The Hamlets at Vernon, an Optima Living community

I have worked in two Hamlet facilities and have loved them both. I moved to vernon three years ago and watched the hamlets in vernon being built. They have welcomed me with open arms and I am very proud to work with the hamlets family . Feels like home away from home ♡ The staff and management are very caring and an amazing bunch to work with. Always lots of smiles ♡ #lovemyhamletsfamily

I'm looking to bring my parents to BC to retire and Vernon sounds like the prefect town for them. With the Hamlets being right downtown with so many services offered in house I'm planning to visit from the coast to see for myself as I'm very impressed with what I see online. They have a great Facebook page and it's lovely to see such an engaged & loving community.

My mother was a resident at The Hamlets Vernon for 5 months. I give the care she got zero stars. Staff spoke to her as if she was a toddler, not an educated 96 yr old woman. She is visually impaired and requires assistance which is why she was in LTC , unfortunately the care she received was minimal, when we enquired if she was getting assistance with her daily needs we were told to read the Hamlets care document. This document declares they provide comprehensive care. Our definition of this differs immensely. Her laundry was done, however it was not folded but rolled, sometimes inside out, something she could not see, it was rarely put away just shoved thru the door in a basket and left until I came for my weekly visit . At 96 mom requires a walker and could not lift the basket to put her clothes away, nor could she see into the dark wardrobe. I was told her room was cleaned daily. If so the cleaner was more visually impaired than mom. Dead flowers on the floor from a bouquet she received in September were still on the floor in December. Her bathroom was disgusting at times so bad I gagged cleaning it. Mom received little to no help with day to day tasks. I came to visit one day , she had no socks or insoles in her shoes, her clothes were dirty and disheveled, her hair was on end, no glasses and hearing aids in with NO batteries. The hamlets solution to this was to have me be responsible for changing her hearing batteries when I visited. When we asked what her daily routine was, the response was that in October she had 553 minutes of recreation. Not what that recreation was , I believe the majority of it was 3 bus trips, to where, she had no idea. Visually impaired, seems no one could remember this. We tried several times to come to agreeable arrangements with the management unfortunately this was met with defense instead of solutions to the point where they suggested we move mom, something we had expressed we were not anxious to do, in the end it was our only recourse. Long term care for profit is about flow charts and graphs not a persons well being. She had a warm bed to sleep in and 3 meals a day which in her words were not great but tolerable, if this is all anyone wants then the Hamlets is their place. We were told several times that the staff cared SO much for the residents something I struggle to believe, when we moved her out NOT one person working there came to say goodbye or even acknowledge her. Obviously I do not recommend anyone consider living at The Hamlets. I had to put one star or could not post this, I DO NOT give the Hamlets even one star, as I stated it is my opinion they deserve zero stars.

We were extremely fortunate that a room was available at the right time. I feel that from the day we moved my mom in till I had to leave her. She settled in beautifully.The staff were extremely kind and accommodating with all our questions and concerns.The facility is modern, spacious, and exceptionally clean and fresh. I have been in a few senior’s homes and was very pleased with this facility.The smile my mom’s face was exactly what I needed to feel comfortable with the tremendous change in her life and leaving her in this care home.Thank you all for your help with this transition.

My thought is it is a beautiful building, and yes you do get your own private room, but if you love your family member this is one place that you should not put your family member into....looks can be deceiving. They do have a few really good care aides but they’re too far and few between, there has been no consistency with the RN’s and LPN’s resulting in gaps in charting, reporting, and following through quality care. I have a family member that has been in there for well over a year in full care. I am very familiar with the healthcare system for many years, what is acceptable and what is absolutely not acceptable. This facility pushes the line! We all have to remember that the Hamlets is a private care facility, and the top priority is to make money.Here is an update on our situation. After writing our review on Friday, April 22/19 the CEO of Vernon Hamlets phoned and talked with us on Saturday the 23rd, and listen to our very serious concerns. He said he was going to look into what was going on and that he’d get back to us early next week, Monday 24 or Tuesday 25...it is now May 5 we have not heard anything from him!!! We have phoned him and left messages and still does not return our calls. Wow are you sure you want to put your loved one in this facility... as far as we know nothing has been rectified!!!! Not a thing has changed, we had no choice in the matter the hospital discharged her back into that facility.

The Hamlets is a fantastic place to work. As the HR person on site, I have the pleasure of working with a fantastic team and the honor of serving the amazing residents that call The Hamlets home!

I actually give the Vernon Hamlets negative 5 stars. I wouldnt send my worst enemy to live there. My grandmother lived at the Vernon Hamlets for a short time. A short time due to the absence of any care whatsoever. Where to start!? Well after only living there for a very short time her wedding ring went missing". Or rather I believe they were stolen by the staff who could care less about any resident there. I would call twice a week to speak with my grandmother to try and help keep her spirits and mental health up. Whenever the employee Jane would answer she would give me nothing but trouble for calling! Acting as if my grandmother's mental health means nothing to her because she was "too busy" to take my grandmother the phone. I actually asked an employee once if the care they give my grandmother was care she looked forward to receiving when she becomes an elder. Without missing a beat she answered "NO!" If that doesnt say all you need to know I dont know what does! What else? Well for meals instead of getting my almost blind grandma who uses a walker and assisting her to meals they would run past her door and shout in "DINNER 15 MINUTES!" Occasionally my grandmother would forget and consequently miss her meal! With not 1 staff member noticing. I would mail my grandmother her favorite chocolates. The employees would STEAL them. If you have any care for the elders in your life DO NOT SEND THEM TO THE VERNON HAMLETS!!!! When we moved my grandmother to a new home from the vernon Hamlets not 1 staff member came to wish her well or say goodbye. They told us the employees care so much bla bla bla. It's all BS. While my grandmother

I've worked in the health care industry for almost 40 years in and around the Okanagan Valley. I started a full time position over a year ago now at The Hamlets at Vernon. This is by far the the best job I have ever had. My co- workers are amazing. Management is absolutely awesome. I get up looking forward to coming to my job caring for our seniors. If you can't say the same about your position I invite you to become part of our family.Mary-Ann Kowalski (HCA)

The Staff of this facility have a huge passion for the care of the RESIDENTS. It is very resident-family centered. The Recreation activities are endless and creative. Opening a new facility always has its obstacles however thru diligence and hard work by all the STAFF, they come out on top! I would not hesitate to move any of my family members into this beautiful home! Kudos to all Care, Rec, Support Services , Admin staff, and management!

This is a terrible facility. Understaffed, non nutritional food(mostly carbohydrates and low quality everything else)I would avoid putting any loved ones here! Many of the staff have little to no love for their patients(there are a few excellent ones) however to few to care for the amount of patients that reside here. There have been many mix ups with medications and feedings . If I could post a negative star review -I would!