Overall impression The reviews present a strongly mixed picture of The Enclave at Gilbert. Many reviewers emphasize that the physical property and amenities are excellent — the community is frequently described as brand-new, clean, hotel-like and well maintained, with attractive grounds, patios, pools, washers/dryers in apartments, and well-appointed living spaces. The activity program is a consistent strength: families and residents commonly praise a full calendar of diverse activities, themed events, off-site trips, and social clubs that create a lively, family-like community. On-site therapy services (physical and occupational therapy), weekly nurse practitioner visits, an on-site salon, and coordinated transportation are repeatedly mentioned as valuable conveniences that improve residents’ quality of life.
Staffing and care quality Staff quality is a central theme and a major source of both praise and concern. Many reviews highlight caring, attentive, personable staff who learn residents’ names, go above and beyond, and make the community feel like family. Numerous callers singled out specific staff and directors by name for fast response times, compassionate transitions, and strong day-to-day caregiving. However, these positive staffing reports sit alongside frequent reports of high staff turnover, understaffing, and inconsistent caregiver performance. Reviewers cite periods when caregivers were impatient, rough handling occurred, or responses to calls for help were slow. A subset of reviews raises more serious concerns: reports of theft, health-code lapses (unwashed plates, ran out of plates), medication timing issues, and even violent incidents or memory-care security lapses (resident escapes, serious injury) indicate variability in safety and supervision depending on staffing and leadership at the time. Several reviewers note a new director or leadership trying to address problems, suggesting some recognition and ongoing corrective efforts.
Dining and kitchen operations Dining is a polarizing subject in the reviews. Early or initial impressions of dining are often positive — several reviewers report great meals, good breakfasts, and a weekly varied menu. Yet a large and recurring cluster of complaints describes a marked decline in food quality and service over time: meals served cold, poor taste (over-salted or over-spiced), small portions, long wait times (10–45 minutes or even two-hour waits in severe cases), running out of main course items, and inconsistent accommodation of dietary needs (gluten-free or diabetic alternatives sometimes not provided). Multiple reviewers attribute problems to kitchen turnover and loss of a head chef; some mention a newly hired chef with an expectation of improvement. Other operational issues linked to dining include buffet/cafe-style changes, running out of plates or milk, and slow dining staff service. The consensus is that dining quality and reliability are currently inconsistent and should be closely evaluated by prospective residents and families.
Housekeeping, maintenance and cleanliness The facility itself is widely described as clean and well maintained, with quick and responsive maintenance staff. However, housekeeping service inside apartments and for laundry is frequently cited as inconsistent. Many reviewers report that scheduled bi-weekly or routine apartment cleanings have been missed, housekeeping lapses unless repeatedly reminded, infrequent or shoddy room cleaning, and slow or unreliable laundry service. A number of residents advise keeping personal copies of documents because of bookkeeping or inventory-sheet discrepancies. Overall, the physical plant appears well-kept, while routine in-unit housekeeping has operational gaps tied to staffing and schedule adherence.
Management, administration and billing Administrative themes are mixed and sometimes problematic. Several reviewers praise onboarding, transition planning, empathy, and an organized move-in process. Conversely, a substantial portion of reviews report management turnover, ineffective leadership, bookkeeping errors, unexplained or disputed charges, delayed reimbursements, and perceived nickel-and-diming. Rent hikes and price increases without clear justification are noted by families, leading some to believe the community is shifting to a profit-motivated posture. Some reviewers indicate management was unresponsive to complaints about dining, housekeeping, or safety; others say new leadership is actively trying to resolve those issues. The message is that administrative stability is uneven and that prospective residents should carefully review contracts, billing practices, and dispute-resolution policies.
Community, activities and resident life Social programming and community life receive consistently positive feedback. Reviewers repeatedly mention a broad variety of classes, wellness programming, pool activities, parties, themed dinners, outings, entertainment, and clubs that foster companionship, emotional well-being and a sense of home. Many families say their loved ones quickly made friends and feel secure and engaged. The lively social calendar appears to be one of the strongest draws of the community and contributes heavily to many residents’ satisfaction.
Safety and notable negative incidents There are some significant safety-related reports that should not be overlooked. A small but serious set of reviews report memory-care security failures (a resident leaving the facility), violent incidents (an animal killed and a claim of staff inaction), ER visits following caregiver mishandling, and allegations of theft and possible cover-ups. While these incidents do not dominate the overall review corpus numerically, their severity raises concern and indicates variability in supervision and staff training. Prospective families, particularly those with memory-care needs or mobility/fall risks, should obtain detailed, up-to-date information about staffing ratios, security protocols, incident reporting, and staff continuity.
Patterns and trajectory A clear pattern emerges: the community’s physical plant, amenities, and activity programming are major strengths, and many day-to-day staff members provide excellent, individualized care. However, recurrent operational problems — primarily revolving around staff and management turnover, kitchen instability, inconsistent housekeeping, billing issues, and understaffing — have produced highly variable resident experiences. Several reviews note a decline in dining and housekeeping over specific periods (some referencing declines since 2019 or since particular staff left), while other reviews indicate leadership changes and new hires meant to improve services. This suggests a community in transition where core strengths remain but operational consistency is uneven.
Practical guidance for families Based on the reviews, prospective residents and families should (1) tour during a mealtime to judge current dining quality and service, (2) ask about current chef staffing and housekeeping schedules (confirm frequency and enforcement), (3) review recent incident logs and memory-care safety procedures, (4) verify billing practices and get contract terms in writing, (5) inquire about staffing ratios and turnover rates for both caregiving and dining/housekeeping teams, and (6) ask for references from recent move-ins. Several reviewers praise new leadership and hires attempting fixes, so asking management about concrete corrective actions already taken and timelines for improvement will be important.
Bottom line The Enclave at Gilbert offers an attractive physical environment, robust activities, on-site therapy and many conveniences that appeal to active seniors and families seeking a lively, well-equipped community. At the same time, operational instability — chiefly in dining, housekeeping, staffing, and management continuity — has produced mixed experiences and some serious safety and administrative complaints. If you prioritize amenities, social programming and a clean, modern facility, this community has strong positives. If consistent housekeeping, dependable dining and stable, long-term caregiving supervision are top priorities, you should probe current staffing stability and recent corrective steps before committing.
