Rivertown Ridge

My parents have been living at Rivertown Ridge Independent Living for a few years now, and overall, it's been a good experience—about as close to "home" as you can hope for in this type of setting. However, things have taken a noticeable turn recently, and it's been disappointing to watch. Since the chef left, the dining experience has really gone downhill. They’ve been running out of food, and residents are no longer allowed to purchase extra meals to take back to their rooms. This wouldn’t be as frustrating if the food system wasn’t based on a flat-rate charge. Every month, my parents end up with a large balance of unused meal credits—hundreds of dollars’ worth—which used to be offset by stocking their freezer with extra meals. Now that option is gone, and that money is just…lost. It feels unfair. Another small but meaningful change is how the place feels—especially around the holidays. The festive decorations and warm atmosphere that used to make the community feel special have disappeared with the departure of key staff. And then there’s the cost. The rent has gone up every single year since they moved in. For seniors on a fixed income, these increases have made it harder and harder to stay. One more hike, and my parents may be priced out. When they moved in, Rivertown Ridge made a lot of promises about lifestyle and service that just haven’t held up over time. It’s been sad to watch the quality decline, especially for a community that started off so strong.

Rivertown ridge is beautiful and everything is well maintained and clean. Staff at all levels are incredibly friendly and competent. The memory unit is a welcoming and happy place. This is our third facility and at last we feel that our stepmother is in good hands. She loves getting her hair and nails done weekly and the bistro provides a fun eating experience when we visit. It is more expensive, but at last she gets the care and attention she deserves.

I have moved my parents to another facility. The care is much better and the caregivers in general are more compassionate and clearly trained better. At Rivertown Ridge the Health Care Director was let go ([name removed]). This is a blessing as the med carts were disorganized and care inconsistent. My mom did not receive her diabetic meds for 8 days. Just one unfortunate example. [name removed] and [name removed] have taken over [name removed] duties and will do a much better job, but we could not wait for things to get better. Family need to visit often and double check meds wherever you go.

My mom is a resident of Rivertown Ridge, and what I like most is that the staff is excellent and the facility is clean. I liked their care program which is a specific memory care program. They have exercise, music, and arts and crafts. They have a walk-in tub, a chapel, and a specific garden area for memory care. I like that there are only 30 people in the memory care unit and there's a lot of individualized care. The food is nutritious and very well prepared. The meals that I have had there have been very good. It's a new facility and they have been open for 4 or 5 years, so it's bright and colorful. I am very satisfied with the care, the facility itself, and the care that my mom is receiving.

The Activity Director, Rachel is incredible!