Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive, with many reviewers endorsing Union Square Senior Apartments as a safe, clean, and well-run senior community. The dominant themes are staff quality and management responsiveness, a strong sense of community, and a breadth of social and wellness activities. Multiple long-term residents and family members express high satisfaction — describing the place as welcoming, like family, and a clear choice in the region — and many highlight that moving here was a stress-free, well-supported process.
Care quality and staff: Staff and management receive consistent, enthusiastic praise. The property manager (named repeatedly as Denise or Denise Rutkowski) is singled out for compassionate, professional, and proactive leadership — listening to residents, resolving problems quickly, and going above and beyond during move-in and in crisis situations. Staff are described as friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring; several reviewers explicitly say their parent or themselves love living there because of the staff. Safety measures, especially around infectious disease prevention, were implemented proactively with masking, distancing, and other outbreak-prevention steps. Reviewers credit management and staff with prioritizing resident health and safety and acting quickly when concerns arise.
Facilities, cleanliness, and maintenance: The building and apartments are repeatedly described as clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed for seniors. One-bedroom units are described as nicely appointed and comfortable, with privacy respected. Common areas and the campus are called inviting and neat. Maintenance responsiveness is mentioned positively many times — repairs are characterized as efficient and prompt — though a small number of reviews note slower responses in specific instances. There is one isolated report mentioning cockroaches, which stands in contrast to the many comments about cleanliness; prospective residents may wish to ask about pest control history during a visit.
Activities, social life, and community culture: Reviewers highlight an active social calendar: exercise classes, movie nights, group outings, and weekday activities are commonly named. Many comments note that activities existed before COVID and that programming is resuming safely. The social environment is a major selling point — residents describe feeling part of a family, developing friendships quickly, and enjoying communal spaces. At the same time, several reviews acknowledge that some events were restricted during the pandemic, which temporarily limited social options; reviewers generally indicate that those programs are coming back.
Location and accessibility: Location is consistently praised — proximity to the Thruway, shopping, hospitals, and other services makes it convenient for residents and visiting family. The area is described as safe and quiet. Mobility accommodations, simple parking, and an accessible campus layout are additional practical advantages for seniors with limited mobility.
Cost and availability concerns: A recurring negative theme is rising rent and affordability. Multiple reviewers express concern that recent price increases make the community less accessible to moderate-income seniors, with strong language from a few asserting that it has become affordable only to wealthier residents. There is also one report implying possible price gouging targeted at seniors. Additionally, a few reviewers noted limited availability or that management could not accommodate at certain times — suggesting potential waitlists or capacity limits. These financial and access issues represent the most significant area of dissatisfaction among reviewers and are worth verifying directly with management.
Notable patterns and practical advice: Nearly every review emphasizes excellent staff and a safe, clean environment; the consistent, repeated praise for the property manager is a distinctive pattern. Most negative comments are isolated (pest report, occasional slow repairs) but should not be ignored. For prospective residents or family members, recommended due diligence includes: visiting in person to assess cleanliness and unit condition, asking about current rent and fees and any recent or planned increases, inquiring about pest control history, confirming maintenance response times and procedures, and checking current activity schedules and COVID-safety practices. Overall, Union Square Senior Apartments presents as a well-regarded senior community with strong management, an engaged staff, active programming, and a welcoming community vibe, tempered primarily by concerns about affordability and a few isolated operational issues.
