Overall sentiment across reviews of The Lakes Senior Living is strongly positive, with repeated praise for the quality of care, the friendliness and attentiveness of staff, and a robust schedule of activities—especially in memory care. Many reviewers explicitly state they would recommend the community, calling it one of the best options in the immediate area and a 5-star facility. Key strengths cited include consistent, attentive caregiving, chef-prepared and often homemade meals (apple pie was singled out), a clean and well-maintained campus, and a sense that the community offers good value for the price even though it is described as expensive by multiple reviewers.
Care quality and staff: Reviews emphasize excellent, attentive care and a caring staff culture. Nursing and caregiving teams are described as prompt, cheerful, and effective; family members report that their loved ones are doing well and comfortable. At the same time, multiple reviewers flag staffing shortages and turnover as a material concern—this is presented as an industry-wide issue but is also attributed to The Lakes specifically. Notable examples include a memory-care activity director who departed and was not replaced for months and reports of vacancies or a lack of temporary staffing. A few reviews mention interpersonal problems with a supervisor, which suggests occasional management or workplace-culture friction.
Activities and programming: Programming is a clear strength. Reviewers note an active schedule that includes group exercise after breakfast, bingo, live entertainment, reading-aloud programs, prizes, and a variety of memory-care-specific activities designed to engage residents. Many find the activities stimulating and helpful. However, one reviewer described the memory-care environment as more hospital-like and less homey, and another mentioned dementia-related activity limitations—indicating that program tone or appropriateness can vary by unit or individual need.
Dining: Dining receives consistently high marks. Several reviewers praise the variety and quality—chef-prepared meals, homemade-style offerings, and effective dietary accommodations. Smaller dining rooms were mentioned positively by some as facilitating good communication. A few reviewers either did not try the food or found the ambiance less appealing, but the dominant theme is that meals are tasty and well-managed.
Facilities and apartments: The community is described as clean, well-maintained, and with attractive amenities. Apartment specifics cited include one-bedroom ground-floor units around 570 sq ft and some units with balconies. Reviewers appreciate private bathrooms in individualized suites, though there are also complaints that some units have shared bathrooms, which was viewed negatively. Some residents found the decor/dark furnishings less to their taste, which is a subjective but recurring remark.
Maintenance and operational concerns: Several reviewers report maintenance issues and slow repair response times, with one specific example of automatic doors failing to open/close properly and repairs moving slowly. These operational weaknesses are important because they affect day-to-day convenience and safety. In addition, reviewers raised billing and transparency concerns—examples include family members having to supply toiletries, the possibility of ambulance bills despite 'all-inclusive' marketing, and instances where the 'all-inclusive' claim was questioned. These points suggest that prospective residents should clarify what is and is not included in published fees.
Cost and value: Cost is a recurring theme. Many call The Lakes expensive and note it is private-pay only; nevertheless, a majority of reviewers feel the higher price is justified by the quality of care, programming, dining, and facility upkeep—summed up often as "expensive but worth it." Several reviews explicitly call out strong value for money. Prospective families should weigh the cost against the amenities and care quality and ask detailed questions about billing and inclusions.
Patterns and recommendations: The dominant pattern is positive—residents and family members frequently recommend the community and report smooth move-ins, helpful admissions staff, and good communication in many cases. The main caveats to those endorsements are staffing instability, occasional management issues, some maintenance responsiveness problems, and billing clarity. For those considering The Lakes, recommend confirming current staffing levels (especially in memory care), asking about activity staffing continuity, clarifying exactly what fees cover (toiletries, transport, emergency transport billing), and inspecting units to confirm bathroom arrangements and décor.
In short, The Lakes appears to deliver high-quality, resident-focused care with strong dining and activity programs and well-kept facilities, which many families find worth the premium price. However, prospective residents should perform due diligence around staffing stability, maintenance responsiveness, and billing inclusions to ensure expectations align with the community's current operations.
