Overall sentiment across the reviews for Sunrise of Westmont is mixed but leans positive regarding the environment, programming, and many frontline staff members. Reviewers repeatedly praise the community’s newer, well-maintained building, inviting décor, and plentiful amenities (theater, gym, salon, patios, courtyard, and dining spaces). The community’s adult Montessori-style and strengths-based approaches — including a named 'GEMS' program focused on preserving skills — are repeatedly highlighted as meaningful differentiators, especially in memory care. Many families and residents describe thoughtful, person-centered programming, active engagement opportunities (resident-led sessions, live music, themed events, ‘Thirsty Thursdays’, holiday dinners), and an overall inclusive, home-like atmosphere where residents make friends and remain active.
Staff and direct-care quality receive a great deal of positive attention: respondents often call staff responsive, personable, caring, and knowledgeable. Specific frontline teams (wellness, restaurant, reception) are singled out for praise; numerous stories describe staff who know residents by name, who quickly respond to incidents, and who went above and beyond during COVID-19. The community’s COVID response is a recurring positive theme — in-house cleaning, regular testing, pulse oximeter monitoring, and proactive measures to keep residents safe are repeatedly noted as strengths that delivered peace of mind during the pandemic.
Facilities and physical design are commonly lauded. Reviewers appreciate clean, modern common areas and apartments, wide hallways and ADA accessibility, patios on each floor, and accessible apartments with walk-in showers. Several family members said the community feels luxurious or boutique — ‘‘Cadillac of assisted living’’ was one phrasing — and that shared spaces foster socialization. At the same time, a minority of reviewers pointed out practical shortcomings (occasional dirty resident rooms despite clean lobbies, some small/dark apartments, a bathroom reported as missing a door in one unit, and limited outdoor grounds noted by some). These are not universal but are worth checking at tour time.
Dining and programs are generally praised: many reviews describe good-to-excellent food, accommodating meal service for picky eaters, and a lively restaurant staff. Activities are robust and varied — exercise classes, lectures, bus outings (in some reports), concerts, and resident-led programming — and many families credit activities directors and wellness teams for helping residents adjust and thrive. However, multiple reviews raise concerns about service timing (long waits for food) and a subset of reports indicate a decline in food quality over time.
The most consistent negative themes concern staffing levels, management consistency, and medication/care reliability. Numerous reviewers report staffing shortages, limited nurse coverage (for example, only one RN for multiple buildings), high staff turnover in some periods, and the resulting pressure on care delivery. Specific and concerning reports include medications being left unsecured on dressers, allegations of medications not being administered, difficulty obtaining showers or assistance, and isolated safety incidents. These issues appear uneven — many families report excellent care — but they recur enough to be a significant pattern. Language barriers (need for more Spanish-speaking staff) and occasional difficulties understanding accented nurses are also mentioned.
Perceptions of leadership and administration are mixed. Several reviews praise helpful, responsive administrators and a management team that facilitates family involvement and resident wishes. Others call out inexperienced or abrasive executive leadership, poor follow-through, and instances where families felt excluded or muted in meetings. A few reviews describe a problematic culture in which management did not respond adequately to concerns. Several reviewers also framed some negative experiences as growing pains for a relatively new branch — promising programming and strong frontline staff accompanied by operational issues as the community matures.
In summary: Sunrise of Westmont presents many strengths — a modern, attractive facility; strong engagement and programming (including a Montessori-style approach and memory care strengths); numerous committed and compassionate frontline staff; and a well-regarded COVID response. These features make it appealing to families seeking an active, amenity-rich, and person-centered assisted living or memory care option. However, prospective residents and families should be attentive to staffing ratios, nurse coverage, medication-management practices, and leadership responsiveness. When touring or evaluating this community, ask specific questions about RN coverage per building, medication administration and secure storage protocols, language support for non-English speakers, recent staff turnover, and food service/timing to confirm current operational performance. Those who prioritize a newer, socially vibrant setting with strong activity programming and many on-site amenities will likely find much to like; those who require consistently high nursing coverage or who are especially sensitive to operational reliability should verify the community’s current staffing and clinical processes before deciding.
