Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed and polarized: many residents and families praise the campus, location, community life, and certain individual caregivers, while a substantial number of reviews raise serious concerns about management instability, staffing, safety, regulatory compliance, and the cost structure. The facility's lakefront setting, attractive grounds, remodeled apartments, dock access, and amenities are frequently cited as major strengths that create a pleasant daily living environment. Residents repeatedly mention the benefit of an active social calendar, with music, art, wood shop, committees, and outings supported by an on-site bus. Some long-term residents and reviewers describe the Health Center as being in excellent shape and highlight specific staff members (several named) who deliver compassionate care and build meaningful relationships with residents.
Care quality and staff performance emerge as a central, divisive theme. On the positive side, permanent nursing staff and certain caregivers are described as kind, loving, and attentive; the activities director and social programming are praised for fostering engagement and memory support. However, there are multiple, recurring reports of short-staffing, high use of agency nurses, medication administration problems (including late meds and meds found on the floor), and inconsistent staff competence or attitude. Leadership instability is repeatedly called out: rapid management changes, multiple Directors of Nursing (three in two years), interim Health Care Services leadership, and even the presence of a turn-around specialist. Some reviews note state citations and regulatory issues not being followed, which, combined with the turnover, create worry about continuity and oversight of clinical care.
Management, finances, and transparency are another prominent cluster of concerns. Many reviewers point to high monthly costs for independent living and much higher fees for nursing-level care (one reviewer cited roughly $11,000), plus numerous extra or ala-carte charges for services that some families expected to be included. Overbilling and billing disputes are reported (one specific $17,000 overbilling allegation), and reviewers describe contracts and policies that appear to favor the organization financially. Marketing and sales practices draw criticism: several reviewers called the sales pitch aggressive or slick, and some allege misleading or false advertising. At the same time, the community does offer a financial assistance / scholarship program, which several reviewers mentioned as a positive benefit.
Facilities, amenities, and dining receive mostly favorable comments but with important caveats. The campus, grounds, views, workout room, dock, and communal spaces are repeatedly praised for being attractive and well-maintained. Dining opinions, however, are mixed: some call the food excellent, while others describe it as mediocre or repetitive after a time. Additional practical frustrations show up in reviews: cramped rooms for some unit types, parking hassles, no in-house handicap van, and reports that some basic items incur extra charges. Maintenance and refurbishment are noted positively when completed, but some reviewers report slow management delays on renovations.
Safety incidents and service failures are among the most serious complaints. Beyond medication mishandling, reviewers report resident safety lapses (a parent leaving at night), theft (clothing stolen), dental neglect, poor responses to incidents, and at least one account of decline or death after transfer to the Health Center. Some reviews mention filing complaints with authorities and delayed or unhelpful responses from management when problems occur. These accounts amplify concerns about supervisory oversight, training for agency staff, and the timeliness and transparency of management's incident handling.
Taken together, the pattern suggests a facility with excellent location, strong social life, attractive living spaces, and pockets of genuinely caring staff, but also with systemic operational and leadership issues that materially affect resident safety, clinical reliability, and financial transparency. Prospective residents and families who prioritize an engaging lakefront lifestyle and robust social programming may find Covenant Living at the Shores attractive. Those who prioritize stable, consistently supervised clinical care and clear billing practices should proceed cautiously.
If considering this community, it is advisable to verify current staffing levels and leadership stability (especially nursing leadership), review recent state inspection and citation records, get detailed written explanations of what is included versus extra-fee services, ask for clarity on incident reporting and remediation processes, and observe the Health Center at different times of day to assess staffing and care practices. Also request references from long-term residents and families, and confirm specifics about move-in assistance, transportation for residents with mobility needs, and how the community handles agency nurse oversight and medication safety protocols.
