The reviews for DeForest Place present a mixed and polarized picture, with clear strengths noted by some reviewers and significant, recurring concerns noted by others. Positive comments tend to focus on the interpersonal and community aspects: multiple reviewers described staff as friendly and helpful, praised engaging activities and programs, and said the community size felt 'perfect' or manageable. Several people reported timely problem resolution, a sense that the environment felt like home, and overall satisfaction with the experience. A few reviewers singled out dedicated caregivers and appreciated thorough discussions about costs, which suggests some consistency in communication and individualized attention for certain residents.
Conversely, a number of reviews raise serious operational and safety-related issues. A recurring theme is the physical condition of the facility: reviewers mentioned an older building that needs updates, broken chairs and other damaged furniture in common areas, worn or stained carpeting, shower-room maintenance needs, and windows that should be replaced. These items point to deferred or inconsistent maintenance in shared spaces. Room size was also flagged repeatedly as small, which may be a constraint for residents who need more space or for families visiting.
Several reviewers reported concerns about care quality and staffing. Understaffing—especially on the night shift—was a specific complaint, and some felt that understaffing contributed to poor quality of care and failure to follow established care plans. While some staff members were described as dedicated and helpful, others were characterized as rude, loud, or pushy. There are also reports of staff using cell phones while on duty at work stations, which contributes to an impression of inconsistent professionalism.
Foodservice and kitchen hygiene emerged as a prominent and potentially serious red flag. Multiple reviewers described unsanitary food handling practices, including serving meals without staff washing hands or wearing gloves and instances of bare-handed food preparation. Kitchen cleanliness concerns were cited, and one reviewer specifically called out that food was served without basic food-safety precautions. These are safety-sensitive issues that were mentioned more than once, indicating a pattern rather than an isolated lapse.
Management and administrative themes are mixed as well. Some reviewers complimented management for resolving problems promptly, while others expressed concern about a new management team perceived as uncaring. This split suggests variability in administrative responsiveness and possibly turnover or recent leadership change that has affected perceptions. The combination of praised timely resolution in some instances and reported management indifference in others points to inconsistency in how resident concerns are handled.
Overall sentiment is divided: positive reviews highlight a warm, activity-rich community with friendly staff and a comfortable size, while negative reviews emphasize aging facilities, maintenance issues, staffing shortages, inconsistent adherence to care plans, unprofessional staff behavior, and troubling food-safety practices. The most significant and actionable concerns from these reviews are the repeated reports of unsanitary food handling and understaffing affecting care quality. Other important themes for consideration include facility upkeep (carpets, furniture, windows, shower room) and staff professionalism. Taken together, these patterns suggest that experiences at DeForest Place may vary substantially by unit, shift, or individual staff members, and that addressing maintenance, staffing levels, food-safety practices, and management consistency would likely have the greatest impact on improving overall resident and family satisfaction.
