The Forum at Park Lane — Local services in Dallas

Home is where the heart is, and heart makes The Forum at Park Lane a place to call home. I visit my parents there often. Each time, I find a place warmed by the staff and people who live there.

The Forum is an integrated community. My parents started out in independent living, but some years later my dad was best served in healthcare. We learned how nice it is to be able to stay within the Forum family as needs change.

The people who staff the Forum are wonderful. They care about the people they serve and work as a team. Everyone, at all levels, relates with residents like family. The Executive Director views his job as a calling. That sets the tone.

The dining room blends hospitality with personal service, without pretentiousness. The food is excellent, with a menu offering new items as well as favorites. Special buffets are offered on holidays for residents and their families. The collegial atmosphere and service evokes memories of celebratory dining on a vacation cruise.

From my observation, the residents at the Forum are kind, inclusive, interesting, caring and fun. My parents were warmly welcomed and integrated from the start. Genuine people. Zero pretentiousness.

The Forum offers social activities throughout the year— “happy hours”, weekly bingo and “wi-bowling”, outings to area restaurants, guest entertainers and special programs for holidays. The social activities director engages residents as family and they regard him as a son. The Forum also provides social activities for assisted living and healthcare residents-- music programs, guest entertainers, games, happy hours and monthly outings to area restaurants and places of interest (with assistance as appropriate). Weekly religious services and daily exercise classes are offered to all.

The Forum provides local transportation support with drivers who know the residents like family. They are some of the nicest guys you could know. Residents can request light in home assistance via the Forum’s Ambassadors. They helped my dad before he moved to healthcare. Their caring expertise in-house was a real help.

Assisted living and healthcare has a “family within a family” feel. While the healthcare facilities appear a bit dated and are ready for upcoming planned upgrades, look to the hearts of the staff and the quality of care they provide. We have found the nurses, aids, therapists, dietary and activities staff devoted to the health and well-being of their residents. The rehabilitation services are excellent. When my parents moved to the Forum, my dad was recovering from surgery to repair a broken leg. The physical therapists skillfully provided rehab with patience and persistence, encouraging confidence and bringing him back to near full recovery. Now that he has moved to healthcare, they are providing the physical, occupational and speech therapy he needs to live, eat, socialize and enjoy life to his fullest potential. Before my dad moved to healthcare, I visited one day for what I might learn. I observed an aid assisting a man who, at the time, was a bit uncooperative. The aid, who did not know I was observing, continued to treat the man with utmost gentleness, speaking kindly to him as she completed her task. “Character is what one does when nobody is watching.”

While the Forum’s location is prime and the building and common areas are very nice, some deferred maintenance is evident. Thankfully, the Forum is now in the midst of a multi-million dollar facilities upgrade, which I hope will return it to first rate stature. Individual apartments are very nice. When my parents moved in, the Forum installed new carpet, paint and appliances for their apartment, giving it 100% new quality.

As my sister recently told me, “Every time I walk into the Forum, I feel joy, knowing that Mom and Dad are there—where they are happy and safe, and are surrounded by such nice people and have whatever they need.” Yes,...

My mother moved to the Forum 12 years ago in 2007, and lived in the independent living area. Over the years, she needed extra help, and moved into Assisted Living in 2016. It was the best decision we could have made with her.

During her time in assisted living, it was like being part of a very large family that was there to help take care of our mother. Our family became friends with all the staff, and we knew them all by name. It was a true blessing that Mother found a place to call home when she moved to Dallas.

After a time in the original assisted living building, she was able to move into the newly renovated building, which is beautiful. They have large spacious rooms, complete with living rooms. The community dining room is spacious with delicious food, and they also have a beauty shop, activities center, country store, living room, and library. Everything that she could possibly need.

The staff was so attentive to her needs, from the CNAs to housekeeping to the dining staff and extra curricular activities, where they accompanied her on many outings. The physical therapists were always available to help when needed. The director of Assisted Living was superb! She was always available, and answered phone calls and texts immediately, and made sure that any concerns or questions that we had were handled promptly. Everyone went out of their way to make the residents feel special, with themed dinners, special Christmas dinner, and social activities. The positive moral among the employees seems to rub off on everyone there...it is a very positive atmosphere.

I can't say enough good things about the Assisted Living at the Forum. To us it was a wonderful home for our mother, where she was happy and well cared for. We will miss going there, but feel like we have made many new friends. I would really recommend visiting the Assisted Living at the Forum if you feel like you are looking for a place for...

After my father unexpectedly passed my brother and I realized that mom was not living a fulfilling lifestyle. She was not taking care of herself as well as she could nor was she eating healthy. We knew that if changes were not made she would not be with us for very long. I researched many retirement communities before selecting the Forum. There are a lot of new and expansive communities but none had the value of the Forum. The residents are so warm and welcoming, the location is ideal, close to everything and the food is second to none. The steaks are better than Del Frisco’s and they have an exercise class to help maintain her weight from all of the delicious meals that are included. My mom actually lost 3 inches off her waist in the first week because she was finally eating healthy meals. Plus as a bonus her expenses at the Forum are much lower than the expenses of her beloved home, which she does not miss at all. She is safe, secure and most importantly she is over the moon happy. She like every other resident at Thr Forum says the same thing “I wish I had moved in 5 years ago.” I’m now counting the days until I can move into this amazing community myself. I’m actually jealous of my moms full social calendar but I am thrilled to see her happy and healthy. I know at the Forum she will thrive for MANY...