Overall sentiment across the reviews for Lake Forest Village is largely positive with notable strengths in campus environment, community life, facilities, and many aspects of daily living; however, there are important and specific negative incidents reported around clinical care, sanitation, discharge processes, and pricing that prospective residents and families should investigate further.
Campus, facilities, and environment: Reviewers consistently praise the setting and physical assets. The community sits on roughly 80 acres with walking trails, a lake, wildlife, and extensive outdoor garden space (including raised beds). Indoor amenities are broad and well-liked: a theater room, fitness center/gym, multiple libraries, an arts studio, chapel, salon, and a general store are repeatedly mentioned. Housing options are varied and appealing for different needs and tastes — cottages and duplexes with good kitchen and storage space, two-bedroom layouts, and renovated/upgraded homes and apartments that many residents describe as spacious and well-maintained. Recent capital improvements — redecorated dining room, parking lot resurfacing, improved WiFi — are called out positively and reflect active property upkeep.
Staff, care quality, and health services: Many reviews highlight friendly, caring, and hardworking staff and describe a home-like, family atmosphere with strong social bonds among residents. Several reviewers specifically call out excellent nurses and personalized care in the on-site health center, and many recommend the facility based on their care experiences. That said, there are a small but serious cluster of negative reports around clinical staff behavior and care delivery: at least one reviewer reports a rude nurse supervisor, failures to provide needed assistive equipment (a walker), insufficient caretaker availability, sanitation problems (urine odor in a bathroom, an unsanitary cloth recliner), and inadequate discharge assistance culminating in a discharge AMA. Some reviewers raise concerns about around-the-clock inpatient care. These negative reports contrast with the generally positive comments about nursing and clinical teams, indicating inconsistency in care quality or isolated problematic incidents that merit direct inquiry during a tour or move-in process.
Activities, dining, and community life: The community appears to offer a lively calendar with abundant activities, performing opportunities, volunteer roles, and social programming that many residents enjoy. Multiple accounts praise the performing arts opportunities and sense of togetherness; residents describe the environment as vibrant, loving, and supportive. A few reviewers noted pandemic-era reductions in activities, which is not uncommon but should be clarified with current management. Dining receives generally favorable remarks — a redecorated dining room and improved menu are mentioned, and reviewers note good food and occasional extra meal options (sometimes for a small additional fee). It's advisable to sample meals and ask about additional costs for certain dining or amenity offerings.
Management, costs, and patterns to watch: Several reviews reference positive changes under new management (facility updates, improved WiFi, resurfaced parking), indicating active investment and responsiveness. Conversely, there are specific complaints about pricing and contractual experiences — one reviewer was unhappy with price after booking and warned others to be cautious when working with the facility. This suggests variability in customer experience around admissions and billing. Another theme is that while most reports of staff are positive, the presence of serious negative clinical/sanitation incidents (though less frequent) means prospective residents should request detailed information about clinical staffing levels, liability/incident policies, discharge protocols, cleaning standards, and written fee schedules.
Bottom line and recommendations: Lake Forest Village offers a strong value proposition for seniors seeking a spacious, nature-rich campus with many amenities, plentiful activities, reliable transportation, and a warm, community feel. Many long-term residents and numerous reviewers praise the staff, facilities, and quality of life. However, because there are concrete reports of lapses in clinical care, sanitation, discharge handling, and pricing disputes, it is important for prospective residents and families to do targeted due diligence: tour multiple housing types, meet nursing staff and the nurse supervisor, ask about 24/7 clinical coverage and equipment policies (e.g., walker availability), review cleaning/housekeeping procedures, request recent inspection or incident records if available, and obtain a clear written explanation of pricing, fees, and discharge procedures. These steps will help confirm whether Lake Forest Village’s many strengths align with an individual’s care needs and expectations and whether recent management improvements have addressed the isolated but significant concerns raised in the reviews.
