Mel Hasty Retirement Center

    130 N Main St, East Peoria, IL, 61611
    4.1 · 23 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    2.0

    Spacious affordable but management problems

    I live here - the apartments are spacious, affordable, well laid-out and the river view is nice; staff and neighbors are friendly and helpful. The building is locked and monitored, but management (especially the apartment manager, Michelle) has been unprofessional, restrictive, and I've experienced harassment and discriminatory behavior that makes it feel jail-like. There are laundry services and occasional bingo/karaoke/potlucks, but activities are limited post-COVID, no meals are provided, and rules about pets, wall hangings and lounge deposits are strict. The grounds generally look maintained, but I've seen inconsistent cleanliness and pest/bed-bug problems - good value only if management and pest control improve.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.13 · 23 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.1
    • Staff

      3.1
    • Meals

      1.0
    • Amenities

      4.7
    • Value

      4.5

    Pros

    • Clean, well-maintained facilities (reported by multiple reviewers)
    • Friendly, helpful office staff and caregivers
    • Affordable rents / good value
    • Nice apartment layouts with ample storage and good-sized bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen
    • Laundry services available
    • On-site activities available (bingo, karaoke, potlucks, game tables)
    • Pets allowed (with restrictions)
    • Locked/secure building
    • Nice view (river lights in Peoria)
    • Supportive neighbors who help look after residents

    Cons

    • Strict, restrictive rules and enforcement (cannot hang items, bingo restrictions)
    • Jail-like atmosphere noted (many cameras, locked facility, appearance of surveillance)
    • Management problems: harassment, discriminatory practices, unprofessional behavior
    • Conflicting reports about cleanliness (some report neglect and pest problems)
    • Pest infestations reported (bed bugs, ongoing pest control issues)
    • Limited activities and programming since COVID
    • Additional fees or deposits (e.g., $25 lounge deposit) and fundraising for supplies
    • No meals provided on site
    • Smoking area located directly outside the front door
    • Restrictions on pets (not allowed downstairs) and other resident limitations
    • Resident interactions with management described as unfriendly (residents yelled at)

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the collected review summaries is mixed: many reviewers praise the facility for clean, well-maintained apartments, friendly staff, and affordability, while a significant minority report serious issues with management style, enforcement of rules, and pest control. The positive commentary centers on the physical units and some front-line staff, whereas negative comments concentrate on policies, leadership, and facility-wide problems that affect residents’ daily experience.

    Care quality and staff: Several reviews highlight helpful, friendly office staff and caregivers, with some reviewers calling managers "fantastic." Neighbors are also mentioned as supportive and helpful in looking after residents, which suggests a community element that benefits some residents. However, management behavior is a major concern in other reviews: reports include harassment, discriminatory practices, unprofessional conduct, and an apartment manager who "acts like the owner." These negative reports about management contrast with the praise for front-line employees, indicating a split between staff who interact daily with residents and higher-level management practices.

    Facilities and living spaces: The apartments themselves receive consistently positive remarks—reviewers note spacious layouts, good storage, and suitably sized bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. The building is described as locked and secure, with laundry services and some communal spaces for games and socializing. The facility offers an attractive river view for some units. At the same time, a recurring and serious complaint is pest activity: bed bugs and other infestations were reported, along with ongoing pest-control problems. There are also conflicting impressions of cleanliness—while many say the place is very clean and well maintained, a number of reviews explicitly cite cleanliness neglect and pest issues. These contradictory reports suggest variability over time or differences among areas of the building.

    Activities and services: The facility offers some social programming—bingo, karaoke, occasional potlucks, and game tables are available—though several reviewers say activities have been limited since COVID-19. Specific restrictions are noted (for example, reported "bingo restrictions" and requirements such as a $25 deposit to use the lounge), and fundraising for supplies was mentioned, implying that some programming or supplies may be underfunded. Importantly, reviewers consistently state that no meals are provided on site, which prospective residents need to plan for.

    Rules, policies, and resident experience: Multiple reviewers describe a strict or "jail-like" atmosphere marked by many cameras and tight rules (prohibitions on hanging items on walls, pet restrictions in certain areas, and designated smoking areas located directly outside the front door). These enforcement practices, along with reports of residents being yelled at, contribute to an unwelcoming tone for some. Specific administrative practices—such as a lounge deposit, fundraising for supplies, and an atmosphere described as "appearance-focused management, not resident-centered care"—are frequently called out. One review names a manager (Michelle) in the context of strict rule enforcement, indicating that personnel issues may be personal as well as systemic.

    Notable patterns and overall assessment: The reviews paint a facility with definite strengths—affordable rents, well-sized apartments, helpful front-line staff, and a generally secure environment—but also with significant red flags that prospective residents or family members should investigate further. Chief among these are management style and behavior, inconsistent cleanliness/pest control, restrictive rules that may feel overly authoritarian, limitations in activities since COVID, and additional fees or fundraising requirements. The coexistence of glowing comments about cleanliness and staff with reports of infestations and harassment suggests variability: some residents have very positive experiences while others encounter serious problems. Prospective residents should follow up on pest-control history, clarify policies and fees (including lounge deposits and pet rules), ask about current activity programming, and, if possible, speak directly with multiple current residents about management interactions to get a balanced, current view before deciding.

    Location

    Map showing location of Mel Hasty Retirement Center

    About Mel Hasty Retirement Center

    Mel Hasty Retirement Center sits at 130 N Main St in East Peoria, Illinois, in a spot where you'll find grocery stores, coffee shops, gas stations, restaurants, pharmacies, and financial services all nearby, and people say it usually gets about an eight out of ten on reviews, which tells you folks seem pretty satisfied overall, even if it isn't perfect. The facility gives seniors a choice of studio room layouts, and if you ask, you can get more details about floor plans and payment options so there's no guessing. Seniors who want a simple, independent setup can pick the independent living option, and for those who need more, Mel Hasty offers assisted living, memory care for folks with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, continuing care, nursing home help, respite stays, and even home care, so you can usually find the level of help that matches what you need at the time. There's transportation and parking available, including rides through the community van, so getting to appointments or stores is less of a hassle.

    The center takes resident safety and comfort seriously with features designed around those needs, like easy-to-move-in rooms and staff who, if needed, can help with bathing, dressing, and medicine reminders. Their home care program uses trained aides to give seniors company and offer a hand at home if living onsite isn't the right fit yet. For those facing memory loss, they have spaces and routines designed to help keep confusion down and prevent wandering, along with activities and therapy that fit their abilities.

    People notice the nicely kept grounds, so anyone who likes spending time outdoors or wants a peaceful place to walk will probably appreciate that, along with wellness programs and regular social events that help everyone keep busy or make new friends. Meals here get special attention, meaning they focus on serving up tasty, balanced food made with good ingredients, which matters if you want to eat well as you age. Staff can give advice and planning help to families or seniors trying to sort through all the living choices, so you don't have to make decisions alone. Tours are available by appointment, letting you see the place, meet the folks who live and work there, and get a feel for how the community runs, and you won't have to guess what's involved or what fits best for your own circumstances when you take the time to visit. Mel Hasty Retirement Center tries to cover a lot of needs, and while it won't be the answer for everyone, it has a range of living setups, care levels, and amenities, all meant to make retirement safer, easier, and a bit more pleasant for each resident who calls it home.

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