Baywood Court Retirement Community

My mom moved into Baywood Court Independent Living facility 5 years ago this month, and has been very happy with her decision to do so. She made the choice on her own after living alone in her Pleasanton home as a widow for the 5 previous years.
Baywood Court has provided a beautiful 1 bedroom apartment overlooking the courtyard pool, with safety features including emergency pull strings and electronic devices, a daily check-​in system, 2 meals per day and enough activities everyday to keep my mom out of that beautiful room.
Mom has made friends and acquaintances, and maintained a zeal for life even as «senioritis» attempts to take its toll, as it does to all humans. We all grow older (it beats the alternative!), we all have some health issues. Baywood has helped me to help my mom live well, have fun and enjoy life.
Baywood’s facilities staff is composed of competent, and kind gentlemen, several of whom I’ve had the opportunity to interact with over several years. They help above and beyond «the work order» and always with a big heart and a smile.
Baywood’s administrative staff has been very helpful from the first day we walked in the doors, through today, 5 years later. I am in constant contact with the Resident Services Manager, the Assistant to The Executive Director, and the Manager of Food and Beverage, not because I require their services (often), but because they are friendly and helpful.
This week I threw Mom a birthday party, and I couldn’t have done it without help from Food Services. Charlie and her staff, in particular, Mindy, helped make this little occasion for 12 become a banquet of pure elegance.
I have read all of the previous reviews here on Unilocal,several times each, and though I do not always disagree with some of the points made, I do disagree with the negativity I read within. I am an active part of my mom’s life at Baywood. If «we» are unhappy about the food or the service, and we speak kindly to the staff, we are very well cared for. Serving 200 meals three times per day is difficult without serving a few «Bar Mitzvah Chicken» dinners. But fortunately there are options, including soup and salad bars, and yes, kitchenette’s in the apartments. The same holds true for the health center. Support your nurses and caregivers, and they will support you.
In closing I say to all Unilocalers, when writing a review, please look for the good in all people and establishments. Be helpful and kind, compliment when possible. Identify a few blemishes, but be sure to polish the pearls.

I am generously giving two stars, because Baywood does offer some nice amenities. There are many events and classes to keep the residents engaged. They offer a shuttle to medical appointments and shopping. The rooms are reasonably nice and overall the appearance of the facility is a plus. However, I would not recommend to anyone to move there at this time, because it seems to be heading downhill in terms of the most important thing: the FOOD. Two years ago, when my parents moved to Baywood, the meals were outstanding. We all enjoyed visiting and enjoying meals in the dining room. Not long after that, the management decided they could do a better job preparing the meals in-​house which I’m sure saved a lot of money (savings obviously not passed on to the residents, who get increases in their rent every year). Since then, things have deteriorated and are now at an all time low! The portion sizes are often pitiful as well. Yet the residents have no options. There is no opting out of the meal plan, nor do they have the option to purchase fewer meals. The only plan is 2 meals per day, and the meals do not accumulate if they are not used. It’s a ripoff! Things are even worse when there is a Norovirus outbreak, which seems to happen at least twice per year and keeps the residents locked in their rooms for generally 2 – 3 weeks. The meals served in room are the worst! My father passed away recently and it just makes me so sad that in his final days, he could not have any appetizing meals. I am tempted to try and move my Mom somewhere else. I do not want her quality of life to suffer because of unresponsive management who seem unconcerned with how residents are feeling about this major issue. These residents are wonderful people who have contributed to society and worked hard to enjoy their retirement years, and now should be cared for with respect. They are paying a lot to live at Baywood. They deserve better!

Seniors move into facilities like Baywood for many reasons, few, if any, of them positive. They may have lost a partner; their health is failing; they can no longer care for themselves, etc. To Baywood’s credit, they do offer opportunities for seniors to socialize (when they’re not shut down with the Norovirus). They have some classes and a long list of activities. But despite a great deal of money spent on a new kitchen and currently an upgraded dining room, the food is poorly prepared and unappealing on every level. Baywood seems unable to keep a head chef on staff. It is unclear why they don’t stay, but many of the residents feel that the director who oversees the kitchen is a very difficult person to work with. The administration offers copout excuses for the constant turnover of staff. Long-​time residents look back wistfully on the days when they had a wonderful chef and excellent food. But no longer! Baywood does have resident committees, including one that focuses on food, but the committee members feel that their input is disregarded, and that, in fact, they have little or no influence. Residents seem dispirited, and morale is very low. When one is old, and when one’s world is considerably smaller than it once was, a nourishing, tasty meal should be something that can be counted on, not something that is a fond memory. I cannot recommend Baywood because of the subpar kitchen.

My grandmother recently moved to Baywood, and so far, the change has been pleasant.
The living conditions here are great, with everything neatly maintained and things spick-​and-​span — and rightly so! The addition of a library, general store, and general lobby area, though small, are all welcome.
The staff are attentive enough, and are willing to help you with your every need. It seems like they can be a little overprotective at times when it comes to checking in and out, but they are not too intrusive overall.
I won’t be living in a place like this for quite some time, but those looking for a community could do a lot worse than this place.

My grandma stayed here recently for about 3 weeks after her knee surgery. Before the surgery, she was given a choice of where she would want to go after the hospital. My boyfriend, who is a paramedic, said hands down, Baywood was the cleanest, and where she needed to go. Overall the nurses were nice to her, and she survived her stay. However, I think she was a little stressed the whole time, since they had her hooked up to various machines to keep her leg moving, ice on it, etc. She had to keep a constant eye on the clock and remember to hit the button to call someone in (usually takes about 10 mins to get someone) to unhook her, since the nurses themselves did not keep track of this for her. This is the same when she needs to get up for the bathroom. I know she was not exaggerating since my family was out there with her most of the time and saw it ourselves. I was afraid to take off any of the machine myself, in fear of breaking them… or her.
Although it was managable for the time being, I shudder to think of the other places where my boyfriend did NOT want her to go. Just make sure you and your family member staying here are aware of what needs to be done as far as therapy, food, bathroom, medicine, and make sure you see that it gets done!

Our 98 year old Grandmother is currently in there skilled nursing center! Cleanliness is a 5, staffing is a 4 and the food is a 3 at best! They keep asking Grandma about her loosing weight? If you had to eat there bland offerings you’d loose weight too!!!

My mother lives there and is happy. They provide social activities and they encourage interaction. The staff in general is very good. They provide shuttle service for general errands, and provide some basic services such as a decent laundry facility. However, I only rated them 3 stars because I had major difficulties with the administrative staff not providing some documentation I REALLY needed, the facility is not aging well, and the waiting list didn’t make sense given how many vacant rooms they have. It just seems that you can’t get a clear answer on anything more complicated than «what’s for dinner tonight?»

Baywood’s Skilled Nursing Facility is most definitely one or two notches above the rest (at least in this part of the East Bay). My mother’s needs were very well taken care of by the nurses, CNAs, and the therapists. She had been in a facility in San Leandro in May 2009 and they did not compare to Baywood. The nurses were quite capable and compassionate. My mother was in this facility for 6 weeks and we don’t have one complaint. She was well taken care of daily.
It was good that we had such a wonderful facility so close to our home.

Baywood Court is a great place for senior from ages 60 and above. They are a only non-​profit community dedicated to helping seniors in the area. They have a lot of different programs and the residents are always happy to be there. The Staff is great and very helpful & informatve.

This place is downright horrible. Yeah it looks like a resort until you take a look at the nursing staff and the people running the facility. My grandma was here for two months, she was recovering from a severe stroke. she was in the ICU and hospital for 29 days never leaving her bed. she opened her eyes maybe an hour in that 29 days, lifted an arm maybe 20 times, and couldn’t say a word. We were told it didn’t look good.
Once she was out of critical care she was moved to a rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility. She was moved on a Tuesday at 4:30pm. She had her eyes open from 4:30 that day until 9:00 that night. That was a miracle. Over the course of weeks that turned into months she was regaining movement, alertness, and vocals. I would tell her Grammy, pucker up… and she would. id kiss her hand and shed kiss mine.
Remember how i noted that shed been in the hospital a total of 29 days never leaving her bed? i also forgot to mention she hadn’t had any form of bed sore, not a scratch, not a bruise, not a blister. On the 6^th day of being in Baywood Court, she mysteriously came up with a small bed sore at the top of her bottom. bed sores range from level 1: being small, unopened blister like sore, to level 4: put it this way, there is no level 5. once it has gotten to level 4 the infection spreads into the muscles and bones. Painful?
When my grandma died yesterday, her bedsore was a level 4 and an inch deep.
You would think a stage 4 would take weeks and weeks to get that bad, but if you went off of what the CNA’s, RN’s, and even the director of nursing said the sore «was getting better, she was really making progress.» We decided to get a specialist, because to us, it did NOT look better. The specialist couldn’t believe their eyes, had rarely seen a bed sore of this magnitude. But i thought she was getting better?
I had asked my grandmothers social worker one day…” Why does she have this bedsore? aren’t they from LACK OF CIRCULATION & NOT BEING TURNED OFTEN ENOUGH? because every article we’ve read every doctor or specialist we talked to told us the same thing… its from lack of circulation and not being turned often enough. She replied «Sweetie, you have been misinformed. Your grandmother is in a very compromised state.» then turned and walked away.
I will end in saying my Grammy gave it the best fight she had in her. She gave it her all for us. She is amazing and will always be remembered. If you are considering putting your loved one in this facility please be warned. Listen to my Grammy’s story.

Baywood Independent living is great. Barbara and Lindsay are excellent. The rooms are great, fun activities, and delicious food. Assisited Living has great staff but they charge extra for help like with dressing.
The SNF has great PT and OT but the nursing staff appears inexperienced

My grandmother has been living at this facility for about 2 years now and we’ve had nothing but positive experiences with them. The staff are wonderful and very supportive, and they plan lots and lots of activities for the residents. The food is supposedly not the best, but the seniors regularly revolt and the kitchen has become slowly and incrementally more responsive to their needs. My grandmother’s apartment is a very decent-​size one-​bedroom unit with a view of the courtyard and a nice patio. She has made lots of friends (and even has a boyfriend now!). Over the past several months, my grandmother has endured some medical setbacks and we have had terribly negative experiences with nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and residence care. The staff at Baywood has been very supportive and have been working with us to get my grandmother back there as soon as possible. My family is really happy with this facility and my grandmother loves living there. Considering the way most facilities disregard seniors and fail to care for them properly, Baywood is definitely a notch above the rest.

The facilities are nice but they are very disorganized. The waiting list is long & even once you are at the top the move in date changes.
Thank goodness there will be more competition in this type of facility & they will either have to get up to speed or loose out on business.