Overall sentiment across the reviews for Arbor Landing at Surfside is overwhelmingly positive. The most consistent and emphatic praise centers on the staff and leadership — reviewers repeatedly describe staff as caring, professional, cheerful, and willing to go above and beyond. Several leaders and staff members are named repeatedly (notably Rachel Wiley and Anita/Annetta, with mentions of Jen, Joe, Barbara and specific therapy staff), and reviewers credit them with creating a warm, family-like culture, responsive communication with families, and attentive personal follow-through during transitions or health changes. Many reviewers felt reassured by staff responsiveness during hospitalizations and appreciated individualized attention and respectful treatment of residents’ personal preferences and idiosyncrasies.
Care quality and available services are frequently highlighted. Arbor Landing is described primarily as an independent living community with robust assisted-service options and onsite support: in-building caregiver services (Senior Helpers, SC House Calls), nurse practitioners, physical therapy/rehab, and connections to assisted living when needs change. Reviewers generally felt safe and well cared for and appreciated features such as medication management and bathing assistance when needed. Multiple reviews mention respite care availability and positive short-term stay experiences. That said, a recurring caution is that the community has limits for higher-level medical needs; a few families moved residents into assisted living when care requirements exceeded what independent living could safely provide.
The property and apartments receive strong, near-universal praise. Reviewers describe the facility as beautiful, bright, airy and beachy, with attractive decor, pleasant fragrances, and meticulously maintained public spaces. Apartments are characterized as spacious with ample storage, lots of natural light, and accessible bathrooms outfitted with grab bars and step-in showers; some units include full kitchen appliances while a few reviewers reported units missing an oven or having in-unit features differ. Safety and convenience features like emergency alert ringers and voice assistants (Alexa) are noted. Campus amenities are broad and well-used: movie theater, fitness/gym, library, salon/barbershop, rec rooms, shuffleboard/pool table, outdoor seating and walking areas, and multiple conversation and seating areas throughout the building.
Dining and food service are a mixed but important theme. Many reviewers enthusiastically praised the dining experience — restaurant-style service, tablecloths, an on-site chef, ample portions and friendly dining-room staff are commonly mentioned, along with three meals a day included in many plans. Equally, a meaningful minority of reviews raise concerns: declining food quality over time, disappointing meals, or small portions were specifically mentioned. These divergent views suggest dining experiences may vary by meal, seasonality, or individual expectations. Kitchen and dining staff are nonetheless frequently singled out for friendly service, even by reviewers who criticized some menu items.
Community life and programming are strong positives. Reviewers repeatedly describe abundant, varied activities (fitness classes, happy hours, live music, theater events, clubs, holiday decorating, crafts, games and regular outings). Residents engage actively — decorating suites, hosting events, participating in clubs — and reviewers report a vibrant social scene and many opportunities for stimulation and connection. Transportation to doctor appointments and outings, as well as a schedule of trips to shopping and dining out, are appreciated features that support independence and engagement.
Management, communication and ancillary services score highly. Multiple reviewers compliment the move-in process, needs assessments, and the community relations team for being informative and helpful. Maintenance and housekeeping are noted as prompt and helpful (including small personal tasks like hanging pictures), and staff turnover or coverage issues were not raised as a systemic problem. The community atmosphere — described as home-like, welcoming, and uplifting — appears intentionally fostered by leadership and staff and repeatedly affirmed by long-term residents.
The reviews do surface a consistent but limited set of concerns and patterns to consider. Dining quality and portion sizes are the most frequently cited complaint and represent the single largest area of negative feedback. Cost is another recurring theme: several reviewers noted the community is on the higher end of pricing, with occasional special offers mentioned as helpful; one reviewer specifically noted VA benefits were not usable. A few operational or unit-specific issues appear rarely — reports of incomplete kitchens (no oven), mixed information about in-unit washers/dryers (some units have them, others rely on shared laundry), and isolated complaints about sound insulation. Location concerns were minimal but included at least one note about heavy highway traffic nearby. Finally, while many reviewers praised the availability of assisted services, several families mentioned that when a resident’s needs escalated substantially they required a move to a higher level of care, indicating independent living at Arbor Landing is best suited for residents whose care needs are mild to moderate or who can be supported by the community’s in-building service partners.
In summary, Arbor Landing at Surfside earns very high marks for staff quality, leadership, cleanliness, safety features, amenities, and an active social environment. The dominant impression is of an attentive, warm, and professionally run community that feels like home for many residents and provides peace of mind for families. Prospective residents should tour (as many reviews recommend) to assess unit specifics (kitchen appliances, floor preference) and to evaluate dining options firsthand, and families with higher medical or continuous skilled-care needs should verify whether the community’s assisted services and in-building providers will meet their long-term expectations. Overall, the reviews portray Arbor Landing as a well-appointed independent living community with strong social life and excellent staff-driven culture, tempered by some variability in dining and the usual limitations of independent living for higher-acuity care needs.
