Southside Gardens Assisted Living Center

Julia St. C.

My mother lived there for several years in the independent living apartments. As far as the amenities go, the apartments are a very good value. They are well maintained, offering a little porch and a small garden, a feature hard to find in many senior communities. A stacking washer and dryer in each unit is a huge plus. Two meals a day are provided, and meals can be delivered when the weather is bad, or if residents don't want to walk to the dining hall that day. Basic housekeeping is also included (vacuum, mop, and clean bath fixtures/surfaces as well as kitchen floor and surfaces). Of course residents are expected to pick up after themselves, but the weekly cleaning service is good. Attic storage in the cottages is a nice plus for seasonal decorations, out of season clothing, etc. Small pets (cats, small dogs, birds, etc.) are allowed, and this is so critical in the lives of so many seniors who live alone. The fact that Southside is pet-friendly was a key factor in my mother's decision to move there. Most of the staff is very friendly and quick to respond to resident's needs, sometimes going over the top to help, especially a woman named Jerri, who I hope is still working there. The housekeeping staff is very nice as well. When my mother was there, the food was all right, but the menu choices were limited. I have heard they have a new chef, so hopefully that has changed. Southside is much more affordable than many similar facilities, and offers many activities for residents, as well as a chapel and hair salon.My mother also enjoyed walking the grounds for her exercise. Maintenance is usually prompt, but if you have a weekend or nighttime maintenance emergency requiring a professional (like a clogged toilet that does not respond to the efforts of staff members), there is no provision for that, and residents either go out of pocket for Roto Rooter or they won't be able to use the toilet. The staff on duty will try to resolve the problem themselves (they get a star for that!) but the owner of the facility does not allow staff to call a professional after hours or on weekends, and that is a serious consideration. That policy may have changed since my mother lived there, so please inquire about this before you commit to a lease. I gave them four stars instead of five only because of the lack of after-hours emergency maintenance, limited menu options (at that time), and due to the fact that there were a couple of staff members during my mother's stay there who were busybodies, and two other staff members who persistently proselytized their religious beliefs to residents. The rest of the staff is excellent.

Martha

I lived in Southside Gardens and I loved it. Each person had a little cottage, but you had to go outside to go over to the dining room. Even though you really try to make it friendly for handicapped people, you can't keep the sidewalks clear. We had a terrific storm, so we couldn't get out to go across to the facility, so that was why I moved. They were wonderful. They had wonderful meals. I had a fenced yard and I liked the little cottages. I liked my front porch. It just was difficult for me using a walker. They have another facility on the property that is assisted living, but I was in independent living. Everybody was nice there. This is a unique situation; I used a walker, so it wasn't conducive due to that. I called 911 one day and the manager ran over there and got my dog and took him to the vet for boarding for me. Just doing extra things that they don't have to do. They had a chef who owns a restaurant here in Baton Rouge and the meals were just wonderful. They provided two meals, but they didn't have breakfast. The place was beautiful. They had all this landscaping, they kept all the cabins spotless on the outside, and they had a weekly yard service. It was wonderful. Their activities were similar to others. I was paying more there, but I had a full kitchen and I had a washer and a dryer in my apartment.

Virginia

My 99 year old mother has been at Southside Assisted Living for several years and frequently tells me, unsolicited, how comfortable, happy, safe, and well cared for she feels - The food is good - I get to sample it when I visit - There are frequent programs mostly from the community, school groups, etc. which she enjoys- I think there is an effort to keep residents involved in Life - The staff shows active interest in her well-being - I think she would join me in recommending Southside Assisted Living for your Loved One

Baby-Boomer

We visited someone who lived at the facility and I was disappointed with some aspects of the facility. The rooms are extremely small and not very clean. Some areas definitely need some maintenance attention. I was very disappointed.

Catherine

We visited Southside Gardens, and the rooms we saw were nice, but a smaller facility. The director was great, and the employees are all good, but it was in a different part of town than where my dad was used to being in. They had activities, but not many, and they did not take them off the property. The dining area looked nice and clean, but the menu had few choices. It was a lot less expensive than other places.

June

My parents liked Southside Gardens. They liked the fact that it didn’t have interior quarters, only small cottages that were a nice size. They were very satisfied with the food. They had the opportunity to meet the residents and had a good feeling about the place.