The Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in Miami Dade County, FL

"It has been there for ages. It is a buy-in community. We were invited there through one of our church organizations and they took us around and showed us what was available. I do like its location, although the community itself is too big and too spread out. It isn't one big building, it is more like a college campus. When people have to go to the main room, from their apartments, they have to go and make a trip over to that area. I was not impressed with that. Food is good but not as good as with the other community I visited. We had lunch there and they served their food more like cafeteria-style. I don't know whether that's the way they serve food for their residents or just for the guests, but you have to go and get your food. If I'm going to spend the money that they are asking, I would prefer they serve me my meal and that I don't have to go through a cafeteria line. Regarding activities, the only thing I saw were people sitting around, playing cards and so forth and that was about it. However, given that their apartments are nice and that they have good staff, I would still not consider living in this community. "

"We visited East Ridge Retirement Village, and we were very impressed with the facilities, but we felt it was rather too expensive for us. We were shown two apartments; both had two bedrooms, and they had been newly decorated. I myself preferred a bath to a shower. Apparently, they were all showers, and all the toilets were wheelchair heights, which I didn't find comfortable, but those were just my preferences. The staff seemed helpful, and they spent a lot of time showing us around. They showed us the gym, and there was man watching television and walking on a treadmill there. There were people in the library. One was doing the jigsaw puzzle, and the other people were reading. They had a computer room and an auditorium. They showed us the menu, and I had been to a luncheon that they organized in a hotel a few weeks earlier, which I imagine would be typical with what the residents would be eating. The food was very nice. One thing with East Ridge, you pretty much buy your apartment, and then you pay a monthly fee in addition. It was independent living, you transition to assisted living, and then you transition to full care when you're really old. I liked it very much, but I don't think I could afford it, unfortunately. They had a swimming pool. They had nice landscaping with trees so you could walk around if you wanted to walk. It was very nice. I would certainly go if I could afford it. They had maid service once a week. They would change the linens and the towels. "