NEWFOREST ESTATES

This is a warm and welcoming community. The staff always goes above an beyond for the residents. I love how you can tell that everyone is having fun and living their best life!

Every single person I have spoken with here has been so nice and helpful, from the director to the med techs. I can call 24 hours a day to check on my loved one and this facility is so clean. So far, we couldn't be happier with it.

We've had the pleasure of attending many events at my mom's assisted living community, and I am consistently moved by the warmth and dedication of the staff. Every event is thoughtfully planned and filled with joy, and it's clear how much effort goes into making residents and families feel included and cared for. What touches me the most is how deeply the staff cares for the residents. From the smallest gestures to the everyday support, they go above and beyond to make sure every need is met with kindness and respect. I see their dedication daily -- in the way they speak to the residents, in their patience, and in the extra moments they take to make someone smile. I wish I could name each and every staff member, because they all deserve recognition. It truly takes a special kind of person to do this work with so much heart, and this team is full of them. Given my mom's situation, I can honestly say there's no better place she could be. We are so grateful.

Be wary of the 5 star reviews. They either are written by staff or they are from 5-7 years ago. First for the good points: the front desk and dining room staff are very friendly and do seem to enjoy working here. Next, the Bistro area is very welcoming and very well decorated. They have been very busy redecorating the interiors of the building. I only know about the studio sized apartments, which are very roomy. They don't feel cramped. Now for the cons: while the front desk people are very friendly, they aren't very knowledgeable and don't actually resolve most issues. While the dining staff is nice and efficient, the food isn't very good. Definitely over processed food choices and it's often overcooked and dried out. They never serve fresh fruit. Occasionally we get some canned fruit, not even once a week. The kitchen runs out of food regularly. Sorry, no tea. Sorry, no butter. Sorry, no bread. Sorry, no coffee. It's hard to get more than one 8 ounce glass of whatever beverage you ask for. The food is often served cold. If you don't prefer to eat at 11 or 4, the food will definitely be cold. The typical offering is a small piece of meat (usually some form of chicken) served with cornbread and Mac & cheese. Or, instant potatoes and vegetable mushrooms. One can order Ala Carte, IF they are serving those choices that day. Lunch and supper offerings are always the same. The stuff served at lunch is the same for supper. Many people cook their own food both because of the small servings and the processed food. If you don't eat in the dining room, you still get charged for it. The "shopping excursions" they talk about is on Wednesday they will take you to Walmart for an hour. That's if you want to go at 9 in the morning. On Friday they will take you to HEB, but you better be done in an hour. They had a cookout for Memorial Day. Served it on the asphalt and ignored the heat advisory. If you wanted to eat, you had to go outside to get it. I went outside to get it, didn't stay outside, and it required 3 days for me to get over the heat exhaustion. I know I'm not the only person with heat issues, being as I am one of the youngest residents. They do have washing machines. They never clean them. Very expensive place to live for what you get. 3 months is enough for me. I'm leaving.

The staff at this facility (especially Jessica and Misty the MedTechs) are excellent and always give great feedback regarding any issues. Choosing a good place for your loved one is never an easy thing, but Newforest Estates is really top tier. The residents get along great with the staff and are well taken care of.