Sarah's Assisted Living

Pros

• The staff at Las Palomas are friendly, caring, and genuinely dedicated to residents.
• The community offers a homey, relaxing atmosphere with daily freshly cooked meals.
• Residents enjoy a wide range of activities and social events, including Happy Hour and outings.
• The property is beautiful and well-maintained, with resort-style amenities.
• The memory care program provides ongoing activities, music, a garden, and accessible spaces.
• Apartments are comfortable, with in-unit laundry and inviting common areas.
• The facility is described as top-tier, modern, and thoughtfully designed for active seniors.
• Dining is praised as delicious and chef-driven.
• Housekeeping is included in independent living, along with meals in rent, which residents value.

Cons

• The care level was not what they were told it would be, especially when help was needed for bathroom assistance.
• A large sore on her leg was allowed to become very pussy and smelly before any bandage changes were done for a full week.
• The incessant TV commercials felt overkill and seemed to drain resources that should go toward residents.
• The open-design map was misleading because areas labeled as open were actually closed, wasting time.
• Food service was awful, with dinners delayed for over an hour and a chef's special served cold later.
• The carpet was stained in several spots and repairs took forever, with stains returning.
• They claimed Las Palomas and Spectrum Retirement took advantage of seniors on fixed incomes and scammed a relative out of thousands of dollars.

Review

Las Palomas Senior Living inspires a wide range of experiences among the families and individuals who call it home. On one hand, many reviewers describe a beautiful, welcoming property with resort-style amenities, plenty of social and cultural opportunities, and staff who genuinely care about residents. The campus itself often earns compliments for its attractive setting, comfortable common areas, and the abundance of activities - from daily meals prepared by a chef-driven kitchen to live entertainment, happy hours, and active engagement in the memory care unit. Some residents and families feel that the environment supports independence well: private apartments with in-unit laundry options, multiple common spaces, a library, a theater, a pool, and even housekeeping included in certain living arrangements. For many, the overall impression is that Las Palomas is a place where life can feel both relaxed and richly social.

The personal experiences of families also reveal a strong sense of warmth and attentiveness among staff. Several reviewers highlight specific staff members who went above and beyond: a maintenance man named Matthew who was repeatedly praised for his helpfulness, a courteous wait staff, and a sales team that took care to explain features without pressuring a sale. A number of accounts describe the staff as patient, friendly, and genuinely invested in residents' well-being - whether during a move-in, helping with unpacking, or simply stopping by to say hello. For many families, this consistent staffing is what makes Las Palomas feel like a home rather than a hotel, with the added reassurance that neighbors and caregivers are nearby when needed.

Yet the same pages carry significant and serious caveats that color the overall impression. A recurring theme is the disparity between expectations for memory care or enhanced assistance and the lived reality of care. Some families transitioned a loved one into memory care specifically to access additional help, only to feel that the promised level of support did not materialize. There are troubling anecdotes about wound care and bandage changes not occurring promptly, which understandably cause distress for families and raise questions about medical oversight and daily nursing attention. These experiences contrast sharply with the more serene visions of memory care that other reviewers describe, underscoring that the quality and consistency of care can vary within the same community.

In addition to care-related concerns, a subset of reviewers report problems with the operational side of the community. Food service, for instance, is a point of contention in some reviews: long waits for dinner, orders going missing or miscommunicated, and meals arriving cold or not matching what was promised. One reviewer notes repetitive vegetable offerings and limited variety, while another recounts a late-night switch that left a resident dissatisfied with the meal experience. Issues with maintenance - such as stained carpets that persisted for a long time before fixes were completed and then reappearing - also appear in the feedback, highlighting that even in a well-appointed setting, upkeep and reliability matter a great deal to residents and their families.

Several reviews address the feel and marketing of the community as well. One reviewer complains about incessant television advertisements, arguing that the heavy marketing push is overbearing and perhaps misallocates resources that could benefit residents. There are also practical notes about navigation and layout, such as references to an open-design map that many find confusing because certain areas are described as closed, causing visitors to waste time wandering. While these concerns may seem minor compared to direct care issues, they matter in shaping how families experience the transition to Las Palomas and how easily residents can access what they need.

Despite the mixed feedback, many families remain enthusiastic about the overall experience. Stories of positive moves - especially those involving multiple family members who toured with courtesy and without hard sales pressure - recur in these reviews. People praise the "Top Tier" quality of the facility, the bright, lively atmosphere, the abundance of common spaces, and the sense that residents can enjoy a rich social life without sacrificing comfort or dignity. Some reviewers emphasize how seamless the experience has felt since moving in: from housekeeping and meals being bundled into the living arrangements to the ability to participate in a wide range of activities and the continuous sense of community. Others tell of their own family members' happiness with the independent living option, with the promise that Las Palomas would be a continued home if assisted living or memory care becomes necessary in the future.

Amidst the praise, there are deeply personal narratives that reflect both gratitude and sorrow. One reviewer shares how their elderly father's apartment impressed the family with its high ceilings and thoughtful layout, and how staff were kind and helpful during a meaningful transition time. Another speaks of their grandmother's contentment, the ability to do laundry in her own apartment, and the sense that the community supports a full slate of activities and social engagement. Still others celebrate the manner in which care teams, housekeeping, and program staff welcomed new residents, helped them get settled, and created an atmosphere that felt safe, inviting, and almost resort-like in its attention to detail.

A minority of comments deliver a starkly negative verdict, however. In one highly critical account, Las Palomas and Spectrum Retirement are accused of taking advantage of seniors on fixed incomes, with the reviewer alleging a financial scam that caused substantial loss. While this is a single, harsh claim within a broader spectrum of opinions, it underscores the importance of transparent pricing, careful contract review, and ongoing financial discussions between families and the community. Such concerns remind prospective residents and their loved ones to perform due diligence, seek clarity on what services are included in each level of care, and obtain concrete documentation about care plans and pricing before committing.

Taken together, Las Palomas Senior Living presents a picture of a vibrant, well-appointed community that can deliver a high-quality, socially active living environment for independent seniors and those moving into memory care or assisted living. The experiences diverge based on individual expectations, the precise level of care required, and the consistency of service in daily operations. For some, it is a place that feels like a resort - with abundant amenities, engaging programs, and a staff that genuinely seems to care. For others, it becomes a reminder that excellent staffing and a beautiful campus are not a substitute for reliable, timely care and transparent communication about what residents will receive. For families evaluating Las Palomas, the path forward is clear: tour thoroughly, ask pointed questions about care plans, wound care protocols, and what is included in each living arrangement, and, if possible, speak with several current residents and their families to gauge whether the community's strengths align with their specific needs and expectations.

This part of Mesa, Arizona offers convenience and a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. There are several pharmacies nearby such as Walgreens, Bashas' Pharmacy, and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medication and healthcare needs. Restaurants like Fat Willy's, Someburros, and Rubio's Coastal Grill provide a range of dining options within close proximity. The neighborhood also boasts entertainment options with theaters like AMC Superstition East 12 nearby. For medical care, there are reputable facilities including ENT Specialists of Arizona and Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center. Parks like Skyline Park and Eastmark Great Park offer green spaces for leisurely walks or relaxation. Overall, this part of Mesa provides a well-rounded community with essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors to enjoy their retirement years.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Bashas' Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Fat Willy's (0.7 miles)
• Rubio's Coastal Grill (0.7 miles)
• Someburros (0.9 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (1.3 miles)
• Lin's Grand Buffet (1.8 miles)
• Carrabba's Italian Grill (4.1 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Superstition East 12 (0.7 miles)
• Superstition Springs 25 (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• ENT Specialists of Arizona, PC (1.1 miles)
• Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center (2.5 miles)
• East Valley Pediatrics (2.6 miles)
• Family First Vision Care - EastMark (2.8 miles)
• Marc Community Resources (2.8 miles)
• Stripes Primary Care-a (3.4 miles)
• Allen Family Medicine (4 miles)

Cafes

• McDonald’s (1.3 miles)
• Over Easy (5 miles)
• The Human Bean (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)
• Starbucks (7.4 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (7.5 miles)

Parks

• Skyline Park (1.9 miles)
• Eastmark Great Park (3.7 miles)
• Desert Sky Park (6.4 miles)
• Ashley Heights Park (6.5 miles)
• Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch (7.3 miles)
• Cortina Neighborhood Park North (7.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• General Aviation Center (5.7 miles)
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) (5.9 miles)