Overall sentiment is clearly mixed but centers on a strong core of positive resident experience balanced against critical and sometimes severe operational and safety concerns. A majority of reviews highlight warm, compassionate caregivers, an engaged activities program, attractive apartments, and a homelike small-town atmosphere with scenic countryside views. Many families praised the food (in particular an on-site executive chef), cleanliness, social opportunities, and large private units with kitchenettes and walk-in closets. Several reviewers explicitly said the move was one of the best decisions for their loved one, noting dignity, personalized care, and meaningful social connection. Distinct strengths repeated across reviews include a friendly front-desk/admissions experience, varied activities (book clubs, bingo, outings, exercise), pet-friendliness, and a sense that staff often go above and beyond to create a family-like environment.
However, an important and recurring set of negative themes significantly tempers those positives. Multiple reports describe serious lapses in safety and supervision: delayed responses to falls, call button systems that failed or routed to the wrong rooms, night staff allegedly sleeping on duty, and at least one incident in which the family was expected to clean up after a toilet overflow. Reviews also frequently mention staffing shortages and inadequate med aide coverage, with some families reporting infrequent toileting, skin tears attributed to neglect, and problems transferring to hospitals without proper family notification. These are not isolated minor complaints but specific safety-related allegations that demand attention because they directly affect resident health and well-being.
Management and communication show a wide range of experiences. Several reviewers singled out particular administrators and staff (by name) as responsive, thorough, and excellent—Holly, Melissa, Amy, and Shelly were praised in different accounts—yet other families experienced unresponsiveness, dishonest communication about staffing levels, and inconsistent follow-through. There are also notes of organizational instability during the pandemic (director removed, quarantine procedures) and occasional reports of administrative rudeness or long waits for tours. This variability suggests that leadership and culture may be uneven across shifts and units, or that improvements have been made in some areas while other issues remain unresolved.
Facility and maintenance impressions are also mixed. Many reviews describe attractive, updated living spaces, new flooring, big common areas, and thoughtful amenities such as a sunroom with conservation-area views. Conversely, others report maintenance problems: unreliable elevators, cosmetic deterioration (chipping paint), weekend maintenance gaps, and a bus that was not running. These maintenance discrepancies appear to be intermittent but noticeable enough to affect resident experience. Memory care also drew mixed feedback—some praised a bright, inviting memory support unit, while others noted limited activities, accessibility issues (no lifts), and uncertainty about kitchen availability in that unit.
Dining and activities are frequently cited positively but not universally. Numerous reviewers rave about the chef, tasty menus, and variety of social and recreational options (movies, shopping trips, exercise, chapel, ice cream machine). A minority, however, mentioned insufficient food portions or inconsistency in meal quality. Activities seem robust overall and are a clear strength for many residents, contributing strongly to social engagement and perceived quality of life.
Two additional patterns are important for prospective families: first, experiences vary widely by staff and time of day—some floors or shifts are praised while others are criticized for lack of oversight. Second, the facility does not accept Medicaid waivers, which affects affordability for some families. In summary, Ridgewood Senior Living appears to deliver an excellent community experience for many residents—great food, compassionate individualized caregivers, comfortable apartments, and active programming—yet there are serious and credible reports of safety, staffing, communication, and maintenance issues that some families have experienced. Those considering Ridgewood should weigh the many positive personal testimonials against the reported operational lapses, ask detailed questions about staffing ratios (especially med aide/night coverage), response protocols for falls and call-button events, recent management changes, maintenance scheduling, and memory-care-specific amenities and supervision. If possible, seek recent, shift-specific references and tour multiple times (including evenings or weekends) to get a fuller picture of consistency before deciding.
