The Madeline of Decatur

My mother has been at The Waterford at Decatur for a little over 2 weeks now. We are happy with the care she has received and the personal attention given to her and our family by Evelyn Watkins and her team. Evelyn has gone above and beyond to help us in getting mom moved in and settled. She has coordinated with hospice to have prescription meds and supplies sent to The Waterford. She even made a trip to pick up oxygen equipment that my dad wasn't sure he could get moved himself. Evelyn is indeed an asset to this company and she truly cares for the patients and their families.

My family member has been at the Waterford at Decatur for almost 10 months. She has advanced Alzheimers and is now under hospice care at the facility after several falls. Ten months ago, my sister was fully ambulatory and could speak and eat on her own. She is now completely dependent on her caregivers for all daily functions. When I realized the caregiver to resident ratio at this facility had been misrepresented, I should have moved her then. However, moving a person with Alzheimers is traumatic to them given their inability to learn. And the cost of a move, especially the community fees, is unmanageable. The Waterford at Decatur is at approximately a 12:1 ratio, sometimes worse when a caregiver doesn't show or quits. Too often, caregivers are working double shifts. Though this ratio is legal, it's too dangerous when you've decided to call yourself a memory care in a building designed to separate residents into four communities. At this ratio, it's impossible for caregivers to change diapers, give showers, dress, or feed the residents they are responsible for and keep an eye on the others. The caregiver is alone in the neighborhood. This is also dangerous for the caregiver given the constant challenge of monitoring those with dementia. Believe it or not, my complaint is not the short staffing. My complaint is regarding Sonida's recent actions regarding the report filed against the Executive Director. The Executive Director verbally assaulted a resident (also known as elder abuse) and was drinking at work. She was given a short suspension by Sonida and returned to the Waterford at Decatur. I'm not sure why Sonida feels this action is enough or why they would even return her to this facility. The Executive Director sets the standard at a care community. Sonida being dismissive of these infractions sets an extremely poor example for employees and a potentially dangerous environment for residents.

After a series of serious disappointments, Waterford has finally found themselves a first rate head of nursing in Eveylyn Watkins. In her short time there so far, she has improved the level of care for residents, improved relations with the families of residents, and improved the morale of their caregivers, med techs, and activities personnel. I am most grateful. In light of some recent events, I must amend my review. Elaine Sarosi recently left a critical review of the Waterford of Decatur, in which she expressed several concerns about the quality of care, especially in her second paragraph. Within hours of that review, Elaine received a call from Sonida, Waterford’s corporate owner, from a woman named Trish, who said she was the regional corporate representative for Waterford’s area. The call was far from solicitous. There was no sign of thoughtful concern or attentive questions about addressing the issues Elaine raised. Instead, as Elaine described, it was defensive and even nasty. Trish was apparently furious over Elaine’s review. Though Elaine and her loved one have been at the facility for 10 months, Trish dismissed her concerns, declaring that Waterford at Decatur had no complaints. She then said that Elaine had no right to make unsubstantiated claims against Amanie, the Executive Director at Waterford, and that she shouldn't comment on something she didn't witness. This was in apparent reference to a recent report filed with corporate regarding Amanie’s behavior, which is apparently a matter public record. Trish then said that where Sonida chooses to place their employees was not up to Elaine, and then invited Elaine to take her loved one and leave if she was unhappy there. My spouse has been at Waterford for a little over a year and a half, so I am very familiar with the environment. I can assure you that Elaine is not alone in her concerns about the quality of care there, nor in her criticisms of the Executive Director. But if Trish’s goal was to deny any of it and silence legitimate critics, her completely unprofessional attitude only confirmed it. Families not only have the right to voice criticisms, but also a sacred responsibility when it comes to their loved ones. And for a corporate representative to scold a family member for exercising that right and responsibility is utterly unacceptable. May 1st, 2026 Evelyn Watkins, a very qualified nurse and the fifth in about a year's time, has quit. I realize that nurses, as the corporation said in response to my joy at hiring Evelyn, are hard to find. But why can't Waterford retain them? There is no public data on the average tenure of professional nurses at such facilities, but we know that turnover tends to be high across the industry in GA. AI's analysis of available data gathered from nursing home surveys, Medicaid provider reports, and CMS Payroll-Based Journal datasets estimates the average tenure of nurses at roughly 1–3 years. We've had 5 in a year. This is very troubling, and I think it raises a legitimate concern about leadership at both the local and corporate levels.

I had the pleasure of visiting The Waterford at Decatur to explore care options for my grandmother, and I am beyond impressed with the experience. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and inviting. The staff was incredibly friendly and made sure I felt comfortable throughout my visit. Camilla, the person who assisted me, was absolutely wonderful. She was not only incredibly informative but also showed a deep understanding of my grandmother's needs and concerns. Camilla took the time to explain how the care is implemented at The Waterford, detailing all the services available to residents and ensuring that I understood how they would be tailored to my grandmother’s specific requirements. Her compassion and professionalism were clear, and it gave me a great sense of confidence that my grandmother would be in excellent hands. The entire staff at The Waterford at Decatur was welcoming and attentive, creating a sense of community that was very reassuring. It’s clear that they genuinely care about the well-being of their residents, and they work hard to make everyone feel valued and comfortable. I left feeling truly informed and at peace with the decision-making process. The Waterford at Decatur offers not just a place to live but a place where your loved one can receive the care, respect, and attention they deserve. I highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for a retirement or assisted living community that genuinely understands the needs of its residents. Thank you to Camilla and the entire team for making this experience so positive!