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Clark Retirement Community at Franklin in Grand Rapids, MI

Clark Retirement Community at Franklin is an assisted living and memory care community in Grand Rapids, MI.

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Clark Retirement Community at Franklin in Grand Rapids, MI

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1551 Franklin St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

To contact a resident: (616) 452-1568

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

3.8 from 62 reviews
5 stars
32
4 stars
13
3 stars
2
2 stars
4
1 stars
11

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2020

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Clark Retirement Community at Franklin Costs & Pricing

Clark Retirement Community at Franklin presents a competitive pricing structure when compared to the broader costs of senior living in Kent County and across Michigan. For instance, their one-bedroom apartments are priced at $1,700 per month, significantly lower than the county average of $3,483 and the state average of $3,384. Similarly, studio units at Clark are offered for $2,025, while comparable options in Kent County reach up to $3,661 and statewide averages soar to $3,824. Finally, for those seeking a two-bedroom accommodation, Clark's monthly rate of $2,790 remains well below the county's average of $3,856 and the state's average of $3,523. These cost advantages make Clark Retirement Community at Franklin an attractive choice for potential residents seeking quality care without the burden of excessive expenses.

Floor plansClark Retirement Community at FranklinKent CountyMichigan
1 Bedroom$1,700$3,483$3,384
Studio$2,025$3,661$3,824
2 Bedrooms$2,790$3,856$3,523

Overall Review of Clark Retirement Community at Franklin

differentiator 11 reviews mention this

Multiple care levels in one place

Residents and families describe access to multiple care levels on site as needs change.

Many reviews describe the appeal of having different care options in one community, including memory care and skilled nursing. Families also mention rehab services being available on site and point to smoother transitions as conditions progress. A resident in memory care described staying there for years, and another review notes Alzheimer’s unit care alongside independent living options. Some reviews also mention that care can feel hard to get when needs grow or when staffing responsiveness is an issue.

common 10 reviews mention this

Dining quality and variety

Dining gets frequent praise for being plentiful, varied, and generally enjoyable.

Food shows up repeatedly as a positive, with residents and families citing good meals, plenty of it, and menu variety. Several reviews specifically describe strong dining experiences in the dining hall, including restaurant-style meals. A few reviews also mention that when vendor or staffing changes affect service, the experience can dip. Overall, dining is one of the most consistent bright spots in daily life.

common 18 reviews mention this

Caring staff make a difference

Across reviews, families describe staff members as kind, welcoming, and attentive to residents.

A large share of reviewers focus on staff behavior—describing caregivers and nurses as caring, friendly, and responsive to individual needs. Multiple reviews also mention ongoing engagement, including staff knowing residents well and checking in regularly. Some reviewers are less positive about care logistics and leadership, but even those comments often distinguish between individuals who care and larger operational problems. Taken together, staff treatment is a major reason families say they chose (or recommend) Clark.

caveat 6 reviews mention this

Communication and call-light delays

Several residents and families report slow response and communication delays for care needs.

Some reviews report that call lights can take a long time to be answered, and in a few cases families describe needing to push for care. Other feedback points to communication breakdowns, like missing details about room setup or unclear explanations during move-in. One review also raises concerns about staffing shortages and how leadership handled the problem. These issues show up as a recurring frustration even among otherwise satisfied families.

caveat 6 reviews mention this

Pricing feels high to some

Cost is a frequent concern, with multiple reviews calling the community expensive.

Several reviews describe the community as expensive or higher-priced than expected, including comments about extras costing more. A few families also mention how billing and finances can be a pain point, adding to the overall cost concerns. At the same time, some reviewers say rates are competitive compared with other options and describe the community as a good value for the care provided. Overall, pricing comes through as mixed: some feel it’s worth it, while others say it isn’t.

common 9 reviews mention this

Clean, well-kept facilities

Residents and visitors frequently describe the facility as clean and well maintained.

Multiple reviewers mention that the building looks clean and up to date, and they often highlight cleanliness as part of their comfort. Several also describe the property as well maintained and structurally sound, with some updates like room refreshes. Even when a review notes the facility can be older, they still tend to say it is kept in good condition. Cleanliness shows up as one of the steadier positives across experiences.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes are displayed.

Features

Housing

  • 1-bedroom apartments 1-bedroom apartments

Types of Care

  • Active Adult Communities (55+) Active Adult Communities (55+)
  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Independent Living Independent Living
  • Memory Care Memory Care

Amenities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Activities on-site Activities on-site
  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beautician on-site Beautician on-site
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Cafe Cafe
  • Devotional services off-site Devotional services off-site
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Financial aid Financial aid
  • Financing advice Financing advice
  • Full kitchen Full kitchen
  • Garden Garden
  • General store General store
  • Ground floor units Ground floor units
  • Handicap accessible Handicap accessible
  • Hiking trails Hiking trails
  • Home sale assistance Home sale assistance
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Indoor common areas Indoor common areas
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Laundry Laundry
  • Outdoor common areas Outdoor common areas
  • Party space Party space
  • Respite or short term stays offered Respite or short term stays offered
  • Swimming pool / hot tub Swimming pool / hot tub
  • TV room TV room
  • VA Benefits Consultation VA Benefits Consultation
  • Wheelchair accessible showers Wheelchair accessible showers
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Kent County International (7 miles away) Kent County International (7 miles away)

Care Services

  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Diabetic care Diabetic care
  • Incontinence care Incontinence care
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Physical therapy Physical therapy
  • Psychiatric care Psychiatric care

Dining

  • Anytime dining Anytime dining
  • Gluten-free Gluten-free
  • Guest meals Guest meals
  • Low / no sodium Low / no sodium
  • Meals provided Meals provided
  • No Sugar No Sugar
  • Professional chef Professional chef
  • Restaurant style dining Restaurant style dining
  • Room service Room service
  • Special dining programs Special dining programs
  • Vegan Vegan
  • Vegetarian Vegetarian

Activities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Art classes Art classes
  • Arts and crafts Arts and crafts
  • Day trips and outings Day trips and outings
  • Devotional activities offsite Devotional activities offsite
  • Educational speakers / life long learning Educational speakers / life long learning
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Games Games
  • Gardening club Gardening club
  • Karaoke Karaoke
  • Live dance or theater performances Live dance or theater performances
  • Live musical performances Live musical performances
  • Live well programs Live well programs
  • Religious services Religious services
  • Stretching classes Stretching classes
  • Tai Chi Tai Chi
  • Water aerobics Water aerobics

Languages Spoken

  • English English

Nearby Places of Interest

Pharmacies

  • CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
  • The Chemist Shoppe (0.4 miles)
  • D&W Fresh Market (0.8 miles)
  • Family Fare Supermarkets (0.9 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.2 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.4 miles)
  • Family Fare Supermarkets (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

  • Wolfgang's Restaurant (0.3 miles)
  • Hall Street Bakery (0.8 miles)
  • The Green Well (1 miles)
  • Rose's On Reeds Lake (1 miles)
  • Donkey Taqueria (1.1 miles)
  • Wendy's (1.5 miles)
  • Palio - Grand Rapids (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

  • Blodgett Hospital (0.4 miles)
  • Trinity Health Birth Center - Grand Rapids Hospital (1.7 miles)
  • St Marys Hospital (1.7 miles)
  • Richard J. Lacks Sr. Cancer Center (1.7 miles)
  • Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion (2.2 miles)
  • Helen Devos Children Emergency Room (2.2 miles)
  • Spectrum Health (2.4 miles)

Places of Worship

  • Temple Emanuel (0.9 miles)
  • Madison Square Christian Reformed Church (1.7 miles)
  • Christ Church-Pca (2.6 miles)
  • Church of the Servant (3.3 miles)

Cafes

  • Rowster New American Coffee (1.1 miles)
  • Starbucks (2.1 miles)
  • The Intersection (2.3 miles)
  • Real Food Cafe (2.3 miles)
  • Starbucks (3.5 miles)
  • Kitchen 67 (3.6 miles)

Physicians

  • Hand & Plastic Surgery Center: Luce Paul A MD (1.7 miles)
  • Dorsey Ligon MD (1.9 miles)
  • Metro Heart & Vascular (1.9 miles)
  • Orthopaedic Associates Of Mi (2.1 miles)
  • DBC-Dr DenBoer/Dr Fischer (2.1 miles)
  • Area Wide Ob/Gyn Health Services (2.2 miles)
  • Family & Pediatric Eye Care (2.3 miles)

Parks

  • Chesebro Park (1.8 miles)
  • Belknap Park (2.7 miles)
  • Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (3 miles)
  • Huff Park (3.7 miles)

Theaters

  • Celebration Cinema Stu (2.1 miles)
  • Studio Park (2.1 miles)
  • Phoenix Theaters (3.3 miles)
  • Celebration Cinema Grand Rapids North & IMAX (4 miles)

Transportation

  • Amtrak - Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station (2.1 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live at Clark Retirement Community at Franklin in Grand Rapids, MI?
What floor plans and room types does Clark Retirement Community at Franklin offer?
Where is Clark Retirement Community at Franklin?
Does Clark Retirement Community at Franklin provide care for residents with dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
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