Hallmark Bakersfield

My mom has been at Hallmark over a year. (She has mid-stage dementia.) We have been very happy with everything (for the most part). All staff have always been very friendly & accommodating to both me and my mom. As far as I know, all rooms are the same - large (studio size), single occupancy (except for married couples), private bathroom with safety features, adequate closet & storage space (though not as large as a typical residence), and a small kitchen area with sink, small counter top area, medium size refrigerator, and cupboards. No stove or oven (for obvious reasons). Occasionally (rarely) I have to remind staff to do some minor cleaning of mom's room - but not often. I recommend putting the room number on all clothing going to the wash with a laundry marker, because occasionally (rarely) things seem to get mixed up. The maintenance man is ok but not as competent in all areas as I'd like. Security is adequate. The med. staff has been great, no complaints. Very friendly and caring. I don't even have to go pick up mom's refills. Front desk & other staff - no complaints, very friendly. The staff overall takes good care of my mom. Moreover and more importantly, she loves them all. Activities are diverse, offered from just after breakfast until just after dinner. They are announced in each room via intercom and include bingo, arts & crafts, movies, games, and music. Church services are provided, both Catholic and generic Protestant. Hallmark brings in entertainment a few times a week - and they're good. They also provide occasional outings for residents to Walmart and restaurants. There's a beauty salon on premises for both hair and nail care. There's also an outdoor patio in the back (fenced in) where residents can relax and get some fresh air. By and large, the food has been great. I've eaten there with my mom a number of times ($5 for guests). Special meals & activities are provided on holidays. One thing we like about Hallmark is that it isn't huge like some other facilities in Bakersfield - so less chance of mom losing her way to her room (although I know staff would help her). There are only two stories, connected by an elevator. Each resident has a private mailbox. We were told by a placement agency that this is the least expensive place in Bakersfield, but I wonder. Hallmark put us on the lowest care level first - i.e,. the least expensive (around $3000/mo), but after a few months they moved mom to the next level up (higher cost). I'm guessing Hallmark uses the first few (low cost) months for evaluation. Now the cost is around $4000/mo - a bit high for us, but so far we're making it. All in all, I highly recommend Hallmark. A friend of mine had his dad there and were also happy. I told mom it's like she's living in a docked cruise ship - she laughed but agreed.