Plum Creek Acres

Pros

• It is a great place to live.
• The complex is always clean.
• There used to be a really great maintenance man.

Cons

• The A/C unit broke down three weeks ago and a non-movable portable unit was installed, leaving the bedroom without cooling.
• She has had to drive to her son's house every evening to sleep because there is no A/C in her apartment.
• A new A/C unit was supposedly arriving next week, but four weeks have passed with no resolution.
• The elevator was broken, forcing her to climb four flights of stairs, which is very hard for an 85-year-old.
• There has not been a regular maintenance person on staff for quite some time.
• The lobby floors are not swept and the lobby looks filthy, giving the building a downhill appearance.
• The reviewer asks what kind of people are running SeniorCare Network and says they should be ashamed of themselves.
• The previous maintenance person quit months ago, and holes and dirt are visible around the lobby.

Review

A family disruption can be felt as soon as you make a difficult decision to move a loved one closer to you, and that was the intent here. An 85-year-old mother was relocated to a nearby complex so her son could have peace of mind knowing she would be just a couple of miles away. The move was meant to be a practical solution to everyday worries - being able to check in, assist when needed, and ensure a sense of safety. What followed, however, painted a far harsher picture of the day-to-day realities at the property run by SeniorCare Network.

From the start, the son's description makes it clear that the new living situation has been shadowed by serious maintenance failures. The air conditioning system in the mother's apartment broke three weeks prior, an ordeal that matters greatly given the heat and the timing with recent weather patterns described in the news as some of the hottest days on record. In the place of a functioning cooling system, the building offered a portable unit, with a hose that had to extend out the window. The arrangement is far from ideal - portable units are not easy to maneuver, especially for someone in her eighties, and there is no option to relocate it to the bedroom where cooling is most needed.

The son notes the practical consequences of that malfunction in stark terms. The portable unit cannot be moved easily by the resident, so she has spent nights sleeping in another location - specifically at the son's home - while she returns to her own apartment by morning to begin her day. The implication is that the mother is enduring uncomfortable conditions and disrupted routines simply to find a cooler space, a situation made more alarming by the ongoing heat and the elderly woman's vulnerability.

Worsening matters is the slow pace of a permanent solution. Today, the mother was told a new cooling unit would be installed next week, but that promise comes four weeks after the initial breakdown. Four weeks is a long time to go without adequate climate control in a living environment for someone in her age group, particularly when daytime temperatures remain high and the unit in place is only a temporary fix. The delay underscores a broader concern about responsiveness and the quality of on-site support at the complex.

Compounding the heat and comfort issues is a safety concern that strikes at one of the most basic conveniences within a living building: the elevator. On this particular morning, the mother returned to her apartment only to find the elevator out of service. The son highlights the risk plainly: for an 85-year-old resident, having to walk up four flights of stairs is not just inconvenient, it is potentially dangerous. The image of a senior resident navigating a hot stairwell with an overnight bag emphasizes the vulnerability of residents when essential amenities fail, and it adds a layer of worry for family members who cannot always be on hand to assist.

In a more pointed critique, the son asks a stark question about the people running SeniorCare Network: "What kind of people are running SeniorCare Network? You should all be ASHAMED of yourselves!" The message carries clear indignation and a call for accountability. He warns others who might be considering placing an elderly parent in the building to be cautious, signaling a broader fear that these problems are not isolated incidents but indicative of systemic mismanagement. The urgency behind this appeal is sharpened by the repeated references to the impact on a real person - the mother who deserves safety, comfort, and timely repairs.

Interwoven with the harsh criticisms are additional, corroborating complaints from other residents. The son relays reports that there has not been a "regular" maintenance person on staff for quite some time, suggesting a broader neglect of the building's upkeep. He recalls the days when a reliable maintenance man was on site, noting that since that person left a few months ago, issues have proliferated: holes - perhaps in plumbing or walls - are left unaddressed, lobby floors aren't swept, and the overall appearance has degraded. The overall tone is one of frustration and disbelief at how quickly conditions can deteriorate, especially when one person - he acknowledges - could be overwhelmed by the workload alone.

Despite this cascade of grievances, the reviews also carry a parallel snapshot of the opposite experience. A separate line of remark from the same collective feedback notes, "Great place to live!! Always clean." That declaration provides a contrasting perspective, suggesting that there are residents who still view the building positively, emphasizing cleanliness and perhaps a standard of living that they value. It highlights the complexity of living in a shared space - where experiences can vary dramatically from unit to unit and from day to day, depending on who is managing, the maintenance schedule, and the conditions each resident faces.

Altogether, the narrative paints a troubling picture of a building that once provided a certain level of comfort and reliability but now appears to be grappling with maintenance gaps, delayed repairs, and the daily realities of caring for elderly residents in extreme heat. The son's account underscores the human impact of administrative delays and service lapses: an elderly mother caught between inadequate cooling, inaccessible amenities, and a system that seems slow to respond. The stark contrast with the affirmation that the place is "Always clean" adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that cleanliness and safety are not mutually exclusive but depend on consistent staffing and decisive action.

For families considering SeniorCare Network, this set of experiences serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of timely maintenance, reliable HVAC support, and accessible units and services for residents who may be unable to navigate operational hiccups on their own. The son's emotional intensity - expressing concern, frustration, and a plea for accountability - reflects a common and deeply human worry: ensuring that a loved one's living environment remains safe, dignified, and livable, especially when health and age are significant factors. As the conversation about the complex continues, the balance between advocacy and experience will likely shape how current and prospective residents perceive the care and upkeep of this community.

This part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers a variety of amenities and services that may appeal to seniors looking for a peaceful and convenient location to reside. With several popular restaurants nearby such as John Anthony's Restaurant, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Chick-Fil-A, residents can enjoy a range of dining options. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple pharmacies including Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy, as well as physicians' offices and hospitals such as Forbes Hospital and Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Pittsburgh in close proximity. Additionally, the area features places of worship like St Bernadette Catholic Church and North American Martyrs for spiritual support. Parks like Rachel Carson Park and Monroeville Community Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, while theaters like Cinemark provide entertainment options. Overall, this part of Pittsburgh provides a blend of conveniences and leisure activities that may be appealing to seniors considering senior living in the area.

Restaurants

• John Anthony's Restaurant (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (3.5 miles)
• Arby's (3.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.6 miles)
• Max & Erma's (3.6 miles)
• Mad Mex (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Susanna (3.2 miles)
• St Bernadette Catholic Church (3.5 miles)
• Faith Community Church (4 miles)
• North American Martyrs (4.4 miles)
• St Irenaeus Church (5.1 miles)
• Mount Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church (5.2 miles)
• Mother of Sorrows Church (5.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.6 miles)
• First Watch - Murrysville (5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)

Physicians

• Children's Community Pediatrics - Monroeville Pediatric Associates (3.7 miles)
• Joseph J Stuckert II, MD (3.8 miles)
• Premier Medical Associates (4.2 miles)
• UPMC Physican Services (4.4 miles)
• Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates - Monroeville (4.5 miles)
• Orthopedic Specialists Of UPMC (4.5 miles)
• MyEyeDr (4.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Pittsburgh (3.8 miles)
• Forbes Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Forbes Regional Hospital (4.2 miles)
• LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh-Monroeville (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Rachel Carson Park (4.1 miles)
• Townsend Park (4.6 miles)
• Monroeville Community Park (4.9 miles)
• Heritage Park (5 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (6.3 miles)