Overall sentiment across reviews is mixed but leans positive in regards to the physical plant and many aspects of resident experience. The property consistently receives praise for its attractive, hotel-like building, spacious apartments, well-kept grounds, and upscale amenities such as a pool, library, spa/massage services, underground parking, and guest rooms. Multiple reviewers highlight a warm, welcoming atmosphere on arrival and note that community areas feel open, cozy, and well-designed. Weekly apartment cleaning and cleanliness of the facility are recurring positives.
Staff and caregiving elicit divergent impressions. A substantial number of reviews commend front desk and concierge teams, caregivers, nurses, and therapy staff as kind, helpful, responsive, and personally attentive. Several residents note individualized attention, prompt maintenance response, name recognition by staff, and beneficial physical therapy and rehab services. These positive staff interactions translate into strong recommendations from many reviewers and an overall sense that residents are well supported in daily life and medical needs.
Counterbalancing those positives, there are multiple reports of inconsistent or problematic staff behavior and administrative shortcomings. Some reviews describe insincere or poorly trained staff, caregivers who yell at or ignore residents, and high staff turnover. Administrative concerns include bureaucratic approvals, poor follow-up on resident concerns, and examples where HIPAA or nepotism were cited as reasons for unsatisfactory responses. Management experiences vary: several reviewers praise management as responsive and willing to listen, while others find administrators lacking understanding or insufficiently attentive. This unevenness suggests variability between teams or shifts and indicates inconsistency in service delivery rather than a uniformly poor or excellent standard.
Dining and food receive mixed feedback. Many residents and visitors compliment the chef, the variety of daily meals, proper portions, and specific favorites such as a well-regarded Chicken Caesar salad and Friday fish offerings. At the same time, other reviewers report cold, dated, or poor-quality meals, an inaccurate menu, and food that did not accommodate healthier options or allergies. Several complaints mention poor allergy handling. The split in dining opinions suggests that while the dining program has strengths and popular menu items, execution and consistency vary.
Activities and social life are commonly referenced as strengths — reviewers list bingo, sewing, art, clubs, and frequent social opportunities that keep residents engaged. However, recurring complaints about canceled activities, limited socializing due to therapy schedules, and poor activity coordination appear enough times to be notable. Some residents feel the environment can be loud with insufficient quiet time, and sound insulation issues are reported, which affects residents who prefer a quieter setting.
Safety and care concerns appear in a minority of reviews but are serious when raised. Examples include an incident tied to a tornado and reports of caregivers mishandling residents or not following up on issues. While many reviews praise skilled nursing and therapy teams, these safety-related reports underscore the importance of verifying protocols and staffing consistency before moving in.
Financial and occupancy issues are also prominent. Several reviewers point out premium pricing, cash-only policies, lack of Medicaid or VA fund acceptance, and perceptions that costs are out of reach for some families. Conversely, a few reviewers say there is no waiting list or that the community is not yet full, which some interpret as a negative (feels like a ghost town) and others as an opportunity to move in. There are also comments about sales tactics; some prospective residents felt pressured or described tours as a time-share-like pitch, while others found the sales staff excellent and helpful.
In summary, New Perspective Howard appears to offer a very strong physical environment, many desirable amenities, and numerous examples of compassionate, competent staff and effective therapy services. The most consistent strengths are the facility itself, the concierge/front-desk experience, rehab and therapy resources, and several praised dining options. The most important caveats are variability in staff performance and management responsiveness, inconsistent dining experiences for some, activity cancellations and coordination problems, occasional safety or follow-up failures, and clear concerns about cost and payment flexibility. Prospective residents and families should weigh the facility’s excellent amenities and therapy strengths against reports of administrative inconsistency and occasional caregiving lapses, ask specific questions about staff turnover and training, clarify dining allergy accommodations, and confirm payment options and occupancy expectations before committing.
