Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst

Maury

I really like Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. My impression upon arrival was that it was very quiet. The address is on a main road, but it's set back enough that there was no disruption. The layout of the housing was good. It has two floors. I have a dog, and the staff said that I probably would want to be on the waiting list for a first-floor apartment, so that was very considerate. I liked the layout of the first floor, from reception to the cafeteria, dining hall, and community room. They had a small store for basics that you might have forgotten. I visited an apartment, and the layout was great. I was surprised that they had appliances in there, like a full-size refrigerator and a microwave, but no stove. The residents that I saw in the hall seemed very congenial. They looked like they were OK living there. The staff knows the residents by name, so that makes me have a good feeling about the staff. I was pleasantly surprised that they had some staff on duty 24/7. The fact that they will allow my service dog was especially good to hear. They had a health room and a machine to work out on. There was a laundry in each hall. They have a shuttle service, which is good. I was very pleased with it. The staff member was very knowledgeable and thorough. She entertained questions very nicely and was able to answer them. I was shown a menu, which seemed adequate. The common rooms were delightful, very clean, and well kept. The halls were wide, which was good. The building itself opened up into a parking courtyard. If you go right through the building straight from there, it opens up into a walking area, which looked very peaceful. The building layout was good.

Lynette

I toured Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst and it seemed to be a pretty good place. They had everything my mom wanted. We walked in and it was very large. The people were very nice. Our tour guide was the director there and she was a really sweet girl. She's been there for four years. We looked at the apartments, a 1-bedroom, and a 2-bedroom, and I was surprised at how large they were. They have different apartment layouts. They were all on two floors. When we walked in, there was this big, huge atrium. It's like an octagonal type where everything is there. It's a open concept. And then the apartments are off to the wings. So when you want to do something, it's not like you're walking down hallways to get to places. It's all there. You could eat upstairs at a table looking down. It was just beautiful. There was an area where they held masses. They had a library and a nice big room where they gathered for puzzles and activities. They had music coming in 3 times a month. They also had a hairdresser. The eating area was incredible. It was a huge, huge area with all these tables and booths set up and you had your own menus to pick what you wanted to eat. If you need help getting dressed or with your showering or something, that's available there and it's all part of what you pay. We just were very impressed with the place. It was immaculate. It was all remodeled last year. Everything looked brand new. I don't think you could find a speck of dust anywhere. My mom liked this one.

Minpin

Maybe not the first thing that comes to mind when looking for Senior Living is food. Seniors deserve to have the benefits of good food for health and to make their lives pleasant. My parents lived at Solstice for 2 1/2 years. I saw their meals almost everyday. The food was consistently horrible in taste, presentation and nutrition. How disappointing it was for them everyday having to pick through their food to find anything edible. We brought food to supplement what was served because the calorie intake was not sufficient. On several occasions they were served a hotdog, no bun, and nothing else. Other times they were given a peanut butter sandwich & told they had run out of food. Several times they had NO meal. All was brought to the attention of management on many occasions to no avail. We were given false hopes that things would get better but they never did. Shame on you for taking away one of life’s simplest pleasures from those that need it most. No concessions were offered.

Christal

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst was lovely. The women that showed us around were lovely. My mom liked it. Everybody looked happy, very kind, and very sweet. If she does end up needing a place, that would be the one we would choose. We saw a one-bedroom, first-floor apartment and my mom loved it. The size was perfect for a one-bedroom for my mom. It had lots of storage, and the layout was perfect. It had a little patio for her. She liked it. We saw the library, the game room, the lunchroom, and a common seating area. They just went through a complete renovation and all the apartments just went through a renovation as well. It was very well maintained. They had activities listed on the board and they looked fun. Everybody was seated for lunch and they all came and found their seats. The people that were serving lunch were very friendly. It was an overall really good experience.

Geoff

I went to Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. The tour was nice. The person was knowledgeable, of course. We toured various common areas. We got a copy of the activity calendar and menu and things like that. They had a broader menu, but the one drawback was that the units don't have any kitchens in them. They have a refrigerator, a sink, and a tiny counter, and that's it. My wife and I like to cook things that are maybe not on the menu. Since we like to cook, we like to have a place where we can cook. Other than that, the apartments were nice and that's the main drawback there. The no-kitchen could be a deal breaker. They have an exercise room, a beauty shop, and a barbershop. They have things to do. They've got library areas. They've got a pond with a walking path that goes all the way around the pond. It's kind of woodsy, and it was nice. One of the drawbacks there is if you wanted garage parking, it was $100 a month. Otherwise, everything was very nice and was comparable to the other place. We met the administrator there, too, and she was very nice. They have three meals a day.

Kristine

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst was a nice place. The 1-bedroom apartment that we saw was a good size and it was very nice. It was not too big, but there were big windows, so it was sunny. It also has a kitchenette with a refrigerator but no stove. The person who took us around was very helpful. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a very active calendar. They have a library, a beauty salon, and a garden where the residents can have their own plants. They also have in-home care, if needed, but it's not included in the rent. Their pricing was also reasonable.

Lynn

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst is independent living but with meals. They were in the middle of renovating, so it was kind of hard to get a good feel; they were in the middle of doing construction. They had an activities room, but things were kind of a little bit disarrayed because of the construction. I was talking to the residents, and they said that they always had stuff to do, they would take them places they would go, and all these things like that. It was like a park-like setting in the back, it was gorgeous. We didn't get a chance to see much of the staff. At the time we were there, it was just the lady that was showing us around. It was in between meals, so there wasn't a whole lot going on. The people were very friendly. The residents that I talked to were very friendly.

Candace

I was very happy with Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. They're very affordable. Since they're refurbishing the whole place (and I know it's going to look very nice), they offered my brother their guest room. It is a smaller room, but it's furnished, and that's just perfect for him. They just bent over backwards and were wonderful people. I'm very pleased with them. They've got a wooded area behind the facility. They have double person swings that they can sit on (with the covers over), picnic tables, and stuff. It's just very pleasant. They also have a chef there. So, their meals are not prepackaged foods or anything. They provide transportation, three meals a day, and just everything that my brother would need. The lady that gave the tour was excellent.

Joan

We toured Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. They were on time, and it was a complete and thorough tour of the facilities available. They were available to answer questions, they had us meet the other residents, we saw the dining room, and they answered all the questions for an available one-bedroom, and an available suite or efficiency studio. The person who assisted us was very nice about it. The facilities were clean and they were in the process of upgrading, so all the artwork on the walls were for sale, and they're going to change it out. It was nice to see that they go through that process to keep the facilities fresh. They had a library, an exercise area, and a gathering room with games.

Jim

I went to look at Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. The first apartment I looked at was very tiny. The facility was wonderful, but it was not a good fit for me. I realize that over time you will make friends there, but I don't like the setting. The grounds were beautiful. The staff members were wonderful. I enjoyed the tour. They had a refrigerator but no stove, and that was my biggest downfall. I like to do my own cooking. There was a patio. It was kind of secluded and off the road. It was manicured beautifully. I enjoyed it. It felt homey.

Tom

I went to look at Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. The overall experience was great. The tour of the facility was nice, and the facility is well kept. It seemed like everybody cared about the seniors. The rooms were nice. They have three different room sizes that you could choose from, and everything's all included, so that was nice. They have all three meals a day that was provided. They have transportation service only on certain days like to the doctors or to the grocery store to get some food. They have a little weight room, activities room, TV room, and pool room. They have activities for the elderly. They have field trips they go on. From what I saw on the menus, the meals looked nice.

Lisa

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst was hands down my favorite. It is only an independent living place, and that is the only problem that I see. Other than that, it's perfect. It's very, very attractive. I was blown away. It was by far the nicest place I've ever seen as far as a senior living situation. There were lots of natural light and windows everywhere and beautiful gardens. There's a pond with lily pads that they said blooms in June. It's just covered with water lilies, and it's so pretty. However, it's only independent living, so they can't move to another level once they're there. The staff was wonderful. There were two young women, both around their 30s, that I spent time with, and they were both so bubbly and so happy and just interacted so well with all the residents there. It was really nice and everybody gets along well (I could tell). Everybody's very welcoming. Even residents came up to me and introduced themselves. It was so nice. The facility was beautiful, very airy, lots of natural light, windows all over the place, very interesting floor plan. The grounds just blew me away. They were so pretty. Every window I looked out of had a gorgeous view, gardens, woods, a pond everywhere. Everywhere was beautiful. There was so much just beautiful land around it and they own the land, so they don't plan to develop it. They've got wide open hallways and lots of alcoves where the light would just pour in. It was very bright. There was just natural light everywhere.

Christine

I moved into the Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst last week. It's a smaller place. It's not huge. The people seem very, very kind and they're very people-oriented here. Even the people I talked to before I got here were very, very friendly, and we kind of hit it off. I like the way it's laid out. It's like a little home, they have gardens or patios on some of the places. I have a patio. I'm on the first floor, so it makes it easy for me to go and run, to get around. It's a beautiful place, it's very, very nice, and very, very comfortable. I feel very safe and I feel that even the people here have been very nice. The residents, the other tenants they've been making sure, coming up and asking "Is everything okay? Are you doing good?" Do you need anybody to talk to? So for me, it was a very good choice. The staff is very, very caring. Their priority is you. If you need something, you can call, you ask them and they come and take care of it for you. I've even asked the grass cutter yesterday because I couldn't get the window screen down on the door, and he said, No problem. He came over, and he did it. So they're very responsive, they don't let it wait. The head gal here, Margaret, she's in there. They know everything that's going on and stay on top of stuff. She's very knowledgeable about what she does. Her background is very good. She's a lovely lady. The dining area is beautiful. It almost looks like a restaurant. You can go and sit in with whoever you want. They come and serve you the meals. There are always choices on the menu that they serve all day long, or that they serve at any time so that if you don't like any of the other things on there, there are things like cottage cheese and fruit, hamburger, and different types of salads. I haven't had anything yet that I haven't liked other than brussel sprouts. I'm not a fan of brussel sprouts, and I've never been. You have a choice of what you want to eat if you want. You can eat it there or you can ask them and they'll bring you dinner to your apartment if you can't make it over there. The staff there is nice, there's always fresh baked cookies or cake or stuff that you have for dessert. It's very pleasant. I'm happy here. It's just called senior living because everybody's been the same as in the apartments. Even if I was getting assistance, having a nurse come in, or something that helps, I'm still in the apartment that I was in when I was here. I could have like, a few doors down, there's a lady here that's 101 yrs old, she's a pistol, and she does not look 101. Everybody's mixed here. It's not a separate community like a separate area for these people, and a separate area for those people, like some of the other ones that I've seen, this kind of interspersed more. There's a lot of different things that they offer. There's a whole calendar of events that go on. There's a chapel here, there's a library, there's an activity room, there's deer that roam around outside the back, very, very pleasant. They have card games, board games, bocce ball, bingo games, arts and crafts type, and they offer support groups. They have different services. They have a bible study, they have people getting together to do different types of similar -- like right now the ladies are thinking about getting together for a group that wants to do the fisheries and stuff like that. One thing that I've found here is even though they may be offering stuff to the community on their calendars, they have a varying level of activity that goes from your own, to being very adventurous and trying something new, to being very quiet and doing what you want. Nobody pushes you into anything. You're invited into everything. But one thing that I was surprised by is that the people that live here, will be the people that are like heading up some of these things with the groups. There's a couple of the men that handle some of the card games and the bingo games. They're not outsiders, they're insiders, so the people that live here. I was surprised to find out because I was walking around with Margaret, and she's like, "Oh, this is another resident, he runs the bingo." It's like, huh?

Richard

My mom stayed at Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst for two months. They were nice people, friendly, very open to listening, and not too strict like if she wants to stay a month or a week, they're very open to trying it, where other places might be too rigid. They served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I tried the food. They let me come to eat with my mom, and they didn't charge. I talked to all the seniors, and they thought I was funny. The food was good. It's not like a big heavy meal, but they have to feed a lot of people quickly, and it's healthy. It's not like going out to a fine restaurant, but I'd say it's better than your school lunch. They have bingo, pool, physical therapy sessions, and a lady that comes in and does the hair. They also give rides to the doctor on Thursdays, and they try their best to help out. It's not very wealthy, but for the amount of money you pay, I think it's very, very good. It includes your room is efficiency or one bedroom. You have your own apartment, a deck, three meals a day, transportation, and activity. The people are all very nice.

Emmajean

We visited Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. It was on Transit Road which divides two communities, and each side does their own numbering, and it was an absolute nightmare trying to locate their business. It was horrible and generated so much anxiety. But when we got there, the person who was going to give us the tour was not there. They subbed in the maintenance manager, and it was no problem. He was just so accommodating, answered all our questions, and it couldn't have come to a better end. We were invited to stay for lunch. It's an absolutely lovely facility and I'm putting that up on the top of my list. Everyone is friendly, the grounds are absolutely beautiful there and the activity calendar is just absolutely jam-packed with things to do. I was very impressed with Solstice. He showed us an empty apartment and showed us a furnished one, and answered a few questions about drapes and things. He knew exactly what information we were looking for, and he gave us answers. I told him, "You're the maintenance manager, but now you're the tour guide." He said "I've also worked in the kitchen. It doesn't matter, I care about these people." And I think he made such an impressive response. It was wonderful. It's an independent living, but depending on your care, you can bring in an aide to help with bathing, or you can bring in somebody for physical therapy. Whatever your level is, you can stretch it out by bringing some assistance in. So you know you're not going to get booted out into a nursing home tomorrow. There's some flexibility there, which I think is a good option. The grounds were beautiful. As I drove up, there was a crew there putting chrysanthemums along the main walkway and arranging little pumpkins for fall. I was very impressed with the attention they gave to the ground. In the back, there was this big garden with patio furniture, and behind that, there was a huge pond with lily pads on it. We were told there was a herd of deer that come up to the residence's patios, and you can even feed them from your patio. And one man, in particular, had photographed this herded deer and they framed his photos and hung them up. There were pictures of does and fawns, it was just so comforting and it touched your heart. To the people who would go there, I would warn them not to rely on the numbers on the road because they make no sense. The numbers don't match from one side of the street to the other. I think they should know they should be looking for Pautler's ice cream stand, and Solstice is right next to it. Their actual road presence is very small so it's easy to miss.

Laurie2

I toured Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst for my mom, and I loved it. I liked how clean it was. I liked the cafeteria and the food; we had lunch there. I liked everything about it, it was great. They have a beauty parlor there, an exercise room, a church, and a little area for the Bible study or whatever games. The people were very friendly. I would move in there in a heartbeat if I was older. The staff member was very knowledgeable, and they answered all our questions. She's one of those friendly kind people that you can talk to, and her attitude is just really nice. It would have been nice, too, for the people that have wheelchairs or walking around with walkers if they had places on the bottom floor instead of at the top floor. I know there was an elevator and stairs, but I always think that it's easier for them to get around if there are more apartments on the bottom instead of the second floor. I think that that would be better for some people that have a harder time moving around.

Denise

We did a tour of Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst and we liked it. My mother hasn't seen it yet, but I would give it high reviews. They offered three meals a day and cleaning your apartment once a week. All the utilities were included in the price. They also offered that they would do the bedding and the towels, as far as washing them once a week. They also have community activities, which included transportation. They had a beautiful outside area, very, very secluded, and private. It was close to all the stores that she likes to go to for shopping. You're allowed to have animals.

Claudette

I went to Solstice Senior Living at East and talked to a staff there. I don't have much to say about it. The rooms have no stove because they prepare all the meals three times a day. There's a menu to choose from and they give you a menu for the month. Food is home-cooked not like Meals-on-Wheels. The staff members were nice and they took us on a tour; however, they didn't meet my qualifications. The price was a little bit pricey for me at the time. I feel like we didn't want to spend that kind of money. The place was clean, they change your linens and they're very friendly.

Mary

My mom was very well pleased with Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst. We looked at their independent living, and the place was very bright. They have everything, like hairdressing, laundry, and a library. The food was awesome and the staff was very pleasant. They didn't have any activities because of COVID. We saw a room and it was very bright too.

Dianne

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst was very nice. It's less expensive than some of the other ones. It seemed clean, and they were very nice taking us around. They gave us a box of cookies when we left. The rooms were nice too. There were lots of people around and a lot of them were in wheelchairs. It wasn't as happy a place as I had wished it would be, but when we were there, they might have been doing other things. They had omelets and sweet pork with rice for lunch or brown sugar grilled salmon with wild rice. For dinner, they had meatloaf seasoned beets and meat, mashed potatoes or chicken salad, and a fruit plate with assorted crackers. The girl that conducted the tours was very good. She tried to answer the questions we had. She said they have stretch exercises at ten o'clock almost every morning, a couple of discussion programs, a spring walk, and monthly residents meetings. They also have a little chapel. They usually have activities at night where people come in and play the piano in one room. Then have discussions in the afternoon. Nobody's been there for a year or so, however they're trying to start doing that again.

Laurie

I toured Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst for my parents, and it's a beautiful facility. It was just way too much money. The person who took us on the tour was wonderful. She answered all our questions, and she was very pleasant and very personable. She took us everywhere that we wanted to go to see what it would be like. But it was a lot more money than we guessed it would be. It was very clean and well kept, and it seemed like a cheerful place to live. The rooms were a good size. They have a wide range, going from a studio to a one-bedroom studio to a two-bedroom apartment. They've got a wide range of choices. We thought the two-bedroom was the nicest, of course, but it was just that the price was a bit too high. But they do provide everything for you. The price included everything, including food, all the utilities, and trips to the store and the doctor. I'm sure it was worth it. It's just that it wasn't in our budget. They gave us cookies to take home and they were delicious, but we didn't actually try anything else.

cjdsyhnk

When my mom moved in the food was good and they had done decent activities. After time passed the food became so terrible we had to bring food to my mom no more snacks in dinning room and activities that still were being done were being done by the maintenance staff!!!!!

RMAC13

I am writing this review as a last resort . I have tried in vain to contact both the facilities management and corporate and have been completely ignored. My mother lived here for 6 years till she recently died at 95 during Christmas week. It was a trying time for us. After the last time she fell there we took her to the hospital. It was determined she would need nursing care , HOSPICE so we gave notice that she wouldn't be coming back. The management made it as difficult as possible to move out her belongings We had limited access to the facility, couldn't use the elevator so everything had to be taken down 2 flights of stairs.! We told the manager that everything was out and we left. December 27 my mother passed away. As we were preparing funeral arrangements a call came in on Dec. 31 at 3pm informing us that we would have to pay another months rent as there are 2 trash bags still in the apartment! The place had been vacant for weeks and you waited until 3pm to tell us! So we had to run back over there to dispose of the 2 bags. This place is all about the money! They have raised the rent every year and have cut the services. So you are paying more and getting less. They have no compassion for people. When you are down hey make sure they give you a KICK. I think the most ironic thing is that a good manager would have welcomed the opportunity to get the apartment ready for a new tenant. My mother was in HOSPICE, she wasn't coming back. All the manager needed to do was ask which would have avoided us running over a the last minute , and the apartment could have been ready to rent without any loss of revenue.

Deborah

I visited Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst for my mom. It was OK, but there was no carpeting in the apartment; it was all bare floor. For senior living, there was no stove or anything for them to cook, and I did not care for that. The people were nice. Because of Covid, I only saw the dining room because it was right there, and it was very nice.

Happy relative

Solstice is an outstanding facility offering it's residents many benefits. Reasonably priced, good location. My family member is like a new person residing here.

Bev S

My dear family friend moved here 3 months ago. I visit her every week. I love visiting her here and seeing her so very happy. It was the right move for her! Whenever I visit the staff is so friendly. The facility always looks wonderful, and my friend especially loves the activities. I was here last week and wanted to acknowledge everyone. The Director Margaret has been awesome! She is so very knowledgeable. Margaret has made the move and adjustment for my friend and family effortless. Besides I love seeing her when I am there. Margaret and her Team make everyone feel so welcome! Its always a tough adjustment from living in your own home to moving. Again they have made it a positive transition. I am so thankful for Solstice, Margaret, and her team! Looking forward to seeing everyone next week!!!

Margaret

Solstice Senior Living at East Amherst was so nice and the dining room was luxurious. You get to pick what you want to eat. I can't say enough good things about it. You get your meals, they have security on duty, and you get to bring your dog and your car. It's much in line with what my parents were looking for. They have happy hour and a pool table. There was a lot going on when we went. The woman who gave us the tour was perfectly lovely. We had a really good time there.

DG

Solstice Senior Living was a very nice, well-managed, and respectful place. They didn't have a stove in the apartments, although there was a microwave. The ladies in charge were really helpful, and the staff was really nice and on top of their game. The apartments were very roomy, nice, and clean. If I had my way, I'd live there. The dining room was amazing with the amount of food that they have, and they have a little patio for each room. Everything about that place was wonderful. You get a good bang for the price.

Marla G.

One of the things I liked about was that they had nurses on-site whom you can hire as the need arises. It's not part of their services, but I could contract the nurses to have elevated care for my mom. Everything was fine. We had lunch there, we were treated very well, people were positive, and everything was good. They showed me a studio, a 1-bedroom, and a 2-bedroom. Every apartment had a porch.

Marlene267514

My mom moved into here. It’s virtually phenomenal. It’s very bright and welcoming. Everyone is welcoming. The dining hall has beautiful small tables. It’s basically restaurant-style. All the utilities are included. Mom ended up with a 1-bedroom apartment. Everything about it is very nice. The reason she is able to do this place even though it is not an assisted living is because there is a separate business located onsite that provides the passing of meds and any help with her ADLs on a daily basis, but you contract separately with them. Like I said, they are onsite all the time, so we have that security factor that Mom needed. She has only been there for a couple of weeks, and there is literally a list of at least 7 activities daily that go on. She can pick and choose what she wants to do or not do. They have everything from bingo and Wii bowling and things like that. They have performers come in and do different musical performances. They had singers come in the other day. They have a bus that takes you out. They go out shopping and drop you off at the store. My mom is a Catholic, so they have a chapel with Catholic mass right on site twice a week. They have 300 movies available. They’ll pick up a movie to show, but if you have your grandkids over for instance and need to occupy them, you just ask, and they would put in a movie in the movie room for you.

Caring112501550

The staff was very friendly and attentive. We had a meal there, and the food was very good. We liked the facilities inside; they had a salon, a chapel, and a number of different options. The location of the units we looked at were a little far from the elevator.

Caring107262150

It is good. They have everything there. The residents seemed very content and very happy. They were trying to encourage me to move there, but I'm not ready. I went for lunch, and the food was OK. Overall, it was alright.

Caring108917750

It was a very nice place, but it was outside my budget. The staff was absolutely delightful. Everybody was positive. Everything was clean. However, I didn't like the dining room. It was far too open.

Caring107195350

The senior places were a little bit smaller. We only looked at one-bedroom and not a two-bedroom at that time, and I think they were a little bit smaller. However, everybody was just as nice. We had a snack there, and it was wonderful. The people were very good. They were very nice.

Caring94358050

It was a newer community. There were three sizes of suites available – studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom. Nice dining hall and the grounds looked nice. There was a physical therapy adjacent to the community. Of course, they had lounges, resident kitchens, and a library. They had Bingo at times and some music activities, pool rooms and billiards, exercise rooms. It seemed nice enough.

Caring76000250

It is nice. I saw one room at that time and it was very nice. I thought that it was very pleasant, very comfortable to what I have now. They have a lot more activities there, which is one of the reasons why I like them. I thought that they were a very active community.

Kim37

We found it to be a good fit for my dad. Everything is immaculate; very clean. Everybody is accommodating and caring. I've tasted the food and I wouldn't say it's excellent, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 7. They have a theater room where they can watch movies and in my understanding they provide a van so they can go to the casino or things of that nature. There's a small exercise room if they need to exercise. There's plenty of activities for the residents. I like the area, it's safe, and the neighborhood.

Charice

My dad lives here and we liked it a lot. He is having a hard time acclimating to the place, but over all we are very pleased with the situation. The staff and the room are very nice.