The Reserve at Mills Farm

Pros

• The Reserve is praised for its beautiful and modern facility, creating a bright and welcoming environment for residents.
• Many residents appreciate the friendly and helpful staff who demonstrate professionalism and strong communication with families.
• The community offers a variety of activities that engage residents, contributing to an upbeat atmosphere among the residents.
• Residents enjoy the spacious apartments and the convenience of having multiple services available on-site, such as pharmacy and salon services.
• Overall, some meals are considered tasty, and there have been positive changes noted in the dining options as improvements are being made.
• Families feel reassured knowing their loved ones can visit each other easily between independent living and memory care areas.
• The tour experience is highly rated, with many noting it as excellent due to the facility's impressive technology and amenities.
• There is a sense of accessibility within the community, making it easier for residents to navigate their surroundings comfortably.

Cons

• The dining experience at The Reserve is subpar, with cold and unappetizing food served to residents.
• There is a significant turnover of staff, leading to inconsistency in care and concern for residents' wellbeing.
• The request process for maintenance services is archaic and results in lengthy delays.
• Furniture in Memory Care is dirty, lacking functionality for easy cleaning.
• The quality of care in Memory Care varies significantly among staff, with some being attentive while others are neglectful.
• Staff communication with families can be slow and ineffective despite initial friendliness.
• Residents often find themselves dining with the same few people due to assigned seating, limiting social interactions.
• Many staff members appear untrained and lack compassion in their interactions with residents.
• There are complaints about the cold atmosphere in the dining room and a need for a more welcoming dining experience.
• Overall, the community's high costs do not align with the quality of care provided, leaving families dissatisfied.

Review

The Reserve at Mills Farm presents a visually appealing option for families seeking assisted living and memory care for their loved ones. Many reviewers highlight the community's clean, modern facilities, spacious apartments, and an extensive array of on-site services and amenities. Residents appreciate the beauty of the environment, which includes well-maintained outdoor spaces, technology integration in apartments, and convenient access to activities like transportation services for medical appointments. These aspects create a welcoming atmosphere that many find comforting during challenging transitions into assisted living.

Despite the commendable facilities and accessible layout, significant concerns have emerged regarding the quality of care and dining services at The Reserve. A common thread among reviews is dissatisfaction with the meals provided. While some residents note that most meals are tasty, others highlight fundamental flaws in dining service—food is often served cold or lukewarm, portion sizes are inadequate, and there are complaints about unattractive plating without consideration for appearance. Additionally, the monthly allocation for dining does not adequately cover all meals for residents; many find themselves facing extra charges for desserts or struggling to afford daily dining needs.

Staff management issues also plague The Reserve at Mills Farm. Reviews consistently point to high turnover rates as a critical concern impacting resident care quality. Families express frustration over witnessing frequent staff changes that leave residents facing unfamiliar caregivers who lack adequate training in elderly care. This instability can lead to inconsistent treatment of residents, particularly those requiring memory care assistance. Several reviewers conveyed distressing accounts of subpar interactions between staff and residents that lacked compassion—a stark contrast to the expectations families hope for when placing their loved ones in environments meant to provide support.

While some positive experiences have been noted among specific staff members who display genuine caring attitudes towards residents, these instances seem overshadowed by numerous reports of neglectful behavior from other employees. Reviewers reported witnessing staff being disengaged from their responsibilities—using phones during work hours instead of actively interacting with residents or fulfilling caregiving obligations. Such observations raise serious questions about management’s oversight and commitment to maintaining high standards within their workforce.

Families also highlighted challenges related to maintenance requests and housekeeping services across various levels of care within The Reserve. Maintenance requests were described as archaic; missing necessary supplies often led to delays in addressing urgent needs within resident apartments or communal areas. Housekeeping was perceived as inadequate at best; while light housekeeping was provided weekly, critiques pointed towards a need for more thorough cleanliness measures throughout the facility.

In conclusion, while The Reserve at Mills Farm possesses notable advantages such as an attractive environment and friendly staff interactions during scheduled activities or tours—its shortcomings in critical areas like food service quality and staffing stability leave much room for improvement. Despite recognizing some dedicated personnel within the team who genuinely want to provide exceptional care experiences for residents, families feeling let down cite systemic issues that perpetuate negative outcomes in both assistance quality and overall satisfaction with living arrangements at this community. For those considering placement options for their loved ones dependent on personal assistance throughout daily life activities—recommendations lean toward treating The Reserve cautiously unless it remains one’s final resort after exploring other alternatives in senior living communities.

This part of Apex, North Carolina offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a convenient and active lifestyle. With several parks nearby, such as Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Dorothea Dix Park, seniors can enjoy outdoor activities and leisurely walks. There are also pharmacies, physicians' offices, and hospitals within close proximity, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are a number of restaurants, cafes, and theaters for dining out or entertainment options. The transportation options, including car rental services and Raleigh-Durham International Airport just 9 miles away, provide convenience for travel needs. Places of worship are also available for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this part of Apex offers a well-rounded community with plenty of opportunities for recreation, healthcare, dining, worship, entertainment, and travel accessibility for seniors considering senior living in the area.

Parks

• Fred G. Bond Metro Park (2.1 miles)
• Harmony Community Pool and Playground (3.2 miles)
• Method Road Park & Community Center (8.1 miles)
• Carolina Pines Dog Park (9.1 miles)
• Dorothea Dix Park (9.8 miles)
• Grandale Park (10 miles)
• Brookhaven Nature Park (10.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Family Dermatology (2.3 miles)
• Internal Medicine and Pediatric Associates PA (2.8 miles)
• Cary Skin Center (3.5 miles)
• Western Wake Pediatrics, PA (3.7 miles)
• MyEyeDr (5 miles)
• Raleigh Neurology (6.5 miles)
• Wake Endoscopy Center (8.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (2.5 miles)
• City Barbeque And Catering (2.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.8 miles)
• Hickory Tavern (4 miles)
• Woody’s Sports Tavern & Grill (4.2 miles)
• Big Easy (4.6 miles)

Hospitals

• WakeMed Cary Hospital (2.8 miles)
• UNC Specialty Women's Center at Rex (8.4 miles)

Cafes

• Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.7 miles)
• Starbucks (9.8 miles)
• Starbucks (10.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ the King Lutheran Church (3.9 miles)
• Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (10.1 miles)
• New Hope Church (11.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Holly Springs 9 (5.8 miles)
• Cinemark Raleigh NC (10.6 miles)

Transportation

• CCO Concourse (7.8 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (8.4 miles)
• National Car Rental (8.4 miles)
• American Airlines (8.9 miles)
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (9 miles)
• RDU - Terminal 2 (9 miles)