The Estate at Carpenters was really nice. We have a friend who lives there and she's very happy with everything that they do, but she's got the money to do all that stuff. I mean, it's one thing to be able to afford the monthly payments, but there are all kinds of outside things you have to buy by yourself. The apartments are all the same, but some are bigger. My friend has a 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit. Once in a while we see activities like pool tables and stuff like that. They go outside to dinner, and on the third floor they have one elevator. It's probably the best, but it's also the most expensive. The staff is nice and everything, but aside from them not having a 2-bedroom that we can afford, we didn't like having to eat every meal there.

Estates at Carpenters was very nice and essentially decorated with the help of the residents. The food was very good. I like the environment, the safety, and the concerned people. The rooms and grounds were very nice. They have trees -- so that helps with the shade -- and the view was nice. It was very comfortable and pleasant. They had a pool and a gym with several work out machines, walking path, and bicycles. They have activities every day like games, movies, library, walking groups, and water aerobics type of things.

I like the walk-in closets at the Estates, and the staff is very nice. The surroundings are very pretty. The food sometimes leaves a little to be desired, but it is improving. We have activities, transportation, swimming pool, exercise room, pool room, craft room, and woodworking room.

We are going to move into Estates At Carpenters. We chose it because the price is very good and the apartments are large and spacious. We are going to get a 13-square-foot apartment. The activities are adequate. I am not overly fond of the food, but everybody has different tastes. It also depends on the chef at that time, so it can change.

The Estates at Carpenters was very business-like yet they were very helpful. They offered to show me around and showed me a unit. The rooms were very nice but I think that they were a little overpriced for the person that I was looking for. It was in a beautiful community. The common dining area was very nice and very homey. I was watching the people as they were waiting to go into the dining area and everybody was friendly.

The one that we enjoyed the most is The Estates at Carpenter. They have a beautiful facility. They call it a life care community because you go in as a healthy individual, and they have the ability to care for you if you need assistance and later if you need a nursing home facility. Your partner may continue to live in your original apartment while you might ascend to the other areas with no extra fee. Of course communities like that have all kinds of activities, and this one even had a wood shop which some of them don't have. It is very nice, and it is a complete facility.

I really like The Estates at Carpenters out in Lakeland. It's designed and built to hurricane specifications. We met one lady who showed us around and she was very competent. They do have different styles and different sizes with their rooms, and they look good to me. We did have lunch in their dining room and the food was OK.

The Estates at Carpenters is a top rated community. When we moved in a year ago, it was very overwhelming at first. But we soon made a lot of new friends (who didn't mind that we couldn't always remember their name). The staff is 1st rate and always willing to help in any way. It is a great comfort to me to know that if the need arises and one of us must go to the Manor or Villa (24 hour nursing or assisted living area) that they are top rated both in the state and the country. You always have access to nursing assistance if needed. No place is perfect, but this comes pretty close.

My wife and I moved to the Estates about 7 years ago. We had toured the facility about 3 years prior to our move and at that time had placed a deposit on a unit. There was a waiting list for the size apartment that we wanted and they called periodically as a follow-up. They called us in April with an apartment of the desired size, but we decided "we were not ready yet". They called again in September and we said "yes". They then began to ready the apartment. We moved in the First week of January, and have enjoyed our new home ever since. I have heard comments from people who say "I don't want to give up my freedom, make all new friends and live in an apartment." My response to this is that "the only freedoms I gave up are, mowing the lawn, cleaning the gutters, fixing broken appliances and raking leaves." In the 53 years Theresa and I have been married, the only time we had lived in an apartment was for 9 months while I went to Graduate School. Regardless, we had no problem adjusting to our new home. We have found the staff, from the top to the bottom, friendly, helpful and always available. Our new neighbors are as friendly as anyone could hope for. We love it here and have had no regrets over our decision to come the to The Estates at Carpenters.