Overall sentiment across these reviews is sharply mixed, with recurring patterns of both strong praise and serious concerns. Many reviewers describe The Kenwood by Senior Star as a top-tier, resort-like community: attractive architecture and decor, large bright apartments, wide hallways, numerous amenities (pool, gym, hair salons, therapy pool/sauna), and a rich calendar of activities and entertainment. Multiple families specifically praised staff members and departments by name (e.g., Kim/Kimberly Koop-Bryson, Maddie Rosenberger, Scott Nelson, Chris Blair, Andrew, Rashaun), describing staff as professional, caring, personable, and family-like. The facility repeatedly receives positive notes for smooth transitions and move-in assistance, good rehab/PT-OT services, and the presence of on-site clinical support or 24/7 staffing on many floors. For many residents and families the Kenwood exceeded expectations, offering restaurant-style dining, clean public areas, and a high level of amenities and programming that supports aging in place with continuing care options.
However, an equally strong and distinct theme is concern about care consistency, management responsiveness, and safety in certain units—particularly memory care and some nursing areas. Numerous reviews allege understaffing, high caregiver turnover, and inexperienced or inconsistent caregivers leading to missed basic-care tasks (bathing, changing incontinence products, missing laundry, rooms not cleaned). There are multiple serious, specific allegations in some reviews: residents reportedly left in soiled clothing or wheelchairs, injuries and incidents not communicated to families, and claims of overuse of psychoactive medications. These accounts contrast sharply with reviewers who praise nursing staff as "second to none," indicating a significant inconsistency by unit, shift, or time period.
Dining and food service emerge as another polarized domain. Many reviews applaud the food—describing meals as professionally served and delicious—while a sizable number of other reviewers report severe declines: salty or overcooked meals, limited and repetitive menus, long waits, amateur service, and inconsistent portion sizes. Some families and residents feel the dining experience deteriorated over time, with management changes and cost/operational shifts contributing to perceived drops in quality. Given that dining is a frequent daily touchpoint, this variability strongly influences overall satisfaction.
Facility quality and programming are repeatedly cited as strengths: the Kenwood offers frequent live entertainment, clubs (chess, socials), lectures, craft and music programs, and indoor/outdoor garden areas. Many reviewers value the intellectual and social programming as meaningful. Still, some note that activities can be impractical for certain residents or lack sufficient variety, and the building’s size or spread of amenities can pose mobility and accessibility challenges (e.g., sloped theater floor, amenities spread across floors), particularly for residents who prefer a smaller, more home-like setting.
Management, accountability, and transparency are common friction points. Several reviews describe unresponsive leadership, administrative no-shows, and a perception that problematic employees are protected. Conversely, other reviewers praise leadership and point to supportive, well-trained management. The divergence suggests variability over time or across teams. Cost is another frequent concern—many reviewers describe the community as expensive and some mention unclear pricing or value-for-cost issues, including observations of services or amenities being reduced after move-in ("bait-and-switch"). A few reviews raise regulatory and safety red flags, noting lack of Medicare accreditation or avoidance of safety initiatives; these are serious claims that prospective families should verify independently.
In sum, The Kenwood presents as a high-amenity, professionally appointed continuing care community with many devoted and exemplary staff members and a robust activities program. At the same time, there is a persistent cluster of reports indicating understaffing, inconsistent care (especially in memory care), housekeeping lapses, management responsiveness problems, and fluctuating food service quality. The coexistence of glowing testimonials and severe complaints suggests variability by unit, time period, or staff cohort. Prospective residents and families should: 1) request current staffing levels and turnover data for the specific unit of interest; 2) tour the exact neighborhood/unit (including meal service at mealtime) and ask to meet current caregivers and nursing leadership; 3) review clinical oversight policies (psychoactive medication use, incident reporting, medication reorder procedures); 4) ask for recent resident-family satisfaction survey results and any third-party accreditation or inspection reports; and 5) get contract and fee details in writing to confirm which services and amenities are guaranteed. Doing so will help determine whether an individual’s positive expectations will likely be met or whether the reported service gaps are material risks for their loved one.
