Colonial Heights / Gardens in Florence, KY

Pros

• The staff and residents at Colonial Heights create a warm, special environment for residents.
• Colonial Heights delivers a totally different experience from other facilities.
• Residents can join choir, attend services, and participate in crafts, staying active and engaged.
• The staff are incredible, caring, and transparent with families.
• The facility provides a safe place where residents feel loved and well cared for.
• Colonial Heights offers flexible care options, including memory care, all under one roof.
• The campus is beautiful with lovely grounds and comfortable living spaces.
• The community is welcoming, with friendly staff and a family-like atmosphere.
• There is an abundance of activities, great food, entertainment, and friendliness.
• Families consistently recommend Colonial Heights and Gardens for their care and kindness.
• The motto "My Old Kentucky Home" reflects the sense of family and togetherness.

Cons

• The first facility delivered empty promises and left mom on edge.
• They felt they were sold an empty bag of promises at a fancy facility that was just trying to make a buck.
• The hallways reeked of urine and looked outdated, needing cleaning and updating.
• Some staff were rude.
• It was expensive and offered only two meals with independent living and no snacks.
• The decor and carpet looked like they were from the 1980s.
• Her mother's needs couldn't be met there.
• There was a risk that valuables, such as jewelry, would be stolen.

Review

Colonial Heights / Gardens is best suited for seniors who want a warm, neighborly campus with a well-established sense of community and a clear continuum of care on one site. It serves independent-minded individuals who value active living, faith-based programming, and easy access to ongoing support as needs evolve. Families drawn to long-tenured staff, a robust calendar of social and cultural activities, and a traditional, home-like atmosphere will find this campus a strong fit. The option to move from independent living to memory care or assisted living without uprooting the resident is a decisive edge for those who anticipate future care needs or want to preserve dignity and familiarity during transitions.

Alternatives should be considered for households prioritizing modern aesthetics, all-inclusive dining in independent living, or a more contemporary vibe. Some reviews flag outdated decor and hallways that occasionally carry an odor, suggesting that cleanliness and presentation may not feel premium to every visitor. A few accounts also mention uneven interactions with staff or perceived pushiness elsewhere, and there are cautions about cost relative to what is provided in independent living. For families whose priority is the slickest appearance, the most modern fixtures, or a dining plan that includes snacks and three meals daily in IL, exploring other communities may yield a tighter alignment with expectations and budget.

The strongest positives at Colonial Heights / Gardens are tangible and consistently reinforced across conversations: a staff culture that feels genuinely caring, low turnover, and a genuine sense of family. Residents tend to stay engaged through choir, religious services, guest events, crafts, and an active social calendar, and families repeatedly note how quickly new residents form friendships. The staff’s perceived transparency, the inclusive environment, and the integration of memory care on campus create a reassuring continuity that can ease the emotional burden of a multi-phase aging plan. Large living spaces, some with patios, and beautiful grounds contribute to a sense of dignity and independence that many families prize, offsetting the impression of an older facility by emphasizing lasting community value.

Dining and daily logistics deserve careful consideration, as they can tilt the experience one way or the other. Independent living residents are often on a two-meal plan with no snacks, which can feel restrictive compared to peers offering full-board options. The experience of meals and social dining matters not only for nutrition but for daily morale; some reviews speak highly of food quality, while others describe inconsistent meals or limited dining flexibility. On the flip side, the campus excels in convenience and programming: the bus for outings, a wide range of activities, and ready access to additional care services when needed. For families balancing budgets, these nuances mean a closer look at the monthly rate and meal plans is essential to determine true value.

From a decision-making standpoint, the path to choosing Colonial Heights / Gardens should be navigated with a practical, diligence-first approach. Prospective families should tour with questions about care options, verify that the memory care pathway aligns with anticipated needs, and speak directly with current residents about day-to-day life. It is wise to compare three contenders head-to-head, focusing not just on sticker price but on what each community actually delivers in meals, activities, staffing, and incident management. A key takeaway from experiences here is to avoid accepting promises at face value; instead, verify capacity to meet evolving needs and observe whether residents appear engaged and content.

In the end, Colonial Heights / Gardens stands as a solid, experienced choice for seniors who prize a genuine, family-like atmosphere, stable staffing, and the security of a built-in care continuum. It works best for those who want meaningful engagement, religious and social activity, and a homey, spacious setting that emphasizes dignity and connection. For families prioritizing modern aesthetics, expansive, all-meals dining in independent living, or aggressively budget-conscious arrangements, alternatives may offer a closer fit. A thoughtful visit, speaking with staff and residents, touring the apartments, and assessing the care continuum, will reveal whether this community aligns with the loved one’s goals and the family’s expectations.

Pharmacies

• Kroger Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Faith Community Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Remke Market (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Kroger Bakery (0.3 miles)
• Skyline Chili (0.4 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.5 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (0.5 miles)
• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (0.5 miles)
• City Barbeque And Catering (0.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.8 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (0.6 miles)

Physicians

• St Elizabeth Physician's Group (1 miles)
• VA Medical Center (1 miles)
• OB-Gyn Speclst of Northern Ky (1.6 miles)
• Primary Pediatrics (1.6 miles)
• Chris Thon OD (2 miles)
• Tri-State Centers For Sight (2.1 miles)
• Florence Smiles Dentistry (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Oakbrook Park (1.8 miles)
• Eagle Ridge Playground (4.2 miles)
• President's Park (4.8 miles)
• Big Bone Lick State Park (8.7 miles)
• Fernbank Park (8.9 miles)
• Mills Rd Park (9.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Seven Hills Church (2.4 miles)
• St Dominic Church (7.6 miles)
• Berean Baptist Church (8 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (8.9 miles)
• Community Family Church (9.2 miles)
• Potter's Ranch (9.4 miles)

Transportation

• DHL Express CVG Hub (2.6 miles)
• DHL Security (2.6 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (3.9 miles)
• Concourse A (4.1 miles)
• Terminal 2 (4.2 miles)
• Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport (4.2 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint (4.2 miles)

Hospitals

• St Elizabeth Medical Center (5.4 miles)
• St Elizabeth Baby Center (5.4 miles)
• St Elizabeth Healthcare (5.4 miles)