Overall sentiment across the collected reviews for Cedarhurst Senior Living of Godfrey is predominantly positive but punctuated by a set of recurring, specific concerns. The majority of reviewers praise the community for its welcoming, family-like culture and a staff that is frequently described as friendly, attentive, patient and professional. Many families note that staff go the extra mile—providing daily and overnight checks, medication management (in many cases), prompt assistance, and strong family communication. Activity staff, RAs and physical therapy personnel receive frequent individual praise; reviewers highlight a broad and lively activities calendar (crafts, painting, bingo, car shows, live music, outings to stores and restaurants), transportation services for errands and appointments, and a general increase in residents’ activity and social engagement after moving in.
Facility-related positives are prominent. Multiple reviews describe Cedarhurst Godfrey as bright, modern, and clean, with roomy/airy renovations, large windows and pleasant views of the lake and grounds. The one-floor/easy-to-navigate layout, outdoor seating, courtyard, and family gathering spaces are repeatedly appreciated. Dining is often described positively—an open dining area overseen by a chef, restaurant-like presentation, and good food variety are common compliments. The community’s pet-friendly policy, Life Long Learning Series, and proximity to shopping and low-traffic neighborhoods are additional valued features. Numerous reviewers explicitly state that Cedarhurst provided peace of mind, improved quality of life for residents, and would recommend the community.
Despite the strong positive trends, several serious and repeating concerns appear across the summaries and should be noted by prospective residents and families. A minority of reviewers describe poor or inconsistent clinical care: medication administration problems, missed doctor appointments, and at least one instance that led to a hospital visit. There are multiple reports of staffing problems—high turnover, short-staffing, and kitchen staff changes—which reviewers tie to lapses in service, slower meal service, inconsistent food quality, and occasional resident neglect. Some families reported breakdowns in communication or slow management responses in critical situations; a few comments called out alleged nepotism or staff mistreatment and employee grievances (denied commissions), which suggests organizational or HR issues for some employees.
Cleanliness and housekeeping receive mixed feedback. While many reviews call the facility very clean and well-kept, several specific comments report unkept rooms, inconsistent housekeeping, or areas that smelled like smoke. Dining is similarly mixed—while many praise the chef and meal variety, others report long service times, subpar meals at times, or food left uneaten. Facility systems issues show up in a few mentions (stuffy bedrooms, air conditioning updates needed). Billing, pricing and administrative concerns are raised by some reviewers who found services overpriced or had billing issues.
Management and leadership elicit both positive and negative reports. Numerous reviews praise management for professionalism, open communication, and a positive culture; specific staff and the director receive individual commendations. Conversely, other reviews describe miscommunication during leadership transitions, executive director inaction in serious incidents, and legal disputes around relocation—indicating that the experience a family has can depend strongly on timing and which staff are on duty. This suggests variability in operational consistency, possibly tied to turnover or episodic lapses.
In summary, Cedarhurst Senior Living of Godfrey appears to be a well-regarded senior living community with many strengths: an attractive, home-like facility; engaging, varied programming; restaurant-style dining under chef oversight; and a core of caring, dedicated staff who provide families with reassurance. However, prospective residents and their families should also be mindful of the uneven reports: staffing turnover and short staffing, occasional lapses in clinical care and medication management, intermittent housekeeping and dining inconsistencies, and some administrative or leadership-related concerns. Because many reviews emphasize that experiences can vary (some families report outstanding care while a smaller number report serious issues), it would be prudent for a prospective resident or family to (1) ask specific, current questions about staffing levels, medication and clinical protocols, and turnover rates; (2) request recent cleaning/inspection logs and specific examples of how management handles incidents; (3) tour at multiple times (meal service, activity hours, shift change) to observe operations; and (4) speak with current residents or families about recent experiences to verify consistency. These steps can help confirm whether the strong positives highlighted by many reviewers are consistent with current operations and address the intermittent but significant concerns raised by others.
