Weston Assisted Living

Pros

• Residents find their days filled with activities and make many new friends.
• The staff are welcoming and help residents socialize quickly.
• The dining staff and food receive enthusiastic praise.
• The lobby and first-floor renovations are gorgeous and inviting.
• The apartments are a good size.
• Activities are top-notch, including guest speakers, cultural events, crafts, and trips.
• The grounds are pretty and quiet.
• The staff are compassionate and dedicated, making residents feel cared for.

Cons

• The facility is described as awful and hospital-like.
• Outsiders (family and friends) are not allowed in the dining room.
• Dinner must be picked a week in advance on a cafeteria-style form.
• The staff are not nice or helpful.
• If someone falls, staff will not assist.
• Move-in is unorganized.
• The halls are dingy and uninviting.
• There is no guest parking.
• The cafe is closed.
• Dinner hours are limited to 4-6 and not open on weekends.

Review

Lester Senior Community presents a varied picture to prospective residents and their families, and the impressions people carry with them run the gamut from disappointment to genuine praise. Taken together, the reviews sketch a landscape where some live with warmth, activity, and a strong sense of community, while others encounter frustrations with organization, dining policies, and the day-to-day feel of the facility. The contrast is striking enough to suggest that what you experience may depend heavily on which part of the campus you see, who you talk to, and when you visit.

On one end of the spectrum, critics describe a setting that feels more like a hospital than a home. Some reviewers recount a dining room atmosphere where outsiders - family and friends - are not allowed in, a rule that can make visits feel distant rather than welcoming. Another common complaint centers on how meals are arranged: dinner options supposedly need to be chosen a week in advance and circled on a paper that resembles a school cafeteria form, implying a rigidity that clashes with the spontaneity many families expect from senior living. Some residents express frustration with staff, saying that help isn't readily available after a fall or injury, and that move-in experiences were disorganized and chaotic. The physical environment is also criticized in places: halls described as dingy, laminate peeling from kitchen drawers, curtains with hems that aren't fully attached, and general impressions of an uninviting, utilitarian space. In addition, there are logistical gnats like strict move-in times, limited guest and socializing spaces, a closed caf?, and dining hours that feel short or unaccommodating - four to six in the evening and no weekend dining options. The sense of being overwhelmed by policy rather than supported by staff is reinforced by practical complaints like "no one answers the phone," which makes even contacting management feel like a challenge.

These negative remarks are not just about aesthetics or inconveniences; they reflect deeper concerns about safety and attentiveness. For instance, some reviewers warn that if a resident falls, assistance may not be forthcoming, a fear that touches directly on the trust families place in a caregiver environment. Move-in experiences are consistently singled out as a rough start for some families, hinting at a need for clearer onboarding and better coordination. The combination of restricted socializing, limited dining flexibility, and perceived indifference from staff paints a picture of a place that, for some, falls short of the warmth and responsiveness expected of a senior living community.

Yet the narrative of Lester is not simply a litany of complaints. Several families and residents offer vivid counterpoints, highlighting a very different daily reality. One reviewer's mother moved to Lester after a fire in her apartment, initially choosing a temporary respite unit, and soon discovering days filled with meaningful activities and a growing circle of friends. In that account, staff welcomed her, and the meals - regularly shared with others - helped her socialize and adjust quickly. The reviewer describes a lively transformation, noting that even at 95, life at Lester became something of a new lease on days, with companionship and routine that felt life-affirming. Another personal stance, albeit with a sense of personal bias from board involvement, remains profoundly positive: expectations were exceeded, and the overall experience is framed as supportive and enriching.

Food and dining appear as a focal point of both praise and critique, depending on the reviewer. In the positive stories, the dining program stands out as a genuine strength: meals are frequent and well-regarded, with particular attention paid to dietary needs such as lactose intolerance and kosher requirements. One resident's family member highlights the dining manager and staff, noting that meals accommodating kosher and dairy issues open doors to taste experiences that the resident might not have expected elsewhere. A different voice lauds the dining experiences as an ongoing joy, with a belief that the food quality and staff attentiveness are a differentiator for Lester. Even amid praise for dining, there is recognition that the program may not be equally accessible to every resident at all times, but the overall impression remains positive in this area.

Beyond meals, the activity calendar is repeatedly cited as a standout feature. Reviewers emphasize a robust menu of programs, from guest speakers and cultural events to crafts, gardening, and excursions to events at the local Jewish Community Center. The sense that the community celebrates holidays and maintains a lively, engaged atmosphere is a recurring positive thread. The physical campus - the lobby and first floor renovations - receives favorable notes for making common spaces light, airy, and inviting, which many residents appreciate as they spend time socializing or relaxing. The grounds are described as pretty and quiet, contributing to a tranquil setting on the MetroWest campus, even as some reviewers emphasize that a lack of public transportation can limit outings.

Several testimonials focus on the people who make Lester feel like a home to those who live there. The impression of staff ranges from capable and caring to extraordinarily supportive. Names surface in positive anecdotes: people who are described as helpful, patient, and genuinely committed to residents' well-being. Pockets of warmth come through in phrases about staff being cooperative, cordial, and attentive to individuals' needs. The social director, social worker, nurses, and aides are repeatedly credited with creating a welcoming atmosphere where residents can acclimate, feel cared for, and enjoy a stress-free, rewarding life. In some stories, specific staff members become anchors - like Shelly Ann, who is praised for being helpful and responsive, and Mandy, who offers reassurance and a smooth move-in experience. One reviewer even frames the community as a "heimish" setting, underscoring a sense of cultural warmth and close-knit care that feels both welcoming and protective.

Another layer of the positive narrative centers on independence and social integration. Even within an "independent" facility, residents describe numerous activities that encourage interaction among neighbors, staff, and guests. Several residents emphasize that independent living and assisted living activities occur together in a way that fosters a shared sense of community rather than isolating people by their functional level. This blend of services, along with a dedicated wellness room and attentive medication management, contributes to a feeling of safety and ongoing personal engagement. The sense of family within the community is reinforced by experiences like a choral group performance that residents attended and enjoyed, leaving attendees feeling grateful and touched by the sense of care and togetherness they discovered at Lester.

Taken together, the reviews paint a nuanced portrait of Lester Senior Community: it is a place capable of delivering warmth, activity, and a strong sense of belonging to those who connect with its culture, its staff, and its scheduled programs. It is also a place where organizational gaps, policy rigidity, and logistical challenges can create friction for others, especially when expectations about dining flexibility, social opportunities, and responsiveness aren't met. The campus appears to hold real potential for people who value a community-oriented, culturally grounded environment backed by a non-profit ethos, where years of life are acknowledged and celebrated through programs, relationships, and a supportive staff.

For families and prospective residents, the takeaway is clear: Lester may offer exactly what some people want - an engaged, caring, and meaningful setting with a strong sense of community and a dedication to personalized attention - while for others, it may expose misalignments between policy, pace, and the lived experience. Visiting the campus, meeting with staff, talking with current residents, and, crucially, observing how the dining, activities, and care teams operate on a given day can provide the clarity that a single review can't supply. If you're exploring Lester, it helps to approach with an open mind, to ask about every policy that will affect daily life, and to listen to both the glowing stories and the cautions with equal care. The community has clearly touched lives in meaningful ways, and it remains a place where dedication and humanity are very much on display, even as the door remains open to ongoing improvements and continued dialogue about what makes a senior living community truly feel like home.

This part of Whippany, New Jersey, offers a convenient and well-equipped community for senior living. With multiple pharmacies, physicians, and hospitals within a short distance, residents have easy access to healthcare services. The area also features a variety of dining options, from Italian specialties to fast-food chains, as well as cafes for socializing or enjoying a cup of coffee. Additionally, there are places of worship nearby for spiritual fulfillment and local theaters for entertainment. For outdoor activities, several parks are located within a few miles for leisurely walks or recreational opportunities. Overall, this neighborhood provides the necessary amenities and resources to support a comfortable and fulfilling retirement lifestyle.

Pharmacies

• Wegmans (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Ferraro's Italian Food Specialties (1.8 miles)
• Wendy's (2.1 miles)
• Tommy's Tavern + Tap (2.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.3 miles)
• Wendy's (3 miles)
• Town bar + kitchen (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Liquid Church (2 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (5.1 miles)
• Resurrection Parish (7.6 miles)

Transportation

• Signature Flight Support (2.3 miles)
• Rockaway Mall Park & Ride (8.3 miles)
• NJT - Summit Station (8.5 miles)

Physicians

• Summit Medical Group (2.3 miles)
• EHE International (2.4 miles)
• Parsippany Pediatrics (2.9 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (3.2 miles)
• Peter Dabrowksi MD (3.6 miles)
• Madison Pediatrics (4.1 miles)
• Cardiology Consultants (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.4 miles)
• Lokl Cafe (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC East Hanover 12 (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Florham Park Recreation Department (3.3 miles)
• The Morristown Green (3.5 miles)
• Ginty Field (3.7 miles)
• Loantaka Brook Reservation Recreation Area (4.2 miles)
• Volunteers Park (4.2 miles)
• Gardner Field (5.9 miles)
• Freedom Park (7.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Morristown Memorial Hospital Atlantic Health (3.4 miles)
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (4.3 miles)
• Saint Clare's Hospital (5.7 miles)
• St Clare's Hospital (7.5 miles)
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center (7.9 miles)
• Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County (8.6 miles)
• Saint Clare's Radiology Department (8.6 miles)