The Village at Gainesville has everything that my parents needed. They have transportation, food/dining services, all sorts of activities, and learning experiences. They even have a travel agency there. They are currently in the independent living and I liked that they can go to assisted living once that's required. The staff has just been super helpful. They do a good job of explaining things that the elderly can understand. I ate there and the food's pretty good. All the facilities are easy to access. They have a full library and seminars on so many different topics that you can find something for every interest.

We're going to choose The Village at Gainesville because it's close to the hospital, and my husband needs access to that. There's a lot of nature, and there's a lot to do there to keep us active in our old age. It was the only one that we've seen that had a full kitchen, and we're still able to cook. The other places' apartments had just a kitchenette and no stove. So even though you get the food plan, if you feel like having something that you're used to, I like that. The other thing is they make it easy for you. Like the place that we wanted is not going to be ready till July, but we have to move out of here, so they're giving us a temporary place to stay in one of their apartments. That's a plus, that they go beyond what they have to do. The place is nice and clean.

I am currently living at The Village at Gainesville. The units are smaller apartment houses. They have a central area, and they also have nursing. It is a very large campus and buses pick you up to take you to the different things. It is a very lovely residential area. At this point, because of COVID-19, they don't have it open, but they have a few dining rooms, and the food is fine. However, it is a big complaint amongst the residents, because the food is simply just adequate. I had a comparison between a retirement place I used to live in in Pennsylvania, and the food was about the same size as this. The food was excellent there, so I know it is possible to do that. The food here is adequate, but it would not operate if it were running a restaurant for trade because everyone complains about it. I am not badmouthing it too badly, but I am saying that for the price we pay the food is OK. It is excellent as far the desirability of the apartment houses themselves. I just don't feel that the food is what I and other people expect at the price we pay. Nevertheless, it is quite adequate, and I guess they do their best, but they don't have a very good top chef. In other ways it is very nicely run. They have adequate transportation for people who do not have cars to get around. It is a large campus. In all other ways it is very fine except for the food. The staff are absolutely excellent and very fine. The people who clean the place and work on the grounds are excellent. The personnel in the offices, I give them a very top rating. They maintain everything beautifully; the grounds are luscious. I am 97 and I am not involved in the activities, but the other people I see involved in various things that they hold, whatever it is, and I am not a fair judge on what the activities might be, except it looks as if everyone is involved in whatever they want to be involved in/they are able to be involved in. It might be a little bit pricey, but it seems to me, as I am looking around, that all of the places for the elderly living are getting up there. You have to have money in order to live here. I think the value for what I am paying is probably worth what I am paying. For what I am paying it is in there for all the things they do, the atmosphere of the place, and everything that they give you. I just wish the food were a little better.

My mom is going to hopefully be at The Village at Gainesville. It's really nice. She chose this one because they have a screened-in patio porch in their apartments and also they have a pond that she can fish in. She loves to fish. The staff that I met were very nice. The place was very nice. They have been renovated and they're adding on new buildings all the time. Everything has been upgraded, like the apartment she is going to stay in, they've furnished it with new carpet and new refrigerator. It's really topnotch.

The Village at Gainesville is a much bigger complex with a large number of different accommodations. It is very nice if you're ambulatory. However, the drawback in my opinion is that they have a point system for meals. In other words, they give you so many points per month, and then you have to walk outside to the different dining rooms. Their apartments seem to be very nice; I like that. In the apartments themselves, they have a washer and dryer, which is very convenient. They have much more versatile activities for the residents to do, and they have visiting musicians. The young lady that showed us around was very nice. Their accommodations are very good. They're well appointed, but not as close to living facilities.