Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive: residents and visitors consistently highlight an active, well-maintained, and well-staffed community that supports physical, social, and intellectual well-being. Reviewers emphasize that Kendal at Ithaca offers a broad continuum of care (Independent Living, Assisted Living, and home nursing), on-site medical support including prompt attention and quick imaging turnaround, and a resident care unit oriented to health and wellness. The staff — from marketing and transition teams to dining, activities, and facilities personnel — are repeatedly described as professional, caring, accessible, and consistent, and many reviews explicitly note staff who go "above and beyond" and make residents feel special.
Facilities and living accommodations receive frequent praise. The campus is portrayed as clean, bright, and not gloomy: spacious private rooms and cottages with plentiful natural light, multiple room size options, benches in hallways, and practical amenities like laundry and activity rooms. Recent capital improvements (new floors, windows, shades, appliances, and patio upgrades) are called out as evidence of ongoing investment in the physical plant. Outdoor and recreational features — an on-site pool, fitness facilities, putting green, tennis, gardens, and patio/garden opportunities — are highlighted as enhancing daily life and supporting both physical activity and horticultural interests.
Dining and food service emerge as major strengths. Many reviews describe dining as "phenomenal," with both buffet and formal dining room options, a varied rotating meal plan, and extensive vegetarian choices. Dining staff receive praise for service and meal quality. Reviewers also appreciate that the community meets multiple needs (intellectual, social, physical), often using a "cruise ship" analogy to describe the ease of living, plentiful activities, and ample social opportunities.
Activities and engagement are a clear hallmark. The Activities / Life Engagement staff are described as creative and effective, offering an extensive schedule that includes boat cruises, museum trips, concerts, guest speakers, exercise classes, painting groups, karaoke, musical activities, handcrafts, and movies. Committees and resident-driven programs add to the sense that residents can shape life-enriching opportunities and build meaningful social connections. Multiple reviews state that the community helps residents "live their best possible lives," underscoring a strong emphasis on holistic engagement.
Management and move-in processes are also noted positively: marketing staff explained options and contracts clearly, and transitions staff helped make move-in painless. Facility staff responsiveness (both for renovations and day-to-day needs) reinforces the sense of competent management. The community’s long-term familiarity and continuity of staffing contribute to stability and consistent care, which many residents value.
However, there are important concerns and patterns that temper the overwhelmingly positive picture. Cost is repeatedly mentioned as high — one review cites approximately $6,000 per month — which may make the community inaccessible for some prospective residents and contributes to perceptions of exclusivity. Several reviews note an older-skewing population, including reports of many residents over 100 years old; while this is a point of pride for some, it could be a drawback for those seeking a younger senior cohort or more age diversity.
Most significantly, a subset of reviews raises serious concerns about inclusivity: there are explicit reports of racism and unwelcoming behavior toward people of color. These comments stand in sharp contrast to otherwise uniformly positive descriptions of staff warmth and community hospitality and should be considered a major area for further inquiry by prospective residents, families, or oversight bodies. The combination of high cost and reported issues with diversity and inclusiveness suggests potential cultural or demographic limitations that may not be visible from facility tours focused on physical amenities and programming.
In summary, Kendal at Ithaca is consistently described as an active, well-run senior community with strong dining, robust programming, comprehensive care options, thoughtful facility upkeep, and attentive staff. These strengths are tempered by concerns about affordability, an aging resident demographic that may not align with all preferences, and troubling reports of racial unwelcoming behavior. Prospective residents should weigh the facility’s clear advantages in care, amenities, and engagement against cost and diversity considerations, and should explicitly address inclusivity and community culture during visits and conversations with staff and current residents.
