Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed but leans positive for many aspects of Ecumen St. Benedict's Community — Monticello, while also revealing several recurring and serious concerns. Many reviewers emphasize the facility’s attractive, well-maintained campus and apartments, often describing them as beautiful, immaculate, and comfortable. The community offers a wide range of amenities that residents and families frequently mention: a movie theatre, salon, store, library, post office, laundry facilities on each floor, courtyards and garden settings, and secure mail/package delivery. Spiritual life is a strong theme — an on-site chapel, scheduled Masses, proximity to a church, and even a 24-hour Eucharist chapel are repeatedly highlighted and valued by residents who seek faith-based services.
Staff and care receive highly polarized feedback. Numerous reviews praise staff as friendly, attentive, compassionate, and supportive; many families report that their loved ones are happy and well-cared-for, and they note personalized and team-based care in assisted-living areas. Clinical offerings such as 24/7 nursing, memory care, and home-care coordination are recognized as strengths by those who rely on them. However, there are also multiple reports of inconsistent staffing, delayed responses to emergencies, and serious incidents — including resident falls resulting in head laceration and hip fracture, allegations of neglect (e.g., urine-soaked bedding), and claims of inadequate follow-up. Several reviewers described situations where emergency call buttons were nonfunctional or first responders had difficulty accessing the building, and some families reported care delays during urgent events. These safety-related issues are among the most consequential negative patterns found in the reviews and are sometimes tied to criticisms of management and poor incident handling.
Dining and activities are generally strong selling points but show variability. Many residents praise the food — three meals daily (with nutritionist oversight noted) and tempting desserts — and several reviewers said their family members “love the food.” The community offers diverse activities (cards, bingo, musicals, ice cream socials, walking groups, bus outings, book club, morning exercise, crafts, and musical entertainment) that help reduce isolation and build community. Conversely, a number of reviews — particularly those referring to pandemic-era restrictions or staffing shortages — say activities were minimal or paused, meal service was limited (with the dining room closed and meals delivered cold), and independent dining options were reduced or incurred extra fees. A few reviewers also found the dining area small or limited.
Access, affordability, and administrative matters show mixed feedback. Multiple reviewers call out the facility as private-pay and somewhat upscale or expensive, with some explicitly noting price increases and concerns about value. Admissions can be difficult for some; one reviewer cited delays in medical aid and challenges with admission. Administrative and reception issues appear in several accounts: disorganized front-desk experiences, long waits, parking far from doors, and complaints about cleanliness near the entrance. Some people reported that after a change in ownership/management (taken over by Ecumen), care quality declined and management shifted blame for problems — a few families even filed formal complaints or police reports. At the same time, other reviewers found tour staff exceptionally helpful and said move-in experiences were smooth.
Specific areas that prospective residents and families should verify in person include emergency systems and response protocols (functionality of call buttons, first-responder access), staffing ratios and turnover (particularly in memory care and during nights/shifts), recent incident/complaint history, accessibility within rooms and grounds (wheelchair/walker friendliness, parking), and exact costs or extra fees for dining/amenities. The reviews suggest this community can be an excellent match for residents who value a faith-based, amenity-rich, social environment with well-kept apartments and many programming options. However, the presence of multiple serious safety and management concerns in a subset of reviews means due diligence is crucial: ask for documentation of staffing levels, incident reports and resolutions, state inspection results, and references from current families before making a decision.
