Aria Memory Care

We moved our father into Aria in July after touring many different facilities in North Austin and Cedar Park. Our Mom was my Dad’s primary caregiver prior to her unexpected death so this transition has been very difficult. I chose Aria because the staff were all very caring friendly, the facility is very clean and modern, and the apartment/​room was a nice size and well laid out to match, as closely as possible, my Dad’s bedroom at home.
My Dad has only been there 2 months but I still feel very confident I have made the right decision with Aria. Ceri Mackenzie is the medical director and she is very patient with the family and also with our Dad. She is knowledgeable and shares that knowledge to make us more comfortable with the transition. The nursing staff and aides have all been very friendly to Dad — especially Kristin, Melissa, Brandon and Jeannette — but they have all been wonderful.

My father arrived at Aria Memory Care in April 2015. He has been struggling with Parkinson’s and was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer and Dementia. He was also recovering from a broken hip and was using a walker.
Aria had the safest facilities for my father to move around. The common areas have wood floors and less clutter than other communities. I felt my father was safe. My father enjoyed being able to enjoy the out side on his own with access to their courtyard. Not all communities are set up where your loved ones can enjoy outdoors when they want to.
The Facility Manager was very helpful in helping set up my fathers room as well as hanging pictures. Since my father was an engineer, the Facilities Manager took the time to have many great conversations with my father.
It is great that Aria is dedicated to Memory Care. They know how to take care of all levels. The separation of cognitive and non cognitive guests is priceless. My father was able to have conversations with other guests with similar challenges.
Having a loved one in a home is all ways difficult but when you arrive at Aria you really do not feel you are in a nursing home. It helped me when I was visiting my father.
Last but not least the Executive Director Ceri Mackenzie is there for you and your loved ones 24 hours. I have seen this first hand. She was there for helping me manage my fathers needs. Her experience and knowledge comes in handy as anything can happen any time when you are taking care of our elders. The team reacts positively to Ceri’s experience and enthusiasm.
To sum it up, Aria is a gem in senior community.
It offers clean, safe, easy to navigate common area floor plan, spacious individual units and a lovely courtyard to enhance for my father’s daily experience.
Mostly importantly, the team members are friendly, caring and do not hesitate to come to aide whenever the unexpected need rises. My father actually thrived and showed improvement in matter of weeks under their care.
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I have had other family members in Brookdale, Sunrise and, and Emeritus. Aria Memory Care is superior above all other communities. I would recommend Aria to any of my close friends and family.

My family spent a while visiting nursing facilities in the North Austin area. They wanted to find a place that would make Dad feel at home. They went to four facilities before Aria. I recall my sister stating that every facility was full of people crying, moaning, screaming and drooling. These weren’t places for Dad. When they went to Aria, they met all the staff, took the tour, and decided that a place with music therapy was the best place, especially since Dad loves music. Aria would receive 5 stars from me had I done this on Unilocal in Jan of 2014. I’m glad I waited. The staff back then was amazing, from the director to the nurses to cleaning staff. Then Aria made a grievous error, the sycophants above the director decided to fire half the staff. Every time I called to check on my father, I had new staff members answering my questions. New people with terrible bed side manners. One day I called to ensure a check made it there. While on the phone, I asked about Dad. Aria’s response was, «Who?». I was mad. If we are spending 5 grand a month, you damn well better know your patients. Finally, in December of 2014, I was able to make it to Texas to visit the facility myself. I was distraught to find that they no longer use music therapy, something Aria prided itself on earlier. My father was sitting there at the table eating large chunks of chicken with a spoon. Aria didn’t take the time to cut it for him. He also kept dropping food because of his shaking. I was told that he most times does not eat everything because of that: The staff does not help him eat. There was a lady at his table who kept yelling and screaming. Aria assured my family before that this woman would not be put at the same table as my father because she upsets him. Yet, there she is, sitting across the table. I watched as the orderlies made their way around, talking to each other, not paying attention to the patients in the dining room. I overheard two of them talking nasty about one of the patients; I made sure they knew I heard them. Only then did one come over to check on my father. I was not impressed with my visit to Aria. This was not the Aria my mother and sister described to me when they entered my father into the facility. This is now just like any other nursing home, filled with yelling and crying, mediocre standards, less than qualified staff, and a director obsequious only to the boss. Devotion to servitude is lost at Aria of Cedar Park.

Both of my parents have been living at Aria since October 2013 and I and they are very pleased. I did a significant amount of research and toured several facilities before selecting Aria. I like the small family feel of the place and the music therapy incorporation. I am regularly visiting my parents, at various times of the day and night, and ALWAYS feel they are receiving the absolute best care! The facility is clean and the staff is loving and kind. I am able to speak to the whomever I need to whenever I want to get updates about my parents, whether this is the Executive Director, Director of Nursing, Director of Recreation, Chef, Caretakers, whomever. I have spent numerous hours at the facility and firmly believe my parents are being well-​taken care of and treated with the utmost respect. There are many facilities to choose from, in the same price range, and we have chosen Aria, happily.

One star is for the current management. My mom was stayed there for six months. It was a wonderful place until the new management took over.
Food is horrible. Huge staff turn over. No more music therapy. Huge
Emphasis on drugging patients to keep them quiet. New staff are incompetent.
No Alzheimer training for staff as it was promised. This
Place is all about money. I would not leave my
Loved ones at this place.