Overall impression: Reviews for East Ridge Retirement Village (a CCRC) are mixed and polarized. Many reviewers praise the physical facility—its cleanliness, smell, aesthetics, and location—and note positive experiences during tours and in independent living. At the same time, there are multiple, serious complaints about care quality, staffing levels, communication, and cost that create substantial concern for prospective residents and families.
Facilities and environment: The physical community consistently receives positive remarks. Multiple reviewers describe East Ridge as a beautiful, new community that is immaculate and pleasantly scented. Independent living spaces are often described as nice, and the campus location is considered ideal. The community appears to be progressing and improving as it grows, which some residents and visitors find encouraging.
Care quality and staffing: The most significant negative theme is care and staffing. Several reviews report inadequate or absent care—residents being ignored or left for hours—especially during evenings and weekends. Understaffing is a repeated concern and is linked directly to instances of neglect. There are also notes that staff morale may be low, which could contribute to inconsistent care. While some staff are described as responsive and accommodating (particularly during tours or early interactions), the on-the-ground caregiving experience appears uneven and, in some cases, dangerously deficient.
Communication and management: Poor communication is another recurring theme. Families report difficulty reaching staff, unanswered phones, limited or no follow-through from management, and obstacles to getting clear information about care. Some reviewers explicitly call management unresponsive. There are reports of initial sales or admissions missteps that were later improved, suggesting some capacity to respond, but multiple accounts imply systemic communication problems that were not resolved to families' satisfaction.
Costs and contract issues: Pricing is a clear pain point. Several reviewers describe the buy-in and ongoing charges as excessively expensive, with at least one calling the price "crazy." Some prospective residents found they were not eligible for the buy-in structure, and others warn of unexpected or overpriced charges. This combination of high cost and reported variability in care quality raises concerns about value for money.
Living options and amenities: Reviewers note that independent living tends to be the strongest offering: comfortable units and better impressions overall. Assisted living receives more criticism; rooms are described by some as "hospital-type" and not "homey," indicating a less comfortable environment in higher-acuity areas. Memory care is present and mentioned, along with regular activities (games, music, simple physical activities), which is a positive for engagement and programming.
Patterns and contradictions: There is a clear split between the experience of initial tours/marketing and the lived experience for residents over time. Tours often leave a very positive impression—friendly staff, attractive facility—whereas operational reviews from families and some residents point to serious issues after move-in, particularly in care delivery and communication. Some reviewers did note improvements after the first week or after raising concerns, suggesting the community can correct issues but possibly lacks consistent processes to prevent them.
Practical takeaways for prospective residents/families: If considering East Ridge, verify staffing ratios, especially for evenings and weekends, and ask for specifics about response times to calls for assistance. Tour assisted living and memory care units during different times of day (including evenings/weekends) to observe staffing and routines. Request written, detailed breakdowns of all fees, buy-in eligibility rules, and any additional or potential charges. Ask for recent incident logs, staff turnover rates, and references from current residents or families. Confirm how the community handles family communication and escalation to management, and whether they accept Medicare/Medicaid for applicable services.
Conclusion: East Ridge offers an appealing physical campus, engaging programming in some areas, and a positive independent living experience for many. However, repeated and serious complaints about understaffing, neglect, inconsistent care in assisted settings, poor communication, and high costs are substantial red flags. Prospective residents should do in-depth due diligence—focusing on staffing, care quality, contract terms, and firsthand observations at varying times—before committing.
