Devenberg Care Home in Salem, OR

Pros

• The staff at Cedar Village care for residents and do a great job.
• Cedar Village is a beautiful, loving community with top-tier care and abundant positive energy.
• Visitors are greeted with welcoming smiles, and the facility is clean and well maintained.
• The staff are professional and caring across the board.
• Karinne Trexler and the Cedar Village team provide exceptional service.
• The memory care program offers a safe, home-like environment where residents feel secure.
• Memory care staff know residents' personalities and meet their individual needs.
• Cedar Village feels like home, with friendly staff, meaningful activities, and a strong sense of community.
• The environment is light, bright, and cheery, with lots of activities and therapy dogs visiting.

Cons

• They never took care of her feet and left the bathroom light on for weeks.
• There was a complete lack of care, making it hard to meet basic needs.
• Residents were lined up in the hall for meds like cattle, showing a lack of dignity.
• Injections were given in front of others with shirts pulled up.
• Pills were found on the floor on multiple occasions, indicating poor oversight.
• The food was often burnt, flavorless, and served with little dignity or privacy.
• Complaints and suggestions from residents fell on deaf ears.
• The management isn’t very compassionate and seems to avoid accountability.
• Transportation for residents hasn’t worked for almost a year.

Review

This Salem community is best suited for families seeking a warm, home‑like atmosphere where care partners actively engage residents and create a social, neighborly feel. It shines for seniors who prefer memory care or assisted living with a strong emphasis on relationships, meaningful activities, and staff who seem genuinely invested in individual residents. The environment is described as bright, clean, and welcoming, with an emphasis on connecting residents to each other and to staff through regular programs, therapy dogs, and opportunities to participate in daily life, immeasurable assets for anyone who values feeling seen and included. For a resident who thrives on ongoing personalization, routine, and daily interaction, this setting can feel like a proactive, protective cocoon. It is less ideal for families needing ironclad, consistently flawless execution across every shift or for those who require very dependable transportation and fully predictable operational rhythms.

Those who may want to consider alternatives include families with very high expectations for administrative stability and continuity of leadership. Several reviews flag concerns about management turnover and shifting ownership plans, which can translate into drift in policies, staffing norms, and resident experience. Prospective residents who rely on reliable transportation, consistently offered activities, and uninterrupted service across weeks and months should scrutinize current transportation reliability and the cadence of activity offerings. While the community often delivers on warmth and attentiveness, certain reports point to gaps in basic care follow‑through, privacy, and the execution of daily routines, which can be unacceptable for residents with higher care needs or for families who require near‑term assurances. In short, for those who prize unwavering consistency and tightly managed operations, this may require a careful comparison with other options.

The strongest positives here center on staff engagement and the sense of community. Residents and families routinely praise staff for attentiveness, compassion, and professional demeanor, with many noting that caregivers know individual personalities and preferences, which translates into more personalized care. The care environment itself is described as meticulously maintained, with cleanliness, tasteful design, and spaces that encourage socialization rather than isolation. Memory care is frequently highlighted as a particular strength, where teams tailor routines and activities to individual histories and abilities, helping residents feel safe and connected. The presence of engaging activities, a light, cheery ambiance, and even therapy dogs adds depth to daily life, making it easier for families to envision their loved ones thriving in a supportive, lively setting. These elements collectively offer a robust counterweight to the inevitable imperfections that arise in long‑term care.

However, the main drawbacks cannot be ignored because they directly influence day‑to‑day quality and long‑term satisfaction. Leadership stability is a recurring concern, with references to changes in management and ownership looming in the near term. Transportation reliability and consistent activity programming have also been touchpoints of frustration for some families, suggesting that logistics and scheduling may not be as dependable as hoped. Reports of inconsistent follow‑through on basic needs, and even more serious complaints about privacy, medication handling, and housekeeping quality, heighten risk for families seeking an operation with seamless daily execution. The remodeling activity can be a plus for modernization, but it also has the potential to disrupt routines and strain staff bandwidth. In short, the core strengths are undeniable, but operational fragility in some areas means this community may not meet every family’s baseline expectations.

These pros and cons interlock in a way that can be compelling for the right resident, yet demanding for others. The evidence suggests a clear value proposition: a warm, engaging, resident‑centered culture with strong memory care capabilities and a bright, well‑kept physical setting. When leadership is steady and staff maintain a high level of consistency, the advantages multiply, families experience fewer unresolved questions, more meaningful activities, and better social integration for their loved ones. Yet the same strengths become less persuasive if ownership transitions disrupt standard procedures, if transportation and activity calendars prove unreliable, or if basic care and privacy concerns reappear. The decisive question becomes whether the anticipated organizational stability aligns with a family’s tolerance for potential service fluctuations during a transition period.

To move from consideration to a confident decision, approach this community with a disciplined, due‑diligence mindset. Demand a face‑to‑face meeting with the executive leadership and the primary nurse or care director to review current staffing models, shift coverage, and the specific plans for continuity amid any ownership changes. Request concrete data on staff‑to‑resident ratios by shift, patient safety incident logs, and the process for med administration and privacy safeguards. Inspect the latest state inspections and any ombudsman communications, and ask to speak candidly with several current residents and families about their experiences, both the triumphs and the recurring pains. Taste a few meals, sit in during activities, and observe how transportation is scheduled and executed across a typical week. Finally, consider a short trial stay or respite if available, to gauge firsthand whether praise translates into everyday reliability. Ensure pricing and contract terms are crystal clear, including any anticipated changes tied to ownership transitions.

In the end, this community presents a practical, compelling option for families prioritizing warmth, personal attention, and strong memory‑care capabilities. It stands out for its people, the staff who treat residents with dignity, the meaningful activities, and the overall sense of belonging that many families report. Yet the caveats around leadership continuity, transportation reliability, and variable quality in certain operational areas warrant careful scrutiny. For families willing to engage actively, ask pointed questions, and monitor transitions closely, the upside can be significant: a vibrant, caring home where a loved one can flourish emotionally and socially. For those who require rock‑solid assurance on every routine and every policy, it remains essential to compare with alternatives and verify that staffing, transportation, and governance will meet long‑term expectations. The right path hinges on a disciplined evaluation, a strong visit, and clear alignment between the resident’s needs and the community’s operational temperament.

This part of Salem, Oregon offers a convenient and bustling area for senior living. With multiple dining options including fast food restaurants like McDonald's and local eateries like Pietro's Pizza, there is a variety of choices for meals. Nearby physicians such as Northwest Medi Spa and Willamette Health Partners provide easy access to medical services. Several pharmacies are also in the vicinity for prescription needs. The presence of Salem Hospital ensures quality healthcare facilities within close proximity. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and Dutch Bros Coffee for socializing with friends or enjoying a quiet moment alone. Parks like Sunset Park and Englewood Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The Regal Willamette Town Center provides entertainment options with movie theaters nearby, while transportation services like Hertz Rent A Car and Amtrak make travel convenient. Places of worship such as First Christian Church offer spiritual nourishment for those seeking it. Overall, this area in Salem combines convenience, amenities, and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.8 miles)
• Sub Shop (1.8 miles)
• Pietro's Pizza (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Mommy & Maddi's (2 miles)

Physicians

• Northwest Medi Spa (1.6 miles)
• Willamette Occupational Health Systems (1.8 miles)
• Willamette Health Partners (1.8 miles)
• Pacific Pulmonary Service (1.8 miles)
• Salem Occupational Health Clinic (1.9 miles)
• Advanced Vascular Therapy (2 miles)
• Salem Vision Clinic (2.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.6 miles)
• Genoa Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Salem Hospital (1.8 miles)
• Willamette Family Medical Center (2.5 miles)
• DaVita Salem North Dialysis (2.6 miles)
• Department of Human Service (2.6 miles)
• Oregon State Hospital (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Black Rock Coffee Bar (2.2 miles)
• Ike Box (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Java Crew (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Sunset Park (2.1 miles)
• Englewood Park (2.2 miles)
• The Big Toy (3.1 miles)
• Riverfront Park (3.3 miles)
• Aldrich Park (3.4 miles)
• Orchard Heights City Park (3.6 miles)
• Pringle City Park (3.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Willamette Town Center (2.4 miles)
• Regal Cinebarre Movieland (3 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (2.9 miles)
• Amtrak (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Christian Church (2.9 miles)