Village North Retirement Community

Pros

• The staff at Village North is very accommodating and responsive, providing excellent service to residents.
• Residents enjoy a spacious living environment with all necessary accommodations in their apartments or rooms.
• The variety of activities and events, such as bingo, happy hour, and game days, contribute to a lively community atmosphere.
• Many residents find that the food offered is generally good and appreciate having options for meals.
• Village North has well-maintained outdoor spaces that enhance the living experience for residents.
• Families feel comfortable placing their loved ones at Village North due to the staff's commitment to ensuring a good match for residents.
• The community offers flexibility with meal plans, allowing residents to choose how many meals they want to purchase each day.

Cons

• The notice requirement for leaving Village North is excessive compared to other retirement communities, and it can be denied even for medical reasons.
• One resident felt that the staff was unresponsive during hospital visits, leading to distrust in their intentions.
• The dining service quality has significantly declined, with complaints about poorly prepared food and a lack of promised options.
• Housekeeping services are deemed inadequate, with residents expressing dissatisfaction with the cleaning methods used.
• The television service provided is described as subpar, requiring additional payments for better quality options.
• A new supervisor in the health center caused confusion among staff, leading to complaints about her management skills and inefficiency.
• Village North Health Center is criticized for being dirty and having unprofessional staff who do not adequately care for patients.
• An overall feeling of disappointment was expressed by a resident who expected better quality based on initial promises made by the community.

Review

Village North Retirement Community has garnered mixed responses from residents and their families, creating a complex tapestry of experiences that highlight both the strengths and shortcomings of this retirement facility. Many residents appreciate the community for its accommodating staff, comfortable living arrangements, and variety of food options. Since moving into Village North in November 2021, some residents have noted that they're met with friendly faces eager to assist them—demonstrating an overall positive atmosphere. The plentiful activities ranging from bingo nights to happy hours have also added to the community's appeal, providing opportunities for socialization and engagement among its members.

The apartments themselves receive praise for being well-equipped and spacious. One resident highlighted how their accommodations include necessary appliances while allowing personal touches through the inclusion of their own furniture. Families visiting their loved ones often find the environment tidy and welcoming. Overall, many agree that Village North provides a good value for its pricing structure when considering living conditions and access to amenities such as shared laundry facilities on each floor or outdoor spaces suitable for leisure activities like fishing.

However, not all feedback is glowing. A notable point of concern raised across several reviews relates to service issues within the dining program. Some residents have expressed dissatisfaction with recent changes in food service management, which replaced previous dining options with Unidine—a transition that has been described as disappointing by many due to declining food quality compared to what was initially promised. Complaints about portion sizes becoming smaller over time have also surfaced, leading some individuals to feel misled regarding meal expectations upon agreeing to reside at the community.

It appears that staffing challenges may be contributing factors towards discontentment among some residents as well. While many commend existing staff members for being helpful and attentive, there are experiences highlighting lapses in communication—especially related to medical emergencies involving loved ones residing at Village North. Instances where family members were not promptly notified when a resident required hospitalization illustrate further room for improvement in protocols surrounding care continuity and information sharing.

Additionally, concerns extend into other areas such as housekeeping services and entertainment options within the facility itself. Some reviewers described cleaning standards as inadequate; specifically mentioning ineffective dusting techniques—further affecting overall satisfaction with communal living areas. Entertainment programs intended to enrich daily life sometimes fail to resonate with specific resident preferences; showcasing how diversified interests need careful consideration when organizing events.

Despite these setbacks—and the caveat of needing four months’ notice should anyone decide to leave—the overall impression remains one where potential exists alongside evident struggles in reliability of care routines or service delivery aspects at Village North Retirement Community. As prospective residents evaluate options for retirement living, it becomes essential for them not just focus on initial amenities offered but rather seek candid conversations regarding ongoing operations found behind closed doors so they can make informed decisions towards finding a home conducive both financially and emotionally beneficial during these later years in life.

Hospitals

• Christian Hospital (0.3 miles)
• Gateway Regional Medical Center (7.6 miles)
• Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center (8.6 miles)
• VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Program (9.3 miles)
• St Louis Children's Hospital (9.6 miles)
• The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis (9.7 miles)
• Alton Memorial Surgery Center (9.7 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (1.5 miles)
• Metrolink North Hanley Station (5.5 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (6.3 miles)
• Southwest Airlines (6.5 miles)
• Terminal 2 Parking (6.5 miles)
• National Car Rental (6.6 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (6.7 miles)

Restaurants

• White Castle (1.5 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (3.4 miles)
• McDonald's (3.6 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.6 miles)
• KFC (3.8 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (3.9 miles)
• Firehouse Subs (3.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Schnucks (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Schnucks (3.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Old Town Donut Shop (4.2 miles)
• Made. by Lia (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Blueprint Coff (8.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.9 miles)

Parks

• St Ferdinand Park (4.7 miles)
• Fairground Park (7.8 miles)
• Wohl Recreation Center / Sherman Park (7.8 miles)
• Piasa Park (8.7 miles)
• Garfield Park (8.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Ann Catholic School (5.7 miles)
• Millennium Temple Church of God in Christ (9.4 miles)

Physicians

• Riverbend Ophthalmology (8.7 miles)
• Saint Anthony's Cancer Center of Excellence (8.9 miles)
• St Louis Cardiology Consultants (9.7 miles)
• Alton Internal Medicine (9.7 miles)
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital (9.8 miles)
• Saint Anthonys Sleep Studies (9.9 miles)
• JCH Mecical Group (9.9 miles)