Cedarhurst of Columbia

What a great little gem of a place located in the great city of Columbia! The building is beautiful and I have been so impressed with the updates to the exterior of the building this fall and the inside of the building with the decorations and updates they have planned for the interior. There have been lots of changes to the workers there, but all seem to be for the best. The reach outs and calls from the corporate team and those who are there working has been a relief knowing the residents have great people watching out for them. The residents are so warm and welcoming. Some workers who deserve a shout out are Abby at the front desk, Courtney Activities Director, Alisha Activities Director, Erica the nurse manager, and Teresita, Bree, and Karri the nurse aides.

My mom has been at cedar hurst for 4 years. I must say they keep the place very clean and well decorated with hair and nail care on site. The kitchen and serving staff are wonderful. They keep the holidays well and provide many different engagements for the residents. Great place to have a family member to be taken care of.

I am currently a resident of Cedarhurst of Columbia and I want to report the excellent job that Cedarhurst of Columbia performed on September 29th during their annual vaccination clinic. I have been a resident here for 3 years and this is the third vaccination clinic I have participated in. Previous years have experienced various set backs. This year was amazing! The staff took particular care in explaining when and what the vaccinations would be and double and triple checked that they had all of the required paperwork ready. Residents were reminded the evening before that they needed to wear short sleeved shirts and that they would be routed to the room where the injections were being administered. On arrival, all was very well organized. The Director of Nursing, Jess, did an amazing job with taking great care of all of us with games and attention afterwards! I have loved my stay here during the past three years and I truly never want to leave. I love my home which is Cedarhurst!

Our family chose Cedarhurst Assisted Living in Columbia for our parents, hoping it would provide a safe and supportive environment as they navigated early-stage Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment. Unfortunately, our experience has been deeply disappointing and concerning on multiple levels. 1. High Turnover and Lack of Leadership Stability There has been continual turnover in both nursing and administrative management since my parents moved in. Communication is inconsistent, and it’s often impossible to reach anyone who can answer questions or make decisions. Messages to key staff members like nursing leadership or administrators (including Alicia and Labea) have gone unanswered—only for us to later find out they were no longer employed there. This revolving door of staff has directly impacted the quality and continuity of care. 2. Poor Communication and Oversight The lack of coordination between staff members has led to multiple serious incidents: • My mother was awakened at 6:00 a.m. by a male phlebotomist who entered her room to draw blood — for my father, not her. • When my father fell, neither I nor my brother (both joint DPOAs) were notified. We learned about it from my mother the next day. • My mother, who has severe kyphosis and scoliosis and uses a walker, was classified as nearly “independent.” She has been left to do her own laundry, strip her own bed, and handle tasks that clearly pose a fall risk — with no staff stepping in to intervene or assist. • After her physician recommended that nursing manage her medications, she was instead handed a Ziploc bag full of blister packs and told to “put them somewhere.” The lead nurse was unaware that Cedarhurst was supposed to be overseeing her medication management. 3. Inadequate Nutrition and Food Quality For the cost — approximately $12,000 per month — the meals are unacceptable. Portions are extremely small, and nearly everything is processed, canned, or breaded. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rare. My father once ordered a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and was given two plain slices of bread. My mother ordered a salad with chicken and received one without. Staff made no effort to correct these mistakes or ensure residents were properly served. 4. Lack of Responsiveness to Maintenance and Resident Needs My mother once reported a clogged toilet in the morning. When I arrived after work around 5:00 p.m., it still hadn’t been addressed. The staff member on duty told me the maintenance worker had gone home — but that I was welcome to use their plunger myself. This lack of urgency and respect for residents’ dignity is unacceptable. 5. Decline in Resident Care and Oversight As my parents’ conditions progressed, their needs increased — but the facility did not adjust their care plans accordingly. My father went months without proper hygiene oversight; staff simply accepted his word that he had recently showered. His toenails grew so long that he could barely wear his shoes. My mother became unable to operate the microwave, phone, or computer and was often confused about who to call for help, yet no one from nursing or management intervened. Even basic professionalism has deteriorated — during a recent visit, the front desk employee never looked up from her cell phone or acknowledged us as we signed in. ⸻ Final Thoughts The lack of communication, oversight, and continuity at Cedarhurst Columbia has made what should have been a compassionate and supportive environment feel unsafe and disorganized. As a family of medical professionals, we are able to advocate for our parents, but I am terrified for the residents who have no one to advocate for them. Cedarhurst needs urgent reform in staffing stability, communication, dietary standards, and resident care oversight. Until those issues are addressed, I cannot in good conscience recommend this facility to other families.