Avante at Charlotte

Both of my parents were residents here for almost 6 months. This is one of the worst facilities in Charlotte. The rooms are rundown and often in poor repair. The wall around the Heating/Air unit was not sealed and let in cold/hot air and bugs. The toilet was not handicap accessible as one side was less than 4 inches from the wall. It was too low and you could not get a chair over the top to raise it comfortably. The food was a constant source of complaint as both of my parents had dietary requirements that were consistently unmet. Both had heart problems and one was diabetic. The food was often cold by the time it reached my parents. And why they even asked about my parents preferences is a mystery. They often received food they could not eat or did not like. And bringing food to them was discouraged as there was no place to store it safely. There were often med errors, especially with diabetic care, and the doctor seldom saw my parents when requested. Their names often mysteriously disappeared from the list. There were several times where their conditions were severely misdiagnosed, and would have resulted in severe injury, had we not sought outside medical care. So make sure you maintain access to your outside care providers. And while there were several staff members who were angels and were outstanding caregivers, overall, staffing was poor. Often they were mean-spirited and verbally abusive or highly disrespectful to residents. My mother was confined to her bed and often left in soiled diapers until staff could "get around to her". And if you needed therapy, don't get your hopes up unless they can charge for it. Restorative therapy, forget about it. And staff attitudes were a direct reflection of management's. Management absolutely does not want to hear any complaints about the facility, staff , or resident care. Even when you follow their guidelines, rules, and procedures for filing complaints, be ready for loads of negative feedback and reaction. If you cannot be intimidated, controlled, or forced to fall in line, they will find a way to discharge your loved ones. Even if that means unethical and unprofessional tactics. Even if it means discharging your loved ones to a facility unable to meet their needs by sidestepping the assessment process. These are just a few of the issues experienced by my parents. If you have no other choice and have to place a loved one here, I suggest you keep a close eye on what goes on, and put your local ombudsman on speed dial. Have a blessed day.

by Bart Helton, Feb 2013