Westlake House Springs

Pros

• The remodel looks really good and the staff is very friendly, making it seem like a great place for parents to live.
• The facility consistently maintains a high standard of cleanliness in resident rooms and common areas.
• The dining room staff is attentive, and the food is consistently of good quality.
• Melvin stands out for his warm personality and exceptional attentiveness.
• The staff are efficient and conscientious.
• There are happy residents and wonderful staff.
• It is a beautiful independent and assisted living community with a caring environment.
• The apartments are brand new inside, with full-size refrigerators and stoves.

Cons

• The exterior is in dire need of attention.
• The food quality is consistently poor, with overcooked vegetables and a too-small budget for the head chef.
• They run out of basic food and the quality is inconsistent.
• This place is purely profit-driven without compassion, prioritizing profits over tenants' well-being.
• A rent increase was implemented and described as audacious by reviewers.
• Maintenance often requires multiple requests to fix issues in the apartments.
• Time spent visiting the office was wasted and could have been spent at the hospital.
• They charged a former resident for the month after move-out and delayed refund.

Review

The collection of experiences shared about this Cogir community paints a picture of a place that many families come to rely on for warmth, cleanliness, and attentive care, while also showing that not every visit will feel the same. Across the board, residents and their loved ones frequently describe the environment as welcoming and well-maintained. Several reviewers highlight the level of cleanliness in both resident rooms and common areas, noting that the community remains bright, tidy, and cared for even as families visit frequently. In particular, the property's renovations in some locations are cited as adding elegance and a modern feel that helps to create a resort-like atmosphere where residents can feel at home rather than tucked away in a traditional institutional setting. For many, this combination - cleanliness plus a pleasant, almost hotel-like ambiance - has been a key factor in their decision to consider Cogir as a long-term home for loved ones.

Within the same threads of praise, the people who work there consistently emerge as a standout. Several reviews single out staff members for their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care. Melvin is repeatedly called out as exceptional - described as warm, socially engaging, and highly attentive - someone who goes beyond basic duties to make residents feel seen and cared for. Diana is commended for her kindness and attention to detail, with guests noting that she helped them feel assured about the quality of the facility. Multiple accounts describe the director and the broader staff as efficient and conscientious, capable of creating a supportive and uplifting atmosphere in which residents can thrive. This emphasis on individual care providers helps explain why families often feel reassured even when other concerns arise.

Dining and meals form a more mixed picture, reflecting the diversity of resident experiences. Several reviewers praise the dining room staff for being attentive and for serving meals that feel restaurant-like rather than a rigid buffet, with a wide array of options and a sense that meals are thoughtfully prepared for enjoyment as well as nourishment. One account highlights the dining room as a strong point of the community, with meals described as consistently good and menus that offer variety. On the other hand, there are heartfelt critiques from some families who felt the food quality did not meet expectations at certain times - reports of overcooked vegetables, limited kitchen budgets, and a perception that meals were inconsistent or not up to par. In one lengthy post, a grandmother's experience is cited as particularly disappointing, with claims that the food quality was poor and that budget constraints impacted the kitchen. Taken together, these perspectives illustrate that while many residents look forward to meals as a social and comforting daily routine, taste and consistency can vary over time or by specific apartment kitchens and schedules.

The overall living experience also shines through in testimonials about activities, engagement, and the general sense of community. Reviewers frequently mention plentiful activities and opportunities to stay active, from organized groups and lectures to resident-driven events. Some residents are described as thriving because the home supports personal interests - whether it's a weekly poker game, newsletters featuring residents' stories, or programs that encourage residents to share talents and knowledge with one another. A number of reviewers observe that family members appreciate the sense that the community prioritizes well-being and meaningful engagement, not just supervision or basic care. The atmosphere is frequently characterized as loving and supportive, with residents who appear happy and a staff that makes extra efforts to ensure residents' needs are met with warmth and consideration.

Beyond day-to-day care and social life, several reviews touch on the practical and financial realities of living in a Cogir community. For some families, the value proposition is clear: a single monthly bill that covers many services, which was described as a strong selling point in at least one location that marketed "resort-style living" with everything included. The experience of independence - residents having their own apartments with amenities like full-sized refrigerators and stoves in newer units - also contributes to a sense of dignity and autonomy. Yet alongside the positive financial structure, there are earnest cautions about cost. A few posts explicitly note that the community is not inexpensive, and a controversial past note references a rent increase slated for January 2020, which understandably concerns current and prospective residents. These financial realities underscore the importance for families to ask candid questions about budgeting, inclusions, and future price changes when touring or evaluating options.

Administrative interactions and service responsiveness emerge as a more mixed theme, with several reviewers recounting both efficient responses and frustrating delays. On the positive side, some staff members are described as proactive and communicative, with updates and outreach that indicate a willingness to address concerns and move plans forward. In contrast, other accounts describe challenging experiences with the sales and office teams, noting that the process to secure a unit could involve persistent follow-up and, at times, dissatisfaction with how issues like move-outs, refunds, or monthly charges were handled. A notable example involves a family dealing with a billing mistake after a move-out, including delays in refunds and reports of communication gaps. In some cases, reviewers recognize improvements after raising concerns, with colleagues like Lance and Amanda described as apologetic and responsive. Overall, the administrative experience appears to hinge on which staff members you encounter and how quickly they can resolve problems, a reminder that the quality of care can be influenced as much by people as by policy.

Taken together, the reviews describe a community that many families come to regard as a strong option for senior living, characterized by clean, welcoming environments, attentive and caring staff, and a range of activities that foster a lively sense of community. The facility's strengths - character, consistency of care, and the ability to feel at home - are repeatedly celebrated, especially by those who have seen loved ones flourish under its roof. At the same time, there is a clear caveat about experiences that can vary depending on location, management, and specific circumstances, including cost, food consistency, and the responsiveness of administrative teams. For families weighing Cogir, the message across these accounts is nuanced: the community can offer exceptional care, meaningful engagement, and a supportive environment, but prospective residents should conduct thorough tours, ask pointed questions about dining quality and budget considerations, and ensure they connect with staff who communicate openly and reliably to align expectations with reality. In the end, many reviews express gratitude for the care and the people who make a difference - and a shared hope that ongoing attention to dining, exterior maintenance, and administrative responsiveness will keep Cogir as a trusted home for years to come.

Physicians

• Sutter Pacific Draw Station (0.8 miles)
• Pediatrics: Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation: Medical Center Drive (0.8 miles)
• North Bay Optometric Vision Center (1.2 miles)
• Student Health Center (1.5 miles)
• Richard Shames MD (2.3 miles)
• Office of Dr Brian Bartlett DC (5.2 miles)
• Bauman & Denner Mds (5.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Sonoma Plant Works (1.2 miles)
• Longs Drugs (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.2 miles)
• Lucky Supermarket Pharmacy (5.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Mary's Pizza Shack (1.3 miles)
• Bear Republic Brewing Co. (1.3 miles)
• Donald & Maureen Green Music Center (1.3 miles)
• Black Bear Diner Rohnert Park (1.4 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.5 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.5 miles)

Theaters

• Rohnert Park 16 (2.1 miles)
• Roxy Stadium 14 (5.7 miles)

Parks

• Taylor Mountain Open Space Preserve (3.9 miles)
• Bennett Valley Dog Park (4.4 miles)
• Old Courthouse Square (5.9 miles)
• Annadel State Park: Stonehedge Entrance (6 miles)

Cafes

• Dierk's Parkside Café (5.4 miles)
• Aroma Roasters Coffee & Tea (5.8 miles)
• Acre Coffee (6.1 miles)

Transportation

• Santa Rosa Transit Mall (5.7 miles)
• Santa Rosa - SMART Station (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

• St Joseph Health System (5.9 miles)
• Sutter Warrack Hospital (5.9 miles)
• Summerfield Convalescent Hospital (6.2 miles)
• MarinHealth ENT, Head & Neck Surgery | A UCSF Health Clinic (6.3 miles)