Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed, with a strong core of positive feedback about the staff, apartment units, and basic services counterbalanced by recurring concerns about activities programming, cleanliness, safety, and some operational issues. Many reviewers praise the personal elements of the community: friendly, welcoming, and attentive staff (some reviewers named specific employees), low staff turnover, and a home-like atmosphere. Apartments themselves receive consistently positive remarks — one-bedroom units are described as large, wheelchair-accessible, with ample storage including walk-in closets, large bathrooms, and included appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, and TVs. Multiple reviewers also highlighted attractive indoor/outdoor spaces and an overall well-kept appearance, calling the facility beautiful inside and out.
Care quality and staff performance emerge as one of the stronger themes. Several reviews describe thorough, caring staff and a well-managed facility; multiple accounts mention staff who answered questions, assisted with move-in paperwork, and enforced COVID precautions like masks and testing. At the same time, a number of serious care and safety concerns are reported by other reviewers: delayed responses after incidents (including a fall that went unnoticed for hours), reports of theft from resident rooms, and worries about aggressive or inappropriately behaving residents. These safety and responsiveness issues are significant because they contrast sharply with other reviewers’ descriptions of attentive care, indicating variability in incident handling and security measures.
Activities and social programming are a prominent pain point. Multiple reviewers say activities are insufficient or inconsistent; some report almost-daily activities while others characterize the program as nearly nonexistent. Specific suggestions recur: hiring a dedicated activities director; offering bingo, card games, movie nights, arts and crafts, themed holiday events, casino-style game days, and a bookmobile; and expanding outings beyond a single Walmart bus run (which is subject to sign-up and limited space). While some residents enjoy games, meals, and occasional outings, the overall pattern suggests unmet expectations and uneven implementation of social programming.
Facilities and maintenance feedback is mixed. Positive comments about beautiful interiors and well-kept grounds sit alongside complaints about congested centers, leaky ceilings, cluttered or disorganized community kitchens and dining rooms, and aesthetic shortcomings in common areas. There are also reports of specific cleanliness problems (dirty or un-replaced shower curtains, poor housekeeping) and operational disruptions (carpet replacement causing inconvenience). These maintenance and housekeeping issues undermine otherwise favorable impressions of the apartments and grounds and suggest inconsistent standards across different areas of the community.
Dining and food service receive both praise and criticism. Several reviewers describe the food as great or balanced and appreciate the three daily meals and weekly cleaning service. Conversely, others note issues with presentation (missing tablecloths, marketing photos not matching reality), seasoning concerns (excessive salt), and perceived high cost for meals and services such as the barber. This indicates that while food quality is acceptable or better for some residents, others see room for improvement in taste, presentation, and pricing transparency.
Management and operations show a mix of strengths and weaknesses. Many reviewers commend responsible management, helpful staff, and a generally smooth move-in or application process in some cases. However, other reviewers describe difficulties with paperwork, delays in staff response, inconsistent communication, and concerns about security and record-keeping. These mixed reports point to variability in the resident experience based on timing, staff on duty, and possibly different shifts or leadership attention.
Notable patterns and recommendations: (1) Strengthen activities programming — hire or designate an activities director, broaden the range of onsite programs, and increase the frequency and variety of outings to reduce reliance on a single limited bus trip. (2) Improve safety and security protocols — address reports of theft, enhance incident response procedures so falls or emergencies are detected and handled quickly, and manage or mitigate aggressive behavior among residents. (3) Raise and standardize housekeeping and maintenance standards — ensure cleanliness in bathrooms and common areas, fix leaks, and reduce disruption during repairs by communicating proactively with residents. (4) Address dining presentation and pricing — restore attention to meal presentation (tablecloths, dining room aesthetics), monitor food seasoning, and clarify costs for extra services. (5) Improve consistency in communication and paperwork assistance to make move-ins and administrative tasks smoother.
In summary, Delaware Highlands Assisted Living receives solid marks for its living units, many aspects of staff care, and some amenities, but it also faces recurring and substantive concerns in activities, safety, cleanliness, and operational consistency. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong positives around apartment quality and staff warmth against the reported variability in programing, housekeeping, and incident response. If management addresses the flagged issues — particularly around activities, security, housekeeping, and communication — many of the current negative themes could be mitigated and the generally favorable aspects of the community would be better supported across the board.
