St James Manor in Oneonta, NY

Pros

• St. James Manor was smaller, but it was still a great place.
• It was very clean.
• The staff were very thorough, welcoming, and friendly.
• Everything seemed clean and modern.
• It had an exercise room and an activities room.
• It was 20 minutes from the reviewer's home.

Cons

• The staff does not prioritize residents.
• Residents who do not live in the main house are deprioritized.
• The staff makes residents wait for days.

Review

St James Manor in Oneonta, NY is best suited for families seeking a small, home-like assisted living option that feels clean, manageable, and easy to navigate. The facility's modest size and straightforward footprint appeal to those who value a closer-knit environment and more personalized attention in the main living areas, with convenient access to an exercise room and an activities space. The two experiences suggest that residents who thrive on regular, friendly contact with staff and prefer a setting where staff interactions can be more hands-on in a contained space will find the strongest fit here. The upside is a tidy, modern feel and a sense of familiarity; the caution is that attention to residents outside the primary, central area can vary.

Those most likely to want alternatives are families prioritizing uniformly proactive assistance and dependable responsiveness across all wings of the building. If a resident requires immediate, consistent help at all hours or if there is a strong need for consistent staffing in every corner of the community, this setting may fall short. Prospective residents who demand robust programming across multiple shifts, or who want a larger campus with broader staffing coverage and more structured attention for every resident, should consider other options. In short, a bigger, more uniformly staffed community could deliver greater peace of mind for families focused on constant attentiveness.

From a practical standpoint, the strongest pro is the cleanliness and perceived thoroughness of care in the main house, paired with a smaller, more controllable environment. One reviewer highlighted the facility as clean, modern, and welcoming, with visible amenities like an exercise room and an activities room, plus the convenience of being about a 20-minute distance from family. A smaller setting can translate into more meaningful interactions with staff and residents, and the overall impression is that care feels personable in the core living areas. These factors offset some of the appeal for families who want a simple, well-maintained home base.

However, the most salient con is a notable inconsistency in how residents outside the main living area are treated. The critique that non-main-house residents can be left waiting for days to receive attention points to systemic gaps in responsiveness and prioritization. That gap undermines safety and daily quality of life for some residents and creates anxiety for families who need reliable assistance for loved ones who do not live in the central space. The two reviews present a stark contrast: a warm, clean environment in good times and a troubling lack of consistent responsiveness during critical moments. This inconsistency is the decisive factor in weighing whether St James Manor is the right match.

For families weighing the next steps, concrete steps matter. Arrange a candid, in-person assessment focusing on how staff respond to calls from all wings, not just the main house. Ask to observe a shift handoff and to speak directly with staff about duties and coverage. Inquire about the ratio of aides to residents, particularly for those who require more hands-on assistance, and request examples of how programming and activities are delivered to all residents, including those not in the primary living area. Also verify room layouts, proximity to common spaces, and the practical implications of the building's size for day-to-day safety and social engagement. These checks illuminate whether the pros can realistically offset the cons in daily life.

In sum, St James Manor offers a clean, compact, and potentially engaging environment for residents who value a intimate setting and are nearby to family. The decisive caveat is the risk of uneven attention between the main house and peripheral areas, which can erode confidence in safety and timely care. If that risk is tolerable and the fit aligns with proximity, vibe, and a straightforward program, this community can be a solid choice. If not, families should consider alternatives that promise more uniform staffing, broader programming, and a larger footprint to ensure every resident receives immediate, consistent care.

Parks

• Fortin Park (0.9 miles)
• Gilbert Lake State Park (10.8 miles)
• Texas Parks & Wildlif (17.6 miles)

Restaurants

• The Farmhouse at Emmons (1.2 miles)
• Brooks Chicken (1.3 miles)
• Arby's (1.4 miles)
• Our Town Cafe & Pub (1.6 miles)
• Burger King (2.3 miles)
• Hunan Gourmet (2.4 miles)
• Applebee's (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Richard J Ucci MD (2.4 miles)
• Fox Urology (2.7 miles)
• Oneonta Optical (3.3 miles)
• La Torre Orthopedic Laboratory (3.4 miles)
• Planned Parenthood (3.4 miles)
• Bassett Health Center Oneonta Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (3.4 miles)
• Ear Nose Throat Assoc (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Lincare (2.7 miles)
• A.O. Fox Hospital (2.9 miles)
• Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (17.4 miles)
• Bassett Railroad Ave (17.5 miles)

Cafes

• Peet's Coffee and Tea (3.1 miles)
• Capresso Coffee Bar (3.3 miles)
• Yellow Deli (3.4 miles)
• Argo Tea (3.5 miles)
• Table Rocks (3.8 miles)
• B Brewed Agro Grill (13.5 miles)
• Origins Cafe (16.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Big House (3.2 miles)
• Unitarian Church (3.3 miles)
• Christian Science Reading Room & Church (3.4 miles)
• Community Gospel Church (3.4 miles)
• Temple Beth El (3.6 miles)
• Oneonta Church (5.5 miles)
• Holy Cross Rectory (14.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.9 miles)
• Church & Scott (16.8 miles)

Transportation

• Alamo (4.1 miles)
• Blue Trolley Parking Lot (16.7 miles)