I have visited the Washington Center for Aging Services in the past (last year and the year before) work related meetings. It appeared to be very nice and clean. The residents that were around during the visits I made seemed to be well cared for. I have known people that placed their loved ones in the facility and have heard mixed reviews of the quality of care they were receiving. In the same month from two different families. one, according to the family, was receiving really good care; the other was ready to pull his wife from the facility.

This facility, one of the largest in DC, offers skilled nursing and memory care in a separate unit. It is well run, especially for a large facility. The staff is all professional, and there are no untended behavioral issues with the residents. The building, which rises up three levels, sits up on a hill. Inside, it is kept very clean, despite how large it is. No odors are evident. But the décor, which is coordinated by color on each floor, makes it look and feel very much like a nursing home. There is a beautiful chapel onsite, and outsiders are occasionally called in for programs. There is also a day room on each floor with activities. But most residents seem to stay in their rooms, even though they are encouraged to go out. There is not much of a social feeling here. The food is cafeteria-style; the residents eat in their own rooms or the day rooms on each floor and section, which is furnished with very basic tables and chairs. There is a well-staffed rehab unit right on the premises. It's nice that the staff there coordinates all the care that may be required"”from lab work to physical therapy. And there are nurses' aides and nurses on each floor. But the staff doesn't seem particularly personable or friendly"”even with family members. They do their jobs, but don't give extra caring or take a special interest in residents' needs.