Sodalis Austin had been under a different name, but they've remodeled, so everything was clean and spacious. I met with the admissions coordinator, and she had the nurse come in and sit with us for about 10 or 15 minutes so I could tell my mother's medical history. She asked questions, and I liked that very much, then she took me on a tour. She showed me the three different types of rooms they had. She took me to the dining room, to the outside, and the media room. She gave me the full tour. The dining room was very big, very spacious and because of COVID, the tables were spaced far apart. The high ceiling was very airy. I saw one room that was going to be too small for my mom, so we looked at the next bigger one. You could get in a hospital bed plus furniture, a small couch, and some chairs. They have cable connections for TV. They have the connections for a landline phone. The bathroom was really big to allow for wheelchairs to move around and walkers. They had a sit-down seat, and it was built in the shower. The closet was not that big, but by the time you get to that point in your life, you don't really need a huge closet. She also showed me a shared suite. It's a living room and a little kitchenette, and there were two separate bedrooms, so you would have a roommate, but you would share the living room and the bathroom. The staff was very personable. I like them a lot. The admissions coordinator told little stories about herself and she's worked at several other skilled nursing and assisted living places. They're very personable. There was a CNA that I talked with just briefly and she was very friendly. My main conversations were with the admissions director and the nurse for the facility. It was clean. They had activities. On Fridays, they will take the residents to Target or to H-E-B, to just get out and do a little shopping. She said they have a lot of fun doing that. They have a room that they call their media room and they had tables with puzzles, bookshelves with books, DVDs, and stuff, but she said they're in the process of turning that into a bistro and the residents are really excited about it. They have a hair salon. We went to a room that had a big screen TV where they could show them movies. It's an older building. She said it's been there 20 or 30 years. It's not as fancy as brand new ones, but it was clean and spacious. When I was waiting in the foyer for my tour, there were some ladies there with the activities director playing some games and they all were laughing and joking around. I did talk to a man in the dining room because my dad was a Vet and this man had his hat on that said Desert Storm. Otherwise, I didn't really talk to anybody else. The staff was very easy to talk to and you could relate to them and them to you. It had been remodeled. The carpeting looked fine to me, but she said that it was going to be replaced with something that's like tile, but it's not tile. They're still in the process of remodeling. The rooms she showed me were freshly painted and clean. The bathroom, like the sink, was sparkling. They might have replaced those things, too.

Sodalis Austin was a little older looking to me, but it looked homey. It was nice. It was a little above what I wanted to do. I like the entrances to where each person lives; it looked nice. It was clean. Some of the furniture looked a little worn, but it still looked homey. It's a little more expensive than the other facility. Their rooms were a little bigger; there's a little more square footage. Their outdoor facility was bigger, too. They have activities, and then they have special care for showering and toileting, and I like that. They have somebody on staff to do that. You have to pay extra for that. They have the same kind of activities as with the other place.

My mom is staying at Sodalis Austin. Occasionally, they'll help her dressed. The big thing is that the medication is given on schedule and meals are given on schedule. The various activities like the social activities are frequent in the evenings. They have a scheduled wash day for them to come and pick up the clothing and take it to the laundry and wash and dry it. I don't know if they're folding them back, I've never been there when they brought them, but I do know that their services are there. Now, for extra, they have a beautician that comes in for nails and hair and stuff like this. The other thing they have is the transportation to medical appointments. There's a certain day where you have to schedule your medical appointments. They have a brand-new bus that takes them. They also go out on outings, like they go to the malls. They really care for them. They give them good care and that's the one I like. I like the security. They have a memory care section. When you go in there, you can't just come right back out, and someone has to allow you to come out. It's a good place. The rooms are excellent. They have an excellent facility. They have excellent food. I haven't heard any complaints with the food. They have a daily menu. When you come in for breakfast, it's just like in the restaurant, you pick up the book, and you see what's available, and that's the way it comes. By looking at that, it's being prepared by professionals and designed by professionals. The dining area is excellent. It's just like walking into a restaurant. Everything is clean. Sometimes after dinner they'll bring a musician and entertain them for about a half and hour to an hour or so. They also have a library that has a lot of videos and puzzles and stuff like that. They keep them pretty busy. I have heard more complaints on maintenance more than anything, and usually when they have it they come in and take care of it. It appears that they weren't as prompt getting stuff done. I understand they were remodeling. In other words, they wanted to replace the little refrigerators in each of the rooms. They want to do all of the whole buildings, but they couldn't get back on them or something. Even with the shortage of staff, they are working full-time trying to keep up, but it is very obvious that they have issues doing it. The value for the money is good.

My parents are in Sodalis Austin. It's well kept up, and the staff seems really attentive, friendly, and professional. The units seemed kind of small; it's a one bedroom. They have freedom to come and go, and during the pandemic I felt like they were secure there, and the things they required of people visiting. They got everybody vaccinated, and they kept the email communication going with family members to let them know if a staff member got COVID or not, and what they were doing about it. They're on top of that. My parents don't really participate, but they have a wine and cheese night. They have a movie night. They have a wall where people who are veterans can put their framed picture up, and so they feel really important about that. My dad takes pride in that. They have some memory care type things too. The food is pretty good, and they have a variety.

Can't say enough good things about this place. Great facilities, amenities, food, and most importantly a great staff!

So far, Sodalis Austin has been very helpful. They did several things around Halloween and also several things that are meant to be mentally challenging, like word games. They just don't publish a large print version of their schedule of activities, because my mother cannot read the regular size. There were some times where communication has not been adequate when we plan to take my mom out for medical appointments, but they're very nice and they've resolved any issues we had very quickly. Having visited four other facilities, I considered this to be the best value, mostly because their assisted living price is inclusive of any specialized care that comes within their meds.

We chose here for my mother. Some of the staff members are really very caring. The food is fine and portions are OK but not the best. They have activities, like bingo, playing with a balloon for cognitive aptitude, and taking little walks to help them be more mobile. They also have little plays, board games, and so on. I would recommend them to others.

It was our second choice. It was nice. The grounds were pretty with flowers. Everything was good. The rooms were clean. I saw the menu, and they could cater to any dietary needs. They had activities, and the staff was very friendly.

It seemed to be fine. The place, and the people were really nice. It’s kind of homey because it’s not a great big multi-storey institutional type of place. The staff who assisted me were very accommodating. They have programs, and activities for the residents. They have three different sizes for the apartments.

It was nice. It was more unitarian; a little more regimented than the other one I visited. The staff were very nice. The rooms were more plain than the other facility we have visited. The general atmosphere at this facility was nice. The dining room was set up like a restaurant.

He's been in here, and it is the only one we visited. He said this is best for him, and he doesn't want to look anymore. My father-in-law has been living there for several months, and it has been fine. It seems to take care of his needs. I can't really be overly optimistic about it, but so far it has been fine.

I liked the location. It was the one closest to my home at that time. I thought it was very nice. The rooms were fine: not too big, and not too small. I didn't meet a lot of staff, and I spend a lot of time with the interviewer, the one who greeted me. Their activities were pretty much the same. They tried to keep them busy.

It was nice. They seemed to be okay and doing well.