A Surfside Sanctuary Assisted Living Facility sits about 800 feet from the ocean and two blocks from the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Florida, so you get a good breeze and some fresh air now and then, and you'll see that the building has been renovated to offer a small, home-like setting since the new owners took over back in February 2015, so folks can expect more of a real community than a big institution, and it's licensed by the state for standard assisted living, limited mental health, and extended congregate care (sometimes called ECC), letting residents stay here even if their care needs change. This community cares for up to eight residents at a time, so you don't get lost in the crowd, and the staff aims to give support with bathing, dressing, medication, and meals, always paying attention to everyone's own needs instead of making up set rules for everyone, and you'll find professionally licensed caregivers on site all day and night.
Residents can "age in place" at Surfside Sanctuary, so they usually don't have to move if they need more help, and there's a focus on giving as much independence as possible without skipping safety or comfort. Inside the building, you'll find both indoor and outdoor common areas where people like to gather, plus private rooms with their own bathrooms, tubs, and wheelchair-accessible showers for those who need them, and there's outdoor space for taking in the sun or enjoying the breeze, or a little gardening if that's something you enjoy, because they have a gardening club and sometimes get everyone together for community gardening. The staff includes people who speak Spanish, and they offer meals prepared with attention to nutrition, so no one has to worry about their diet, and meals are included along with housekeeping, laundry, grocery runs, and help with errands. If you want to get out and do things, they arrange day trips, outings, stretching classes, art and cooking classes, gardening, and even wine tastings, plus birthday and holiday parties, and the door is open for community service projects or devotional activities offsite.
For people living with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, Surfside Sanctuary has a secured memory care neighborhood with an enclosed courtyard to stop wandering, and they're able to give therapies aiming to reduce confusion or distress, working to keep everyone as comfortable and calm as possible. They also handle ambulatory care, diabetic care, medication management, high acuity care for folks with bigger medical needs, and have staff on site to meet those needs, not to mention hospice-like support when it's needed. Smoking's only allowed outdoors, and there's parking for residents, plus transportation services for a fee. Rooms are set up for accessibility, and there's Wi-Fi, cable, dining room, game room, salon, and fitness center for everyone to use, with a sprinkler system and other safety features in place. The goal at A Surfside Sanctuary is to give seniors a safe and nurturing home where people can stay involved, stay comfortable, and get the care they need, whether that's just a hand now and then, a place to call home for a short stay, or more help if their needs change down the road.
