Southwinds Active Adult Community

Southwinds Active Adult Community has a nice sitting area where you can come in, bring your friends, sit down, talk, and mingle. They have a swimming pool and weight room downstairs. It's an independent living, and they have all kinds of stuff that you can entertain yourself with. I'm in a nice 2-bedroom. It's got a bathroom, a dining room, a den, and a living room space. Everything is really nice. The staff is really good, and they try to be helpful in everything and with anything you want. We go downstairs in the morning. They have a coffee maker and a fruit tray in the kitchen. You can make a big pot of coffee, and everybody can sit around and talk.

I moved into Southwinds Active Adult Community. It's independent living and I love the community. The office is friendly. They have three buildings already out there, and they are at different prices. I like the amenities in my building. It has a therapeutic pool and sauna downstairs, a movie theater, a hairdresser, a gym, and a pool table. I love that the community is really quiet. After 9:00, everything is already quiet, you can hear a pin drop. I moved into a one-bedroom initially, and then a two-bedroom, two-bath became available, so I'm moving in as we speak, today to that two-bedroom so my mom can move into the one-bedroom. I looked at the others and they just didn't fit my criteria. When I came out here and looked at the place, one thing that I did notice was the therapeutic pool. I have arthritis all over and I can't really do any workouts, so when I saw that I was like, "Wow, now I don't have to go through therapy if I can do therapy at home." So that's one thing that appealed to me. What I pay is a little pricey, but different buildings have different prices. The staff is very friendly. Judy, she's actually the manager, I just love her to death. She's very understanding and willing to work with you with whatever you need, but she's very strict and stern at the same time. It's not like she's going to let anything go past, but she's going to also help you out at the same time. They don't have food now because of COVID. They're very clean. I see the cleaning lady cleaning all the time. It smells good. They have bingo, they have Bible study, movies, and arts and crafts.

We toured Southwinds Active Adult Community for my parents. They had a gym, and they have one of those pools that force the water; it would be like you were swimming against the current. They had pool tables. They had movie nights and popcorn. It was independent living. If someone got older and had more issues, they would have to probably move into another facility. The people were more active. They were walking around and talking, so it looked like it was a good place for senior people to live. The rooms were the big. They had a 2-bedroom unit and a 1-bedroom unit that had a walk-in closet. It was the biggest out of all the ones we toured. We were looking for a 2-bedroom, 2-bath, and we wanted a balcony. They were getting ready to bring someone new in, so they were painting and redoing the rugs in there. The kitchen was big and has a stove, where you could actually cook your meals. We met one lady and she took us on a tour, so I can't tell you what the rest of the staff is like. Everyone said hello. They were friendly when we were walking through the halls. It was secure, and you had to go through a gate to get in there. I think it would be a safe environment for them. They tried to get them together in a community type thing to do things together: movie nights, cards, or pool. They have common areas where they could get together. They don't have a cafeteria. It is a downside, but they have potluck once a week. It was nice. They had benches and things set up, so you could go sit out. They have raised gardens for people who wanted to go out there to work in the flowers or whatever. They have an area for planting.

In April 2020 the residents were told if they get Covid, they have to rehab elsewhere. Therefore residents who tested positive or had Covid were afraid to tell staff. Hence Southwinds management has touted falsely that there have been no cases. SABA owners should have passed on to residents savings on activities. But instead they have raised rents all along. Still no amenities. Don't recommend this place. Many other senior residences much better.

I highly do not recommend Southwinds in White Plains, Maryland due to difficulty in getting repairs, old & broken equipment such as washer/dryers that they refuse to replace, unprofessional and discourteous staff, slow to fix broken elevators, can easily hear noises above and below you, threatened to evict residents during the pandemic if they contracted Covid 19, and required residents to report to Southwinds staff if they contracted Covid 19 so they could not remain at Southwinds. A bullet was fired into the fourth floor apartment of one resident. There is no security. Difficult to find parking spaces. Worse place I ever lived. Essie

The on site property manager thinks she's the police and warden all in one. They used bait and switch for residents with pets, telling them about the pet deposit. Then after they move in, start charging them monthly pet rent. They have saved money during the pandemic, but instead of passing this on to residents, they have been raising rents. Price Gauging during the pandemic! This manager has started charging fines for supposed violations NOT in the lease agreement. There is no security. Visitors park in spaces that residents need. Manager is holding the majority of residents who have been vaccinated hostage to a few who refuse the vaccine, as an excuse to hold out on activities for the majority. Don't recommend this place.

There is no security. Visitors continue to park close to the building where residents need to park. There should be, but have not been, rebates for lack of service march-july when the owner has saved money by providing no activities. The office is left unattended on a regular basis. Even the emergency # goes to voice-mail. Not worth the price. The owner is a tyrant, never polling residents for what we would like.

The cleaning staff is good. Repairs are slow. Controlled access is a joke: anyone can come in. Visitors have their own keys. No security. Youthful visitors monopolize the pool table and ping pong table when they visit, and children visiting play pranks.