrative business. I was looking for a spot for my father because he was recently placed on hospice following his fight with Covid. Covid did a number on my father's dementia, speeding it fast forward. I thought a smaller, more intimate environment would be better for him since he was now incontinent and required more care. My father's hospice coordinator gave me several number, including one to Arda who is the owner of several board and cares in Orange County. She was highly recommended because of her nursing background. I was excited to talk to her about possible placement for my father, a Vietnam veteran, who was actually drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served our country. I called Area one morning and she sounded very knowledgable, but also a bit patronizing. I accepted it because I was kind of new to this who board and care world, but I didn't like it. She then told me what her normal rates are and as I explained our budget, the call dropped. Thinking it may have been my fault, I called back, no answer. Then I called back again, no answer. After the third time I left a message saying I'm not sure what happened but to call me back, leaving my number. I then text messaged her, again saying I wasn't sure what had happened but to give me a call back. It has been three weeks now and she never had the decency to call me back. I would have respected it more had she said, "I'm sorry but I can't work with that budget, but I wish you the best of luck." Fine, I get it! But this VERY UNPROFESSIONAL behavior is just unacceptable. If you have the money to pay for her services, maybe she will treat you right, but if you don't she will not give you the time of day. Wow, my father always taught me to respect everyone, even a homeless person you see walking the streets. ARDA did not respect me or my father with her actions. It was obviously all about the money for her and wouldn't give me the time of day when it didn't suit her needs.

The owner of Verona Court II, an RN, is very knowledgeable, and she?s all about the residents and what they can do for the residents. It?s one price. The price would never go up. It includes everything that they need except pharmacy. My dad weighed 116 lbs in November, and now he weighs 141 lbs, so he was eating well. He eats 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. They have 24/7 awake staff. They?re very engaging and attentive, and they work as a team there. They showered him everyday, which was so far from what he was doing before. He wouldn?t even take one in 2 weeks. My dad really liked the residents and the staff. He was on a schedule, and he was happy.

My friend is in Verona. It is a nice place. The rooms are like homes. They have a nice patio in the back and a living room and a dining room. The people are helpful and caring. I do not think there are any activities because most of the people there are not active. The care that she is receiving is OK. I recommend it.