Overall sentiment for Elevated Estates at The Edwinola is highly mixed and polarized: many reviews express wholehearted praise for the staff, activities, historic charm and recent renovations, while a substantial number of reviews describe serious safety, cleanliness, pest, staffing and management problems. The property presents as an attractive, historic community with genuine strengths in resident life and social programming, but those positives coexist with recurring operational failures that have, in multiple accounts, led to harm, stress and loss of trust.
Facilities and setting: Reviewers consistently note the historic beauty of the main house, the long wraparound porch with rocking chairs, and attractive communal spaces such as a large dining room, sitting room with a piano, game room, salon, and a secure indoor garden/gazebo. Many apartments are described as roomy, with patios or balconies and wide hallways suitable for mobility devices. There is a newer remodeled wing and multiple comments about recent updates—vanities, flooring and refreshed decor under new ownership—which several families credit for improving the look and atmosphere. At the same time, the building’s age shows through: water leaks, HVAC outages, elevator unreliability, mildew and external trash/mold on cushions are repeatedly mentioned. Elevator breakdowns are a frequent operational complaint and are tied to accessibility and safety concerns (crowded waits, inability to move residents quickly). Outdoor amenities (a park across the street, fountain area) and porch gathering spaces are positive features but some outdoor areas are noted as needing further upkeep.
Staff, care quality and management: Staff receive the most polarized feedback. A large group of reviewers praise the caregiving teams, RN oversight, activities director and kitchen staff—calling them kind, attentive, knowledgeable, life-saving in some medical interventions, and highly supportive during transitions and move-in. Specific mention is made of staff who personally go above and beyond, and of improved responsiveness under newer management. Conversely, many reviews describe chronic understaffing, high turnover and serious lapses in care: delayed or absent assistance after falls, residents left on the floor, missed medications, inadequate bathing/personal care, and instances where families found unexplained bruises, black eyes or other signs of neglect. Management communication is another frequent pain point — unanswered calls/messages, poor follow-up after hospitalizations or deaths, and perceptions that the facility prioritizes money over resident well-being. Several reviewers reported that quality varies by shift and that some floors or staff teams provide much better care than others.
Safety, maintenance and sanitation: Safety concerns are prominent in multiple reviews. Besides the falls and delayed responses, there are reports of unsecured rooms and doors left open, exposed medical tubing or removed bathroom doors, and instances of resident assaults or mishandling. Maintenance problems—broken towel bars, lights out, elevator outages, no hot water for days, and air-conditioner issues—affect daily comfort and sometimes health. Sanitation and pest control are especially troubling in a subset of reports: cockroaches, bed bugs, rats in garbage and periods when rooms or common areas were described as filthy, with urine or feces odors. Other reviewers explicitly say insect problems were resolved under recent management, indicating variability over time and that corrective action has been taken in some cases.
Dining and services: Dining reviews are mixed. Several people highlight excellent, home-style meals, a newly improved kitchen/chef, two meal choices, two daily snacks, morning coffee and fruit bars, and staff that accommodate individual needs. Others report cold or insufficient food, choking risks due to dietary errors (e.g., improper modification for denture wearers), weight loss from poor meals, and general dissatisfaction with menu quality. Ancillary services include weekly laundry and light daily housekeeping (noted positively); however, some families say they had to intervene to clean rooms themselves. Transportation is limited to a community bus that many reviewers say is not set up for wheelchairs or scooters, which restricts accessibility and independence for some residents.
Activities and social life: One of the community’s strongest and most consistent positives is its activity program. Many reviewers praise a robust schedule (exercise, Bible study, bingo, Wii, crafts, sing-a-longs, outings), an engaged activities director, and numerous resident-run events and excursions. Residents often report feeling socially connected, busy and happy because of the program, which mitigates other concerns for those who prioritize social life.
Patterns and timeline: Several reviews suggest a timeline in which past problems (neglect, pest infestations, management unresponsiveness) were acute at certain points, and newer ownership or management changes have led to renovations, a new chef and improved culture in other reports. This suggests the facility has been undergoing transition—some reviewers explicitly praise recent improvements while others describe unresolved historical issues or areas not yet fixed. That transition creates inconsistency: experiences can vary widely depending on the timing of a stay, the floor, and the staff on duty.
Bottom line: Elevated Estates at The Edwinola offers many institutional strengths—a charming historic setting, roomy updated units, an energetic activities program and a contingent of highly committed staff—making it a good fit for residents who prioritize social engagement and a homelike atmosphere. However, the community is also repeatedly flagged for serious operational and safety shortcomings in many reviews: understaffing, inconsistent caregiving, maintenance failures (notably elevators and HVAC), pest/sanitation incidents, medication and communication problems, and transportation limitations. Prospective residents and families should (1) verify current management and remediation actions taken for pest and safety issues, (2) ask for recent inspection records and references, (3) observe multiple shifts (including nights/weekends) if possible, (4) confirm elevator and HVAC maintenance history, and (5) clarify how medication, incident reporting, family communication and transportation accommodations are handled. The facility may be improving under new ownership, but due diligence is essential because reviewer experiences range from highly positive to severely negative.
