Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed and highly polarized. Many reviewers praise Cedarhurst of Columbia for its welcoming atmosphere, attractive and well-maintained physical plant, and a cadre of caring, personable staff who create a home-like environment. Positive comments frequently highlight light-filled, spacious apartments, accessible outdoor spaces and gardens, a pleasant dining room, on-site amenities such as a beauty salon and therapy/fitness room, and an active calendar of activities and outings. Several families reported strong initial impressions from tours and excellent service from sales and move-in staff; others emphasize that long-tenured employees and engaged activities staff contribute substantially to residents’ quality of life.
At the same time, a substantial and recurring set of concerns appears across many reviews. The dominant negative theme is staffing instability: high turnover, understaffing during shifts (especially in memory care and on weekends/nights), and inconsistent continuity of care. Reviewers described a wide range of clinically significant incidents, including missed or late medications, medication-record errors, feeding-tube mismanagement, underfeeding, development of bedsores, delayed emergency responses, and multiple fall-related ER visits. Several reviews also allege inadequate infection-control practices or outbreaks (norovirus, C. difficile) and note lapses in PPE and handwashing compliance. These issues have led some families to characterize care as neglectful or unsafe in isolated but serious cases.
Facility and amenity impressions are generally positive but inconsistent. Many reviewers note a modern, attractive building (some mention it was built in 2015), well-kept common areas, and appreciated features such as balconies, gardens, and a dedicated memory-care wing with secured outdoor access. Maintenance and housekeeping receive praise in many reports (weekly apartment cleaning and responsive maintenance are cited), but other reviewers report declining cleanliness post-COVID, foul odors in certain areas, and inconsistent room cleaning. Memory-care design elements (separate lounges, dining areas, and secure outdoor access) are seen as strengths; however, staffing shortages and slow responses to door alarms are recurrent concerns within that same unit.
Dining is a polarizing subject. Several reviewers praise restaurant-style dining, a competent chef, and flexible menu options including à la carte items and in-room dining service. Conversely, an equal or larger number of reviewers criticize the food as bland, unhealthy, overly processed or frozen, lacking fresh vegetables, and insufficient for heart-healthy needs. Some families ask for clearer calorie/sodium labeling and all-day dining options. Meal quality and nutrition were important drivers of dissatisfaction for many reviewers who otherwise liked the facility.
Activities and community life are consistently cited as strengths in many reviews. Residents enjoy frequent programming — from gardening clubs, Bible study, and walking groups to outings like fishing trips, mall rides, and bowling — and reviewers praise staff who solicit resident input for activities. That said, memory-care activity offerings are described as limited or inconsistently staffed in several reviews, resulting in uneven engagement for residents with higher-needs dementia.
Security, access, and communication present additional concerns. Multiple reviewers mention doors being locked at early hours or a lack of a 24/7 staffed front desk, creating difficulties for families and outside providers (including hospice) trying to enter after hours. Some reviews report door alarms not being promptly addressed, occasional issues with check-in/out processes, and one-off incidents involving theft allegations or missing items. Family communication and management responsiveness are inconsistent: some report prompt follow-up from executive directors and on-call management, while others recount broken promises, billing disputes, and marketing/sales misrepresentations (including guarantees/refunds not being honored).
Cost and value are also frequent topics. Cedarhurst of Columbia is repeatedly described as expensive — reviewers cite figures in the roughly $7,000–$10,000 per month range — and several families question the value received relative to cost, especially where care lapses or staffing shortages are reported. The community appears to be private-pay focused, which raises concerns about transition support if funding changes. Billing problems and contested charges are raised in multiple reviews, compounding families’ frustrations.
A temporal pattern is noticeable in the reviews: many families describe very positive pre-COVID experiences (clean, well-staffed, active), while a number of negative reports reference a decline after COVID with staffing shortages, turnover, and reduced visitation/activities during and after the pandemic. That said, some reviewers report improvements or responsive leadership interventions, suggesting variability by time, unit, and specific staff on duty.
Bottom line: Cedarhurst of Columbia offers a strong physical environment, broad programming, and many examples of compassionate, attentive staff and happy residents. However, there are recurring and serious concerns about staffing stability, clinical consistency, infection control, food quality, after-hours security/access, billing practices, and family communication. Experiences appear highly variable: some families strongly recommend the community, while others report severe care failures and advise avoidance. Prospective families should conduct in-person visits across different times of day (including evenings/weekends), meet nursing and memory-care staff on duty, ask for specific staffing ratios, review recent infection-control and incident histories, clarify the contract and billing/refund policies, and request references from current families to assess consistency before deciding.
