Devenberg Care Home

Pros

• Fantastic Community with caring staff that really looks out for the well being of their residents.
• Cedar Village Assisted Living is an outstanding community that feels like home, with compassionate, attentive staff who go above and beyond.
• The facility itself is well-maintained, clean, and designed to provide comfort and safety.
• The residents are engaged in meaningful activities, fostering a strong sense of community and connection.
• The environment is light, bright, and cheery, with residents encouraged to participate in a variety of activities.
• The staff are highly engaged with residents and even participate in games with them.
• Therapy dogs are sometimes brought in to enhance resident well-being.
• Families and advisors describe Cedar Village as a special place where the staff go above and beyond.

Cons

• One reviewer warned that putting a loved one there would be a big mistake and urged others to look elsewhere.
• A reviewer claimed residents were lined up in the hallway for medications like cattle, with injections given in front of everyone.
• A reviewer described the food as horrible and overcooked, with hair found in the food.
• A reviewer said the management was not compassionate and would only listen to half of what was being said.
• A reviewer reported that transportation hadn't worked for almost a year and activities were frequently canceled.
• A reviewer observed a very high caregiver turnover, suggesting inconsistent and less compassionate care.

Review

Cedar Village Assisted Living in the Salem area is described by many families as a welcoming, bright, and engaging community that has quickly become a preferred choice compared with other facilities they've tried in recent years. Families frequently highlight a warm atmosphere, caring staff, and a range of activities that go beyond simply watching TV. The environment is often described as light, cheery, and well-maintained, with spacious communal areas and comfortable rooms that contribute to a sense of home. Several reviewers point to a high level of caregiver involvement and a genuine focus on resident well-being, including occasional therapy dogs that bring an extra touch of warmth and interaction to daily life.

A recurring theme across multiple accounts is that Cedar Village feels actively inhabited by staff who want residents to stay engaged. Tour experiences are described as positive - staff actively participating in games, employees wearing jerseys for spirit weeks, and residents who appear happy and involved. Reviewers frequently note a noticeable staff-to-resident ratio and staff enthusiasm that translates into meaningful activities, social opportunities, and encouragement to maintain independence where possible. The forward-facing demeanor of staff members, including administration, often comes through as a strong selling point, with remarks about staff greeting families warmly and being readily available to help with transitions from rehab or hospital stays. In short, for many, the community projects the sense of a supportive, resident-centered environment.

There is also evidence of a widely shared confidence in the leadership and the overall level of care, at least among some sources. A representative from a well-known senior living referral service, A Place For Mom, describes Cedar Village as a standout community in the Salem area. That account emphasizes how the staff and the facility work to facilitate smooth transitions for families, from hospital discharge to ongoing residential living, and it frames Cedar Village as a place families can trust. This particular perspective adds weight to the general impression that, for many residents and families, Cedar Village is a high-quality option with reliable care and a strong support network for both residents and their loved ones.

However, not every review aligns with the most glowing portrayals. A number of families express serious concerns about care quality and responsiveness. One parent's experience highlights missed basic care tasks - feet care not addressed, a bathroom light left unfixed for weeks, and a pattern of not meeting basic needs promptly. Other accounts describe a more troubling scene of care lapses, with complaints about medication administration practices, privacy during care, and a sense that requests are not consistently followed through. Some reviewers report that staff turnover is high and that the compassion they expect from a well-run facility does not always align with what they observe on the ground. In one particularly strong set of statements, a former employee or advocate describes systemic issues, including what they perceive as disrespectful handling of residents, inconsistencies in care, and food and housekeeping problems that persisted despite complaints and investigations. These experiences vividly illustrate that, for some families, organizational challenges and gaps in consistent care have been a source of real frustration and distrust.

Additional concerns surface around operations and reliability. Transportation for residents is described as "not working" for nearly a year by one reviewer, and activities are sometimes canceled, which can limit opportunities for social engagement and programming. Some reviewers acknowledge the kindness and dedication of many individual staff members, but they point to broader management and administrative difficulties - claims of disorganization, a perception that office staff are not fully attuned to residents' needs, and sentiment that the leadership may not always follow through on promises. Such perspectives contribute to a nuanced picture in which Cedar Village contains both highly capable, caring staff and experiences of administrative friction or inconsistency that can color the overall sense of reliability for families.

Amidst all the praise and the criticisms, Cedar Village is preparing for a notable change in management. The facility is transitioning from Frontier Management LLC to Cogir SL, Oregon II, LLC, with the transition anticipated in the coming months around May 2025. Families express a mix of cautious optimism and hopeful anticipation that the level of care, engagement, meals, and broad range of services will be preserved through the leadership change. Given the range of perspectives, prospective families are advised to seek out current, specifics on how the new management structure intends to sustain the strong points while addressing any ongoing concerns. Key questions to consider include how staffing levels will be maintained, how care plans and request follow-through will be handled under the new leadership, and what concrete measures will be put in place to ensure consistency in meals, activities, and transportation.

In sum, Cedar Village appears to be a community that many families value highly for its warmth, engagement, and overall feel of home. The staff's dedication, opportunities for social and cognitive engagement, and the positive experiences reported by many residents and families stand out. Yet, a substantial subset of reviews reveals serious concerns about consistency in basic care, maintenance of safety and privacy, and administrative responsiveness, underscoring the importance of direct, current conversations with the facility and its leadership - especially in light of the upcoming management transition. For families evaluating Cedar Village, the takeaway is to balance the strong, heartfelt testimonials about daily life and care quality with a careful probe into management practices, transparency, and a clear plan for maintaining (or improving) the care standards that matter most to their loved ones. Tour thoroughly, ask pointed questions about med handling, care requests, transportation reliability, and how the new management intends to preserve the community's strengths while addressing the concerns raised by other residents and families.

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)