Overall sentiment: Reviews for American House Cedarlake are mixed but cluster strongly around two contrasting narratives. A large number of reviews praise the property for its cleanliness, friendly staff, spacious apartment layouts, and active community life. These reviewers highlight responsive nursing and caregiving staff, a caring culture among residents, well-maintained grounds and common areas, attractive dining (with repeated praise for a named chef), and strong move-in and marketing support. However, another set of reviews — many of them more recent — report serious operational problems: major staff shortages (especially in kitchen and housekeeping), declining food quality and availability, infrequent housekeeping, poor upper management communication and responsiveness, and rent increases without perceived benefit. These conflicting reports suggest that experiences vary by time period, by building area (independent vs assisted living), and possibly by specific staff/management changes.
Care quality and staffing: The caregiving and nursing staff receive substantial praise in many reviews. Multiple accounts highlight attentive nurses, skilled CNAs, compassionate caregiving, and competent on-site therapy or medical attention. For many families, staff responsiveness and the quality of hands-on care are decisive positives. Conversely, several reviews — notably describing the past 1–1.5 years — describe severe staffing shortages affecting essential services. These reports include kitchen staff quitting, front-desk personnel pressed into kitchen duties, housekeeping reduced to monthly cleanings, and reports of nights with limited or no overnight staff. Reviewers note staff morale and pay problems, and some allege staff were unpaid for periods of time. These operational gaps translate directly into service failures and resident dissatisfaction in those accounts.
Facilities and apartments: The physical property is consistently described as clean, well-maintained and attractive. Common positives include roomy, apartment-like units with ample closets, in-unit washers and dryers in many apartments, balcony/patio options, a library, activity rooms, woodworking shop, heated underground parking, and pleasant, park-like grounds with walking loops and a lake. Several reviewers mention the campus is secure and safe with security guards and good oversight. A few negatives tied to facilities: some units are small (studios) and not suitable for larger furniture; a handful noted noise or lack of central air in some parts of the building; signage and construction caused temporary confusion for visitors in isolated reports.
Dining and food service: Dining is a polarizing theme. Numerous reviews praise the chef (Chef Sam is specifically commended in several accounts), fresh produce, delicious specialties (apple pie repeatedly mentioned), table service, and a bistro-style option. When the kitchen is fully staffed, meals are described as exceptional, well-portioned, and varied. In contrast, other reviews — again particularly recent ones — report that kitchen staff quit or were absent, that meals were being delivered in Styrofoam containers with limited selection, that food ran out, and that portions were small or inconsistent. Some reviews describe food as overcooked or over-seasoned; others say food quality improved after new hires. The pattern indicates variability tied to staffing levels and management of dining operations.
Activities, community and lifestyle: Many reviewers highlight robust programming: daily activities, themed events, outings, bingo, crafts, book clubs, puzzles, and resident-driven engagement. Numerous accounts describe a warm, family-like atmosphere with residents caring for each other. Several reviewers recommend the community for independent living, mentioning it fosters socialization and has abundant common areas. However, a subset of reviewers report limited activities, a quiet or 'ghost town' feel, and reduced programming during and after prolonged COVID restrictions. Those reviews often coincide with staff shortages and pandemic impacts. Overall, most positive reviews emphasize an active calendar and social life; the negative reviews suggest inconsistency over time.
Management, communication and operations: Management and communication receive mixed feedback. Many reviewers praise marketing and on-site staff for helpful tours and move-in assistance, and some note improvements after leadership changes. Yet a significant group of reviews complain about upper management being absent, uncaring, or unclear in direction. Specific operational complaints include rent increases during COVID with few added benefits, poor handling of COVID lockdowns, confusing reopening plans, delayed or insensitive communication about incidents (including reports of delayed notification after a resident death), and perceived poor value for the price. Several reviews mention that management changes occurred (director removed, new hires), and a few note improvements after such changes.
Notable patterns and tensions: Two strong, opposing clusters emerge. One cluster describes an exemplary, clean, well-run community with outstanding staff and dining, recommending the community for independent living. The other cluster — concentrated in more recent reviews or specific units/areas — reports critical service breakdowns: no kitchen or housekeeping, meals in disposable containers, rooms cleaned monthly, and poor managerial response. These negative reports raise red flags about staffing, financial management, and continuity of services. There are also intermediate reports noting recovery signs (new cook hired, improvements underway), indicating the situation may be dynamic.
Recommendations for prospective residents/families: Verify current staffing levels, ask specifically about kitchen staff, housekeeping frequency, and overnight staffing. Clarify which services and amenities are guaranteed in your contract (meal service frequency, housekeeping schedule, utilities included) and confirm current pricing and any recent rent adjustments. If memory care or certain specialized needs are required, note that memory care may not be available on-site. Visit multiple times and speak with current residents across independent and assisted living wings to assess consistency of services. Ask management about recent turnover, steps taken to stabilize staffing, and communication protocols for incidents and healthcare changes.
Bottom line: American House Cedarlake receives many strong endorsements for its physical plant, community atmosphere, and caring frontline staff. At the same time, recurring and recent complaints about staffing shortages, dining disruptions, infrequent housekeeping, management responsiveness, and cost/value concerns are significant and recurring. Prospective residents should weigh the consistently positive aspects of facility condition and community against the risk of intermittent operational disruptions and should conduct targeted, up-to-date inquiries before deciding.
