Palo Alto Commons

    4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
    4.1 · 51 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    3.0

    Caring staff but disruptive renovations

    I have mixed feelings. The staff are overwhelmingly caring, compassionate, and professional - great activities, excellent food, 24/7 nursing/memory-care support, helpful front desk and med techs, and a bright, recently remodeled facility with lots of social options. But renovations brought constant construction noise, dust, and temporary disruptions (broken elevators, slow tray delivery); cleanliness and pest reports were worrying at times. Management and staffing are inconsistent - tenured caregivers and low turnover in some areas, yet short-staffing, communication failures, and toxic leadership changes were also common. Tour in person, meet the team, and get written promises before deciding.

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    Amenities

    4.14 · 51 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.0
    • Staff

      4.2
    • Meals

      4.3
    • Amenities

      4.1
    • Value

      3.3

    Location

    Map showing location of Palo Alto Commons

    About Palo Alto Commons

    Palo Alto Commons sits in a modern, elegant building and welcomes people aged 55 and up, giving them supportive care at many levels, like independent living, assisted living, memory care for Alzheimer's disease, and dedicated dementia day care. The community gives seniors help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and taking medicine, and there's always a caregiver around at any hour for aging in place support. Residents have access to skilled nursing staff and can get general counseling services, and there's good coordination with providers like BridgePoint at Los Altos and Rosener House Adult Day Services for added help. The director of Palo Alto Commons is known for being kind and knowledgeable, which brings comfort to families and residents who want a steady hand guiding care.

    The apartments come in different floor plans with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom setups. Many apartments have private balconies or patios, full kitchens or kitchenettes, and views of either the courtyard or the city, which gives the place a roomy feeling, and pets like dogs and cats are welcome in private rooms. The design is modern, with upscale finishes and practical layouts, and residents can bring their own furniture and keepsakes to make it feel like home. There's a secure memory care unit for residents with cognitive issues, where the team is trained for those special needs, with daily adult day care and regular activities to keep everyone engaged and occupied, and it's good that they plan off-site experiences and trips, too. The calendar is full of activities throughout the day, and common areas work for entertaining friends or family, which is made easier by amenities meant to support visits without too much trouble for anyone involved. Every part of the community was built with purpose, aiming to meet all kinds of needs for different seniors, from those who live mostly on their own to those who need much more help each day.

    People often ask...

    State of California Inspection Reports

    18

    Inspections

    0

    Type A Citations

    0

    Type B Citations

    5

    Years of reports

    13 Jun 2024
    Reviewed records and facilities, confirmed all medication, resident, and staff documentation were complete, and found bathrooms and outdoor areas to be safe and well-maintained, with no deficiencies observed.
    11 Jun 2024
    Reviewed, the unannounced visit verified that the required safety and food supply measures were in place, and no deficiencies were found during the inspection.
    23 May 2024
    Identified that a private caregiver took an independent living resident to a bank and received $200 from the resident, with the remaining $6,300 unaccounted for, after an incident involving financial misconduct was self-reported.
    18 Apr 2024
    Reviewed, the investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to confirm whether or not the facility followed COVID-19 guidelines related to the allegation. No health or safety risks were found during the visit.
    18 Jan 2024
    Investigated a fall incident where staff reported that another staff member did not honestly report the fall to a resident’s family, and found no evidence of staff neglect during interviews with staff and family members.
    21 Dec 2023
    Found that the allegations of inadequate food service, staff not seeking medical attention during choking, pest presence, unclean resident rooms, and refrigerator mold and leaks were unfounded or unsubstantiated based on interviews and observations.
    26 Jul 2023
    Confirmed that someone stole a resident’s bicycle by breaking through a garage gate, with surveillance footage and alarm systems demonstrating the incident, and staff addressed the theft through an in-service training.
    15 May 2023
    Reviewed resident and staff records following an incident where a resident with dementia left unassisted, confirming safety checks and escort procedures were in place; an advisory note was issued.
    19 Sept 2022
    Reviewed conditions at the facility, noting proper sanitation, safety precautions, and sufficient supplies, with no deficiencies identified.
    07 Apr 2022
    Investigated the complaint about hot water temperature issues, observed that temperatures ranged from 105 to 115 degrees and found that some residents experienced problems with inconsistent or insufficient hot water; however, there was not enough evidence to confirm a violation.
    29 Jun 2021
    Confirmed that the facility met safety and cleanliness standards, with proper water temperatures, functioning emergency equipment, sufficient food supplies, and complete resident and staff records during an unannounced prelicensing visit.
    27 May 2021
    Investigated the incident where staff was reported to have hit a resident, found no apparent injury upon examination and head inspection, and confirmed that the resident did not remember the incident.
    19 May 2021
    Confirmed that there were no COVID-19 cases among residents or staff, and recommended ongoing adherence to mitigation strategies and staff training.
    14 Apr 2021
    Reviewed measures to prevent COVID-19 spread, including signage for social distancing and occupancy limits, with no deficiencies cited.
    13 Jan 2021
    Confirmed that there were current COVID-19 cases among residents and staff, with recommendations to continue testing to help prevent the spread.
    03 Dec 2020
    Reviewed safety and infection control measures to prevent COVID-19 spread, including mask and PPE use, waste disposal, and resident activity grouping.
    01 Oct 2020
    Reviewed a medication administration incident involving a nurse who forgot to give 14 residents their 9:00 PM medications; no adverse reactions observed and residents' physicians were notified.
    16 Jun 2020
    Investigated whether personal property, including $100 reported stolen from residents, was lost or stolen; found insufficient evidence to confirm the theft or loss and noted that residents' records did not indicate entrusted valuables.

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