La Tourellière et Les Cotonniers

My mother was once in a psychiatric hospital, and it was awful. She was traumatized. She was left in her own urine for hours, and I was the one who noticed because it smelled so strong, and her pants and bed were soaked. My mother didn't like the food and lost weight during her stay. One day she felt unwell, and I even called an ambulance for her because I had rung the call bell, but no one came. When she left, her oxygen levels were low, and her lips were starting to turn blue. An attendant arrived just as the ambulance was pulling up. Even the paramedics were amazed and told me I had done the right thing by calling them; otherwise, she would have died within hours. Sadly, she passed away two weeks later. She had had hip surgery. Attendants hurt her several times while she was being moved. However, I also encountered some excellent, caring, and empathetic attendants who took good care of her.

My 95-year-old mother has been at Les Cotonniers for about 10 days for an evaluation so she can be referred to the most appropriate facility. Since she arrived at Les Cotonniers, it's been a nightmare. For the past three days, my mother has been left lying in her own urine for several hours without being changed, with urine on the floor that almost reaches her neighbor's room. We went to get staff to clean, and they found the phone under the bed. This means that since she's been at Les Cotonniers, the room hasn't been cleaned, because I didn't know she had a phone in it. The staff kept passing the buck, trying to avoid taking responsibility for the cleaning and for not changing my mother. Yesterday, my mother fell in her room. Luckily, her neighbor called me, because my poor mother spent an hour and a half on the floor before being moved. The roommate rang the bell, but no one came, so she had to shout to get an attendant to show up. When I arrived, I asked the attendant if an ambulance had been called, and he said no, because it required authorization from the nurse on duty, who wasn't even at the facility. I had to argue with the attendant, telling him that if he wasn't going to call, I would. In total, she spent an hour and a half lying on the floor before the paramedics arrived. While talking to the attendant, he told me it was their protocol to ask the nurse's authorization before calling an ambulance. It's disgusting to treat an elderly person like that... What's more, they never called me to tell me my mother had fallen; luckily I left my number with the roommate. They also told me it was protocol not to call before she left in the ambulance, so she could spend a lot of time lying on the floor without being called. Imagine an elderly person having a heart attack; the attendant would wait for the nurse's authorization before calling an ambulance. I just hope the nurse answers... I don't know who the genius is in charge of protocols at this center, but it's terrifying. To top it all off, they forgot to give her her pills; my son had to tell them. I'm telling you, it's frightening to be getting old and think there's a possibility of ending up in a place like this. Tomorrow I'm going to file an official complaint directly with the center and with the government.

My husband was at Les Cotonniers for almost two weeks this past December. We were very happy with the treatment he received from the staff. When I first read the reviews, I was really concerned. But while waiting for his arrival at the reception, I saw how a challenged man was nicely treated by a staff member and I felt that maybe the place was going to be nice. Indeed, he was well taken care by nurses, helpers and physiotherapists. The physiotherapist, besides the exercises she prescribed him, she helped us to get all needed for him to come home early. Many thanks to Tamar, Stephanie, Miriam and many others that help in caring for him.

At first glance, when you walk in, it's beautiful and welcoming, but getting to the elevator is confusing. There's no staff at the reception desk, so there's no one to give you directions. I had no choice but to bother the people setting the tables to find out the way. My favorite thing is that at least the residents all eat together, and the meals look delicious 🥰. The staff on the dining room floor are very kind and smiling ♥️. But two of the nurses on the third floor have a serious lack of education and basic manners; one of them is incredibly rude, which is unacceptable. Example: My grandmother broke her collarbone and needed a splint (normally, if you don't know how to put it on, you should at least Google it). But no, they didn't care at all and left my grandmother without a splint. She was all twisted up in her bed, and when I got to the foot of her bed, she was crying. She was in so much pain, and they weren't gentle with her. So I went to see the two staff members on her floor and explained that she needed to wear her splint and why no one had put it on her. The answer they gave me was that they didn't have time for that. Imagine, they were sitting there laughing their heads off, and then I get told they didn't have time to put on a splint! 😡 Stop choosing just anyone and take the time to listen to your residents about what's happening, and whether everything is going well with the nurses!

I've worked in different centers and, having to relocate my parents, Les Cotonniers would be my first choice. The staff is courteous, the medical team is dynamic and competent, and the woman who runs the recreation activities creates an incredibly stimulating and refreshing atmosphere. A very beautiful, clean, and safe place.