Creek Side Manor

Pros

• The reviewer initially believed it was okay.
• It was a great long-term place that specialized in addressing many of the brother's problems.
• The staffing was good.

Cons

• They describe the place as horrible, a slumlord situation, burnt out, and all around bad.
• They allege Mike Chafe sold their brother's guardian, then lied, stole, and damaged the family's relationship when issues were raised.
• They claim the brother was moved from an AFC home to an "independent living" house that is misrepresented as a single-family home, with a basement containing water and possible black mold.
• They say the brother was offered a move to a "duplex" a few miles away, a 2-bedroom trailer with a built-in wall, where entry is by back door and the neighbor uses the front.
• They allege Mike Chafe cut the furnace's AC cord to save money, despite the brother's asthma and pacemaker, leaving him with only a small fan and few window screens.
• They claim the duplex is misrepresented as a single-family home and that the guardian won't intervene because Mike told her the brother nailed the windows shut and has all the screens.
• They characterize the operation as con artists profiting off special-needs people by becoming their payee and/or guardian.
• They state they were forced to take over guardianship to get the brother out and that Creekside Manor was reported to LARA and APS for heat and safety concerns, with the brother's mental status worsening.
• They allege Mike is collecting money illegally from many people and making them worse; his wife Mary Chafe has a sister who ran a similar AFC home that was shut down.
• They conclude with a strong warning: Do not send your loved one here.

Review

What comes through in this account is a deeply troubling portrait of Creekside Manor and the people who run it. The reviewer begins with a blistering assessment, calling the place "a horrible place" and labeling the management as a "slumlord" whose actions, they claim, amount to exploitation of vulnerable residents. The tone suggests a rapid decline from a guarded, initial tolerance to a full-blown conviction that the operation is dangerous and corrupt. The critic is adamant: if there were a zero-star option, they would choose it. What started as a possibly acceptable arrangement for a family member with special needs quickly devolved into a cascade of alleged misdeeds and safety concerns.

A central thread in the narrative is the guardianship and placement of the reviewer's brother. The reviewer alleges that Mike Chafe manipulated the system to become the guardian, and then moved their brother from an AFC (Adult Foster Care) home to one of Mike Chafe's "independent living" properties on the same parcel. The reviewer insists the space is misrepresented: what is labeled as a single-family, two-bedroom home is described as a three-bedroom apartment used to house residents. The brother, they say, was not truly independent - he still required medications to be delivered and regular checks in - but the implied autonomy was short-lived, as the family began to address problems. This chain of placements, according to the reviewer, indicates a pattern of control and concealment around the brother's real living situation.

Environmental and safety concerns form another major pillar of the critique. The reviewer claims the apartment where their brother lives has resting water in the basement and what appears to be black mold, a condition that could jeopardize health and trigger respiratory issues. They say they contacted Adult Protective Services (APS) and learned that the case was assigned, but nothing further happened. The lack of visible action from protective services compounds the sense of neglect and danger described by the family. The broader living conditions - substandard accommodations, questionable maintenance, and a housing arrangement that appears designed to mask the true level of independence or care - are presented as part of a broader scheme of exploitation.

The situation escalates with the family's discovery of another housing option offered to their brother - a "duplex" a short distance away. This arrangement is described as a two-bedroom trailer with a built-in wall, a setup where the brother would use the back door while a neighbor uses the front. Crucially, the reviewer notes that this duplex is also listed as a single-family home two-bedroom, which, in their view, makes it legal to cut the air conditioning under the guise of shared or altered occupancy. A dramatic claim is made: when the brother turned on central air during extreme heat (over 90 degrees), Mike Chafe visited, learned what was happening, and stated it was too expensive to run the system, then allegedly cut the cord in the furnace that powers it. The reviewer emphasizes the brother's medical fragility - he has asthma, a pacemaker, and had heart surgery - and points out that he was given only a small window fan and limited window screens, with the family providing a window fan only after discovering this situation. The core complaint is that the housing and energy decisions appear designed to minimize costs at the expense of the brother's health and dignity.

Linked to these housing practices is the broader question of legality and guardianship. The reviewer argues that the so-called "duplex" gains legitimacy to the extent that the brother is effectively renting from Mike's independent housing network, which they claim allows Michael He to restrict access to essential comforts like air conditioning. The guardian's role, they insist, should have protected the brother's rights, but the guardian allegedly refused to intervene, with Mike allegedly pressuring the guardian by claiming the brother had allegedly nailed the windows shut and had screens removed. The reviewer contends this is a calculated misrepresentation used to justify withholding basic comforts and proper ventilation. The accusation cascades into a broader accusation: con artists are exploiting vulnerable people with the help of guardians and payees to extract money, undermining the brother's well-being and autonomy.

The impact on the brother and the family cannot be understated in this account. The reviewer claims that the hot, poorly ventilated environment has taken a toll on their brother's mental status and overall health, exacerbating existing conditions and creating new strains. They say they have been forced to take over guardianship themselves in order to remove him from the unsafe conditions, and they report having contacted state authorities multiple times to address the heat and safety concerns. The allegations extend beyond one case to a pattern they say mirrors problems in similar facilities; they mention a relative of Mike Chafe's wife who ran an AFC home in Grand Ledge that was shut down for comparable reasons. The family even claims that Mike Chafe is "gladly" collecting money from many people illegally, further painting a picture of systemic abuse and financial exploitation within the operation. Taken together, these details form a narrative of distress, confrontation, and an ongoing struggle for accountability.

In closing, the reviewer urges others not to send their loved ones to Creekside Manor. The message is unequivocal: avoid this facility and its operations altogether. Despite a final line that oddly concedes "It's a ok place good staffing," the bulk of the narrative is a cautioned, emphatic warning about neglect, unsafe living conditions, and possible exploitation under the current management. The review leaves little doubt about the writer's conviction that decisive action is needed to protect vulnerable individuals like their brother, and it calls on authorities and families to scrutinize guardianship arrangements and housing practices more closely to prevent similar experiences.

Located in Southfield, Michigan, this area offers a convenient and bustling environment for seniors looking to settle down. With multiple pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens within a few miles, access to medications and health supplies is easily attainable. In terms of dining options, popular chains like Starbucks, Panera Bread, Wendy's, McDonald's, and Taco Bell are also nearby for quick and easy meals. Medical care is readily available with physicians like Providence Medical Center and Beverly Hills Orthopedists within a short distance. Botsford Hospital is also close by for any emergency needs. For leisure activities, there are several parks in the vicinity such as Shain Park and Starr Jaycee Park where seniors can enjoy nature walks or picnics. Additionally, entertainment options include theaters like Riviera Cinema and Emagine Royal Oak. Lastly, St Hugo of the Hills Church provides a place for spiritual fulfillment within the community. Overall, this area of Southfield offers convenience, accessibility to healthcare services, dining options, recreational activities, and places of worship for seniors seeking a vibrant yet comfortable living environment.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks Reserve (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.4 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.8 miles)
• Duo Restaurant & Lounge (3.1 miles)

Physicians

• Providence Medical Center (3.5 miles)
• Beverly Hills Orthopedists (3.5 miles)
• Be Well Medical Center (4.2 miles)
• Millenium Diagnostic Center (5.2 miles)
• Royal Oak Pediatrics PC (5.2 miles)
• Michigan Institute For Neurological Disorders (5.3 miles)
• Beaumont Medical Center - West Bloomfield (6.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Botsford Hospital (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Shain Park (4.5 miles)
• Starr Jaycee Park (5.5 miles)
• Flanders Park (6.3 miles)
• Woodland Hills Nature Park (6.4 miles)
• Clawson Park (6.6 miles)
• Harding Park (6.8 miles)

Theaters

• Riviera Cinema (4.9 miles)
• Emagine Royal Oak (5.9 miles)
• MJR Troy Grand Digital Cinema 16 (7.1 miles)
• AMC Star John R 15 (8.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Hugo of the Hills Church (7.2 miles)