Reviews of The Blake at Hamlin are highly polarized and reveal two distinct narratives: one of a modern, attractive community with excellent food, abundant activities and several standout staff members; and another of operational and staffing problems that have led to serious lapses in care for some residents. Many reviewers praise the facility’s physical attributes — an upscale exterior, bright and spacious rooms with nice views, pristine grounds, and well-kept common areas. The dining program receives a large amount of positive feedback, with Chef Jerry and chef-prepared meals repeatedly singled out. Activities and events are another strong point: residents and families often mention robust programming, monthly themes, community events (Classic Car Show, Taste of The Blake), outings and an active social calendar that contribute to a close-knit, family-like atmosphere.
Staffing and caregiving generate the most mixed comments. Numerous reviews describe warm, attentive, compassionate staff and name particular employees (Melissa Bossert, Kia, Betty, Allison, Lynne) as exceptionally helpful and responsive. Several families report smooth transitions, strong communication from administration, supportive rehab and hospice care, and housekeeping that does a good job. However, a substantial portion of reviews detail consistent understaffing, frequent staff turnover, and reliance on agency personnel. These operational strains are tied to serious care-quality complaints: reports of residents left unattended, missed bed checks, infrequent showers, incontinence care lapses resulting in strong urine odors, and even an allegation of a missing resident for many hours. Multiple reviewers describe aides as undertrained and overworked, leading to long response times to call buttons and, in some cases, perceived neglect.
Dining and kitchen services are similarly mixed. While numerous residents and families praise the cuisine, desserts and variety, several reviewers — particularly those describing the memory care dining experience — report meals refused or withheld, poor timing/coordination of meals, substandard food (reports of dirty eggs and menu shortages), and an incident where breakfast was not served because the kitchen was closed. These inconsistent reports suggest variability by unit, shift, or time period rather than a uniformly excellent or poor culinary program.
Management and communication are inconsistent across reviews. Some reviewers commend timely communication, responsive administration and problem resolution (with specific praise for Melissa Bossert’s attention to detail). Others report dismissive or unresponsive managers (Rebecca and Ms. Layfield are mentioned unfavorably), miscommunications during admission, and slow responses to critical concerns. Staffing leadership instability is also noted: high nursing turnover, a head of nursing quitting, and concerns about a new head of nursing leading to more nurse departures. Agency staff accountability is repeatedly questioned, compounding the sense that training and oversight have gaps.
Facility operations and safety issues appear in multiple reviews and raise red flags for prospective families. Concerns include inconsistent housekeeping (rooms or bathrooms left dirty for periods), laundry smelling of urine, doors left unlocked, nighttime disturbances and poor nighttime routines (3am rounds, door slamming), lack of cameras in common areas hindering incident review, and conflicting reports about cameras in residents’ rooms (some families note cameras present, raising privacy and oversight questions). Accessibility issues (manual doors to courtyards, no pool, no balconies) and a few reports of a sterile or institutional atmosphere in the memory care unit also appear, suggesting the environment may not feel home-like to everyone.
Taken together, the reviews indicate a facility with many strengths — high-quality dining for many residents, active programming, a modern building and numerous caring staff — but with systemic operational challenges that are significant and recurring. The most critical issues center on staffing levels, consistency of care, training and accountability of agency staff, and management responsiveness. These problems have led to serious allegations of neglect in some cases, while other families report five-star experiences. Given this variability, prospective residents and families should (1) tour both assisted living and memory care units in person and at multiple times of day, (2) ask for specifics on staffing ratios, turnover rates and recent leadership changes in nursing/administration, (3) request written policies on bed checks, incontinence care, and camera use and placement, (4) inquire about cleaning and laundry schedules and how food service is managed for memory care, and (5) seek references from current residents or families. The Blake at Hamlin can provide an excellent lifestyle and care experience for many, but the reviews suggest there are meaningful and documented service gaps that should be investigated and addressed before making a placement decision.
