Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed but leans toward a cautiously positive experience for many families, tempered by several recurring operational and safety concerns. A large portion of reviewers praise the staff — described as caring, kind, compassionate, and hardworking — and many families report residents settling in well, participating in activities, and benefitting from attentive daily care. Multiple reviews highlight an inviting physical environment: modern common areas, a new wing, apartment-style rooms with private bathrooms, personal keys and mailboxes, and amenities such as a chapel, library, hair salon, exercise room, and outdoor courtyards. The facility's layout and décor (including a grand piano space and modern furnishings) are consistently noted as attractive and home-like.
Care quality and staff performance are the most commonly cited positives and negatives. Numerous families commend individual employees and leadership (specific praise for staff members, weekend teams, and administrators who try to stabilize operations). Many reviewers describe staff as trustworthy and communicative, providing peace of mind and making difficult transitions easier. Conversely, there are repeated reports of high staff turnover, inexperienced or overworked aides, and declines in staff quality tied to low employee benefits. Serious allegations — including theft by staff and on-property drinking — appear in multiple summaries and are flagged as major safety concerns. Medication delays, difficulty reaching residents by phone, and poor nurse responsiveness are specific clinical-care issues several reviewers experienced.
Dining and activities are prominent features for families considering Riverdale. The majority of reviews reference three meals a day, family-style or buffet service, and a wide variety of food options. Many reviewers were impressed with meal presentation and portion sizes, and some specifically call the food delicious. However, there are notable complaints: some families say portions were small, menus were not provided despite requests, meals were recycled or off-site, and food quality was inconsistent. Activity programming is generally well-regarded with book clubs, games, music, bingo, sittercise, and church services mentioned often; yet a minority of reviews say advertised activities did not occur as promised or that individual residents did not participate.
Management, administration, and operations show a pattern of transition and uneven performance. Several reviews note new management and leadership changes, with some families reporting improvements and a more organized intake and transition process. Others report administrative inefficiency — delayed callbacks, poor follow-through, disorganized move-outs, and lack of transparency about outbreaks or vendor payment issues. There are specific reports of a sewage backup that affected resident rooms, temporary repairs, and unpaid bills to vendors — serious operational red flags for facility reliability and oversight. COVID precautions are praised in some reviews, while other reviewers say an outbreak was not disclosed and visitation restrictions caused emotional distress for families.
Safety, cleanliness, and suitability for memory-care are mixed. Many reviewers call the facility very clean, cozy, and comfortable, praising housekeeping and the pleasant atmosphere. Yet there are also accounts of hygiene concerns, outdoor cigarette litter, and a major sewage incident. Several reviewers explicitly say the building is not yet memory-care ready and that a memory-care wing is still in planning; families with dementia-care needs should treat current capabilities as limited. Additional safety-related concerns include reports of staff theft and on-site drinking, as well as complaints about phones hanging up or calls being routed through nursing stations, which complicates family communication.
In summary, Riverdale Assisted Living delivers a lot that families appreciate: warm staff, attractive living spaces, varied activities, and accessible amenities that help many residents thrive. These strengths are tempered by recurring operational challenges — high turnover, staffing and benefit problems, mixed food quality, inconsistent communication, and several serious safety/maintenance incidents reported by reviewers. Prospective residents and families should weigh the facility’s positive daily-care aspects and physical environment against the risks highlighted in the negative reviews. Important due diligence steps would include an in-person visit focused on current staffing stability, direct conversations about employee vetting and benefits, verification of maintenance history (including the sewage incident), clarity on dining menus and meal sourcing, specifics on medication administration and nurse availability, and confirmation of transparency policies for outbreaks or safety events. Where reviewers noted responsive new management, families may see improvements over time, but the documented mix of high praise and significant concerns suggests careful, specific follow-up is warranted before making a placement decision.
