Cedar Acres

Cons

• The facility is infested with roaches and smells like urine inside.
• The porch has about 25 cats on it.
• Medical staff walk around in open-toe sandals with no socks.
• The experience felt like a "week in hell" and is not a suitable retirement facility.
• The reviewer lives across the street and reports constant patient escapes.
• Escaped patients say they are mistreated and not given their medications.
• There are years' worth of police reports filed about issues with the place.
• A family member's father was hospitalized after being there, and staff could not provide his contact information.
• The father tested positive for alcohol while at the facility.
• The family cannot reach anyone by phone; the voicemail sounds shady and callbacks are rare.
• Overall, the place is described as horrible and should be shut down.

Review

There are a number of accounts from people connected to this retirement facility that paint a troubling picture of its day-to-day operation and the quality of care, far beyond what one would expect from a place designed to look after elders and vulnerable adults. Across multiple voices, the message is consistent: the environment feels unsafe, unsanitary, and poorly managed. One visitor described entering the building only to be confronted with an overpowering odor of urine, and an alarming level of pest trouble, noting a room that was reportedly infested with roaches. Another person recalled being told about a roach problem by someone who seemed distressed, underscoring a lack of cleanliness and basic upkeep. The concerns aren't limited to the interior either - there were alarming mentions of around 25 cats on the porch, suggesting an environment where animals and odors mix in ways that raise questions about sanitation and safety protocols. Together, these observations create a vivid impression of a facility struggling with basic hygienic standards.

The narrative about the living conditions is reinforced by sensory details and personal experiences that go beyond smells and pests. A visitor described the facility as smelling strongly of urine from the moment one steps inside, a detail that speaks to inconsistent cleaning practices and perhaps broader neglect in maintenance. The impact on the experience of staying there is captured in a stark, personal sentiment: a week spent at the facility was described as a "week in hell." This phrasing underscores a sense of psychological and physical distress from being there, far removed from what families often anticipate when choosing a retirement or care facility for a loved one. The intensity of this single account, echoed by others, suggests a pattern of dissatisfaction that isn't easily dismissed as an isolated incident.

Concerns about the staff and the quality of medical care appear repeatedly, including troubling reports about attire and professional conduct. One reviewer criticized medical staff for walking around in open-toe sandals with no socks, a detail that, while seemingly minor, reveals a broader concern with professionalism and attentiveness. More alarming are claims of mismanagement of residents' care, including stories of patients presenting with social or medical instability - such as one case where a patient tested positive for alcohol while in the facility - and a broader allegation that patients who attempted to escape were not only mistreated but also seemed to be denied timely access to medications. In another disturbing note, a family member reported that after their loved one was placed there, they encountered significant communication failures, leaving them in the dark about their relative's condition or whereabouts during hospitalizations.

Safety and control emerge as consistent themes, with several accounts alleging repeated attempts by residents to "escape," and with those who escaped describing a pattern of mistreatment and neglect regarding their medications. The repeated mention of such incidents over years, accompanied by police reports, paints a picture of a facility where security, monitoring, and proper care oversight may be lacking. This is not presented as a single isolated incident; rather, multiple people claim that escaping occurred with frequency and that the responses from staff or administration were inadequate, raising serious concerns about who is supervising residents and how seriously issues of safety are being addressed.

Communication breakdowns compound the safety concerns. Several reviewers highlight serious difficulties in contacting staff or family members when needed. One account details a situation where a father was admitted to the facility, then quickly hospitalized, but the nurse had to do online research just to locate contact information for the family. There was also a claim that the facility did not provide the family with the patient's current contact details or even the reason for hospitalization, leaving them in a void of information. Another resident or family member reported that no one answers the phone, and that the voicemail left behind sounded untrustworthy and like a cell phone rather than a formal business line. The consistent theme is a sense of opacity and poor responsiveness at a time when timely information is crucial.

Taken together, these reports contribute to a powerful impression of a facility that many view as unsafe and ill-equipped to provide the level of care that elders require. The anecdotes include calls for drastic action, with several voices explicitly urging potential caregivers and families to seek alternatives, or even to shut the place down. The repeated emphasis on negative experiences, poor communication, safety lapses, and unsanitary conditions creates a portrait of a facility that many consider unsuitable for their loved ones. The collective tone suggests a strong consensus among those who have direct experience: this is not a place to entrust with the care of an elder or family member.

In sum, the collective narrative is one of persistent and multi-faceted concerns. Residents and families describe an environment plagued by pests and foul odors, a troubling presence of stray animals near common areas, and a palpable sense that basic cleanliness and safety standards are not being met. The testimonies also point to professional and communication shortcomings - staff in questionable attire, inadequate handling of medical information, and a distressing pattern of residents attempting to escape with insufficient protective measures or medical oversight in place. When these factors converge, they yield a strong recommendation: reconsider placing a loved one in this facility, and explore safer, more transparent options that prioritize cleanliness, safety, and reliable communication.

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.2 miles)
• Agape Pharmacy (5.3 miles)
• Walgreens (5.4 miles)
• Palmetto Ltc (5.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.2 miles)

Transportation

• Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) (2.2 miles)
• USO Columbia Airport (2.3 miles)
• National Car Rental (2.3 miles)

Physicians

• Lexington Family Practice (3 miles)
• Lexington Eye Clinic (5.5 miles)
• South Lake Ob/Gyn (5.6 miles)
• Three Rivers Pain Management (6 miles)
• Physician Pain And Spine (6 miles)
• Advanced Wound Care (6.1 miles)
• Palmetto Dermatology (6.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Waffle House (3.8 miles)
• Platinum West (3.8 miles)
• Lizard's Thicket (3.9 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• Waffle House (4.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (5.3 miles)
• McDonald's (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Fmc Lexington Dialysis (5.2 miles)
• Lexington Medical Center Emergency Room (6.2 miles)
• Lexington Medical Center (6.3 miles)

Parks

• Virginia Hylton Park (6.4 miles)
• Saluda Riverwalk (7.5 miles)
• West Columbia Riverwalk (7.5 miles)
• Columbia Canal & Riverfront Park (8.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Piecewise Coffee (6.8 miles)