Overall sentiment in the reviews is largely positive about Arrowhead Lodge Senior Living, with consistent praise for staff, cleanliness, and the physical environment, but there are notable and serious criticisms related to care, pricing, and transitions in management.
Staff and care: The most frequently cited strength is the staff. Many reviewers describe staff as courteous, loving, friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Tours and move-ins are repeatedly characterized as easy and thorough, with specific staff members praised by name for being helpful. Residents and visitors commonly report a welcoming, family-like atmosphere driven by staff interactions, and there are multiple mentions of strong leadership and attentive management. Quick maintenance response and helpful administrative support (in many, though not all, accounts) contribute to a sense that day-to-day operations are well run. At the same time, a smaller but significant portion of reviews raise very serious concerns about care quality and resident dignity: specific incidents are described in which residents felt humiliated or had their privacy violated (for example, being changed inappropriately in front of family), and at least one review reports a severe injury that resulted in a broken hip. These accounts indicate that while many experiences are positive, there are important outliers that suggest lapses in care and respect for resident dignity — issues that prospective residents and families should probe further.
Facilities and amenities: Reviews consistently praise the property itself. The facility is described as clean, well-built, and recently refurbished in many areas (new carpet, paint, and flooring mentioned). Apartments are noted as comfortable and spacious, many with in-unit kitchens, and additional conveniences like garages, washers/dryers, basic cable, and all-inclusive rental coverage are repeatedly mentioned. Common areas, dining rooms, seating for socializing, patios, and attractive grounds contribute to a pleasant, home-like environment. Amenities listed across reviews include a gym, laundry, beauty/barber services, manicures, and a library/movies area. However, some reviewers noted they did not see or make use of certain amenities (for example, the beauty/barber shop) and remodeling activity at times created limited access to parts of the building.
Dining and activities: Dining is another strong point for many reviewers. Food receives frequent positive comments: restaurant-style meals, varied menus, salads and desserts (ice cream, chocolate cake) are highlighted, and reviewers often describe dining as a positive social experience. A few reviews mention that certain residents with medical issues had trouble eating, which is more a reflection of individual health than food quality, but still an important note for families of residents with dietary or swallowing issues. Activities are generally viewed as appropriate and ample for a 48-unit community; the size supports an active but intimate program of social events, making it relatively easy for residents to form friendships. Transportation is available (two vans) and the location is noted as convenient to Rapid City.
Management, pricing, and transitions: Management and leadership earn praise for professionalism and responsiveness in many reports, yet multiple reviewers raise concerns about ownership changes and staff turnover. Some readers describe a recent transition to a new company or new staff, which for a few people has translated into a more 'paycheck-driven' or 'soulless' feel. Pricing is another recurrent concern: several reviews call the community expensive, note yearly price increases, and criticize a lack of transparent cost information and perceived aggressive follow-up from administration on financial matters. Prospective residents should request clear, current pricing, notice policies for increases, and written explanations of what is and isn’t included in all-inclusive packages.
Notable operational issues and fit: A few operational limitations appear in the reviews. Remodeling work has caused temporary restrictions on movement for residents and visitors; elevator outages have occurred and required the use of electric stair chairs for mobility — important considerations for those with mobility challenges. Some reviewers felt the community did not yet provide full levels of care in certain areas. The community’s small size (48 units) is repeatedly framed as a positive for social connection and a family feel, but a small scale also means that individual staff behavior and transitions in ownership/staffing can have outsized effects on the community culture.
Bottom line and recommendations: The dominant themes are a warm, clean, well-maintained community with strong dining, amenities, and many caring staff members that create a family-like atmosphere. However, the presence of serious allegations about disrespectful handling and at least one reported injury, combined with concerns about pricing transparency and the effects of ownership/staff changes, are substantial enough that prospective residents and families should investigate further. Recommended next steps for interested parties: request up-to-date disclosures on costs and fee increases; ask about incident reporting and staff training on dignity/privacy; inquire specifically about mobility/elevator contingency plans; tour during both a meal and an activity time to observe staff-resident interactions; and speak with current residents and families about any recent management changes and how those have affected care and culture.
