Hacienda Escaleon

ng. And you can’t help but feel like you are part of a big loving family.

community sets a standard for others to follow. When the new Senior Executive Director took over, things changed. She focused first on hiring additional exceptional staff. She started a program where she meets with residents once a week, Monday mornings, to chat informally about any issues or problems, upcoming activities and improvements, and generally connecting with residents. On Thursdays, she joins residents for lunch in The Grille for relaxed chat. As a result, the connection between management and residents is strong. July 4th is a good example. The Engage Life Director brought patriotism to us with morning activities, a special holiday luncheon, a musical program in the afternoon, and an evening get-together with pizza, drinks, and games. By 8:00 PM, most of us were tired and in our apartments. The Executive Director was here with her husband and son, cleaning up napkins, paper plates, cups, and decorations. In other words, she is All In. I can almost feel the spirit here. We are happy. We all relate well and love our activities and conversations. I am tough. This is my third senior living community. Atria Hacienda, like a lighthouse, rises above the others. This is a happy place, a home. I am grateful, very thankful.

it is important to share a perspective that reflects the reality I have personally witnessed. Caring for residents with memory impairment is extraordinarily complex work, requiring not only professional skill but also patience, empathy, consistency, and steady leadership. In my experience, Jennifer Zuckerman exemplifies all of these qualities. Jennifer Zuckerman leads with compassion and accountability. She is visible, approachable, and deeply invested in both the residents and the staff who care for them. I have consistently observed her taking the time to listen to families, to caregivers, and to residents themselves even in challenging situations. Patient, family and staff concerns are acknowledged thoughtfully, not dismissed, and handled with respect and follow-through which seems to be her consistent style.

I must address the concerning behavior of Executive Director Monique and her sales team. Their primary focus seems to be on financial gain and greed, as evidenced by their overpromises during the initial signing process and the inaccurate assessments they provide after a few weeks. Furthermore, the sales team’s husband, Daniel, makes unsolicited calls to discuss hospice care, creating unnecessary distress for residents. It is evident that the leadership at Hacienda needs improvement, and a more qualified individual is urgently needed to oversee the decision-making process.