JM
Julienne Mason
3 days ago
My mom lived at Bellaview in Lehi for nearly 26 months. Writing this review is incredibly difficult because while there were many things we truly loved, there were also serious issues that left me deeply frustrated and hurt. I believe families deserve to know both.
First, I want to recognize the CNAs. We became very close to several of them and truly consider them family. They were kind, compassionate, dedicated, funny, supportive, patient, and smart. Being a CNA is one of the hardest jobs there is. They work long hours, aren't paid nearly enough, and often endure verbal abuse from residents, yet continue to show kindness every day. There's a saying that a facility is only as good as its CNAs, and I completely agree. They are the heart of Bellaview.
The facility is beautiful, welcoming, and well maintained. From the moment you walk in, there's a calm atmosphere. The central gathering area is wonderful for visiting and enjoying musical performances, which my mom loved.
The food was hit or miss. My mom and many of her friends felt the same way. I know it's impossible to please everyone's tastes, so I don't view that as a major criticism.
Bellaview also offered a wide variety of activities. The activity director was exceptional. She organized wonderful events and transformed the building for every season and holiday with beautiful decorations. Residents, families, and staff were all shocked when she was let go.
One concern was the amount of turnover. We expected some turnover among CNAs because that's common in healthcare. What surprised us was the turnover in leadership and key positions, including the care coordinator, cook, nurse, marketing director, activity director, and administrator.
The biggest weakness I experienced at Bellaview was communication. It wasn't an isolated issue. Throughout my mom's stay, there were repeated breakdowns between the care coordinator, nurse, administrator, and frontline staff. My brother and I visited daily, so we could usually catch problems and advocate for my mom. It made me wonder how residents without family nearby were getting the care they needed.
It pains me to say this, but I was deeply hurt by my mom's end-of-life care.
I stayed with her 24 hours a day during her final days and learned firsthand how important it is to have an advocate.
One night, despite repeated efforts, we were unable to get my mom the morphine prescribed through hospice. Before that night, I made sure the hospice nurse, Bellaview staff, and administrator had everything entered into the electronic medication system because communication had already been an ongoing issue. Yet when my mom desperately needed comfort medication, it wasn't available for the staff to administer.
The CNAs were not at fault. They simply could not legally administer medication that wasn't properly documented.
I repeatedly texted, emailed, and called the administrator and nurse that night, but I couldn't reach either of them. I even spent hours trying to find contact information for the owners but couldn't reach anyone.
Watching my mom suffer while being unable to get help was one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. I stayed awake all night feeling helpless. When the next shift of CNAs arrived, I gave them an earful, but I also made it clear my frustration wasn't with them. They were doing everything they legally could. My frustration was with a system where no responsible decision-maker could be reached during an emergency, causing unnecessary suffering.
No family should ever have to experience that.
I genuinely hope Bellaview addresses its communication problems because I believe they are fixable. Despite the challenges we experienced, there are many positives, including its beautiful environment, exceptional CNAs, and strong sense of community.
I don't write reviews lightly, and I don't enjoy writing negative ones. But families deserve an honest picture of both the strengths and weaknesses of a place where they may entrust the care of someone they love.