Sunrise Of Stamford

Do you guys currently have a waitlist?

No waitlist at this time.

Could you provide an overview of the types of professionals on your staff and the training they undergo at your facility?

No short answer available to this one, so I will offer a few essentials and, if you wish for more granularity I am available to expand on all this in live discussion. Let’s start with this… we have 61 residents in the building (42 in assisted living)… but we have nearly 70 staff members. At the core of our staff is the care team. Led by an RN with over 30 years’ experience - our Resident Care Director, we are currently onboarding a second full time RN as well as two part-time RN’s to ensure the greatest depth of coverage in the business. We have nine Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s), and 22 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s). We have nurses and CNA’s in the community 24x7 every day of the year. About a third of the wellness team is fully alzheimer's certified. Beyond having the training required to secure their credentials/licenses – our nurses, and all of us actually, are constantly subject to ongoing training (Sunrise is known for having the most exhaustive training in the industry). We are required to recertify annually on such things as infection control, mitigating fall risk, detecting signs of abuse, behavioral expressions, dementia care, understanding bloodborne pathogens, and fire safety to give you a partial list.

Could you tell me about the measures you have in place to ensure the safety and well-being of your residents?

As you will have noted, most of the training already cited is directed towards preserving the highest standards of safety and well-being. In advance of arriving at Sunrise of Stamford, a personalized care plan is designed for each resident, and reviewed with their family/responsible parties. The care plan is reviewed and if needed adjusted every 30 days. Additionally (and this is not the case with most senior living communities), our building was designed and constructed for the specific purpose of hosting a senior population. In turn, the bathrooms in our apartments are large enough for a motorized wheelchair to spin 360 degrees… our hallways are wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass in opposite directions with an adult caregiver between them… our molding actually serves as handrail… and there is never more than 85 linear feet without an open seating area available. Oh and I almost forgot – we have a fire drill tomorrow.

Do you offer any resources or support services to aid residents' transition into the community?

None dedicated to that specific purpose. However, we are highly attuned to the transition arc each resident experiences. We learn as much as we can about the inbound resident as a person in advance of their arrival, so that we can interact in ways that quickly foster familiarity and comfort. Again, we’re not that big, so we are quite able to keep an eye on new arrivals’ dispositions.

Do you offer transportation services for residents?

Yes – we have a new elder-transport bus which is used to take residents to doctors’ appointments on Thursdays, and this vehicle also embarks on 2-3 excursions per week… typically sightseeing, pharmacy runs, and church trips.

Could you tell me a little about your dining experience?

When it comes to dining we usually win. Come try for yourself. Our head of culinary trained in Italy, and our residents are nearly always quite happy with the fare. Technically we offer “anytime dining”, but culturally it’s all about the 8am, noon, and 5pm seatings – this is when our community comes together, interacts, and generally socializes. They order off of a formal/leatherbound menu, and their requests are recorded tableside via electronic tablet so we are able to monitor their tastes and nutritional intake. And, since we’re relatively small (a major consideration, IMO) we are better able to honor requests and suggestions.

What is the process that takes place if a resident has a complaint or an issue they want addressed?

Many ways to go with such things, depending on nature and severity. Most can simply and quickly be addressed by speaking with one of our department heads (“coordinators”, in Sunrise parlance) or even going directly to the executive director. Moreover, the names and contact information of key people in regional Sunrise management are made available as part of our residency agreement process.

What is the cost of living in your community?

No quick answer to this one – the cost of the Sunrise of Stamford experience can be significantly impacted by the personalized care and services that the individual requires. The more care and attention that is built in to the service plan, the greater the cost. And of course the inverse is true as well. We have individual residents who are thriving here for around $4,000/month – and have others who’s needs predicate that their cost is twice that or more. If you would like, I can write up a more detailed take on this important topic. Just let me know!

What is your policy on communication with resident's families? How do you keep them updated about their loved ones' well-being?

We are only a phone call away, and we enjoy seeing our resident family visitors in-person as frequently as possible. The care team, and specifically our resident care director, and set up routine progress calls with families if desired. Additionally, our Smile app can be used to keep apprised of day to day happening in the community.

Do you all offer short-term or respite stays? How much does this cost?

We do indeed. Pricing is essentially the same – except for respite stays (30-90 days) there is no move-in fee required. Instead, there is a $30/day “respite fee”, the aggregate of which, if someone decides to transition-in as a regular resident, is discounted pro-rata against the eventual move-in fee.

Are you all a pet-friendly community?

Sunrise pioneered many things in the senior living space, and this is one of them. We are totally pet-friendly… with both dogs and cats residing in the community (and in fact my dog is about 6 feet away from me as I compose this tome).

Are residents able to get Covid vaccination and flu vaccinations in the community?

Yes. Not on an on-demand basis, but our Resident Care Director brings in medical partners to conduct clinics roughly once every two months.

Are residents able to age in place?

They certainly are. As needs evolve and change, the care plan can be correspondingly adjusted to ensure safety and comfort. Worth noting that although we count two 60-year olds as residents, we go all the way up to hospice care and we are capable of providing two-person assists and even mechanical lifts when necessary.