Overall impression: Reviews of Givens Highland Farms are strongly weighted toward praise for the location, staff, and community, but tempered by recurring concerns about cost, aging facilities, inconsistent dining and service experiences, and disruption related to construction. The dominant themes are a beautiful rural campus with mountain views and well-kept grounds, combined with many testimonials about caring, professional staff and comprehensive care services. However, a not-insubstantial minority of reviewers raise serious concerns about value, interior aesthetics, and episodic service or cleanliness failures. Prospective residents and families will likely find the setting and staff strengths compelling, but should plan for variability in experience depending on building/room choice and current renovation status.
Care quality and staff: One of the clearest positive themes is the quality and compassion of the caregiving teams. Numerous reviewers explicitly praise nursing, aides, therapy, and specialty care: wound care was called out by name (Zett), therapy was described as intensive in some cases (twice-daily), and several individual staff (Brigid, Stuart, Greg, Chef Ricky, Jessica) and departments (HR, admissions/marketing) received direct compliments. Accounts describe attentive, kind, and knowledgeable personnel, low staff turnover, and staff who form strong relationships with residents. Multiple reviews also recount exemplary leadership behavior in emergencies (an executive director who stayed during a hurricane), which reinforces perceptions of reliable management during crises. That said, a minority of reviews report poor staff behavior (descriptions like mean, condescending, or detestable), indicating some variability in individual experiences.
Facilities, campus, and housing: The campus setting is a major selling point. Reviewers consistently mention a rural, landscaped environment with walking trails, lakes, wildlife, and 360-degree mountain views. There is a range of housing options — apartments, cottages, duplexes, and patio homes — and new construction and renovations are underway. Many residents like cottage living and praise new, modern dining areas and units. Conversely, older buildings are described by some as dated or institutional, with small or shared “ancient” rooms and a dormitory feel in certain areas. Construction is both a sign of investment and a present downside: it has temporarily taken amenities offline (wood shop, greenhouse), caused disruption, and left some services operating in temporary spaces. Maintenance staff generally receive praise for prompt repairs, but isolated reports mention unresolved issues (broken locks, old/damaged furniture) that raise safety or comfort concerns.
Dining and nutrition: Dining is a split area. A large number of reviewers praise the food, menu variety, and specific kitchen staff, calling meals delicious and noting multiple dining options. Others strongly disagree — describing meals as poor, frozen, or low-quality (frozen fish-like meals) — and some voice dietary-philosophy concerns (a dietitian perceived as pushing a keto/high-protein approach at the cost of fruits and vegetables). The practical takeaway is that dining experiences appear to vary across time, palate, and possibly dining venue; prospective residents should sample meals and ask about diet options and menu flexibility.
Activities, community life, and amenities: Reviews highlight an active social life, with many opportunities for crafts, knitting, hobby classes, workshops, library access, games, transportation to events, and neighborhood dinners. Residents praise the sense of belonging, friendships made, and a generally relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. At the same time, a few reviewers say that more ambulatory, independent residents can feel under-stimulated due to limited large common areas or programming tailored to highly active seniors. The temporary loss of some hobby spaces during renovation (e.g., woodshop) has exacerbated this for certain individuals.
Management, administration, and operations: Admissions and marketing staff earn frequent commendations for being accommodating and knowledgeable; several reviewers specifically cite positive tour experiences and thoughtful salespeople. Operationally, day-to-day staff are often described as responsive and effective at problem resolution. However, administration is sometimes seen as slow to respond to higher-level concerns, and there are mixed accounts about how well complaints are handled. Reports of extra fees for additional services and wait lists for units are practical considerations for those planning a move.
Cost and value: Cost is a major and consistent concern. Multiple reviewers emphasize that Givens Highland Farms is expensive and feels targeted toward higher-net-worth residents; some explicitly say it is “not for the middle class.” While many reviewers believe the cost is justified by staff quality, setting, and safety, others feel the facility charges high rates for accommodations and services that feel dated or insufficient in certain buildings, leading to a perception of poor value in some cases.
Cleanliness and safety: Many reviewers praise the cleanliness (spotless, no odors) and safety of the campus. Conversely, some reports call out dust, dirty linens, and specific safety issues (e.g., broken patio door lock), indicating occasional lapses. These contrasting reports suggest that standards are generally high but not uniformly applied across every unit or shift.
Patterns and recommendations: The reviews paint a broadly favorable picture when it comes to staffing, clinical care, community, and the physical campus, especially for those who value a rural, mountain-oriented setting and a small-community feel. The principal caveats are financial (high cost), variability in building quality (old vs. newly renovated units), intermittent construction-related disruption, and uneven experiences with food and some operational aspects. Prospective residents should: (1) tour the specific building/unit they would occupy (older vs. newly renovated), (2) sample meals and discuss dietary options, (3) ask about timelines and impact of current construction on amenities, (4) inquire about staffing continuity and how isolated complaints are handled, and (5) confirm any additional fees and wait-list timing.
Bottom line: Givens Highland Farms consistently receives strong praise for its compassionate staff, clinical capabilities, beautiful grounds, and active social life. Many residents and families consider it an excellent choice and feel reassured about safety and care. However, there is a meaningful minority of negative experiences — mostly around cost, interior condition, inconsistent dining/housekeeping, and the disruption of renovations — that prospective residents should vet carefully to ensure the particular unit and services match their expectations and budget.
