Samaritas Senior Living of Grand Rapids

Pros

• The therapy team was very good and attentive to residents' needs.
• Residents enjoy meals with variety and generous portions, and the staff are friendly, creating a family atmosphere.
• Nurse Ashley Price is praised for consistently taking care of residents.
• Staff are amazing from start to finish, including leadership.
• New residents are greeted warmly and feel at home.
• The staff are very good at their jobs and provide quality care.
• The community offers numerous activities, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and well-balanced, good-tasting meals.
• The atmosphere is calm, and interactions between staff and residents are cordial.
• Staff members know what needs to be done and carry it out well.
• This community is described as the best among several senior apartments and feels like home, with many social activities.

Cons

• The facility is described as a disorganized mess with no admission protocol, leading to missed medications and unmet medical needs.
• Staff are said to have negative attitudes and fail to give residents the self-respect and care they deserve.
• The place is labeled disgusting, with residents left in their own urine and feces for days and little attention paid.
• The facility is claimed not to work with dementia patients and to evict them after 30 days, refusing to take them back.
• Malpractice is alleged for giving meds before dialysis despite clear instructions.
• Residents are reported to be left sitting in filth, denied showers, and kept in moldy or neglected conditions.
• Call lights are said to go unanswered for hours while staff chat among themselves.
• Administrators are described as offering excuses rather than meaningful changes, with no improvement in safety or quality of care.

Review

The collection of messages about the Story Point community paints a picture of a facility with real warmth and genuine care on one hand, and serious concerns about organization and safety on the other. Several reviewers speak with clear affection about the people who work there and the atmosphere that greets residents and visitors. They describe a supportive therapy team, attentive nurses, and a staff that goes the extra mile to make residents feel at home. One reviewer highlights a "very nice and caring" environment where the therapy team ensured needs were met and where meals were thoughtfully arranged to be both varied and satisfying. The administrator and frontline caregivers are repeatedly called out in a positive light by those who felt well looked after.

A number of residents and family members emphasize that the meals are plentiful and well-prepared, with variety that keeps dining from feeling monotonous. Comments about two balanced meals a day, generous portions, and the overall dining experience reinforce the sense that food is a meaningful part of everyday life at Story Point. The social and recreational side of care is also praised: activities are described as fun and engaging, fostering a family-like atmosphere where residents look out for one another. People speak of feeling welcomed from the first day, with staff and residents forming a community that can feel like a second home. There are even notes about longer stays - one respite guest found that what began as a short-term placement blossomed into a yearlong arrangement - thanks to the supportive and enriching environment.

There is particular warmth in accounts that describe a sense of family and belonging. Several reviews highlight how residents and their families become acquainted with staff over time, with many stories of neighbors, tenants, and church members forming a tight-knit, supportive network. A couple of reviewers describe thriving in a setting that includes a spacious campus with cottages and a larger adjacent building of apartments, where residents and their families participate in day-to-day life together. The tone in these accounts is consistently hopeful: people write about the reassurance of being cared for and the relief of knowing a loved one is in a place that treats them with dignity and kindness, with staff who can be relied upon to provide attentive and respectful care.

In stark contrast to these positive notes, several reviewers recount troubling experiences that raise questions about the facility's consistency and management. Some describe disorganization at the point of admission - no one had a resident in the system or knew what room she should be in, despite confirmations with rehab. There are multiple mentions of missed medications, delayed care, and a dependence on family advocacy to ensure basic needs are met. Observations of staff lingering in groups while call lights go unanswered convey concerns about responsiveness and safety. Meetings with administrators yielded explanations and apologies but little demonstrable change, leaving families with a sense of ongoing risk and a perception that their loved ones were not always safe or properly cared for.

Additional criticisms center on the handling of residents with dementia and other complex needs. One review claims that new management or ownership changes have led to an attitude shift in staffing and patient care, including stories of evictions after a short period for dementia patients and a perception that care is sometimes prioritized for revenue over genuine patient welfare. There are particularly alarming anecdotes about improper medical decisions, such as giving pills before dialysis against explicit directions, and a lack of accountability when concerns are raised. A manager's unresponsiveness to calls is specifically called out, signaling deeper systemic issues that families worry may endanger residents.

Further distress comes from reports of unsanitary or neglectful conditions. Some reviewers allege that residents were left in soiled conditions for long periods, with references to denied showers, bedsheets left in disarray, and fecal matter or moldy foods going unattended. The most troubling statements describe facilities where basic hygiene and comfort are neglected, and where staff and administration appear unable or unwilling to take responsibility for correcting such lapses. These accounts contrast sharply with the more favorable experiences described elsewhere, underscoring a troubling variability in quality and oversight within the same community.

Taken together, the narratives reveal a landscape of care that can be deeply reassuring for many residents and their families, but that also includes significant red flags about governance, consistency, and patient safety. The most compelling takeaway is not a single verdict but a warning: the quality of care appears to hinge heavily on staff continuity and administrative leadership. For families considering Story Point GR East or Cranberry Park, the stories suggest weighing the strong, personal strengths of the caregiving team and the welcoming atmosphere against the risks posed by communication gaps, inconsistent medical management, and potential neglect. Prospective residents and their loved ones should plan to investigate current leadership, observe how call lights are managed, verify that medications and medical orders are followed meticulously, and request transparent policies on dementia care and admission procedures before making any commitments.

This part of Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers a convenient and well-equipped location for senior living. With several pharmacies, physicians' offices, and hospitals within a short distance, residents have easy access to medical care and services. Places of worship are also nearby for spiritual fulfillment. The variety of restaurants and cafes provide options for dining out or socializing with friends. Additionally, the parks in the area offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The transportation options, including an Amtrak station, make it easy to travel both locally and beyond. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and accessible environment for seniors looking to live in Grand Rapids.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Emergency Response Training (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ Church-Pca (1.1 miles)
• St Mark Lutheran Church (2.5 miles)
• Church of the Servant (2.8 miles)
• Madison Square Christian Reformed Church (3.1 miles)
• Temple Emanuel (4.1 miles)
• Our Daily Bread Ministries (4.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.2 miles)
• Village Inn (1.4 miles)
• Mr Burger (1.5 miles)
• Fire Fox (1.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• Rx Optical (1.5 miles)
• Spectrum Health (1.6 miles)
• Dr. Philip Hunt (1.7 miles)
• Keil Lasik Vision Center (1.9 miles)
• Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Services (2.1 miles)
• Emergency Care Specialists (2.7 miles)
• Dermatology Associates of West Michigan (2.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Real Food Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Rowster New American Coffee (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• Phoenix Theaters (1.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Spectrum Health Lab (1.8 miles)
• Blodgett Hospital (3.4 miles)
• St Marys Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Trinity Health Birth Center - Grand Rapids Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Richard J. Lacks Sr. Cancer Center (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Chesebro Park (2 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak - Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station (4.5 miles)