The Best Assisted Living Communities in Sarasota County, FL

"It was very good. The staff was very friendly. They showed me their rooms, which were spacious and the different choices and I really liked that. "

"My first visit was earlier this year when my family was looking for a new home for our mom. I was impressed by the people working there and the quality of services provided and the food. We decided to bring her here. Ever since, I have NOT regretted at all. This is the best place for our mom. "

"Heron East was very nice, professional, and very direct to the point. They didn’t waste my time; I like that. They don’t have the services we needed for Alzheimer’s because they didn’t have memory care. They were able to talk to me about the needs of my parents, and we were able to discern that. They didn’t have down the road what my mother might need as he has Alzheimer’s. They were efficient, so we were able to determine it wasn’t the place very quickly. I didn’t even have an appointment, but they were very gracious. "

"Everything was really nice in the Bahia Oaks Lodge, and the staff was very helpful, but they were more expensive. They had brand new carpets, and the walls were painted nicely. It was very accessible for people who are in wheelchairs or walkers. The dining area looked modern, and it was very clean. I suggest they make it a little bit more affordable. "

"Heron House was a nice, little place. I liked the fact that they had information, and they answered questions openly and honestly, the place was nice and clean, people seemed very happy there, it wasn't overly huge, and the price was reasonable. Even though it wasn't upscale per se, I think that for the money it would have cost if we moved my mother down, I really liked the Heron House because it wasn't very luxurious. What I was impressed with was that it was very clean, it was cheery and very bright, and it was laid out in a manner that seemed like the residents could get around pretty easily. The apartment was very inviting, and they tried to make it look very tropical, very comfortable and homey. They were clean, they were on top of things, and people seemed upbeat, so that made a difference, and financially it was more realistic. The management director I spoke with was very, very knowledgeable and very open about information; she showed me anything that I asked and gave me more information that I'd asked for upfront because she helped me with some other information that I wasn't really aware of, and that was a great help. She went out of her way to make sure that I could see anything and everything that I wanted. Apparently, every resident that we came across, she knew them by name, and this mattered to me -- that the facility was more on top of things and where people were living; it didn't make somebody feel like they are an inmate. "

"I looked at the independent living of The Goldton at Venice and had a very pleasant conversation with the marketing person. I got a thorough look at the facility, and what they offered. I also learned about the cost. They have smaller rooms. They have 2 meals a day, as part of their package. It's brand new and in the middle of a highly developed area. The person who gave the tour was great. I saw their dining area and I would say it was adequate, it wasn't exceptional. The upkeep and maintenance seemed very good."

"The Fountains of Hope Assisted Living and Memory Care was more institutional than the others. There were a lot of people, a lot of rooms, and a lot of hallways. My dad would have been confused and walking all over the place. They're really sweet, though, and all of the staff was great. They were smiling at us. Just as far as the establishment goes and how they run the business, it was more institutional to me. It was just too large so my dad wouldn't have gotten the personal care that he deserves. We toured their memory care and the person who assisted us gave us the information we needed in a concise fashion so we were appropriately pleased during our visit. The rooms were nice too but there's a thing where you had to bring your own furniture. I think that was another big thing for us. It wouldn't have been a big deal because I have plenty of furniture but there are criteria for the furniture you bring in because they don't want the residents falling or tripping on them. They also have a thing where when you first go in there, everything is treated as though it's infected and everything you bring is going to be cleaned."

"We toured Grand Villa of Sarasota. So far, we like it. I liked that it is close to the good things in Sarasota like the theaters, and it is right next to a nice Chinese place. But it also had like three meals a day and the meals looked decent. I like that their main meal is at lunchtime; I think that is a good idea. I like it a lot, it is just we're not ready yet. It seemed clean and the people seemed nice. They showed us the room and the room was already decorated with furniture in it to show people. It was very organized. They had this booth-type thing on each floor that was locked and had everybody's names on it and everybody's pills, and everything was very organized. The other places weren't as organized. The person who took us around was great. Another thing, you didn't have to move. At the other place, you had to move to another room if you wanted assisted living. At Grand Villa, you stay in the same room, you just have some extra help. I wouldn't want to move out of my room after I'm living there. They give you extra help. Of course, you have to pay more for extra help, but at least you can stay in that room. I thought the cleanliness was good. It didn't smell at all or anything. "

"I toured this beautiful community and was so pleased with what I saw. I had the pleasure of eating there during my visit and the food was fantastic. I was also impressed by the cleanliness of the building and the warmth of the staff. I met several of the residents and they could not say enough wonderful things about their experiences. If you are in the market for a beautiful community inside and out you should defiantly take the time to take a look at Alderman Oaks! I am sure glad I did. "

"It was very nice. It was a very helpful tour. The staff was nice. There were a lot of the usual activities. The food was good. However, it wasn't the right fit for my mom."

"It was our second choice. The place was beautiful. The staff was friendly and very helpful. We had lunch there and the food was good. The units were nice but small. They had a hotel fridge rather than a full fridge, so it didn't have a homey feel and was more like a hotel."

"DeSoto Palms was lovely. It was like a hotel. The rooms and the lobby were beautiful. Their dining area was like eating in a 5-star hotel. I really liked that. However, my brother decided that he needed more care than what they could offer because they had nurses there, but they were like 7 to 7. They would put you in bed, but there's nobody there at night until the morning expect for the resident manager, who was always there, and my brother might need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. So, it was not an appropriate facility for him, even though I liked it. "

"It was a terribly difficult decision to put the care of our elderly neighbor in the hands of Banyan Residence, but now that a few months have passed, it is clear that we made the right choice. It was rough at the beginning, but our neighbor has done so well there. At first it was disconcerting having a webcam in the common area, but it has allowed us to see how well she is getting along. She really seems to enjoy interacting with the other residents, and has even found herself a paramour. As a community, she's far more social and interactive than she could have ever been with just family as the main caregivers. Instead of sitting around all day, we get reports of her going on daily walks around the facilities and holding conversations with the other residents. It has been hard for us all, but in the end, this has been the best place for her. "

"We chose Elan Manatee Assisted Living & Memory Care for my mother. She will be moving there. The room sizes were nice. The kitchenette area was important to us. It seems that everybody that we saw and all of the residents there were very happy and very active in their day. We use that as a barometer for how my mom would feel in that community. The person that assisted us was very professional, very nice, very helpful. They just had a nice array of different activities that the residents could participate in. They were doing some exercises. We like to see that. They had some people reading in the lounge area and some people were playing cards."