SIM Retirement Village

Pros

• ISL is described as a great company to work for or to trust with the care of loved ones.
• The care staff at The Meadows in St George, UT are exceptional.
• The corporate leadership and community leadership are top notch.
• ISL is by far the best senior living experience, with top-notch programming and wonderful people.
• The facility is well kept, clean, and decorated beautifully, with helpful and friendly staff.

Cons

• The company is described as an absolute joke due to mismanagement.
• They allegedly raise prices randomly with no corresponding increase in service.
• There is no communication with family members when complications arise.
• Valuable belongings were allegedly taken and never returned after the mother's death.
• The on-site director and administration are accused of disrespect and making broken promises.
• The administration is perceived as prioritizing business interests over clients and caregivers.
• Customers are repeatedly shuffled between representatives without resolution.

Review

The set of reviews about ISL paints a picture of a company that inspires both high praise and sharp criticism, depending on who you ask and which location you encounter. On one side, several reviewers describe ISL as a wonderful place to work or to entrust the care of a loved one to, highlighting positive experiences with staff, programming, and overall facilities. They point to strong leadership at the corporate level and to communities where the care, programming, and culture feel aligned with compassionate service.

Yet the other side of the ledger is equally forceful. A different reviewer calls the company an "absolute joke," arguing that facilities are poorly managed, price increases occur without any corresponding improvement in service, and communication with families breaks down during complicated times. The critique isn't directed at the front-line caregivers so much as at the administrative and governance structures, which are described as misaligned with the needs and expectations of residents and their families. The sentiment here is that the business side is driving decisions that negatively affect the people ISL is supposed to serve.

Within one particular location - the Meadows in St George, Utah - the tension is especially evident. Care staff, CNAs, and hospice personnel there are described as exceptional and dedicated, living up to what one would expect of a high-quality senior memory care facility. But the administration and directors are painted in a harsher light, with criticisms targeting integrity and business practices rather than care delivery. The distinction between caring staff on the ground and the leadership above them is a recurring theme, suggesting that a well-run facility in terms of bedside care can coexist with governance concerns that undermine trust and satisfaction at the family level.

A notably troubling episode is recounted by a family member after the passing of a loved one. The reviewer describes arranging for the removal of the deceased's belongings, only to have valuable furniture and pictures disappear and never be returned. They report a cascade of excuses from the on-site director and a sense of disrespect, including the remark that the staff were not a storage facility. Escalation through multiple levels of administration and up to the owner produced three months of broken promises, leaving emotional wounds during a time of grief. The family's sense of being shuffled from one rep to another and the perception of feeling misled adds a painful dimension to the overall assessment of corporate governance and customer care.

Interestingly, amidst the criticisms, there are lines that maintain faith in ISL's leadership and in the overall quality of the organization. Some reviewers emphasize that corporate leadership and community leadership are top-notch and worthy of recommendation. Phrases that ISL provides a best-in-class senior living experience - highlighting programming, staff, and the overall environment - appear repeatedly. These statements underscore a belief that the organization can deliver exceptional experiences when management priorities align with resident and family needs.

Other accounts emphasize the positive, descriptive attributes of ISL communities. Reviewers note well-kept facilities that are clean and beautifully decorated, with staff described as helpful and friendly. Practical procedures, such as front-desk check-ins and temperature screening for people entering the facility, are mentioned, along with mask requirements for staff and guests. The tone in these accounts is confident and upbeat, portraying ISL as not only a good place to live but also a good place to work.

Taken together, the collection of reviews suggests a company with substantial variability across locations and experiences. Some communities and teams deliver outstanding care, supportive workplace culture, and a sense of trust and safety. Others reveal governance, communication, and accountability gaps that can erode confidence and cause real emotional and financial harm to families during vulnerable moments. Prospective residents, families, and employees would be wise to investigate ISL on a community-by-community basis, asking direct questions about leadership responsiveness, pricing policies, and processes for safeguarding residents' belongings and handling grievances.

In the end, these reviews present a nuanced portrait. ISL appears capable of offering excellent care and a positive work environment in many instances, while in other situations customers confront mismanagement, costly and unexplained price changes, and troubling experiences during critical moments. The strongest takeaway is the importance of due diligence at the local level: talk to staff, observe the facility, ask pointed questions about governance and communication, and seek clear assurances about how issues - especially those involving families, finances, and residents' personal belongings - are handled.

Restaurants

• Coastersaurus (0.7 miles)
• Miniland USA (0.7 miles)
• The Dragon (0.7 miles)
• Tip Top Meats & Europe (0.9 miles)
• 7 Mile Kitchen (1 miles)
• The Cove Bar and Grill (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Orthopaedic Specialists of North County (0.9 miles)
• Carla Celene Schuermann-Berryman, MD (1.1 miles)
• Carlsbad Shores Family Dentistry (1.5 miles)
• Scripps Coastal Medical Center (2 miles)
• Perez, Ronald Nino Ronald Nino Perez, MD My Family Doc (3.7 miles)
• Sobel, Stephen V, Md - Stephen V Sobel (3.7 miles)
• Carlsbad Imaging Center (3.8 miles)

Transportation

• McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) (1.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (1.4 miles)
• Reliant Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Sav-On Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Carlsbad Neighborhood Pharmacy (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.3 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)

Parks

• Alga Norte Community Park (2.3 miles)
• Olympus Park (3.3 miles)
• Holiday Park (3.5 miles)
• San Elijo Hills Park (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Optum - Carlsbad State (3.8 miles)
• Eye Surgery Associates (4.2 miles)
• Rady Children's Hospital (4.5 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center (4.6 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center Registration (4.6 miles)
• North Coast Surgery Center (4.7 miles)
• Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas (5.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (5.6 miles)