Kirkwood Retirement Community

Pros

• The building is well kept.
• Maintenance is quick and proper.
• The staff are top-of-the-line polite.
• Kirkwood Senior Apartments is highly recommendable.
• The facility is very clean.
• The community is great for retirement with lots of activities.
• The environment feels safe.
• The staff are excellent and the residents are friendly.
• The complex is affordable and supports independent living for the disabled and elderly.
• The place is loaded with things to do, including library books, free ice and water, and nice patio furniture.

Cons

• Upgrades are badly needed at the property.
• The elders don't have proper cooling in the summer, and the entrance lacks a buzz-in bell and camera for protection; access is too easy and not safe enough.
• It is not a safe place to live; the staff are rude and inconsiderate, and restaffing with more caring personnel is needed.
• There is a long waiting list; only four two-bedroom units exist while most units are one-bedroom.
• Water bugs and sludge are coming from faucets; pipes may need replacement or flushing.
• Many units need updating; kitchen countertops and cupboards are worn, and updates rarely occur unless someone moves out; common areas lack furniture for residents to gather.
• Some residents feel staff became horrible after the place was sold by the church, and express concern about letting young people in.
• Management is not very pleasant to visitors.

Review

Kirkwood Senior Apartments comes across in the collected notes as a retirement community with real charm and undeniable energy, but also with noticeable flaws that matter to potential residents. On the positive side, many residents find the building well kept, clean, and inviting from the moment you walk in. A month into his stay, one new resident praises the upkeep, quick and proper maintenance, and a staff that is consistently polite. A fellow resident sums up a central impression: the place feels like a welcoming home, with warmth and a sense of care that makes people want to recommend it. The combination of tidy surroundings and courteous, capable staff is a recurring thread in several accounts, and one person even describes the staff as "freaking awesome," highlighting a level of friendliness and attentiveness that stands out.

Beyond the aesthetic and interpersonal warmth, the community also earns praise for its livability and the social fabric that accompanies retirement living. Multiple voices celebrate the sense of safety and the many activities available to residents. There is a clear sense that Kirkwood offers more than just a place to sleep: a community where neighbors know one another, where there are opportunities to read library books, use computers, enjoy free ice and water, and take advantage of comfortable outdoor seating and well-maintained patios. The overall mood in these accounts is that Kirkwood can feel like a home away from home, with residents forming connections and a shared rhythm of daily life that includes visits, conversations, and participation in a variety of programs.

There is, however, a spectrum of concerns that appear alongside the positives. One recurring anxiety is about safety and security, particularly as it relates to access control. Several reviewers urge stronger physical protections - buzz-in entry systems, cameras, and locking entrances at all times - to safeguard the elders who live there. The sentiment is that, as things stand, access may be too easy, and that updating the entry security could help residents and their families feel more confident about safety in and around the building. This theme sits in tension with other reviews that describe Kirkwood as a "safe feeling environment," illustrating how perceptions of safety can vary depending on personal experiences or particular days.

Another firmness of opinion centers on the condition and modernization of units. While some find the apartments appealing and nicely presented, others notice aging interiors that haven't seen updates for some time. Reviewers point to kitchen countertops and cupboards that look worn and dated, with a sense that updates are typically tied to turnover rather than scheduled renovations. There's a sense of missed opportunities to refresh common areas as well: lobby spaces with no furniture, lacking seating and d?cor that would encourage residents to gather, chat, and entertain guests. The contrast between well-kept exteriors and interiors in need of modernization underscores a broader tension between maintenance of the existing facility and the desire for cosmetic and functional upgrades.

The housing layout and availability also shape the experience. One reviewer notes a scarcity of larger units, with only four two-bedroom apartments while the rest are one-bedroom or single-room configurations, accompanied by a long waiting list. This reality affects families or couples seeking space and can influence decisions about when and whether to move in. Yet even with these constraints, another account emphasizes the community's suitability for retirement life, especially for those who value an active social calendar and a setting that supports independence with assistance when needed.

Interpersonal dynamics round out the mosaic of impressions. People describe a range of interactions: some praise staff kindness and resident hospitality, while others voice frustration with management or experiences that feel dismissive to visitors. Comments about staff range from high praise to criticisms that hint at a broader dissatisfaction with how management communicates or handles changes within the community. One vignette recalls a family's visit to help an aging loved one, while another points to experiences after a broader ownership or organizational change, suggesting that changes in leadership can color perceptions and daily interactions. Overall, the sentiment about staff is mixed but often leans toward appreciation for helpful, friendly colleagues, punctuated by occasional gripes about responsiveness or tone.

In total, Kirkwood Senior Apartments emerges as a place with a strong, genuine sense of community and a track record of cleanliness, warmth, and responsive maintenance in many residents' eyes. It also faces real challenges that affect day-to-day life: aging interiors in need of updating, ongoing questions about security, and practical constraints around unit availability. For someone considering Kirkwood, the balance is clear: it can be a warm, activity-rich, and supportive home if the security and modernization aspects align with their priorities and if they are comfortable with navigating an environment where staff performance and management experiences can vary. A prospective resident would do well to visit, assess the security and modernization needs in person, and weigh the abundant social opportunities against the realities of unit availability and ongoing infrastructure improvements.

This part of Goldsboro, North Carolina, offers a variety of dining options for residents to enjoy. Within a reasonable driving distance, there are popular fast-food chains such as Wendy's, McDonald's, and Chick-Fil-A, as well as sit-down restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Texas Steakhouse & Saloon. Additionally, there is a Starbucks cafe nearby for those who enjoy coffee and a relaxing atmosphere. The community appears to have convenient access to food options that cater to various tastes and preferences.

Restaurants

• Wendy's (22.2 miles)
• Cook Out (22.2 miles)
• McDonald's (22.3 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (22.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (23 miles)
• McDonald's (23.2 miles)
• Texas Steakhouse & Saloon (23.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (23.2 miles)