Overall sentiment: The reviews for Artis Senior Living of Chestnut Ridge are predominantly positive, especially around the facility environment, the social and activity programming, and the warm, personalized care provided by many frontline staff. Multiple reviewers describe a beautiful, brand-new, well-maintained building with a bright, luxury interior, small single-floor neighborhoods, and a family-like atmosphere that helps residents settle in and thrive. Particular strengths frequently called out are the community's memory-care focus, the engaging activities program (music therapy, chair yoga, gardening, crafts, live music, social clubs), and the culinary program led by a highly praised chef. Many families reported successful transitions, strong social engagement for residents, and peace of mind because of the caring demeanor and attentiveness of staff.
Care quality and staff: A major theme is the excellence and compassion of direct care staff. Names recur in reviews as examples of staff who make a difference — front-desk staff (Kam), activity leaders (Sheree), chef (Jorge), maintenance/grounds (Orlando), and several nurses and program directors — and many reviewers emphasize that staff learn residents' histories and provide individualized attention. Activity staff and therapists are repeatedly described as creative and person-centered, turning physical therapy into enjoyable group activities and integrating meaningful experiences. That said, a consistent counterpoint in multiple reviews is variability in clinical staffing: reports of high turnover, reliance on agency/third-party nurses, and times when there is not always a nurse present on the wing. Some families described moody aides or inconsistent nursing attention. These clinical-staffing issues are cited as the community's biggest operational weakness and a source of parental anxiety for families who rely on predictable clinical oversight.
Facilities and safety: The physical campus receives high marks — brand-new construction, single-floor layout with four small neighborhoods and neighborhood dining rooms, attractive common areas, porches, and secure walking trails. Reviewers value the safe-wander design for memory care, the ability to move among wings for dining, and the overall cleanliness and décor. However, some operational and safety concerns surfaced: reviewers noted that some resident rooms were too hot, one reviewer did not observe an AED on site, and there were reports of rooms not always being kept secured or found unlocked. These safety and environmental issues were not multiple, widespread complaints, but they are important practical concerns to confirm with management prior to placement.
Dining, therapy, and activities: Dining is a strong positive in most reviews. Chef Jorge is frequently named and praised for creative meals, resident engagement in cooking, and accommodating choices. Many reviewers described good-quality food and daily choices. Therapy programming (physical and occupational therapy) drew high praise for being effective and fun. Activity programming is extensive and highly-valued — music therapy, live performances, gardening, crafts, virtual trips, and social outings are part of the routine, and reviewers often note residents quickly become involved and establish relationships. Some negative notes include activities that stop a little early in the evening and limited outdoor time reported for some disabled residents. A few reviewers also indicated that their experience with exercise or therapy was limited, which may reflect variable implementation or pandemic-related restrictions experienced by some families.
Operations, logistics, and personal items: Several recurring operational problems were raised and merit attention. Laundry service problems are described repeatedly: infrequent laundry, missing or unlabeled clothing, odor issues, and clothing not returned. Personal items have gone missing, including glasses and rented wheelchairs, and one reviewer mentioned broken glasses not returned. Families also reported lack of basic supplies in some instances (soap, shampoo, Depends) and limited availability of wheelchairs/walkers on site. Communication with physicians or family members was flagged as an area needing improvement by some reviewers. These logistics and housekeeping issues contributed in some reviews to perceptions of poor value despite otherwise strong programming and staff warmth.
Cost, management, and professionalism: Multiple reviewers mentioned concern about monthly fees and pricing transparency — some feel the community provides good value for the quality and programming, while others think the cost is high relative to inconsistent clinical coverage or operational lapses. Leadership generally receives positive comments (several reviewers praise the Executive Director and visible leaders), but there are isolated and important concerns about staff professionalism and an allegation of an altercation involving a Director of Health and Wellness that reviewers wished to see investigated. A couple of reviewers noted turnover in nursing leadership (head nurse departures) and occasional unclear assessment scope. These comments suggest that while leadership is often visible and supportive, families should verify current leadership stability, staff vetting, and professional conduct policies.
Patterns and recommendations: In synthesis, Artis Senior Living of Chestnut Ridge shows strong, consistent strengths in its physical environment, memory-care model, robust activity and therapy programming, and many compassionate, dedicated staff members who create a social, home-like environment where residents can thrive. The most common and material concerns are operational and clinical in nature: inconsistent nursing coverage and turnover, reliance on agency staff, laundry and personal-item management, occasional lack of basic supplies, and a few safety and professionalism questions. These operational problems are often cited as the main sources of family dissatisfaction despite the otherwise warm, high-quality social and sensory programming.
If you are considering this community, key topics to discuss with management before placement include: current ratio and consistency of clinical nursing coverage (including whether a nurse is always assigned to every wing), policies on agency staff and staff turnover mitigation, laundry and labeling processes, inventory and availability of mobility aids and basic supplies, protocols for lost or damaged personal items, emergency equipment availability (AEDs), room temperature controls, and detailed pricing/fees and what is included in the monthly rate. For many families, the combination of excellent programming, a beautiful new environment, and caring staff will outweigh the operational shortcomings — but verifying the clinical consistency and logistical practices up front will ensure expectations align with the community's day-to-day reality.
