Lakewood Estates

Lakewood Estates = A tragedy and lawsuit waiting to happen I naively rented an apartment in Lakewood Estates in late May-early June 2019. I am writing this for those of you who need enlightening as much as I did at the time. I would like to begin with the only good I can say about Lakewood Estates. Some of the employees are very capable and concerned with the wellbeing of the tenants. Unfortunately, that’s it!The evening after I moved into my apartment at Lakewood Estates, I left the building after “lockup” at 7 PM. I had been given the wrong key for access to the building and found myself locked out. I spent the night sitting in the outer vestibule waiting for someone to open the access doors. At around 7 AM, a man came in who I assume to be “corporate” because he was wearing a suit opened the main doors. I asked him if there was a telephone number to contact someone in case of emergency, he responded, “No.” With this information, I have to ask, what exactly, besides the 3 meals per day, what is the difference between Lakewood Estates assisted living and the large number of senior independent living establishments who charge roughly ½ the monthly fee? There is no one looking after the residents during the after-hours of 7 PM to 7 AM. The residents are simply “locked-in” and left to their own devices. This is not the definition of Assisted Living I was quoted. Additionally the man I talked with had no concern whatever that I, a new tenant, had spent the night locked out of the building!Addressing the food, if you look at the weekly menu, it sounds as though the residents are treated to luxurious and delicious fare. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, management has utilized this area for extreme cost-cutting. When I first moved in, the food was wonderful, the chef an exceptional person and culinary artesian. Unfortunately, shortly after I moved in there was a change in chefs. Quickly, the food deteriorated. The juice is watered down to colored water. The foodstuffs, I believe to be, the cheapest available to the point of being inedible. Have you ever heard of a canned pear being too tough to eat? Neither had I and please don’t ask me to address what they call “meat.” They offer “bread baked fresh daily.” It was before the change in chefs. Now, it’s biscuits baked daily. Over the months, I had been eating less of the Lakewood Estates food and preparing more of my own in my apartment. On Monday 9-2-2019, I was accused by the chef of trying to steal more than my share. His exact words spoken before the entire kitchen and wait staff were, “You cannot be having a pint of juice every day.” (I bought frozen juice to fortify their colored water). So much for the advertised, “caring environment.” On Tuesday 9-3-2019, I ate one meal from Lakewood Estates kitchen and was sick through Wednesday. On Thursday 9-5-2019, I again ate one meal from Lakewood Estates kitchen and was throwing up through Friday. On Saturday, I tendered my 30-day notice to move. I understand that I am not the only one to become sick. The gossip is that the staff is refusing their free meals. I have not eaten from Lakewood Estates kitchen since 9-5-2019 and remain healthy.There are so many more problems that I could fill up many pages. Things like the on-site (7 AM to 7 PM) manager being much too immature to be responsible for even the daytime responsibility of needy Senior Citizens, the filthy common area carpets or to the seeming tendency to be collecting the 2,500.00 non-refundable deposits on the ever-increasing Lakewood Estate's rapid turnover.I suggest that you explore the senior independent living facilities if you don’t need the extra help. If you do need the extra help, do not expect to find it at Lakewood Estates.