Independent Living Communities in Fort Myers, FL

"I toured The American House Coconut Point. They have 112 units for assisted living, 36 units for memory care, and 56 units for independent living, and that proportion just seemed to be off. The tour experience was very thorough. The young man who took me around knew his business. He was very cordial. However, my first impression when I walked in is, "This doesn't feel right." I've had enough experience now, and so I know where I don't fit in. The upkeep was fine. In any place I went, I didn't see anything that suggested it wasn't being taken care of. All of them were all taken care of. However, the rooms looked tired. Several of the rooms we went into were empty, because somebody had moved out or somebody was moving in. They were in the process of being fixed. There were closet doors in two of the rooms that were off track. They have a breakfast room and a bistro. They would provide two meals a day if you are independent. They have a salon onsite. There are paths for walking. Yet, for me, it is just a place I wouldn't move into."

"I chose Fountain Crest because they're very friendly. The place is comfortable. The people are just casual and they are nice. They do a lot of regular activities as other people do, and they do them more warmly. The apartment is wonderful. It's 579 square feet, which is quite spacious. It was all cleaned and ready for me like they said it would be. We don't have stoves because we eat downstairs all the time, and any time that we want to. The kitchen is open for the menu for certain hours, but it's always open for hamburgers, cheese soup, and different salad bars. The food is very good, and they're very flexible. They have both stairs and an elevator. The washroom has four washers on each wing and they have dryers. They have a swimming pool and gardens that you can work in."

"I chose Brookdale Bonita Springs, but the cost is a bit too much for me to handle right now. The people are very helpful. The administrators are great and very friendly. It's beautifully landscaped and beautifully taken care of. They have very good amenities. In general, it's a decent place to live. They go out of their way to help you. The food was very good. The structure of the building was excellent. I'd give them a ten instead of a five. The rooms are very good sized, especially the studios."

"I have already chosen American House Bonita Springs. I just signed all the papers. I'm still in the process of getting furniture moved in and cleaning out my house. I like the location, the upkeep of the whole unit, and the people. They have all of the appliances included. I'm very pleased with the building. They offer breakfast and dinner."

"After 2 1/2 years as a resident of Bentley Village, I have nothing but good things to say about it. I feel safe and cared for and have made many good friendships here. My one bedroom apartment is beautiful, spacious and convenient to so many activities. As a golfer, I appreciate our well maintained course and the superb management team. Duplicate bridge is highly competitive and professionally directed, a plus you rarely see in retirement communities. And the expansive campus offers many opportunities for walking and biking. I am always proud to call myself a Bentley Village resident!"

"The rooms are great. My brothernlaw is there and my fathernlaw was there. The staff is great but the only complaint i have is they need to fix the ceiling fans out on the porch or get something to help cool off the porch where the residents smoke cause when we come to visit it's to hot to sit out there. They need something to help cool it off or replace the ceiling fans. Other wise I enjoy coming to visit my brothernlaw. You guys are awesome."

"I loved Bradford Square Retirement Community. I loved the structure of the building and the interior, and it has a much better layout of everything in the apartment than the other place. It was very nice. They have a nice walk-in closet. There was a very intelligent designer that made up the apartment, making use of every square inch. That was so nice. You walk in and you just say, "This is the one I want." The whole place is beautiful. The people are very nice. The staff introduced me to the head manager and we had a nice little talk in the office, and then she took me on a tour. It was lunchtime and she said, "I would like to have you go in and have lunch and sit with one of the residents," and I did. She told me a lot of things too. I was treated royally. The food was so good. They have waiters there all the time and they don't let the water glass go down more than halfway, and then they fill it up again. Everything was topnotch."

"My mother will be moving into Sandalwood Village. They have their own apartments. They're very nicely laid out and they have a lot of extra things available for them. They had the pool, exercises, and painting classes, and they have a chef that comes in five nights a week with a meal plan. The meal plan is extra, but the breakfast is not. On my mom's floor, they've partnered up with a physical therapist and they specialize in rheumatoid arthritis and things like that. They took an apartment, so they have availability for that. They take them shopping and to doctors. They have transportation six days a week. They take them on outings. As long as mom can stay independent, we would like to keep her there. They have a lot of amenities. The staff is wonderful. I saw how they interact with the clients, and it's great. It's six miles from my house, so I can see her every single day. They have a couple of emergency pull strings, one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. The apartments were nice. They each have their own washer and dryer and you have your own thermostat. They maintain some level of independence, which is important to my mom, and yet, they have staff on hand and they keep an eye on them. I've seen the menus. One night, it was bacon-wrapped scallops and filet mignon together. They get a salad, soup, coffee, and dessert and for dinner, they'll deliver it to your room. You have to come down for breakfast, but they'll deliver it to your room if you don't feel like coming out. I've been throughout the place. It's pristine. The residents all seemed very happy and the staff and the residents seemed to have genuine affection for each other. Nobody's got the sour look, nobody's beating up the seniors. It seemed very nice to me. It's not cheap, but it includes breakfast. She has to pay her own electric and cable, but cable's a group rate, which is $50. She has a little terrace. She's got a two-bedroom apartment."

"I want your new waitress Renata she deserves recognition. In addition to always getting our order correct, she comes back several times to ask how the food was and if there is anything else that we need. When we are finished, she will ask if we want desert. She is so pleasant and always has a smile. I felt like I was at a restaurant on fifth avenue."

"I liked the layout of Colliers at Naples Assisted Living a lot, and I liked the events. It was kind of around the hurricane time, and I was happy that it was a safe place. It was all fine. Nothing had happened. It just seemed organized. The staff was very nice and helpful, with a lot of information. It had room to entertain. It is the one I chose partly because it was closer to me. I liked the apartment better than the other place. Unfortunately, the one they had available wasn't the one I wanted."

"Merrill Gardens at Barkley Place was nice. The food was good. They have pretty decent pricing. The pool location was nice. They have a nice bar there. They have activities and a nice gym. They also have happy hours four times a week. The facility was very clean."

"My aunt moved to The Palms of Fort Myers. They have many activities. There are five different floors. Three rooms on each floor are designated for things like arts and crafts, reading, board games, and card games. They have a little happy hour twice a week. There is a lounge, billiards, and pool there. It's very well-kept. It's very clean. She got evaluated and she is in the assisted living part and they do medication care. They make sure she goes to the dining hall for three meals a day. There are two dining halls in the facility. She could use either one of them if she'd like. The one on the first floor is like a very large dining hall, she can have people come from outside and eat with her if she'd like. She can go out and we signed her out. We take her out for the day and stuff like that. They have staff nurses, but they have doctors who come in and make their rounds if you want to sign up with their doctors. They have a pharmacy built right into the facility. So all of her medications get filled directly through The Palms. There's always someone there 24 hours a day. She is in her apartment. She has a living room, kitchenette, and a bedroom. They have two bedrooms and one bedroom in assisted living. They can only have visitors for the day. The staff is lovely. They're all very helpful and very nice. They'll do your laundry. They have a laundry service. Included in the price are the linen services where they strip and remake their beds for them so that they don't have to do that strenuous activity on their own. The value seems to be very affordable."

"Sandpiper Run was very clean, fresh smelling, well kept, and very well organized. When I arrived, they were having sort of a tenant meeting in the lobby, which is a good sign because people get to voice their ideas and opinions. There was an outside patio, a lanai, a swimming pool, a game room, a library, and computer access. The apartments have grab bars in the bathroom, smoke alarms, emergency alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors. They were nicely decorated and themed. I do not have any criticisms or problems with it."

"Very clean, caring employees and lots of space. They schedule a lot of fun activities for the residents, and I like how much the administrators know all the residents very well "