Overall impression: Reviews for Senior Suites of Washington Heights are strongly mixed, with a pronounced split between consistently positive reports about staff, tours, activities and community life, and repeated, serious operational complaints about cleanliness, pests and management responsiveness. Many reviewers praise the friendliness and professionalism of on-site staff and the welcoming atmosphere, while a significant number report major concerns about infestations (bed bugs and roaches), dirty carpets, maintenance lapses and administrative shortcomings. Prospective residents and families repeatedly describe both very good experiences and troubling red flags, so the overall sentiment is one of cautious optimism tempered by clear warnings.
Staff and care quality: A dominant positive theme is the quality of front-line staff. Numerous reviews single out staff members and managers as courteous, helpful, compassionate and personable. Several reviewers said staff made new residents feel welcome, were attentive to questions and needs, and ran informative, thorough tours. Families noted daily check-ins and staff who support resident independence and engagement. At the same time, there are recurring reports that management or leadership can be poor or inconsistent: some residents and family members describe dismissive or rude interactions, terrible phone etiquette (including being hung up on), and a manager who is perceived as disconnected or treating the building as her personal property. In short, direct-care staff are frequently praised, while higher-level management and administrative responsiveness draw repeated criticism.
Facilities and amenities: Many concrete amenities receive positive mentions: apartment-style units with full-sized kitchens in many units, air conditioning and heating included in rent, washers and dryers on every floor, recreation/community rooms on each floor, a library, lounges, an exercise room, and secure buzz-in entry. Reviewers appreciated visible social spaces, parking behind the building, and a generally pleasant layout that supports independence. Several reviewers also described specific comforts like spacious living/dining areas in one-bedroom units and modern, up-to-date studio units. However, some units were reported as small or missing appliances (e.g., a stove or having an older refrigerator), and workout equipment is described as limited.
Activities and social life: Activities and engagement are clear strengths. Reviewers consistently mention bingo, group exercise, TV viewing, field trips, live entertainment, residents dancing, and an active social calendar that keeps people engaged. The presence of communal rooms on each floor and frequent activities was a frequent reason reviewers recommended the community. Multiple reviewers noted friendly residents and a vibrant community feel during tours and visits.
Cleanliness, maintenance and pest issues: This is the most serious area of negative feedback. Multiple reviewers reported bed bug and roach infestations; one review even describes roaches in the washers. Repeated comments about hallway and unit carpets being filthy and not shampooed or vacuumed for extended periods (over a year in some reports) point to systemic cleaning lapses. Other issues include dirty elevators, laundry machines out of order, and maintenance that appears concentrated on the first floor while upper floors are neglected. Several reviewers complained that management failed to act promptly on pest control (mentioning Orkin not addressing the problem) and that concerns were not resolved before lease renewal. These reports present legitimate health, comfort and safety concerns for prospective residents.
Safety and operational concerns: Some reviewers raised safety-related issues beyond pests: reports of drug activity at specific locations (one reviewer singled out a 103rd location), and a noted power outage risk for residents who rely on oxygen, which underscores infrastructure and emergency-preparedness concerns. Short-staffing also contributes to worries about timely responses to maintenance and resident needs. Additionally, rent increases were mentioned as a concern when paired with unresolved service problems.
Inconsistency across visits and locations: A strong pattern is inconsistency. Many reviewers describe excellent, clean, well-run experiences with polite staff and well-kept units, while others from the same community or different locations report severe decline: “used to be nice, now it's a dump.” That variability suggests differences in management practices between sites or changes over time at the same location. Several reviewers recommended the community despite problems, but others strongly advise caution.
Recommendation and practical advice for prospective residents: Senior Suites of Washington Heights offers many real strengths—supportive staff, active programming, in-unit kitchens, washers/dryers on each floor, secure entry and social spaces—that make it attractive for seniors wanting independence and community engagement. However, the repeated, specific complaints about pests, carpet cleanliness, uneven maintenance, and managerial responsiveness are significant and should be investigated before committing. Prospective residents and family members should (1) inspect the specific unit and common areas they will use, (2) ask for recent pest-control records and the routine cleaning/shampoo schedule, (3) confirm maintenance response times and coverage for upper floors, (4) verify appliance condition and emergency preparedness (especially if oxygen-dependent), (5) speak with current residents about the day-to-day environment, and (6) get clarification on rent increases and any outstanding repair or pest issues. These steps will help determine whether the strong interpersonal and activity-related strengths outweigh the operational risks in a given building or unit.
Bottom line: If a warm, active social community and supportive front-line staff rank highest for you, Senior Suites can deliver a positive living experience. If you are particularly sensitive to cleanliness, pest control, maintenance reliability or administrative responsiveness, proceed only after targeted, specific verification—there are consistent, specific reports indicating these areas need improvement and have been unresolved for some reviewers.
