Mission Statement

Hart’s Place operates a six bed elderly care facility, dedicated to providing a comfortable, friendly and family environment to our residents.

Facts about Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)

A license is required to provide room, board and care for the elderly.  Facility can be large, serving many, or a single family home, with 6 beds or less.  Some of them are multi-tiered communities made up of independent living, assisted living and nursing homes.

How to Find the Appropriate Facility for Loved Ones

Home is the most comfortable place a person can be but when one can’t take care of their affairs due to debility, or inability of the mind to function properly, assisted living is the next best choice.  Some who plan ahead are willing to leave their comfortable homes and get used to an assisted living environment while they can still adjust to and enjoy the change.  Others are not willing to give up their independence and the comfort of their homes, lingering even if they cannot fully take care of themselves or their affairs until totally incapable of doing so, unaware, or in a state of denial about their condition and are unable or unwilling to decide about making a change.  Usually the decision becomes the burden of the conservator, or a close family member, who is sometimes one and the same.

What to look for in a facility

Several factors need considerations:  one’s previous lifestyle, personality, capabilities, affordability and proximity to loved ones.  Large facilities for the affluent offer restaurant-like dining where one orders food from a menu.  They offer scheduled “happy hour” entertainment and outings.  Active clients are attracted by such amenities such as activity programs, grandiose living quarters, beautiful furniture, dining rooms with tablecloths, and even outdoor gardening.

When physical or mental condition change they are moved to a higher level of care where monitoring and more assistance is required for their daily needs, involving increased fees.  Some are no longer able to enjoy the amenities surrounding them.  Personal assistance, supervision and monitoring become the most important services required.  It is this level where Hart’s Place is the most appropriate choice.

Our Clients

Hart's Place clients are classified into two:  Active elderly and Frail elderly.  The active elderly usually choose his/her own activity.  The Vista Bringle Senior Center, only about one mile from the facility is our primary resource.  A copy of the center's monthly activity schedule is provided.  From the Schedule residents choose their interest and participate on activities such as lunch with friends, bingo, dancing, movies and scheduled outing.  Transportaion is provided, coordinated and supervised by Clavel, the administrator.  The frail elderly needs higher level of maintenance, unable to care for self, requiring assistance in many or all of their living needs.  They are typically happy just to sit on a couch, reading, watching TV, playing cards or word puzzles, and taking naps.

Be aware that "absentee operators" who own numerous small facilities may have only one live-in care-giver per facility.  These can skimp in every operation ranging from food, maintenance or round the clock staff.  At Hart's Place, I live in my facility, administer and manage the daily affairs of my business, and make sure my residents are clean, safe and well nourished.  Any sign of skin deterioration is addressed without delay.  Any change of behavior or health is immediately reported to the resident's doctor and family members. 

These residents require structured scheduling, by the same familiar people and the same familiar methods daily. This familiar routine eases their fear and alienation. Their bond with caregivers gradually evolve into friendship.  This is more readily possible in a small facility when operator and staff live in the same house where the client is considered a family member.  This seldom occurs in large facilities with high staff turnover, unfamiliar faces, and methods of assistance are unpredictable which alienate them.

Hart's Place is an environmentally friendly facility.  The lawn is mulched to save water - very important in Southern California.  Solar panels for electricity and hot water were installed to reduce our carbon footprint.  We focus on our residents' human needs with love, understanding and respect for their dignity. At this stage in their lives that is what they need.