185 Brickfarm Road, Sylva, NC 28779
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of The Hermitage
Pros
The Hermitage staff are friendly and responsive at planning, move-in, and arranging the medical care residents need.- The facility is easy to reach by phone or in person for help.
- The environment is pleasant and safe, with past feedback addressed to improve it.
- The staff are great, and families report that their loved ones love it so far.
- The Hermitage provides staff training and offers programs that benefit residents.
- It is regarded as a very good facility when at-home care isn’t possible.
- The Hermitage offers a variety of activities (cards, games, movies, outings, exercise classes, trivia) and helps with meals and laundry.
- The rooms are large and fairly new with good views, and the grounds are beautiful.
Cons
The reviewer notes that the room was not cleaned on arrival and the hearing aid was lost in the first week.- Requests for help fell on deaf ears, with little to no assistance for basic care.
- The facility overcharged and failed to refund in a timely or satisfactory manner.
- There were numerous medication issues, including missing meds and receiving someone else’s medication.
- The carpeting was filthy, there was grime on doors, and a termite problem existed.
- A resident was found with a black eye and other contusions, with no adequate explanation or reporting.
- Communication with families was poor, including lack of updates about transfers and care decisions.
- The administrator was described as unprofessional and rude, with frequent staff berating during meetings.
- The memory care unit lacked sufficient staff and meaningful activities, leaving residents under-stimulated.
- The facility smelled of urine and overall received a strongly negative impression.
- One reviewer stated they would not leave their dog there, indicating a lack of trust in the facility’s care.
- There were concerns about insufficient shower frequency and inadequate daily care for residents.
Review
This community is best suited for families seeking a newer, visually appealing setting with predictable routines, reliable front-desk access, and a staff that is generally friendly and responsive during planning, move-in, and ongoing care. It works well for residents who need moderate assistance with daily tasks and enjoy structured activities, three meals a day, and in-unit laundry. The environment appeals to those who want social engagement, card games, outings, exercise classes, and who don’t require constant, high-acuity medical oversight. In short, The Hermitage can be a solid fit for seniors with early-to-mid memory concerns or general aging in place needs, provided expectations align with typical assisted living and memory-care rhythms.
Those who should consider alternatives include families facing higher-acuity dementia or aggressive behaviors, those requiring constant, on-site medical management, or individuals who demand near-flawless medication safety and incident reporting. Several reviews raise red flags about safety, communication, and governance that are hard to overlook for residents with significant cognitive impairment or fragile health. If a loved one needs meticulous medical coordination, rapid doctor adjustments, or consistently transparent handling of disputes and refunds, a facility with a more documented track record in these areas may be a wiser choice.
On the plus side, the Hermitage earns points for genuine, accessible staff and an emphasis on responsiveness. Families repeatedly note that staff are friendly, that planning and move-in were well supported, and that care teams make themselves available by phone or in person. The rooms are described as large and fairly new, with attractive grounds and a central courtyard that fosters safe, easy strolls. Meals, laundry service, and organized activities contribute real daily value, and for families who can rely on steady oversight and clear communication, these elements can meaningfully offset some routine care needs.
Yet the negatives are substantial and often recur across reviews. Medication management is a frequent concern, with accounts of missing or mis-dispensed meds, delayed refills, and inconsistent monitoring of health changes. Hygiene and upkeep issues also surface, delayed room repairs, odor concerns, and items left unaddressed upon arrival or over extended stays. Families report insufficient staff coverage at times, which translates into delayed assistance with feeding for memory-impaired residents, limited one-on-one attention, and inconsistencies in safety checks after falls or other incidents. In memory care, several reviewers question whether stimulation and engagement match the level of impairment, noting limited activities and a sense that care leans more toward supervision than meaningful cognition- and function-preserving programming.
Financial and governance experiences color the overall risk profile as well. Multiple reviewers describe overcharges, disputed refunds, or slow handling of billing issues, with reports that communication around financial matters could be consistently better. One family even described a situation in which refunds were promised but not delivered in a timely fashion, leaving trust and planning Eroded. Allegations concerning staffing leadership and accountability, ranging from communication gaps to concern about how concerns are escalated, add a layer of caution for families prioritizing transparent, proactive governance. While these accounts are not universal, they are persistent enough to merit serious scrutiny.
For families weighing this option, practical due-diligence steps are essential. Schedule a candid tour focused on memory-care practices and staffing ratios; request direct conversations with current residents’ families about care quality and incident handling; review the care plans and daily schedules to ensure meaningful activities align with a loved one’s interests and abilities. Probe the medication workflow, incident reporting, and how staff respond to falls or health changes, along with a clear, written policy on refunds and bill disputes. If these checks pass, The Hermitage can deliver a comfortable, supportive environment with a responsive team; if not, higher risk factors, particularly around safety, care consistency, and financial transparency, warrant looking elsewhere in the Sylva area.
90 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Air-conditioning
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Computer center
Dining room
Fitness room
Fully furnished
Gaming room
Garden
Housekeeping services
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Private bathrooms
Restaurant-style dining
Small library
Telephone
Wellness center
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Community operated transportation
12-16 hour nursing
24-hour call system
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Concierge services
Planned day trips
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