Gentle Home AFC in Sandy, OR

Pros

• The staff are absolutely wonderful.
• The facility is clean and well maintained.
• The environment feels warm, welcoming, and full of life.
• Care is exceptional and residents are treated like family.
• Angela Davis is amazing, bringing energy, compassion, and helpfulness.
• Avamere at Sandy is highly recommended by visitors and advisors.
• Tours are professional, friendly, and informative.
• The community is beautiful inside and out, with a caring staff.
• Families experience peace of mind knowing loved ones are well cared for.
• Activities are engaging and residents enjoy them.

Cons

• The facility is full of racism and deserves not even a single star.
• They treated workers terribly, were illegally understaffed, and made it very unsafe for residents.
• The HR team is really unprofessional and does not communicate with each other.
• They allow employees to work with no background checks or training.
• The business manager is rude and unprofessional.
• They have Covid in the building, do not inform families, and are short staffed.

Review

Gentle Home AFC, operating as Avamere at Sandy in Sandy, Oregon, is best suited for families seeking a warm, community-driven assisted living with strong memory-care capabilities and a leadership culture that stays close to residents. The environment rewards relationships over rigidity, with staff who tend to stay for years and residents who respond well to familiar faces. This is a place where daily life feels purposeful, where activities are frequent and engaging, and where families can count on a hands-on administrator and a nursing team that maintains regular communication about care. For seniors who value personal attention, predictable routines, and a home-like atmosphere, Avamere at Sandy stands out as a practical, capable option.

Those weighing alternatives should note that not every family will find perfection here. Some reviews flag staffing variability and communications gaps, and a subset of voices raise concerns about personnel policies and culture. A few comments point to troubling experiences around how staff or managers interact, and there are rare but serious claims about discrimination. For families requiring a facility with flawless HR practices, zero wrestling with internal processes, or a uniformly uniform culture across shifts, it makes sense to compare other communities with a clearer, more centralized approach to staffing and policy enforcement. A thorough, in-person evaluation is essential to gauge whether these concerns are current realities or isolated incidents.

Yet the major strengths of Avamere at Sandy often far outweigh these potential drawbacks. The care team is repeatedly described as compassionate, attentive, and truly invested in residents' happiness and well-being. Long-tenured staff create a steady, trustworthy presence, and families report consistent, heartfelt interactions that feel less transactional and more familial. The remodeled, clean environment, combined with thoughtful programming and reliable meal quality, supports a higher quality of daily life for residents. The memory-care offerings receive strong praise, with staff who prioritize safety, personalization, and proactive communication with families - an important factor for loved ones facing cognitive or behavioral changes.

When memory care is a need, Avamere at Sandy tends to excel. Residents with memory impairment or Parkinsonian symptoms are described as safer and better supported, with teams that manage falls prevention and behavioral needs with patience and care. The unit-specific approaches, coupled with direct involvement from the administrator and nurse teams, help families feel involved and informed about day-to-day changes in care. The ability to adapt routines, diet preferences, and activity options to individual residents - such as vegetarian menus - further reinforces the sense that life here remains dignified and personalized even as needs evolve.

From a practical decision standpoint, the community's willingness to assist with Medicare and Medicaid navigation is notable. Prospective residents should still request a detailed, written outline of what is included in the monthly rate, and verify any memory-care add-ons or escalation clauses, so expectations align with reality. Given the mixed feedback on staffing and HR, it is prudent to observe shift coverage during a visit, speak with frontline caregivers, and confirm the process for reporting concerns and ensuring follow-through. Families should also ask for a consistent point of contact who can provide ongoing updates, and verify background checks and ongoing staff training as part of due diligence.

Overall, Avamere at Sandy emerges as a robust choice for families seeking a caring, life-centered environment with proven memory-care competence and staff who genuinely treat residents like family. It rewards those who prize visible leadership, daily engagement, and a community that feels welcoming and alive. The facility may not be the best fit for families that demand perfectly flawless HR practices or a uniformly quiet atmosphere with no reported tensions. Still, for many, the blend of heartfelt care, staff continuity, and active, meaningful living will justify pursuing this option. The decisive next step is a thorough on-site tour combined with candid conversations with leadership, current residents, and families to confirm alignment with specific needs and expectations.

The Sandy, Oregon area offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a peaceful and scenic location. There are several places of worship within driving distance, including the Living Way Fellowship and St Henry Catholic Church. Additionally, there are numerous cafes and restaurants nearby for socializing and dining out, such as Dutch Bros Coffee and Olive Garden. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of parks to explore like Cascadia Park and Rooster Rock State Park. In terms of healthcare, there are several physicians' offices and pharmacies conveniently located in the area, as well as hospitals like Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for any medical needs. Overall, Sandy provides a tranquil setting with access to essential services for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in a welcoming community.

Places of Worship

• Living Way Fellowship (8.1 miles)
• East Hill Kid City (18.6 miles)
• St Henry Catholic Church (18.6 miles)
• Cascade Locks Community Church (22.6 miles)
• Cascade Locks Bible Fellowship (23.2 miles)
• Cascade Chapel Assembly Of God (23.4 miles)

Cafes

• Dutch Bros Coffee (8.1 miles)
• Black Rock Coffee Bar (18.2 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (19 miles)
• Colton Cafe (21.7 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (23.4 miles)

Parks

• Cascadia Park (8.1 miles)
• Meinig Memorial Park (8.2 miles)
• Barlow Ridge Park (8.5 miles)
• Dodge Park (9.1 miles)
• Guy Talbot State Park (12.9 miles)
• Rooster Rock State Park (13.8 miles)
• Barton Park (15.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Joe's Donut Shop (8.2 miles)
• Tollgate Inn (8.8 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (17.3 miles)
• Skyland Pub (17.4 miles)
• Burger King (17.5 miles)
• Olive Garden (17.5 miles)
• Del Taco (17.6 miles)

Physicians

• Legacy Medical Group-Firwood (9.4 miles)
• Rose City Urgent Care & Family Practice (17.9 miles)
• Columbia View Family Health Center (17.9 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group-Gastroenterology (18.1 miles)
• Metropolitan Pediatrics (18.1 miles)
• Gresham Internal Medicine Clinic (18.1 miles)
• Cascade Physicians (18.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Hi-School Pharmacy (13.2 miles)
• Walgreens (17.8 miles)
• Walgreens (17.9 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (18.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (18.4 miles)
• Walgreens (19.6 miles)
• Walgreens (20.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center (18.1 miles)
• Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center (23 miles)