Extended Family

Pros

• Delightful residence with outstanding accommodations.
• The Oaks at Denville presented itself in a wonderful setting for a full-service retirement community located in an attractive town.
• The staff is friendly and always willing to help.
• The apartments are very well built and extremely quiet.
• The staff are wonderful and very responsive.
• The residents are wonderful, very companionable and easy to get to know.
• The maintenance department quickly responds to and takes care of residents' needs.
• The meals and food quality are excellent, with delicious hors d'oeuvres.

Cons

• It is alleged that trusted staff entered the resident's room after death and stole cash and jewelry, with leadership minimizing the incident and failing to follow up.
• An employee is described as preying on vulnerable elderly people with predatory donation tactics, pressuring for tens of thousands to sponsor items by signing over assets.
• The facility is depicted as chronically understaffed with contract nurses and therapists, resulting in no consistent therapy, unattended patients, and medication administration errors.
• Families report being overcharged by thousands of dollars and even sent to collections for a small laundry charge, causing stress and unnecessary hassle.
• Management is described as complicit in abuse and predatory practices, creating an unsafe environment that some reviewers say should be avoided.

Review

The collection of remarks about The Oaks at Denville presents a remarkably mixed portrait. On one hand, many residents and families sing the praises of a vibrant, well-appointed community that feels like a full-service, supportive home. They highlight a setting that is clean, spacious, and visually appealing, with easy parking for visitors and a town-centric location that makes shopping, dining, and access to doctors convenient. The facility is repeatedly described as having excellent food, a wide range of social activities, and a culture of friendliness and warmth. Several residents emphasize the peace of mind that comes from living in a place with a fitness center, library, concert and meeting spaces, and transportation to medical appointments. For many, the Oaks represents a major life transition that is smooth, enjoyable, and joyous, with residents forming close friendships, joining committees, and participating in frequent events and outings. In these accounts, staff are portrayed as responsive, helpful, and readily available; maintenance issues are resolved quickly, and the overall atmosphere is described as positive, welcoming, and safe.

A number of individual testimonials emphasize the social and emotional benefits of life at The Oaks. People describe moving in as a positive step toward independence, with the town setting, proximity to services, and a sense of community contributing to a high quality of life. There are stories of becoming part of active resident communities, attending concerts, Beatles-themed events, and other group activities that provide companionship and stimulation. Some residents credit the staff with genuinely caring for their needs, recounting how staff members go out of their way to assist, answer questions promptly, and facilitate a sense of belonging. The apartments are praised for their construction and quiet atmosphere, and many residents express gratitude for the opportunities to socialize, travel to nearby destinations, and be near hospitals and medical resources. For some families, the Oaks remains the right fit for years, delivering stability and a reassuring routine.

Yet beneath these positive notes runs a substantial current of serious concerns voiced by other reviewers. Foremost among them are compelling accusations of safety and integrity failures. One account alleges that after a loved one's death, trusted staff entered the room and stole valuables, with the leadership minimizing the event and offering no follow-up or communication. The claim also includes the assertion that theft is a known, repeated issue among senior staff and that management is complicit in a broader pattern of abuse. When such concerns are raised, the impression left is that the facility lacks adequate safeguards or transparency, and that residents' families are left feeling unheard and unsettled rather than supported.

Another recurring theme centers on predatory fundraising and pressure tactics. A reviewer describes an employee who preys on vulnerable elderly residents with "sponsorship opportunities," repeatedly pushing aggressive donation campaigns that demand tens of thousands of dollars to sponsor a bench or a room, sometimes by asking residents to sign over assets. The narrative characterizes these interactions as weekly pressure sales, implying a coercive dynamic that conflicts with the perceived care and respect owed to residents. The suggestion of financial exploitation adds a troubling layer to the overall view of the community and raises questions about ethical boundaries and the protection of residents' assets.

Billing, discharge planning, and continuity of care emerge as further areas of concern in several reviews. One account reports being grossly overcharged by thousands of dollars during a discharge process, with the issue corrected only after persistent phone calls. Another description describes ongoing incorrect bills and a frustrating cycle of time-consuming dispute resolution. A separate note from a rehab-setting review complains about a lack of continuity in care due to a high reliance on contracted nurses and therapists, inconsistent scheduling for therapy, and a revolving door of personnel who are not all adequately trained in geriatric care. In these stories, patients and families feel left to navigate complex and stressful administrative processes, often without timely communication or sufficient advocacy during discharge and daily care decisions.

There are also strains of dissatisfaction regarding day-to-day care, particularly in rehab and overnight scenarios. Some reviewers speak of inadequate assistance with discharge planning, feeling treated as an annoyance when seeking help, and being left unattended by insufficient staffing, especially at night. In contrast, other accounts praise the facility's organization and the staff's attentiveness, noting that when plans are clear and communication is strong, the experience can be very positive. This juxtaposition underscores the variability in experiences, which seems to depend on factors such as staffing levels, contract versus in-house personnel, and the particular team involved at any given time.

Taken together, the reviews paint a complex, two-sided picture of The Oaks at Denville. The property delivers many hallmarks of a high-quality retirement and assisted-living community: strong amenities, engaging activities, a supportive social environment, and a location that is convenient for families and medical care. At the same time, the narrative is punctuated by grave concerns about safety, ethics, and financial management, as well as inconsistent care practices and communication gaps. Prospective residents and their families are advised to conduct thorough, repeated visits, interrogate discharge and billing procedures, request full transparency about staffing models and contract arrangements, and seek out independent assurances or regulatory information before making a decision. The heartrending and hopeful testimonials together underscore that, for some, The Oaks can be a wonderful, life-affirming home; for others, it can be a source of anxiety, mistrust, and financial and caregiving stress.

Restaurants

• Thatcher McGhee's (0.3 miles)
• Burger King (0.7 miles)
• Indian Lake Bistro, American & Latin Cuisine (0.7 miles)
• Hibernia Diner (1.9 miles)
• Rockaway River Barn (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)
• Wendy's (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Denville Pediatrics Medical (0.6 miles)
• Cardiology Consultants (0.9 miles)
• Peter Dabrowksi MD (2 miles)
• Parsippany Pediatrics (3.2 miles)
• Changebridge Medical Associates (5.6 miles)
• Picatinny Occupational Health Clinic (5.7 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (5.9 miles)

Parks

• Gardner Field (0.9 miles)
• Volunteers Park (5.1 miles)
• Freedom Park (6.5 miles)
• The Morristown Green (6.9 miles)
• Ginty Field (7.8 miles)
• Loantaka Brook Reservation Recreation Area (8.4 miles)
• Florham Park Recreation Department (8.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Saint Clare's Hospital (2.6 miles)
• St Clare's Hospital (3.3 miles)
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Saint Clare's Radiology Department (5.4 miles)
• Saint Clare’s Same Day Surgery (5.4 miles)
• Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County (5.5 miles)
• Women's Health Center (5.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Liquid Church (4 miles)
• Resurrection Parish (6.8 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (8.9 miles)

Transportation

• Rockaway Mall Park & Ride (4.1 miles)
• Signature Flight Support (7.4 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Lokl Cafe (7 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.2 miles)
• Starbucks (8.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Rockaway 16 (4.6 miles)
• AMC East Hanover 12 (7.6 miles)