Garden Plaza of Aurora

As a hospice nurse who works closely with many Assisted Living and Independent Living communities, I see firsthand what truly exceptional care looks like—and Garden Plaza of Aurora is one of the few communities that consistently goes the extra mile. One thing that truly stands out is their 30-day Assisted Living trial, which allows families to try living there without being locked into a contract. When you’ve supported families through the difficult process of finding the right care for a loved one, you understand how meaningful that kind of flexibility and compassion really is. From the moment you walk in, the building feels like home. The front desk teams on both sides greet you with a smile and remember your name, creating an atmosphere that immediately puts residents, families, and clinicians at ease. The staff are truly wonderful. Amber, the Wellness Director, is incredible at her job—her clinical insight, compassion, and dedication to residents set the tone for the entire care team. Liza and Denise also go above and beyond every day to make residents feel safe, valued, and cared for. Working in hospice, I know how stressful and emotional it can be for families trying to find the right place for someone they love. Garden Plaza of Aurora is one of the rare communities where I feel completely confident recommending it to families, friends—and honestly, even for myself someday. It’s a place where people are genuinely cared for, and that makes all the difference.

It saddens me to leave this review. After many years of our family members living there, we moved them out for their well-being. When I look at the reviews on this page, I would say these WERE accurate, however, they have new leadership (approx. March 2026) and subsequently, the service has significantly declined. - Staff are leaving left and right. Outside of front desk staff, you’d be hard pressed to find more than a handful of staff who have been there longer than 2 years. And honestly, the reason most of the residents haven’t left is because it’s just so hard of an adjustment moving elders. But many families and residents have shared their concerns in whispered conversations. - Leaks throughout the building but mostly on the second floor, which have resulted in mold and leaks to the first floor multipurpose room. - A whirlpool that is a selling point but has hardly, if ever worked. - Ignored emails or calls from concerned families. Or responses from leadership that are brash. - Someone else already mentioned in their review the front desk staff who don’t acknowledge/speak to people — that’s guests and residents alike (why would onsite leadership be okay with that?). - All of this while prices have consistently been increasing. The final straw was Garden Plaza recently came under new ownership — Life Care Centers of America. Name sounds familiar? Maybe because they were ground zero for elder deaths at the beginning of COVID. A five second Google search will tell you everything else you need to know. Here are the most notable legal actions against the company: 1. Medicare & TRICARE Fraud ($145 Million Settlement with Dept. of Justice where concerned employees were the initial whistleblowers) - Oct. 2016 2. Wage and Overtime Class Actions — 2015-2020 3. Patient Abuse and Neglect Verdicts — 2022 & 2024 4. Employment Discrimination — 2024-2025 & active investigations in 2026 Garden Plaza is the Independent Living side and The Bridge at Garden Plaza is the Assisted Living side. Now most of these lawsuits are related to skilled nursing (aka assisted living or rehab), but the point still remains that this is who now OWNS Garden Plaza, coupled with lackluster onsite leadership.

We were pleased to find Garden Plaza for our mom. The decorating made her feel at home. The rooms are big enough, but not too big. The staff is kind and caring. They have safe protocols for flu and other viruses. The dining room is inviting and mom could order ice cream at lunch and dinner time! Take a tour!

We were fortunate to find The Bridge at Garden Plaza after an exhaustive search for an assisted living facility for my elderly mom. During her stay there, she had the best of care and attention we could have hoped for. Staff is very attentive, kind and compassionate and my mom loved them! Food is good and they always had ice cream, a must for mom. Savanna was a great resource as we toured available rooms and considered options. Amber, the director, is wonderful and will easily guide you into the community. Everyone we encountered there was responsive and helpful. Don't hesitate to place your loved one here!