Overall impression Elderwood Village at Fairport receives many strong positive comments centered on its staff, dining and social environment, but reviews also surface consistent operational and capacity-related concerns. A substantial portion of reviewers praise the director and caregiving teams as caring, communicative and professional — many highlight a family-like, small-community atmosphere where staff know residents by name. The facility is repeatedly described as very clean, calming and well-maintained with attractive common areas such as a dining room, courtyard and salon. At the same time, multiple reviewers warn that Elderwood is an assisted-living community rather than a skilled nursing facility and that it does not accept Medicaid (or that Medicaid placement is limited/delayed), making it less suitable for people needing higher medical support or with limited finances.
Care quality and staffing Care quality descriptions are mixed but trend positive on interpersonal care: numerous families report attentive, respectful and helpful staff, frequent family updates, and individualized attention from long-tenured employees. Several reviews specifically thank medication technicians and nursing staff for being proactive and attentive. However, a meaningful subset of reviews point to staffing shortages, long call-bell response times, delayed medications, and at least a few cases where care was judged insufficient from day one, allegedly resulting in avoidable hospitalizations. These mixed reports suggest variability in staffing adequacy and care responsiveness; while many residents experience consistent care, some families encountered lapses severe enough to erode trust. Prospective residents should verify current staffing levels, turnover, and how the facility handles peak needs and off-shift coverage.
Facilities, cleanliness and safety The facility is frequently described as bright, modern and clean with renovations underway in places, wide hallways for mobility aids, accessible parking and open garden areas. Several reviewers noted a spacious double room option and generally good room layouts; however, room size is a recurring negative—studios and many apartments are described as too small or cramped, with no in-room kitchen. Maintenance concerns appear intermittently in reviews: reports include weekly plumbing backups, water discoloration with metal particulates, heaters not thermostat-controlled, and lost or damaged laundry (including blue-dyed items). Some reviewers also raised safety-related worries: doors not alarmed, residents signing out without staff present, anxiety about entry security (gun-violence concerns), and perceptions that visitor-tracking at reception may be inadequate. These points indicate that while common areas and public spaces are well maintained, there are operational maintenance and safety details buyers should confirm during a tour.
Dining and mealtime experience Dining is one of the most consistently praised features. Many reviewers rave about the on-site chef, restaurant-style dining, fresh-made meals, wide menus, special-event foods (ice cream socials, pasta to-go), and the positive impact meals have had on resident nutrition and weight. Staff often serve meals and interact warmly with residents; there are mentions of resident meetings where recipe ideas and family recipes are incorporated. A few minor criticisms appear (meals slightly salty per one reviewer), but overall the dining program is repeatedly cited as a major reason families choose or stay at Elderwood.
Activities and social life Elderwood is commonly described as socially vibrant with a busy calendar: exercise classes, arts and crafts, music, sing-alongs, movies, bingo, church services and other group events including weekend programming. The activities staff receive frequent praise for being proactive and encouraging; many residents reportedly became more socially engaged and involved after moving in. That said, a few reviewers noted that assisted-living residents sometimes had fewer activities than those in independent living at other campuses and a couple of reviewers said activity variety was limited. Overall, social programming is a clear strength but may vary depending on the resident’s care level.
Management, communication and pandemic response The director and management earn strong positive mentions for open communication, frequent updates to family members, flexibility during tours and admissions, and creative COVID-era engagement (Zoom visits, window visits, drive-by parades). Several families specifically recommended the facility because of the director’s involvement and responsiveness. Conversely, there are reports of administration being slow or dismissive when serious concerns were raised (e.g., staff discussing personal matters, unaddressed maintenance or safety issues), and at least one reviewer advised getting written confirmations of admission promises and nurse certifications due to broken commitments. This split suggests that while leadership is frequently praised, individual negative interactions have been significant enough to affect some families’ experiences.
Costs, contracts and suitability Cost and fee structure are recurring concerns. Multiple reviewers said pricing favors residents with lower care needs and warned that extra charges can stack quickly (examples include extra fees for showering, level-of-care fees, and other add-ons). Specific figures in reviews mention rent increases up to 26% in one case and an annual 7% increase in another. Several reviewers noted the community is not a good fit financially for some families: studio units may be too small for the price, and the facility does not accept Medicaid (or has limited Medicaid availability), restricting options for lower-income residents. Reviewers recommended careful review of contracts, fee schedules, and escalation policies before committing.
Patterns, recommendations and fit A consistent theme is that Elderwood Village at Fairport can be excellent for the right resident: people who want a small, social, food-forward assisted living community where staff know residents well and provide warm, individualized attention. The top strengths are staff attitude, dining, cleanliness and social programming. The most important caveats are room size, limits on higher-level medical care, potential for extra fees, occasional maintenance and housekeeping lapses, and evidence of staffing variability. There are a few severe negative anecdotes (lost laundry, brown/metallic water, ignored safety issues, inadequate care leading to hospitalization) that prospective residents should investigate directly.
Practical next steps for families When evaluating Elderwood, families should tour the community during activity hours, meet the director and nursing staff, taste a meal, and ask for documentation of staff certifications, current staffing ratios, and written policies on fees, rent increases and emergency/transfer procedures. Request recent maintenance logs, a copy of the activity calendar for the assisted-living level, and specific assurances on laundry, housekeeping frequency, medication administration protocols, and visitor/entry security. Ask about Medicaid policy and waitlist details if applicable. Overall, the facility offers many strong positives but also several operational and financial considerations that merit careful, documented due diligence before moving a loved one in.
