A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility

    1971 Port Malabar Boulevard, Palm Bay, FL, 32905
    3.9 · 13 reviews
      AnonymousLoved one of resident
      4.0

      Initially rocky, became loving care

      I placed my mom here - after a chaotic, confusing admission and a few concerning lapses (disheveled appearance and linens issues), the patient, loving staff quickly won us over. The small, homey facility feels family-like with personalized care, great meals, activities and outings; her weight, mood and clarity improved and she was genuinely happy. I recommend it, but be vigilant during intake and medication discussions.

      Pricing

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      Amenities

      3.92 · 13 reviews

      Overall rating

      1. 5
      2. 4
      3. 3
      4. 2
      5. 1
      • Care

        4.4
      • Staff

        4.4
      • Meals

        5.0
      • Amenities

        4.0
      • Value

        3.9

      Pros

      • Attentive, patient and accommodating staff
      • Personalized care with owner involvement
      • Small, family-like atmosphere fostering familiarity
      • Supportive and smooth onboarding for many families
      • Celebrations and personalized attention (e.g., birthdays)
      • Welcoming to visitors and residents' friends
      • High-quality medical care reported for many residents
      • Praise for meals and cooks
      • Active programming and outings (field trips, dancing, karaoke)
      • Activities such as reading to residents and special attention
      • Improved resident health and wellbeing (weight gain, stabilized conditions, improved mental sharpness)
      • Easy visitation and accessible staff
      • Responsive to daily calls

      Cons

      • Chaotic or unprofessional admissions process reported by at least one reviewer
      • Allegations of neglect/poor grooming (unshaven, disheveled residents)
      • Reports of wounds, dried blood on linens and skin tears
      • Pushy approach regarding dementia medication
      • Accusations of residents being accused of stealing
      • Older building that is not recently updated
      • Disorganized spaces and lack of a true living room/common area
      • Unpleasant smells reported
      • Depressing environment noted by some families
      • Inconsistent experiences — quality appears to vary between residents/stays
      • Safety concerns raised by some reviewers

      Summary review

      Overall sentiment: The reviews for A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility are mixed but lean positive overall. A plurality of reviewers praise the staff, describing them as attentive, patient, responsive and genuinely caring. Multiple families highlight the small size of the facility as an important advantage — it creates a family-like environment where staff and the owner provide personalized attention, celebrate residents (for example birthdays), and welcome visitors and friends. Several reviewers report clear improvements in their loved ones' health and wellbeing after moving in — weight gain, stabilization of medical conditions, improved mental sharpness, and increased happiness are specifically mentioned.

      Care quality and staff behavior: The most frequently cited strength is the quality of direct caregiving. Reviewers repeatedly note that staff "won them over," provided individualized attention, and treated residents with warmth and affection. Specific activities of care mentioned include hands-on interaction (reading to residents), special attention to daily needs, and responsiveness to daily calls. The owner and staff involvement comes through in multiple testimonials, which describe staff as having "hearts of gold" and genuinely loving the residents. These accounts indicate a consistent pattern of compassionate caregiving for many residents.

      Activities, dining, and engagement: Many reviews emphasize that the facility provides active programming and social opportunities. Reported offerings include outings and field trips, dancing, karaoke, an easy visitation policy, and staff-led activities like reading. The cooks are praised and meals are mentioned positively, which contributes to reports of improved weight and general wellbeing for residents. Families who value a small-home atmosphere and regular social engagement highlight these elements as major pros.

      Facility condition and environment: The facility's small, home-like character is a draw, but the physical building and common spaces receive mixed assessments. Some reviewers describe the facility as clean, orderly, and safe, while others describe an older home that hasn't been recently updated, with disorganization, no clear living-room setting, and unpleasant smells. One reviewer explicitly called the environment "depressing," suggesting that aesthetic and comfort standards may vary by room or by reviewer expectations. Potential residents who prioritize modern amenities or well-appointed communal living spaces may find the facility lacking.

      Safety, admission, and consistency concerns: While many accounts are very positive, there are significant negative reports that should not be overlooked. One reviewer described a chaotic and unprofessional admission process and serious care lapses: a pushy approach to dementia medication, a resident being unshaven and disheveled, dried blood on linens, a skin tear, and accusations of stealing. These are severe allegations that raise questions about consistency of care, staff training, recordkeeping, and supervision. Multiple reviews note that experiences are inconsistent — some families have smooth onboarding and feel confident in the care, while at least one family experienced what they characterized as unsafe and accusatory behavior. Because the negative accounts are serious, they represent a notable risk area and a pattern that prospective families should investigate further.

      Patterns and recommendations for families considering this facility: The prevailing pattern is that A Place Like Home often delivers a warm, family-style environment with attentive staff, good food, active programming, and measurable improvements in many residents' wellbeing. However, the facility also appears to have variability in execution — some families report cleanliness and safety, others report neglect and clinical or administrative problems. Given these mixed reports, families should: (1) visit multiple times including during different shifts, (2) ask about medication policies and dementia care protocols, (3) request to see current room assignments and linens, (4) check recent inspection reports and incident logs, (5) speak with several current families or residents, and (6) evaluate whether the older-home environment meets their needs. These steps will help determine whether the facility's strengths match a particular resident's priorities and whether any reported shortcomings have been addressed.

      Conclusion: A Place Like Home appears to be a small, personable assisted living option that can be an excellent fit for residents who thrive in a family-like setting with engaged staff, activities, and good food. At the same time, the facility has at least one very concerning negative report involving admission chaos and alleged neglect, and several reviewers cite an older, sometimes depressing physical environment. Those considering this facility should weigh the strong caregiving testimonials against the documented safety and cleanliness concerns and perform targeted due diligence to confirm consistent quality of care.

      Location

      Map showing location of A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility

      About A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility

      A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility sits at 1971 Port Malabar Blvd NE in Palm Bay, Florida, about halfway between Babcock Street and US Hwy 1, and this small care home has just six beds in a one-story building, which gives it a cozy "Bed and Breakfast" feeling and makes it easier for residents to get around. The community has both private and semi-private rooms, all furnished, with Wi-Fi and cable TV in the common areas, and there's a dedicated dining room where residents share three home-cooked meals each day, including snacks, with options for kosher, vegetarian, allergy-sensitive and diabetes diets. Meals can be adjusted to meet special dietary needs, and housekeeping, laundry-including dry cleaning-and move-in coordination are standard, so daily chores do not have to be a worry.

      Residents find a peaceful, homelike setting, with both indoor and outdoor common spaces, including a secured fenced backyard with a pergola, gazebo, shade, and a roman fountain. The facility welcomes male and female residents, non-smokers, and pets, and the staff, led by Dr. Diane Walker, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in Geriatric Care, provides round-the-clock supervision and emphasizes safety first. There are nurse and doctor services on call, plus a dentist available, and residents can also receive physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as podiatry services. Adult day care and respite care for short-term stays are available, and the micro community accepts those with limited mobility, offering wheelchair accessible showers and non-ambulatory care.

      Medication management, help with bathing, dressing, transfers, and incontinence care are available, as well as assistance with all activities of daily living. Memory care programs cater to those with Alzheimer's and dementia and are designed to keep residents mentally and physically active in a safe, supervised environment. Staff create individual care plans after an assessment to make sure each person gets the support they need, with the option to "age in place" so residents can stay even as their needs change.

      Fitness and recreation programs, game nights, movie nights, outings, facilitated field trips, and social events like birthdays, holidays, and dancing are scheduled so residents have chances to socialize and bond. Devotional services, shopping trips, and regular club activities bring people together, and the facility values community spirit and the unique contributions of each person. Transportation for appointments and errands is provided, and there's resident parking for those who still drive. No smoking is allowed indoors.

      A Place Like Home Assisted Living Facility operates under State License AL11499, and its team keeps the setting clean, comfortable, and secure, with an emergency alert system in place. Residents who want a smaller, quieter, homey place, where the staff know everyone by name and where there's an easy pace, often find this environment peaceful and friendly. The home's simple elegance, warm staff, and a steady routine help many older adults feel comfortable and respected during their stay, whether for short-term respite or long-term living.

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