By Marilyn Miller

One family member described the “miscommunication” that resulted in the recent shutdown of the Savannah Court Assisted Living Center in Minden as “understandable,” but the owners’ response was “late in coming.”

Over two years ago, the assisted living center on Germantown Road incurred roof damage from high winds and rain. Over time, leaks appeared and local management was forced to spread huge tarps over the affected areas. 

Over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday, Rebekah Bradley of Senior Living Management Corporation out of Florida, met with the families at Savannah Court. “She was very professional and explained everything. They (SLMC) took responsibility,” the family member said. “For us it has worked out okay (the resident is staying with the daughter in Minden until she can return to Savannah Court).”

“It’s going to be hard, but we didn’t want to move her (to another facility). The plan is to go back.” At the present time, the daughter has hired staff members who have been laid-off from SC Minden to sit with her mother. She said that her mom’s apartment had no issues (from water damage or mold).

“My mom was there at Savannah Court because she is feeble. She needs the help that they provide. We’re hopeful it will be Christmas when she can return. We just moved her this past Saturday, and today is the first day for her with no family around. Some people relocated (to assisted living centers in nearby Bossier). But I go by and see my mom every day…I can’t do that if she’s in Bossier…”

“You just do what you have to do. We’ll just be glad to go back (to Savannah Court Minden).”

AN EMPTY GLASS?

Another Savannah Court-Minden family member said, “It isn’t going well at all,” for his mother, who moved into his residence in Minden Saturday afternoon and hasn’t been able to sleep in the strange bed. “She’s lived at Savannah Court for the past 13 years!!” he exclaimed. It was home to his mother, who suffers slightly from dementia.

A sitter will be coming on Wednesday to help out with his mom. But is that the answer for someone in their 90’s who is emotionally devastated and “paces the floor all upset?!”

In the meantime, “I don’t think the State is gonna let it fly,” said the son, referring to the “patchwork” system of repairing the leaks and sheetrock that SLMC is demanding.

“There was a sheetrock contractor who left because he was afraid he would lose his license,” the son exclaimed. “I KNOW they could!!”

“The fire marshal warned them 8 or 9 times. Nobody blames local management. If SLMC had done something when they were first warned, all of this could have been avoided! My mom wouldn’t be losing sleep!”

“If I have to move her to another assisted living facility, it won’t be one of their’s!”

WORK IN PROGRESS

According to Rebekah Bradley, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for SLMC, the work at Savannah Court is “already in progress.”

“We have people there today,” she said Monday morning. “The reason the residents aren’t there is because the state (of Louisiana) won’t allow them to be there while work is ongoing.”

“We actually tried very hard to keep them in place. Our priority Is keeping them safe and providing quality care. Our top priority is our residents’ care,” Ms. Bradley said. “We communicated this to the families that we met with (in November). Keeping our residents safe and cared for is our No. 1 priority.”

As far as how long the residents will be away from Savannah Court, “That should be a very temporary situation,” she said.