Sunny Ridge Retirement & Assisted Living Faci in De Land, FL

Pros

• The staff and owner were extremely helpful and caring for the mother for almost four years.
• They provided great communication regarding her care.
• Tom and the ladies made her last days comfortable.
• The facility felt like a home, with wonderful staff who cared deeply and even visited her in the hospital.
• They never worried about her care, because Tom and the staff attended to her needs.
• Tom and staff went above and beyond, offering attentive care in a smaller setting.
• The facility was clean, smelled good, served tasty meals, and kept residents well cared for.

Review

Sunny Ridge Retirement & Assisted Living is best suited for families seeking a tightly knit, home-like setting where a loved one can receive highly individualized attention, especially if dementia care is part of the need. The facility shines in small-group dynamics, with resident rosters capped around six, which translates into unusually consistent staffing, meaningful daily interactions, and the sense that care isn’t “a number.” The owner, Tom, and his team establish personal connections that extend beyond routine tasks, on occasion visiting residents in the hospital and maintaining clear, ongoing communication with families. For families prioritizing warmth, accessibility, and a true home atmosphere, Sunny Ridge stands out as a practical, reliable match.

Those weighing alternatives should consider what happens when needs expand beyond a small, homey routine. If a resident requires a larger campus with extensive activities, broader medical programming, or a robust on-site skilled nursing presence, a bigger community may deliver more of those options. Similarly, families seeking highly structured, formal memory-care environments with expansive social calendars might find a larger facility more aligned with their preferences. Sunny Ridge delivers paramount personal attention and a peaceful milieu, but it naturally trades some breadth of programming for that intimacy.

The strongest pros at Sunny Ridge are the living proof of its philosophy: a home-like ambiance, meticulous cleanliness and pleasant sensory cues (fresh smells, neat common areas, tasty meals), and a staff team that treats residents as individuals rather than tasks. Dementia care appears to be a core strength, with caregivers who stay engaged, communicate well with families, and provide steady, compassionate oversight. The small-scale operation enables rapid responsiveness, and the owner-led approach fosters accountability and warmth, qualities that families repeatedly cite as providing peace of mind. The combination of personal attention, reliable communication, and a culture of going the extra mile creates a counterweight to the absence of a larger menu of amenities.

Where potential drawbacks could arise, the upside of Sunny Ridge’s model often mitigates them. The limited resident pool naturally constrains the breadth of activities and the depth of medical resources that a larger campus might offer. Yet the reviews repeatedly highlight not just competent care but the qualitative advantage of being known, residents aren’t treated as faces in a crowd, and families aren’t left guessing about daily progress. The owner’s hands-on involvement and willingness to be accessible serve as a powerful offset to any occasional desire for broader programming or more specialized services. In practice, care coherence, rapid problem-solving, and consistent staff presence frequently trump the scale advantages of bigger facilities.

For families evaluating this option, concrete steps yield a confident decision. Ask to observe a typical day, from meals to activities, and note how staff interact with residents with dementia. Inquire about care-plan development and how information is shared with families, especially during health changes. Confirm the staff-to-resident ratios during peak hours, and request examples of how the facility coordinates with hospice or hospital services when needed. It’s also wise to verify what happens if needs intensify or if a resident requires more skilled nursing support; understanding limits upfront prevents surprises later. A visit should leave a clear impression of cleanliness, smell, and the atmosphere that makes Sunny Ridge feel like home.

In the end, Sunny Ridge Retirement & Assisted Living emerges as a strong recommendation for families who prize a small, caregiver-led home environment where dementia care is thoughtfully integrated, and families feel personally connected to the staff and owner. It is especially well-suited for residents who benefit from intimate attention, predictable routines, and the comfort of a welcoming, home-like setting. Those whose criteria emphasize extensive programming, a bustling campus, or advanced medical resources may want to explore alternatives. For the right resident and family, Sunny Ridge offers not just care, but reassurance that a loved one will be treated with genuine warmth, respect, and steady vigilance.

This part of De Land, Florida offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several restaurants nearby, including Emmy's Time Out Tavern and The Half Wall DeLand, residents have plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, there are pharmacies such as Winn-Dixie and Walmart Pharmacy within a short distance for convenient access to medication. For medical care, there are several physicians' offices and hospitals nearby, such as AdventHealth DeLand and Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. The area also boasts a few parks like Lake Beresford Park and Blue Spring State Park for recreational activities. Furthermore, there are cafes like Trilogy Coffee Roasting Co. for socializing with friends. Lastly, places of worship such as Grace Chapel and Bible Baptist Church provide spiritual support for those seeking it. Overall, this part of De Land provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to live comfortably in the community.

Restaurants

• Emmy S Time Out Tavern (0.2 miles)
• Big Rig (1.7 miles)
• Checkers (2.3 miles)
• The Half Wall DeLand (2.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.4 miles)
• Captain D's (2.5 miles)
• McCabe's (2.6 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Winn-Dixie (1.1 miles)
• Florida Health Care Plans (1.9 miles)
• Ritter's Towne Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walmart Fuel Station (2.4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Physicians

• Virginio Rodrig Uez (1.7 miles)
• Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (1.7 miles)
• Ernesto Bustinza-Linares, MD (1.7 miles)
• Mid Florida Cancer Centers (1.7 miles)
• Asthma & Allergy Specialists (1.9 miles)
• Family Health Services Medical Center (2 miles)
• Mid Florida Dermatology (2 miles)

Parks

• Barkley Square Dog Park (1.7 miles)
• Lake Beresford Park (2 miles)
• Earl Brown Park (2.4 miles)
• Hontoon Island State Park (3.2 miles)
• Blue Spring State Park (5.8 miles)
• Gateway Park (7.9 miles)
• De Leon Springs State Park (8 miles)

Hospitals

• AdventHealth DeLand (2.1 miles)
• Florida Hospital Deland (2.1 miles)
• AdventHealth Fish Memorial (8.1 miles)

Cafes

• Trilogy Coffee Roasting Co. (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Rhonda's Kitchen (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace Chapel (3.3 miles)
• Bible Baptist Church (3.7 miles)
• First Baptist Church of Pine Lakes (7.3 miles)