Overall sentiment across reviews is mixed-to-positive with strong, recurring praise for staff attitude, the facility’s outdoor environment, dining, and activity programming, balanced by persistent concerns about cleanliness and night staffing. Many reviewers describe Azalea Gardens as a warm, home-like, and well-landscaped campus with engaged caregivers and an owner/management team that is visible and approachable. Several accounts highlight individualized attention, psychologist involvement that improved a resident’s mood, long-term staff retention, and a small size that helps staff know residents personally. These strengths appear to be the facility’s defining assets for many families and residents.
Care quality and staff: A dominant theme is that staff are friendly, caring, and helpful. Multiple reviews praise the staff’s willingness to assist, their approachability, and the owner’s involvement. Reviewers frequently cite activities led by staff (music, piano, crocheting, arts and crafts, chair exercises, bingo) and note that staff engage residents both on- and off-site. There are specific positive mentions of a psychologist’s role and noticeable mood improvement following transition to the community. That said, some reviews describe occasions when staff seemed inattentive or merely present for a check, and a few accounts portray residents as sad or under-engaged—indicating variability in day-to-day caregiving or in how individual residents respond.
Facilities, outdoors, and safety: Azalea Gardens is consistently described as an attractive, peaceful property with substantial outdoor appeal: koi pond, waterfall, rock garden, butterfly plants, gazebo, tiki hut, and a central courtyard that supports outdoor programming. Reviewers repeatedly call the outdoor space an “outdoor paradise” and a hidden gem, noting wildlife, seating, and areas for supervised activities. Security receives mixed notes: many reviews emphasize a secure gated property and locked gates for memory care, but the multi-duplex layout and exterior-facing doors were flagged as a limitation for some residents with mobility or security needs. Several reviewers said the property felt peaceful and welcoming during visits.
Dining and activities: Dining is a clear strength in many reviews — described as fine dining with meals cooked from scratch, 5-star chefs, an open kitchen, and generally excellent meals. The small dining room with two sittings was mentioned, as were clean kitchens and good grooming for residents in some reports. Activity programming is robust: frequent on-site clubs and social events, plus frequent off-site outings (one reviewer noted about three off-site trips per week). Some outings are cited as extra-cost, which is an important detail for prospective families to consider.
Cleanliness, night staffing, and repairs: The most serious recurring negatives involve cleanliness and staffing at night. Several reviews report strong urine odor in the gardens and main office and at least one concerning report of a resident reeking of feces and appearing not to have been cleaned—issues that reviewers felt indicated lapses in hygiene and attention. Staffing shortages at night are repeatedly raised: reviewers described insufficient night-time health aides and attendant coverage, with associated safety concerns after dark. Some reviews mention that the facility has promised to hire more night aides. There are also comments about areas needing deeper cleaning or repairs, making cleanliness and staffing the principal operational vulnerabilities highlighted by families.
Cost, suitability, and variability: A number of reviewers flagged cost considerations—high entrance fees and an enrichment program some considered pricey. Some activities and outings may require additional fees. The small size is both a benefit (personalized care) and a drawback (limited staffing/resources, potential for shared rooms/two-person rooms). Several reviewers noted the layout and exterior doors made the community unsuitable for residents with significant mobility or security needs, while memory care areas do include locked gates. Location/distance was a practical concern for a few families.
Patterns and recommendations: In summary, Azalea Gardens is frequently praised for its caring staff, attractive outdoor environment, strong activity and dining programs, and a family-style, small-community feel. However, persistent issues around nighttime staffing, episodic inattentiveness, and cleanliness/odor must be taken seriously. Prospective families should: (1) tour during evening hours to assess night-time staffing and safety; (2) ask for documented plans and timelines regarding hiring additional health aides; (3) inquire about cleaning protocols and how the facility addresses incontinence care and sanitation; (4) confirm costs for entrance fees, enrichment programs, and extra-cost outings; and (5) evaluate room configurations and mobility/accessibility if the prospective resident has physical limitations. The reviews suggest that many residents thrive there, but outcomes appear to depend heavily on consistent staffing and operational follow-through on the cleanliness and night-coverage issues several reviewers raised.
