Lexington in Lakewood, NJ

Pros

• The new social director as of summer 2024 is described as great.
• A main desk staff member is described as nice and knowledgeable about residents.
• For someone with nowhere to go, the place is seen as a home with helpful staff.
• One reviewer calls the place a life raft for people in need, highlighting the supportive environment.
• The facility offers mail delivery to residents, which is a useful service.

Cons

• There are people using drugs there and the facility does not properly address it, with bedbugs still present.
• Residents report constant requests for cigarettes and describe the food, coffee, day room, and bathrooms as nasty.
• Room cleaners go through residents’ belongings and have thrown away items from closed drawers.
• The facility mishandles residents’ money and SSI checks, sometimes withholding funds.
• The place has bedbugs and mice, and the main lobby is described as far from welcoming.
• Some residents are medicated yet remain symptomatic, and several have violent tendencies requiring police involvement.
• Management is unresponsive; the place is described as a hot mess that needs serious intervention.
• Staff allegedly neglect residents, mismanage money, and keep the facility dirty and drug-infested.
• The building is called a dump, with strong odors, and residents are described as begging for money and cigarettes.

Review

Lexington Manor in Lakewood is best suited for adults who have nowhere else to go and who can tolerate a shelter-like environment with limited on-site medical oversight. It may work for residents who prize the ability to come and go, use public transportation to attend church or run errands, and rely on external advocates to monitor finances and safety. This is not a place for seniors needing consistent skilled care, dementia support, or stringent safety standards. For families with the ability to supervise and intervene when problems arise, Lexington can serve as a stopgap housing option, but it should not be the default choice for anyone seeking reliable care, clean surroundings, or professional management. In essence, this community functions as a basic housing option for the most vulnerable, where freedom and societal connection take precedence over systemic structure and accountability.

The downsides are severe and pervasive. Repeated concerns about bedbugs and rodents surface in many accounts, coupled with reports of pervasive odors and dirty common areas. Residents describe a culture where daily routines, cleaning, laundry, and bathroom upkeep, are inconsistent at best. The atmosphere is further undermined by stories of belongings being rummaged through and discarded from dresser drawers, signaling a troubling lack of privacy and respect. Financial handling emerges as a particularly troubling theme, with multiple claims that residents’ SSI checks are mishandled or delayed, and that money is not always kept secure or delivered in a timely manner. The combination of poor housekeeping, medication management that may feel overbearing or inappropriate, and a general sense of neglect creates a safety and dignity risk that cannot be ignored by families seeking stability for loved ones.

Yet there are narrow beams of light noted by some, offering a counterweight to the darker themes. A few residents and external observers point to staff or specific administrators as caring and approachable, and a social director who has been described as effective as of mid-2024. There is acknowledgement that the front desk sometimes knows residents by name, and that mail services operate in a way that helps stay connected with the outside world. The most frequently cited positive argument is practical: for the person who needs a place to live with the bare minimum of supervision, the environment can feel like a lifeline, especially for those who have no family to lean on and who value the chance to maintain a routine and social contact. Still, these modest positives do not erase the chronic problems that color most residents’ experiences.

From a decision-making perspective, the pros barely compensate for the cons. The freedom to move about and the presence of at least some friendly staff can reduce isolation, but they do not compensate for safety risks, ongoing cleanliness failures, and the troubling reports of money mishandling and resident mistreatment. The foundational requirements for a quality living environment, consistent sanitation, respectful handling of personal property, transparent financial practices, and reliable, non-coercive medication oversight, are repeatedly called into question here. For families with even moderate expectations around governance, oversight, and resident dignity, the balance heavily tilts toward seeking alternatives. In short, the positives are too conditional and too fragile to justify the most consequential risks presented by bedbugs, vermin, potential abuse, and disengaged leadership.

Alternatives merit serious consideration for most seniors and families evaluating Lexington. Those who prioritize safety, predictable routines, and scrupulous financial and personal property handling should consider other options with stronger oversight, transparent operations, and higher cleanliness standards. For residents with complex medical or behavioral needs, or for anyone who cannot rely on external advocates to monitor care and finances, another facility offering certified staff, routine inspections, and clear complaint-resolution processes is advisable. Even for those drawn by the social elements or by the possibility of maintaining independence, the combination of ongoing pest and cleanliness issues, reported mismanagement, and irregular responsiveness makes alternatives a prudent path.

Practical steps for a disciplined evaluation are essential. Before committing, an in-person tour should be paired with direct conversations with current residents and family members who are willing to share recent experiences. Request recent state inspection or licensing reports, and review the facility’s handling of resident funds, medication administration, and personal belongings. Ask specifically about pest control history, housekeeping practices, and the policy on releasing or delivering a resident’s belongings after a move or death. Seek clarity on how staff respond to emergencies, how often they interact with residents beyond basic caregiving, and what safeguards exist to prevent money from being misapplied. If a move is still considered, set concrete expectations for cleanliness, privacy, and timely financial processing, then compare these with other Lakewood-area options that maintain higher standards of safety, dignity, and accountability. In the end, Lexington should be treated as a last-resort, not a preferred solution, for families seeking steady, humane, and well-regulated assisted living.

This part of Lakewood, New Jersey, offers a wide range of medical services, including specialized physicians such as infectious disease specialists and cardiologists, as well as pharmacies for convenient access to medication. The area also features a variety of dining options, from casual fast food to Japanese steakhouse cuisine. Nearby hospitals provide easy access to healthcare, while a nearby theater offers entertainment options. Additionally, there are parks for outdoor recreation and cafes for socializing over coffee. Overall, this area provides a mix of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for convenience and quality healthcare services in their community.

Physicians

• Shore Medical Specialists (1.5 miles)
• Infectious Diseases Professionals (1.6 miles)
• Cataract & Laser Institute PA (1.6 miles)
• Dr A Gupta- Cardiologist (1.7 miles)
• Coastal Urology (2.2 miles)
• Iorio Plastic Surgery & Medspa (3.9 miles)
• Garden State Pain & Radiology Center (4.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Westgate Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Parkway Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Restaurants

• Cornerstone Kitchen & Tap (3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.5 miles)
• Wendy's (4.6 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (4.6 miles)
• Ikko Japanese Steak House (4.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Ocean Medical Center (4.5 miles)
• Meridian Health System (4.5 miles)
• Children’s Specialized Hospital Outpatient and Long Term Care Center – Toms River Stevens Road (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Brick Plaza 1 (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Windward Beach Park (6 miles)
• Angela Hibbard Dog Park (7.3 miles)
• Orchard Park (8.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (8.3 miles)
• Green Planet Coffee Co. (8.7 miles)