Retirement Living-Lauderhill in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Pros

• Brian and his team go above and beyond for continued quality of care.
• The facility is beautiful and offers a host of indoor and outdoor activities.
• Erick is an excellent tour guide.
• The Executive Director, Brian, and his team are the best.
• Tony the Med Tech has shown great care and compassion.
• The food, activities, and care are provided with continued quality.
• Pacifica Forest Trace has an impeccable property with excellent staff.
• Rick Drew is a kind, dedicated leasing agent who goes the extra mile and is available when needed.
• The grounds are beautiful, the apartments are spacious, and the surroundings support an active, healthy lifestyle.

Cons

• The staff are described as difficult to find, do not assist residents with services, and simply collect rent.
• Bed bugs have been reported and management is said to ignore the issue.
• The facility is run-down, with elevators frequently out of order and overall maintenance poor.
• The staff are rude and unprofessional, and management is accused of prioritizing money over resident well-being.
• Management is said to gaslight residents and lie to families.
• Rent increases are steep while services and quality of care decline.

Review

Pacifica Forest Trace is best suited for active seniors who want a resort-like atmosphere, abundant social life, and hands-on leadership they can trust. This community shines for independent living or early-stage assisted living where residents prize beautiful grounds, varied activities, and strong on-site dining and social programming. It is less ideal for those with significant medical needs or for families seeking absolute predictability in staffing, consistent administration, and seamless, fully transparent billing. In those situations, alternatives that emphasize stable management, tighter care coordination, and fewer price fluctuations should be considered.

The strongest case for Forest Trace rests on its first-rate setting and the breadth of opportunities it offers. Residents and families routinely praise the grounds - lush trees, walking paths, a lake, and outdoor spaces that invite activity and visiting. The culinary program earns regular acclaim, with dining described as restaurant-quality and a variety of options that suit different palates. The calendar is packed with events, concerts, lectures, and religious services, creating a lively, connected community. On the care side, the Executive Director and key staff - voices like Brian, Erick, Denise Higgins, Indy, and Rick Drew - are repeatedly cited as responsive, personable, and deeply invested in residents' well-being. These strengths often make life feel comfortable, engaging, and approachable for residents and families alike.

The positives do not exist in a vacuum; they regularly offset meaningful concerns when the community is operating at its best. Transparent, proactive engagement from leadership translates into move-in ease, ongoing access to staff, and timely problem-solving in common areas like maintenance or dining. When the team shows up consistently - whether coordinating medical coordination, arranging events, or simply answering questions - families feel their loved ones are in a well-supervised, affectionate environment. The ability to personalize apartments with familiar furnishings and artwork adds to the home-away-from-home sense, reinforcing a sense of dignity and belonging. For many families, these attributes outweigh the inevitable bumps in a large, active campus.

However, not all reviews align with that ideal, and several prominent cautions recur. Some family members describe episodic gaps in management responsiveness, high turnover in key administrative roles, and a billing culture that can feel opaque or aggressive - especially around move-out or post-death charges. There are persistent concerns about staffing levels on certain shifts, leading to notes of inconsistency in care delivery and oversight. Maintenance issues - outdated rooms, elevator reliability, and occasional environmental complaints - crop up in some experiences, and a handful of families report experiences that feel dismissive or insufficiently transparent. In memory care discussions, questions about program consistency and available services also surface, suggesting that residents with higher medical demands may need closer scrutiny before choosing this community.

For families weighing a decision, the prudent path is to assess how much value is placed on the lifestyle and companionship Forest Trace delivers versus the risk of management and upkeep gaps. If the priority is a vibrant social setting, exceptional grounds, robust activities, and proactive, caring front-line staff, Forest Trace often delivers handsomely. If, instead, the priority is unwavering administrative clarity, stable pricing, flawless maintenance, and consistent medical oversight, caution is warranted and alternatives should be explored. Prospective residents should demand concrete, written answers about billing terms, move-out deadlines, and the cadence of maintenance and security responses; insist on a detailed tour that includes conversations with several staffers, not just the sales team; and consider a short-term or trial stay to observe day-to-day operations before committing.

Ultimately, Pacifica Forest Trace represents a compelling option for families who want a lively, well-appointed community with strong personal connections to staff and leadership. It is a fit for those who value the tangible joys of beautiful surroundings, diverse programming, and a sense of being part of a supportive extended family. At the same time, it requires vigilance: ensure management stability, confirm service levels across shifts, and verify that billing practices align with expectations. When these conditions are satisfied, Forest Trace can be a transformative, satisfying home for a loved one; when they are not, it is wise to look elsewhere for the steadier, more predictable care environment that some seniors and families require.

This part of Fort Lauderdale, Florida offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With multiple pharmacies located within a few miles, accessing medication and healthcare supplies is convenient. The presence of reputable physicians and medical centers nearby ensures easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are several parks in the area for outdoor recreational activities. A selection of restaurants offering diverse cuisine options can provide seniors with dining choices. In terms of transportation, there are stations nearby for easy access to public transit. Overall, this area provides a mix of essential services and leisure activities that could be appealing for seniors looking for a well-rounded community to live in.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)

Physicians

• Pom MRI and Imaging Center (2.2 miles)
• Arnoldo Ghitis, MD (3.3 miles)
• Miami Cancer Institute | Plantation (4.4 miles)
• Care Resource (4.7 miles)
• Skin Institute (6.2 miles)
• Midland Medical Center (6.3 miles)
• Eye Centers Of South Florida (6.4 miles)

Parks

• Central Broward Regional Park (2.6 miles)
• Royal Palm Park (3.9 miles)
• Deicke Park (4.1 miles)
• Holiday Park (6.1 miles)
• Firefighters Park (6.8 miles)
• George English Park (7.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (3.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.7 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (4.8 miles)
• Taco Bell (4.9 miles)
• Circus Bar (5.3 miles)
• Jesse's Xtreme Sports Bar (5.4 miles)

Hospitals

• University Hospital And Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• UM/Sylvester Clinics At Plantation (4 miles)

Cafes

• Habibi Hookah Lounge (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Transportation

• Cypress Creek Station (5.7 miles)
• Brightline (5.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Coral Ridge 1 (7.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (7.6 miles)