Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed but leans positive for day-to-day care, staff demeanor, cleanliness, and programming, while raising significant safety and management concerns in a subset of accounts. A majority of reviewers emphasize friendly, compassionate, and attentive staff, a welcoming facility atmosphere, active programming, and tangible recent renovations. Many families describe successful transitions from hospital or rehab to Somerset Court, improved resident outlook and weight gain, and strong engagement driven by a dedicated Life Enrichment Coordinator. The facility offers private rooms, bright common areas, two porches, on-site hairdressing, Direct TV, holiday activities, and regular outings — all of which are repeatedly cited as strengths that promote resident satisfaction and quality of life.
Care quality and staff performance are the most frequently discussed themes and show a clear pattern of polarization. Numerous reviews praise nursing and caregiving staff as hardworking, compassionate, and responsive, often highlighting specific employees (ED, RCM, and activity staff) and noting above-and-beyond service from both nursing and business office personnel. These testimonials describe attentive care, respectful treatment, and visible improvements in residents. However, a contrasting set of reviews describes troubling lapses: staff unresponsiveness, failure to assist residents with meals leading to eating difficulties and mobility decline, and instances where residents reportedly were not bathed for extended periods. This split suggests variability in staffing levels, training, or shift-by-shift consistency that results in different family experiences.
Facilities and physical environment are generally viewed positively, with multiple mentions of cleanliness, newly renovated floors, fresh paint, new furniture being installed, and a generally cute/appealing facility. Several reviews report ongoing improvements (planned upgrades from carpet to hardwood/linoleum, painting, furniture replacement). Private rooms and bright hallways with daylight and porches are highlighted as attractive features. That said, a few reviewers reported soiled mattresses and hygiene problems in isolated instances, indicating that while the facility is largely well-maintained, there have been concerning lapses for some residents.
Dining and activities receive mostly favorable comments: reviewers note a variety of activities (bingo, trivia, outings, themed events, birthday celebrations) and active engagement from residents. Life enrichment programming is repeatedly commended for keeping residents busy and socially active. Food receives mixed feedback: some appreciate heart-healthy options and snacks, while others are "not thrilled" with the menu or find it limited. Assistance with meals is an important point — when staff help is available residents show improved intake, but some reports say meal assistance was insufficient, contributing to decline in certain residents.
Management and safety concerns are the most serious recurring themes and are responsible for much of the negative sentiment. Multiple reviews allege systemic problems: a call bell system that was out-of-compliance and reportedly nonfunctional for weeks, an improper discharge that led to hospitalization, negative media attention, and allegations of padded positive reviews and retaliatory behavior by administration. Some reviewers explicitly describe "shady" administrative staff or failure to follow protocol, while others praise the executive director and administrative team. This inconsistency indicates polarization in perceptions of leadership and potentially uneven administration practices over time or across different families and events. The mention of a management change to Meridian and visible facility improvements suggests steps may be being taken to address issues, but the serious safety allegations (call bell failures, discharge errors, unreported hygiene lapses) warrant careful attention and verification by prospective residents and families.
Patterns and recommendations: reviewers commonly report strong, compassionate frontline staff and lively programming that improve resident quality of life. At the same time, the presence of alarming safety and administrative complaints means the facility exhibits significant variability in experience. Prospective residents and families should weigh the positive reports about staff, activities, and renovations against the documented safety concerns. Practical steps for families considering Somerset Court of Cherryville would be to: ask specifically about the current status and inspection results for the call bell system, inquire about staffing ratios and how meal assistance and hygiene care are managed and documented, request recent incident reports or corrective action plans related to the cited discharge and media incidents, and meet key administrative leaders to understand recent management changes (e.g., Meridian transition) and renovation timelines. Overall, the facility shows many strengths in resident life and engagement but the safety and administration-related allegations are significant and should be investigated further before making placement decisions.
