Overall sentiment: Reviews for Sunrise of East Setauket are strongly mixed but trend positive in areas related to day-to-day personal care, cleanliness, social programming, and the demeanor of direct care staff. A substantial number of reviewers praise the aides, nurses, activity staff, and leadership for being caring, communicative, and attentive; many families report that residents have become happier, more social, and better nourished after moving in. The facility’s presentation—well-kept grounds, bright common areas, attractive building and rooms—and food quality also receive frequent praise.
Care quality and staff: The most consistently highlighted strength is compassionate, hands-on caregiving. Multiple reviews emphasize an excellent staff-to-resident ratio, personalized attention, supervision of hygiene and medication, and staff who "go the extra mile." Families commonly note improved mood and health outcomes (for example, weight gain and increased engagement) and single out specific staff and directors for praise. That said, there is a recurring pattern of variability: while many reviewers describe outstanding care, others report inadequate staffing, high employee turnover, and poorer coverage on weekends and nights. These divergent accounts suggest care quality may depend on timing, unit, or individual staff assignment.
Facilities and environment: The community is repeatedly described as warm, home-like, and extremely clean. Units are generally regarded as comfortable and appropriately sized, with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms available. Amenities such as an on-site café, wraparound porch, flowers, and communal dining areas contribute to a pleasant atmosphere. There are some consistent minor facility criticisms (room layouts, limited storage, dated rooms in places), but overall the physical plant is seen positively.
Dining and medical services: Dining is a strong point in many reviews—meals are described as very good or gourmet with multiple main course options and the ability to accommodate special diets. Some families report attentive meal delivery and positive nutritional outcomes. Medical access is likewise highlighted by several reviewers who appreciate that doctors make housecalls and that there is licensed nursing presence and monthly wellness visits. Criticisms in this area include slow dining service at times, concerns about sugar in some meal offerings, passive physician involvement as reported by a few families, and occasional delays or shortcomings in physical therapy coordination.
Activities and social life: The activity program receives frequent praise for variety and engagement, with mentions of art classes, fitness, travel groups, bingo, and enthusiastic activity leadership. Many residents reportedly form friendships and increase social participation. However, multiple reviewers also note low participation by some residents, limited early-morning activity, and relatively few community outings for some residents—indicating that actual resident engagement can vary and that programming may not meet every resident’s preferences or energy level.
Management, costs, and red flags: A significant area of concern is management, fees, and admissions practices. Several strongly worded negative reviews allege misleading communication at intake, high non-refundable move-in fees, ongoing unexpected charges, and even eviction notices—some calling management exploitative or lazy. There are specific, repeated claims that memory care services are misrepresented or that a unit marketed for memory care was unlicensed. These are serious allegations and appear repeatedly enough to be a notable pattern in the feedback. Cost is a common theme: the community is described as expensive by many reviewers, private-pay only (no Medicaid), and with the potential for costs to rise after assessments. Conversely, some families still report that the care is worth the price and describe it as good value given the services received.
Polarized experiences and patterns: The reviews paint a polarized picture—many families are effusive in their praise for staff, cleanliness, and social life, recommending Sunrise of East Setauket enthusiastically. Simultaneously, a noticeable minority reports very negative experiences focused on staffing shortfalls, management problems, fees, and alleged misrepresentation of services. The contrast suggests that experiences may be highly dependent on the particular unit (assisted living vs. memory care), individual staff members and shifts, the resident’s level of need, and the specifics of the contract signed at move-in.
What to watch for / takeaways: Strengths to expect include a clean, home-like setting, an active activities program, compassionate direct-care staff, good dining, and medical access via on-site clinicians. Primary concerns to investigate further are licensing and oversight for memory care services, the detailed contents and refundability of move-in and ongoing charges, staffing levels on nights/weekends, and documented policies around evictions or changes in care level. Given the mix of high praise and serious complaints in these reviews, prospective residents and families would be well advised to review the contract carefully, verify licensing and nurse staffing schedules, tour at different times of day (including evenings and weekends), speak with current families if possible, and get clear, written explanations of all fees and care limits before committing.
