Watercrest Columbia

Pros

• The steel drum band and staff dancing provide engaging, enjoyable entertainment for residents.
• Alex is described as the best sales director, very professional, and thorough.
• The community is beautiful, with active residents and supportive staff.
• The rooms are spacious and everything is new.
• The dining hall offers excellent food and great service.
• The staff are caring and attentive, treating residents with genuine compassion.
• The facility is clean, well maintained, and welcoming.
• The Wellness Director and front desk concierges are superb and accessible.
• Nurse managers and nursing staff are excellent, responsive, and dedicated to residents' well-being.

Cons

• There is extremely high staff turnover at every level.
• Delivery of essential medical services is inconsistent, including inaccurate medication dosing and medications running out.
• Amenities and services promised at contract signing are hit or miss, mostly miss.
• Resident safety in their rooms feels non-existent and home security is lacking.
• Memory Care staff are severely undertrained and overworked, with times when only one Med-Tech is on duty or no staff are available.
• Care team meetings frequently overpromise and underdeliver.
• Staff turnover includes the departure of the nurse manager after ownership changes, undermining continuity of care.
• Ongoing frustration due to constant staff changes and unstable care quality.
• Room cleaning, housekeeping, dining staff, and front desk personnel show turnover and inconsistency.
• Moving a loved one to Memory Care was described as the worst decision by the family.

Review

Vitality Living, formerly known as Watercrest, presents itself as a community with a lively, welcoming vibe. Visitors often note the upbeat energy: a steel drum band, staff dancing for residents, and a stocked bar that adds a festive touch to gatherings. The space itself is described as clean and well-decorated, with ample common areas that invite residents to relax and socialize outside their apartments. For some families, the facility feels like a caring, vibrant place where seniors can enjoy an active social life and attentive service.

Within the broader picture of Vitality Living, there are multiple voices and experiences gathered by residents, families, and staff over time. Some guests and family members highlight several strong points: a well-kept facility with spacious rooms, the presence of a coordinated pharmacy and primary care team, and dependable transportation to medical appointments. Positive anecdotes frequently mention friendly, helpful staff, a warm welcome from the front desk, and a commitment from leadership and sales staff to make the transition into the community smooth. Alex, the sales director, is repeatedly singled out for professionalism and thorough support, and several families express gratitude for how well he handled the move-in process and initial arrangements.

However, beneath the upbeat surface, a significant undercurrent of concern runs through many reviews. A family member recounts a long, eventful 14-month period during which the care of a loved one in assisted living, and later in memory care, revealed troubling inconsistencies. Their narrative describes a transition that began with cautious optimism two weeks after the mom moved in. The initial meeting between residents, staff, new ownership, and regional leadership seemed honest and fair, but subsequent experiences painted a different picture. They described a range of issues - from medication management problems (overdosing or under-dispensing, running out of meds) to lapses in basic services like housekeeping, laundry, and regular activities that were promised at contract signing yet delivered inconsistently. Safety concerns also emerged, including questions about how well residents are protected in their rooms and the overall security of the memory care environment when staff coverage was sparse. The family also observed that memory care staff appeared under-trained and overworked, with times when there was only one med-tech for both assisted living and memory care, or even occasions when no one was available for residents' needs. Meetings with the care team, in their view, frequently resulted in over-promising and under-delivering, prompting them to remain vigilant and engaged as they continued to monitor care.

Concurrently, several other reviews acknowledge high turnover across the organization. Some families report a revolving door of nurse managers and front-line caregivers, with praise for individual staff members who stood out in moment-to-moment care, only to see those same people depart after ownership changes or management shifts. A recurring thread is the sense that the quality of medical oversight - especially in memory care - has not been consistently reliable, despite moments of excellence from specific nurses and teams. Yet even amid the turnover, stories of compassionate patient care endure: a nurse who stayed late, a team that communicated clearly during a health crisis, and moments when residents felt genuinely cared for and treated like family. The contrast between flashes of extraordinary personal care and broader systemic inconsistencies is a common theme.

Amid the mixed experiences, several reviewers highlight that the best parts of Vitality Living remain its people and its setting. Families speak of warm welcome experiences, clean environments, and the overall atmosphere that respects seniors as individuals. They remember staff who were attentive, respectful, and patient, and they celebrate the genuine kindness shown by caregivers, dining staff, and front-desk personnel. The community's programming - active residents, diverse activities, and a variety of dining options - receives frequent praise for contributing to a sense of normalcy and engagement for residents. The presence of strong, dedicated activity and wellness leadership is noted positively in several reviews, with appreciative remarks about activity directors and wellness directors who are accessible and supportive of residents' needs.

Across these testimonials, there is a clear call for a balance between the aesthetic appeal of the facility and the actual quality of care. Reviewers urge prospective families to focus on wellness and a thriving, individualized care plan rather than solely on appearance or promises. They advise future residents and their families to scrutinize staffing levels, training, and the processes that govern medication management and medical oversight. The overarching message is that Vitality Living offers a beautiful, lively environment with many positive attributes, but it also requires ongoing vigilance, open communication with care teams, and ongoing assessment of whether medical and daily living needs are being met consistently.

In sum, Vitality Living presents itself as a community of contrasts: a bright, well-appointed environment with a strong sense of community, occasional standout care from particular staff members, and a genuine commitment to resident engagement and well-being. At the same time, a substantial number of voices describe serious concerns around staff turnover, consistency in medical services, safety, and the alignment between promised amenities and actual delivery. For families considering Vitality Living, the consensus is nuanced: there is much to admire and enjoy, but due diligence - particularly around care planning, staffing stability, and clear, reliable communication - remains essential. The community's leadership, from sales through nursing and administration, is frequently recognized for their dedication, and ongoing dialogue with families is emphasized as key to ensuring that residents receive the comprehensive care and supportive environment they deserve.

This area of Columbia, South Carolina offers a convenient and bustling urban environment with a variety of amenities within close proximity. Residents can easily access popular fast food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell, as well as dine-in options such as Little Caesars Pizza and San Jose Mexican Restaurant. There are also several pharmacies nearby including Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for convenient healthcare needs. For medical care, there are reputable physician practices like Sandhills Rheumatology and Palmetto Family Medicine in the vicinity. Additionally, seniors can enjoy peaceful places of worship like Restoration Life Ministries and Sandhills Community Church, as well as recreational activities at Lake Carolina Properties Harborside Village Green. The presence of U HS Pruitt hospital ensures access to quality healthcare services in the area. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of essential services, dining options, and community resources that make it a desirable location for senior living.

Restaurants

• Little Caesars Pizza (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Wendy's (0.4 miles)
• San Jose Mexican Restaurant (0.6 miles)
• Beef O'Brady's (0.8 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.5 miles)
• Zaxby's (1.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Octapharma Plasma (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Physicians

• Sandhills Rheumatology (0.6 miles)
• Palmetto Family Medicine (0.8 miles)
• Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic Pa (1.1 miles)
• Rice Creek Family Medicine (1.1 miles)
• Sandhills Pediatrics Northeast (1.5 miles)
• Columbia Eye Clinic Pa (1.5 miles)
• Columbia Eye Clinic PA (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• The Human Bean Columbia, Summit Parkway (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Lighthouse Cafe & Stuff (2.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Restoration Life Ministries (1.7 miles)
• Sandhills Community Church (1.8 miles)
• Spring Valley Baptist Church (2.5 miles)
• Radiant Life Church (3.1 miles)
• Village Church (3.7 miles)
• Grace Life Church (3.7 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Child Cr (6.5 miles)

Hospitals

• U HS Pruitt (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Lake Carolina Properties Harborside Village Green (2.8 miles)
• Doko Meadows Park (6.3 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (5.7 miles)

Theaters

• Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8 (6 miles)