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.

— Bart Helton, Feb 2013