Habersham Retreat

CAUTION (CUIDADO!) What I had thought would be a good care facility for my mom, turned into a horrible experience. Untrained staff unable to care for dementia patients with specific needs opposite of the claims, ongoing issues with medication management and failure to provide prescribed medications, and upon making a complaint and respectfully requesting the staff to address her care needs, being attacked. So unprofessional!! Mom went without a medication for almost 2 weeks that is not supposed to be stopped abruptly. When I contacted the owner to notify him and ask him to address this and the fact that my mother had not bathed in at least a week (They could not give me a definitive day for her last bath), the owner responded by going to visit and attempt to intimidate my mom the following day as well as sending an unprofessional and atrociously inappropriate email with accusations along with stating my mother should just be “more positive about taking baths.” I was shocked at the owner’s response and hostility. She did not receive her medications as prescribed multiple times. She was not being given a diabetic diet as requested. And, she just left the facility and they did not include her diabetic meds so I had to make another trip to pick those up. It has been such a mess dealing with their staff. After my mom lived there for over a year with no medical issue or substantiated reason for discharge, the owner retaliated with a discharge notice without any care plan meaning or safety discharge plan 4 days after her sister’s memorial service. Heartless. The lack of concern or care of my mom’s wellbeing among the administrative staff and site manager was disturbing. No passion and love for their role working with seniors and the people there. Our loved ones deserve better. When they say it is a family owned business, they are telling the truth because most of the staff there seem to be family, and apparently even have a family member living there. There is a complete lack of accountability. I visited my mom, spent time talking with other residents, and played music for no charge at Christmas. I was always respectful to everyone. Last year i even referred a family to them that I now regret. Make sure when you are considering a home for your loved one that you visit the Georgia Department of Community Health site and look at their complaints and violations for a facility. There are many issues for this facility and violations from the state in 2025, including: failed to ensure that staff to use the care plan as a guide for the delivery of care and services, failed to ensure that refills of prescribed medications were obtained timely so that there was no interruption in the routine dosing for 2 of 4 sampled residents (straight from state violations stated on their website). They not only handled this poorly, but illegally based on the rights of seniors with certain conditions as well as fair housing laws and state regulations. I decided rather than make an appeal, which was within our rights, to move my mom for her safety and well-being.

I requested a tour of the facility for consideration of possible places to go to for assisted living. When we arrived, there was no feasible evidence of the main entrance. We finally asked someone outside where to go. Upon entering, we stated that we were there for a tour of the facility and had an appointment. A young woman who was sitting in the room tried calling someone. She said she would give us the tour. We spent most of the time in a recently vacated room discussing what was and wasn't available. From what I observed, the residents have no stimulating activities of any kind. They appear to be waiting on time to pass. That's not what I call living! There should be books, games, puzzles, something to do besides looking into space. The residents I spoke with said that it was the best and cheapest place their families found. That I believe! Cheapest, definitely! Best, still to be determined!