Overall impression: Reviewers most frequently praise Fairhaven Nursing Home for its friendly, caring staff (with many specific compliments), its very clean and well-maintained campus, and a robust activity program set within a Christian, family-oriented community. The facility is large and spread out with multiple living options on-site (independent homes, assisted living, and nursing/Alzheimer’s care), attractive grounds with walking trails and outdoor amenities, and numerous indoor amenities such as exercise rooms, lounges, a gym, hair salon, community store and putting greens. Safety features (hall rails, pendants and call lights) and visible staff-resident relationships are also consistently highlighted. These strengths make Fairhaven appealing to families looking for an active, faith-based community environment with plentiful social and exercise opportunities.
Care quality and staffing: Many reviews describe staff as kind, compassionate and professional, with staff who know residents’ habits and adapt to them. There are repeated comments that 24-hour nursing is available and that residents are generally well taken care of. However, a recurring and significant theme is inconsistent staffing and shortages. Several reviewers mention times when attention lapsed, with one serious complaint describing a ransacked room and lack of response, and another reporting an unflattering nickname used for a resident. There are reports of reliance on psychotropic medications for behavior management and at least one reviewer noting an apparent threat of discharge. Multiple reviewers explicitly call out the need for more nursing staff. Prospective residents and families should ask about current nurse-to-resident ratios, how floating/agency staff are used, incident reporting and follow-up procedures, and policies on psychotropic medication use.
Facilities, rooms and accessibility: The campus is described as spacious and attractive, with independent-living condos/duplexes in addition to assisted and skilled nursing units. Room sizes vary from apartment-like units to smaller, hospital-style rooms; some units are praised as neat and well-kept, while others are said to be outdated — notably reports of shag carpet and walker-unfriendly flooring in some rooms. Management reportedly indicated no plans to change certain carpet, which may concern families with mobility needs or infection-control preferences. Pricing is sometimes tied to room size; some reviewers note very reasonable purchase options for independent units (one reviewer cited a $900 monthly fee for a buy-in option), while others describe the overall cost and medication expenses as prohibitive. Shared-room policy concerns were raised by multiple reviewers — clarify room assignment policies and whether private rooms are available or guaranteed.
Activities and social life: One of Fairhaven’s most consistent strengths is its active programming. Reviewers mention exercise classes (including expert-led group classes), large exercise rooms, movies, knitting groups, birthday parties, social hours and other well-planned activities that keep residents active and engaged. Multiple lounges on every floor and abundant opportunities for socializing contribute to a lively atmosphere. The Christian orientation of the community and availability of ministry opportunities and church services are repeatedly mentioned as meaningful to residents and families.
Dining, cleanliness and food: Cleanliness is a strong positive across nearly all reviews: dining areas and the facility overall are frequently described as extremely clean and well-kept, with carpets cleaned or replaced and rooms painted in some cases. Food quality reports are mixed — several reviewers praise the dining and say the food is very good, while other reviewers find the food awful. This variability suggests differences by unit, meal, or individual taste; families should arrange a meal visit or inquire about menu options and special-diet accommodations if dining quality is a deciding factor.
Policies, specialties and management concerns: Reviewers flag several policy and specialty-care issues. Although Alzheimer’s residents are present and some reviews say Alzheimer’s care is provided, Fairhaven is reported by at least one reviewer as not dementia-care certified, and some reviewers felt cognitive stimulation and specialized activities were limited. Reviewers also mentioned limited orthopedic care availability. Management-related concerns include reported extra charges for one-on-one care, transportation coordination challenges, and at least one report of an incident without adequate apology or remediation. There are also contrasting comments about pricing: some find parts of the property reasonably priced or a good buy for independent living, while others view the overall fees and prescription costs as expensive.
Bottom line and recommendations: Fairhaven appears to be a strong choice for prospective residents who prioritize a faith-based, activity-rich community with well-kept grounds and many on-site amenities, and for families who can afford the higher-end pricing that some reviewers cite. The staff culture is frequently commended, though persistent staffing shortages and occasional negative incidents indicate variability in day-to-day attention and care. Important due diligence items for visitors or decision-makers include: verifying current nursing staffing levels and turnover, asking about dementia-care certification and specialized cognitive programming, confirming policies on shared rooms and extra charges for one-on-one care, inquiring about medication management practices (including use of psychotropic drugs), checking room accessibility for mobility aids, and arranging a meal visit to evaluate dining. These targeted questions will help balance the facility’s many strengths against the operational concerns raised in the reviews.
