Aurora Classic Care ALF

Pros

• Samantha is absolutely amazing - her response time, professionalism, and compassion stand out.
• She goes above and beyond to help families, often finding the perfect placement within hours.
• Samantha is incredibly professional, kind, accommodating, and deeply committed to supporting families.
• The admissions department is fabulous.
• Great therapy and CNAs, and they helped my mother feel better.
• The facility is spotless and all staff are warm and welcoming.
• The new executive director is approachable and engages with residents daily.
• Mitch and Paula in physical therapy are excellent, and Juan Carlos the nurse is also excellent and experienced; Fiona the aide is caring and hardworking.
• Beautiful campus and quality care.

Cons

• They report that the quality of life has declined drastically, with poor amenities, food, programming, transportation, and responsiveness.
• They say elevators fail routinely and the stair chair is often broken, forcing staff to carry residents down the stairs.
• They describe the administration as negligent and unresponsive, with owners that should be ashamed.
• They note that since the transition to Cascades, food quality has dropped, requested repairs go unfixed, and the entertainment budget was slashed.
• They report prolonged WiFi outages, an elevator out for days in one building, and another out for over a week, leaving residents reliant on stairs.
• They claim the sale to Citadel Care Centers and the management transition by Onyx led to reduced or eliminated services and a smaller restaurant menu, with poor communication about changes.
• They say seniors feel taken advantage of due to age, and moving is not an option for them.
• One reviewer warns others not to send loved ones there, citing patient abandonment and lack of doctor involvement.

Review

The collection of reviews about Cascades at Delray Beach (formerly Abbey Delray) presents a picture of a community that is deeply divided in the eyes of families and residents. A large portion of feedback centers on a sharp decline in overall quality after the property was sold earlier in the year to Citadel Care Centers, with Onyx Management taking the helm. Families describe a deterioration in essential services that once seemed reliable - amenities, food, programming, transportation, and overall responsiveness have all been called into question. Elevator failures and a malfunctioning stair assistance device are cited as routine problems, and in some cases residents have had to endure days without reliable access to basic mobility aids, which many view as unacceptable for an elder care facility.

Administration and communication emerge as a recurring sore spot. Reviewers repeatedly allege negligence and a lack of responsiveness from leadership, portraying a gap between what residents and families need and what the administration provides. Changes implemented under new ownership are described as abrupt and insufficiently explained, leaving families feeling out of the loop about what's happening and why. One family even warned prospective residents to wait and observe whether the new ownership improves the quality of life before committing, arguing that there has been a sense of being taken advantage of due to age and vulnerability. Yet there are contrasting notes in the same vein: some reviewers praise accessibility and daily engagement from the new executive director, and one particularly positive account highlights a staff member's exceptional dedication to family support and honest communication, suggesting that not all experiences have fallen to the same level of dissatisfaction.

Food and dining are another axis of strong disagreement. A subset of reviews laments a deterioration in dining quality, with smaller portion sizes and the removal of higher-quality menu items after the transition. In contrast, other posts compliment aspects of the facility's culture and even single out staff members in the admissions and therapy teams for praise, implying that experiences can vary significantly by unit or over time. A few residents and families, while acknowledging staffing challenges, still describe the facility as clean and welcoming, with some individuals - such as those who praised Samantha, an admissions contact - crediting specific staff with making meaningful, positive differences in their loved ones' experiences.

Maintenance and safety issues feature prominently in several accounts. The repeated elevator outages - sometimes extending for weeks - create real concerns about safety and accessibility for an elderly population. There are mentions of WiFi outages, and in one case, a resident had to be carried up and down stairs due to inoperable elevators for an extended period. The sense among critics is that basic infrastructure problems are a daily reality rather than an exception, which compounds frustration when residents and families are already navigating the emotional strain of long-term care decisions.

On the staffing front, there is a mixed but powerful chorus. Some reviewers acknowledge the existence of capable aides, therapists, and nurses who deliver good care when available, but they consistently point to understaffing as a fundamental constraint. The result, they say, is inconsistent care and stressed caregivers who struggle to meet rising expectations with constrained resources. A few accounts emphasize the quality of care in specific departments or by particular staff members, underscoring that the facility is not uniformly failing; rather, success seems to hinge on individual employees and perhaps the unit in which a resident happens to be placed.

The transition narrative - moving from Lifespace Communities' Abbey Delray to Cascades under Citadel Care Centers with Onyx management - colors the overall sentiment. Some reviews describe the change as chaotic and damaging to the resident experience, warning of reduced services and diminished life quality. Others attest to a more hopeful or even positive turn, noting a cleaner campus, compassionate staff, and notable improvements in certain interactions or programs. A particularly telling point is the split between those who feel misled by marketing or misrepresentation during the transition and those who point to specific staff members who went above and beyond to support families - like the standout performance of Samantha in the admissions realm, who is repeatedly singled out for praise.

Taken together, the feedback paints a complex, emotionally charged portrait of Cascades at Delray Beach. For some families, the facility remains a compassionate, well-maintained environment with dedicated staff who can deliver meaningful care and companionship for their loved ones. For others, the same facility represents a troubling downgrade in quality, reliability, and communication that creates daily practical and emotional hardships for residents and their families. The strongest thread across reviews is a call for greater transparency, more consistent staffing, and reliable infrastructure - especially safety-critical elements like elevators and assistive devices - so that families can trust the care their loved ones receive. As prospective residents and their families weigh this facility, they are advised to gather current information directly from the community, observe the day-to-day operations, and verify how the new ownership and management are addressing past concerns before making a decision.

This part of Delray Beach, Florida, offers a variety of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant location to live. With a range of dining options nearby including Mexican, Japanese, Italian, and American cuisine, residents can enjoy diverse culinary experiences. In addition, there are several pharmacies in the vicinity for easy access to medication and healthcare services. For leisure activities, there are cafes like The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. and parks such as Caloosa Park and Spanish River Park where seniors can relax and socialize with friends. Medical care is also easily accessible with various physicians' offices located within a few miles. The area is well-connected with transportation options like the Boynton Beach Tri-rail Station nearby for convenient travel. Overall, this part of Delray Beach provides a comfortable and convenient lifestyle for seniors seeking an active community environment.

Restaurants

• La Bamba Mexican Spanish (1.1 miles)
• Sakkio Japan (1.4 miles)
• Tin Roof (1.5 miles)
• Elisabetta's Ristorante Bar Pizzeria (1.5 miles)
• Lulu's Cafe & Cocktails (1.5 miles)
• El Camino (1.6 miles)
• 3rd & 3rd (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)

Cafes

• The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (1.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.9 miles)
• The Seed (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7.2 miles)

Parks

• Caloosa Park (2 miles)
• Gulfstream Park (3.8 miles)
• Spanish River Park (5 miles)
• Ocean Front Park (5.3 miles)
• Ezel H. Community Park (5.8 miles)
• Boca Tierra Park (6 miles)
• Mizner Bark Dog Park (6.2 miles)

Physicians

• National Spine & Pain Centers - Delray Beach (2.1 miles)
• Personal Physician Care PA (2.4 miles)
• Boynton Eye Institute PA (2.9 miles)
• Cohen Medical Associates (3.3 miles)
• Diagnostic Centers Of America (3.3 miles)
• Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute (3.5 miles)
• Imaging Center-Boynton Beach (4.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (4.9 miles)
• Cinemark Premier (6.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation B'nai Israel (5.5 miles)

Transportation

• Boynton Beach Tri-rail Station (6.2 miles)