The Bungalows at Springfield East

    3540 E Cherokee St, Springfield, MO, 65809
    4.4 · 53 reviews
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Warm, clean community with caveats

    My mom has lived here nearly three years and I've been very involved. The facility is beautiful, very clean and homey with roomy private rooms, patios and multiple sitting areas; staff are generally caring, long-tenured and responsive - nurses, aides, kitchen and activities teams stand out. They provide medication and ADL assistance, three meals a day, daily exercise, Bingo, music, church services and regular outings; sign-in/sign-out security and pet therapy add peace of mind. Meal quality and management consistency have been uneven - excellent some days, disappointing others - and there have been staffing/management concerns families should ask about. Overall a warm, independent community I'd recommend with the caveat to tour carefully, confirm staffing and costs, and check privacy by building.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.40 · 53 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.3
    • Staff

      4.3
    • Meals

      4.1
    • Amenities

      4.6
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • clean and well-maintained facility
    • beautiful, home-like atmosphere
    • spacious resident rooms and dining areas
    • friendly, compassionate and attentive staff
    • long-tenured staff in some areas
    • aides and nurses who provide personalized attention
    • medication assistance and ADL help available
    • ample activities (bingo, exercise class, music, cards)
    • religious services and Bible study offered
    • pet therapy and visits from dogs
    • regular entertainment and social outings
    • multiple sitting areas, patios and comfortable common spaces
    • secure sign-in/sign-out procedures
    • 24/7 open kitchen / three meals a day provided
    • staff assist with doctor visits and family coordination
    • supportive atmosphere that gives families peace of mind
    • staff go above and beyond and offer family-centered care
    • helpful during transitions and with financial/placement questions
    • well-kept grounds and pleasant smells/ambience
    • resident-centered events (Christmas, group outings)

    Cons

    • inconsistent dining quality; several reports of poor or declining meals
    • reports of demeaning or abusive treatment by some staff
    • occasional neglect, perceived apathy or quality-of-care problems
    • frequent falls reported for some residents
    • sick staff reportedly allowed to work in some cases
    • allegations of deceptive or misrepresented information to applicants
    • one-time $1,000 community fee and value concerns
    • management issues, high staff turnover, and poor communication
    • some buildings feel nursing-home-like rather than independent
    • uneven privacy depending on building
    • unreturned phone calls and alleged staff dishonesty
    • wide variability in overall experience between residents/families

    Summary review

    Overall impression: Reviews for The Bungalows at Springfield East are strongly mixed but lean positive overall. A very large number of reviewers praise the facility’s physical environment and the warmth and attentiveness of caregivers; many families explicitly say staff are compassionate, go above and beyond, and provide a family-like atmosphere. At the same time, a meaningful minority report serious problems — including demeaning treatment, safety incidents (falls), declining meal quality, and management or communication failures — which create notable variability in resident experiences and generate significant concerns for some families.

    Staff and care quality: The single most consistent positive theme is staff. Across many reviews staff members are described as friendly, caring, responsive, and personally engaged with residents. Several reviews name individual caregivers and praise long-tenured employees, indicating strong relationships between staff and residents in many cases. Medication assistance, ADL support, escorting to appointments, and quick responsiveness to family concerns were frequently called out. However, there are also alarming negative accounts: at least one reviewer described demeaning behavior by a head nurse, and others reported perceived neglect or apathy. Reports of staff working while sick and multiple falls for one resident group point to potential lapses in safety protocol or staffing practices. These contradictions suggest that while many residents receive excellent, personalized care, care quality is inconsistent and may depend heavily on particular staff members or shifts.

    Facility, safety and comfort: The property itself receives consistent positive feedback. Reviewers repeatedly describe the campus as beautiful, clean, and home-like, with well-maintained grounds, large common areas, patios, and pleasant smells. Resident rooms are noted as spacious and comfortable by many, and the presence of secure sign-in/sign-out procedures is seen as an added safety benefit. That said, some reviewers say specific buildings feel more like a nursing home and that privacy can vary by building. These comments suggest differences in physical layout, unit assignment, or the mix of residents that prospective families should verify during a tour.

    Dining and meals: Dining opinions are sharply divided. Several reviewers praise gourmet meals, great food, and an open 24/7 kitchen; others state the food is poor or has declined since arrival, with a few comparing it unfavorably to nursing-home food. Because dining is a frequent recurring concern — both highly positive and highly negative — prospective residents should ask detailed questions about current dining menus, meal staffing, sample menus, and recent changes to food service when evaluating the community.

    Activities and social programming: The community offers a robust slate of activities: daily exercise classes, bingo, music programs, church services, weekly music class, Bible study, pet therapy, piano and in-house entertainment, and organized outings. Many reviewers report that residents are busy, engaged, and happy with the social calendar, and events such as holiday parties and escorted restaurant outings are expressly mentioned as highlights. This consistent praise suggests the activity program is a strong aspect of life at the community.

    Management, communication, and transparency: Several reviews raise concerns about management practices and transparency. Specific complaints include alleged misrepresentation of information during admissions, unreturned phone calls, deceptive behavior by staff, unexplained fees (one-time $1,000 community fee), and instances of poor managerial oversight. High staff turnover is cited by some, while others report long-tenured staff — this inconsistency may indicate variability over time or differences between departments. These management and communication issues are a recurring negative pattern that can materially affect family trust and the resident experience.

    Patterns and variability: A key pattern across the reviews is variability. Many families provide five-star praise — calling the staff exceptional, the facility immaculate, and the culture family-centered — while others strongly discourage the community and cite serious failures. This bifurcation suggests the resident experience depends heavily on factors such as building assignment, staff on duty, timing (e.g., post-COVID effects), or individual expectations. The presence of both enthusiastic recommendations and strong cautions implies prospective residents should perform targeted due diligence.

    Recommendations for prospective residents/families: If considering The Bungalows at Springfield East, schedule an extended tour including meals, observe an activity period, and ask to meet the nurse/charge nurse for details on staffing ratios and fall-prevention protocols. Request current menus and inquire about recent changes to dining or kitchen management. Ask for clear written disclosures about fees (including the one-time community fee), turnover rates, and infection-control policies (e.g., policy on working while ill). Speak with multiple families or residents in different buildings to assess variability, and ask management how they handle complaints and staff coaching/discipline. Finally, get contact information for recent family references and verify how the community supports transitions and medical appointments.

    Bottom line: The Bungalows at Springfield East strongly excels in atmosphere, cleanliness, programming, and many caregivers’ compassion — elements that deliver a five-star experience for many residents and families. However, the community also has documented, serious concerns in areas of management, communication, dining consistency, and safety for some residents. Those mixed signals merit careful, specific questioning during any evaluation to ensure the community’s strengths align with an individual resident’s care needs and safety expectations.

    Location

    Map showing location of The Bungalows at Springfield East

    About The Bungalows at Springfield East

    The Bungalows at Springfield East, run by Phoenix Senior Living, gives older adults different ways to live, whether folks want independent living, need some help each day, memory care, or skilled nursing care. The community offers a mix of single rooms, studios, and one- or two-bedroom suites with private decks, patios, or balconies, plus kitchenettes, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and all utilities included in the price, which is convenient for most people who prefer knowing their costs upfront, and some pets are welcome, which means folks don't always have to leave behind their furry friends. The food comes from a chef with three meals a day in a restaurant-style dining room, but there's also room service and special meal plans for folks with dietary needs, and guests can join for meals too, which is handy when family comes over.

    For activities and social life, the place stays busy, since they've got Tai Chi classes, cooking clubs, gardening groups, story time, live performances, outings for day trips, social gatherings, musical groups, and even book discussion clubs, so there's always something for different interests, and a fitness center, game room, outdoor patios, and walking paths for folks who want to move around outside or gather with others. The staff gets regular ethics training and provides companion care, help with walking or using wheelchairs, and will go along to doctor's visits if needed, and they help with medication, bathing, dressing, grooming, nail care, laundry, housekeeping, and dry cleaning, which covers most daily needs.

    People can use the salon or barber for haircuts right on site, and there are religious services inside for those who want them. There's support for getting VA benefits, and folks can pay with credit cards. The place offers Wi-Fi/high-speed internet and cable TV, and there are washers and dryers for use, which many folks like for convenience. The community supports people living with Alzheimer's, dementia, diabetes, incontinence, or who need help walking, and they offer personalized health plans, daily wellness checks, and occupational and physical therapists visit on a schedule, so folks get care highly matched to what they need.

    Seniors who live here have access to transportation for shopping and appointments, which helps people stay independent even if they don't drive, and parking is available for residents and their guests. There's respite care for shorter stays, and folks can shift between care levels if their needs change over time, all on the same campus. The Bungalows at Springfield East focuses on creating a safe, comfortable place where older adults can stay active, have support when they want it, and keep up with hobbies, friends, and good meals in a relaxed setting.

    About Phoenix Senior Living

    The Bungalows at Springfield East is managed by Phoenix Senior Living.

    Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, Phoenix Senior Living operates approximately 42-48 communities throughout the Southeast United States. The company provides assisted living, independent living, and memory care services with a personalized approach. Their philosophy centers on the core belief that "when it comes to a loved one, EVERYTHING matters."

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