Belmont Village of Burbank looks grand compared to the apartment buildings surrounding it. Inside, soft chairs invite residents to curl up and relax, perhaps in front of the stone fireplace. The whole image is elegant and serene. The dining room, lovingly called Josephine’s Kitchen in tribute to the woman who inspired the facility’s creation, was abuzz with conversation when we visited. Residents order from an extensive menu of options and enjoy meals prepared by a chef trained in Paris. The waitstaff serves salads, hot sandwiches and other tasty entrées such as shrimp scampi, barbecued ribs and glazed chicken teriyaki, all made to order. Healthy choices, low in fat and sodium, are always available. The Village Bistro near the lobby offers snacks like fresh popcorn at all hours. With an actual movie theater on-site, equipped with theater-style seats and surround sound, popcorn sure comes in handy! A different movie is shown every evening.
Belmont Village is equipped to accommodate any activity that residents may be interested in. In the mornings, a certified fitness instructor leads a strength training and cardio fitness class in the state-of-the-art gym. The computer center hosts several weekly computer classes. Regular activities include Bible study, scenic drives, Spanish language classes and regularly scheduled shopping trips. Bingo is a staple, of course, and there’s a special room dedicated to the ever-popular game. In the summertime, frequent barbecues take place on one of two patios, both of which are furnished with umbrella-topped tables. Free basic cable is a nice feature, much appreciated in inclement weather. Rooms vary in size and all have ample storage space. Groups of eight apartments share a parlor space in the hallway where residents often gather to share laughs over coffee.
The locked dementia unit differs from the other parts of the facility in both décor and programming. The lighting is softer and the carpets have fewer patterns. Resident rooms are comparable to the rooms in the other section, except that they lack microwaves. Activities are conducted far more frequently here and there is a higher staff-to-resident ratio. During our tour, we saw one resident with dementia wandering the halls. She had forgotten the location of her apartment and seemed a little distressed. A staff member led the resident to her room, reminding her of the picture of Mickey Mouse on the door, which normally helps the resident identify her room. This kind interaction was a wonderful representation of the management’s gentle approach to personal care.
