Kemper House Strongsville

Pros

• Kemper House is truly amazing.
• The staff are fabulous, attentive, and caring.
• Excellence in staffing is the rule there, not the exception.
• The facilities are clean, comfortable, and well maintained.
• The activities are interactive and fun.
• The meals are chef-prepared and delicious.
• They sponsor family nights and create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
• The team communicates very well to keep families informed.
• The environment is spotless with attention to detail.
• The staff treat residents and families with dignity and respect.

Cons

• The grandmother was banned from the facility after an incident in which she became frightened and left the building, an event that occurred under their supervision.
• There was a lack of communication and compassion following the incident.
• The family was not given a full explanation of what occurred, nor were they offered the opportunity to work together on a solution.
• They were left feeling shut out and disappointed.
• She has since said she hated it there.
• They had hoped for a care environment that prioritized safety, understanding, and empathy - not just for the residents, but for the families who love them.
• The owner told the reviewer that he sets off the alarm and that if an associate isn't there within two minutes they are in trouble.
• The review calls for more transparency and kindness for future families during these difficult times.

Review

Families touched by memory care often tell a single, telling story in many voices: care, community, and communication can lift a life - and lift a family alongside it - while gaps in those same areas can leave everyone feeling isolated and uncertain. The experiences shared about Kemper House and Kemper Memory Care weave together a portrait of a place that many families come to rely on for dignity, warmth, and steady, attentive care, even as a difficult incident reminds us that every journey has its rough patch and its lessons.

For one family, the difference was striking from the very start. When their dad needed care, they found themselves in a facility that didn't fit, and his decline was rapid - alone in front of a television, uncertain about what was real. Then Kemper Memory Care entered the story. From day one, Dad was invited into a community, encouraged to engage with others, and the change was immediate. He grew happier and more engaged, and when asked how he was treated, his response was simple and powerful: "They take care of me" or "They treat me well." The staff there, the family notes, know how to handle the challenges of memory decline with skill, compassion, and dignity. For them, Kemper became a true Godsend, a lifeline that shifted the course of their family's routine and their dad's happiness.

Not every family's experience, of course, follows the same arc. In Strongsville, another family recounts a deeply different chapter. Their great grandmother, who lived with Alzheimer's, was part of a day-care arrangement at Kemper House, but an incident occurred during supervision that led to her being banned from the facility. The most painful part, they felt, was the lack of transparency and ongoing communication afterward. They were not offered a full explanation, and because their grandmother could not recall details, they felt shut out and disappointed. The grandmother herself later said she "hated it there," a sentiment that cut deeply for a family trying to protect and advocate for someone with a fragile memory. The family's hope was for a care environment that prioritized safety, understanding, and empathy - for residents and families alike - and their experience underscored the need for clearer, collaborative communication in difficult moments. They found a nearby memory care facility that they feel now better suits their grandmother's needs, but the message they left behind remains clear: transparency and kindness should be standard practice when families are navigating dementia care together.

Across many families and years, the sentiment around Kemper is overwhelmingly positive. One writer, with decades of experience visiting the elderly - spanning 28 years and three states - describes Kemper as unlike anything they've seen: the staff is fabulous when people are present to see them, and just as remarkable when they're not. They speak of their great uncle who has since joined the Kemper community, reinforcing that the staff's excellence isn't a single-family observation but a consistent hallmark. "Excellence in staffing is the rule there, not the exception," they write, pointing to the small touches that humanize the experience: sunflowers greeting visitors, fresh fruit water and coffee, and a culture of care that feels personal and sincere. They note the sense that every person's loved one is treated with the dignity they deserve, and they wouldn't hesitate to recommend Kemper to others.

Another family's memories circle around the warmth of first impressions. From the moment a tour began, the sense of warmth and uniqueness was palpable, they recall, with the staff emerging as the true "stars" of the show - engaging with residents with energy and empathy even as they met the families at the door. The environment is described as spotless, clean, and welcoming, with a calendar full of recreational opportunities. Daily activities are thoughtful and varied, the meals are chef-prepared and fresh, and the facility's staff works flexibly to accommodate differing levels of care. Family events - birthdays, gatherings, and even a birthday party they helped host in a lovely room - are celebrated with extra care and generosity, reflecting a culture that treats residents and their families as one community. Many who visit highlight the attention to detail that supports both residents' comfort and families' peace of mind.

The people at Kemper - owners, nurses, chefs, and front-desk staff - receive high praise for their approach to care and communication. One reviewer singles out Kathy Kemper as kind-hearted and supportive, describing a team that consistently goes above and beyond. The sentiment is echoed in reflections on how well the staff communicates with families, keeping them informed and involved in their loved one's day-to-day life. The care philosophy is depicted not just as medical or logistical, but as relational: staff who know residents by name, who remember family preferences, and who nurture a sense of community through events like family nights and community gatherings. Even during challenging times, such as the COVID period, Kemper demonstrated commitment to connection, offering window visits and other ways to stay connected when in-person contact was limited.

Other personal stories reinforce the picture of Kemper as a place where families feel seen and supported through every stage. People speak of a home-like atmosphere where staff are generous with their time, taking residents on bus rides through parks or inviting spontaneous moments of joy. The presence of dogs, outdoor sunlit spaces, and little everyday rituals contribute to a life that feels both safe and celebratory for residents. When a loved one needs help feeding, staff are attentive and patient, never leaving a resident hungry. The overall tone is one of gratitude for a facility that treats residents as if they were their own family, with a team that is available, responsive, and compassionate.

In the end, the stories converge on a clear verdict: Kemper House and Kemper Memory Care are places where dignity, safety, and community can come together to create meaningful, loving care experiences for people with memory impairment and their families. The strongest testimonials come from those who have lived through both triumphs and trials - the families who found a true lifeline in Kemper's approach, and the few who felt a need for more transparent communication during difficult moments. The shared takeaway is consistent: when a care team couples skilled expertise with genuine warmth, they not only care for a resident's memory and daily needs but also sustain a family's hope, comfort, and sense of belonging. For many, Kemper is a place they would wholeheartedly recommend, a rare combination of professional excellence and heartfelt humanity that makes a difficult journey a little more dignified and a lot more bearable.

This part of Strongsville, Ohio offers a variety of amenities and services that may appeal to older individuals considering senior living options. With several hospitals and pharmacies in close proximity, residents have easy access to healthcare facilities and medication. The numerous parks provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation, while the nearby restaurants offer a variety of dining options. Additionally, there are cafes for socializing and meeting with friends. For medical needs, there are physicians specializing in various fields within a short distance. The presence of a theater adds entertainment options for those looking to enjoy movies. Transportation is easily accessible with the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport nearby, making travel convenient. Places of worship are also available for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this part of Strongsville provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to live comfortably with access to essential services and recreational activities.

Hospitals

• Benchmark Imaging Group (0.9 miles)
• Medina General Hospital (6.9 miles)
• CCF Fairview Hospital (8.4 miles)
• Cleveland Clinic - Fairview Hospital (8.4 miles)
• St John Medical Center (8.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Discount Drug Mart (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Discount Drug Mart (2.1 miles)
• Marc's Stores (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)

Parks

• Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reserve North (1.5 miles)
• Strongsville Wildlife Area (2.8 miles)
• Surrarrer Park (3.1 miles)
• James Day Park (5.1 miles)
• Rocky River Reservation (5.4 miles)
• Cleveland Metroparks - Big Creek Reservation (7.2 miles)
• Bain Park (7.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Mitchell's Ice Cream (1.7 miles)
• TGI Friday's (1.9 miles)
• Condado Tacos (2.1 miles)
• The Rail (2.2 miles)
• Rosewood Grill (2.4 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (2.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.9 miles)

Physicians

• Allergy Diagnostic (2.5 miles)
• Southwest Family Physicians (3 miles)
• Ent Allergy Health (3.7 miles)
• Cuyahoga County Board of Health (6.8 miles)
• Digestive Disease Consultants (7.1 miles)
• Premier Physicians (8.9 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark 383 Strongsville (2.5 miles)

Transportation

• Concourse C (5.3 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint C (5.5 miles)
• United Airlines Ticket Counter (5.5 miles)
• Concourse B (5.6 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (5.6 miles)
• Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE) (5.6 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (6.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Ambrose Endowment Foundation (5.7 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (8.2 miles)