Overall sentiment across reviews is mixed but consistent in two major themes: the physical facility and direct caregivers receive strong positive marks, while management, clinical oversight, and consistency of care draw repeated and serious criticisms.
Facilities and environment: Multiple reviewers praise Chestnut Fields as a brand-new, beautiful community with attractive decor, large spacious rooms or apartment-style living, and a central location. Common areas are often described as very clean and well kept, with cottage-style or Darley Village apartment options noted favorably. Security and safety measures are described as "very good" by some, though a few reviewers called coverage patchy. The property offers a pleasant ambiance with seasonal activities, music/piano, and an environment that many find calming and home-like.
Dining and activities: Dining is a consistent strength in many reviews — three homemade, nutritious meals daily with snacks available and the ability to accommodate special dietary needs. Multiple reviewers noted that meals are well-liked by residents. The community offers a robust activities program: daily calendars, seasonal programming, on-site hair and nail services, and organized outings (for example, trips to the farmer's market and monthly social outings). These social and activity offerings are cited as meaningful contributors to residents' quality of life.
Direct care and staff: The direct-care workforce (CNAs and caregiving staff) receives frequent praise for being kind, loving, patient, and responsive. Many families report that caregivers go above and beyond, provide comfort, and communicate well with distant relatives, giving families peace of mind. Several reviewers explicitly say the staff treated their loved ones like family and recommend the community based on direct-care interactions.
Clinical care, staffing levels, and management: Despite strong reports about caregivers and the environment, there are repeated and serious complaints about staffing levels, clinical oversight, and leadership. Multiple reviews describe chronic understaffing and high turnover among administrators and CNAs. A commonly reported issue is medication problems: wrong medications given, medications given to another resident, and missed doses. One review specifies limited nursing coverage (a nurse named Deb only Mon–Fri and leaving by 4pm), and others note reliance on non-certified staff for clinical tasks. These clinical lapses have led several families to report neglectful incidents (incontinence left unaddressed, urine-soaked briefs) and to move loved ones to other facilities where care was better.
Communication and professionalism: There are recurring reports of poor communication from management — both to families and to direct-care workers — and of broken promises around admissions, move-in, or care expectations. Multiple reviewers point to frequent administrator turnover, an immature or unsympathetic director, and instances of administrative unresponsiveness or unprofessional behavior (e.g., oversharing personal problems, rudeness). Several reviewers specifically flagged misleading statements around admissions and a lack of follow-through on commitments.
Cleanliness and operations inconsistencies: While many reviewers report the community as very clean, other accounts claim rooms are rarely cleaned, that cleaning is superficial (hallway vacuuming only), and that laundry is sometimes done by medication staff. There are also isolated reports of unacceptable incidents (dog in the dining room, owner unresponsiveness to abuse accusations) and references to state violations. These inconsistencies suggest operational variability depending on staffing and management at any given time.
Net assessment and patterns: The pattern in the reviews suggests a facility with strong potential — a high-quality physical environment, appealing dining, and many activity choices — supported by compassionate front-line caregivers. However, recurring problems with management, clinical oversight, inconsistent staffing, and medication/hygiene lapses create safety and quality-of-care risks. Several families had positive experiences and highly recommend Chestnut Fields, but a comparable number report serious issues that prompted them to transfer loved ones elsewhere. Prospective residents and families should weigh the appealing physical features and the caring direct-care staff against the reports of staffing shortages, medication errors, and administrative instability. If considering Chestnut Fields, ask detailed, specific questions about current nursing coverage, medication administration protocols, staff turnover rates, how care plans are communicated and enforced, recent state inspections, and examples of how the community has addressed past issues. Also request to speak directly with evening and weekend staff or families of current residents about consistency of care across all shifts.
