Alexian Village of Tennessee

I've chosen Alexian Village on Signal Mountain. I plan to move there in three to four years. I saw it as a very caring place. It is very faith-based, but not overly so. Everyone there seemed very happy. I visited a few times, and everyone's welfare is everyone's concern there. The food is very good. The apartments are comfortable. I am going for a smaller unit. I want to be in the main building, and that looks very do-able. They've got beautiful grounds, and it's situated in a beautiful community with beautiful views. Some of the apartments are older, some are newer, but it all blends together very well. They had exercise areas and activities, and normally they'd have trips, but it's shutdown with COVID. They have a lot of activities to stimulate all different interests, and they have a pool. The food is excellent and the socialization in the dining halls is great. I chose it because it's not far from where I live now and because it is a Catholic-based residence.

My mother has been here for seven-plus years now, and if I had it to do over again, we would NOT let Mom move into Alexian. It used to be very good when the Alexian Brothers were running it, but since Ascension Living took it over, it is TERRIBLE. The food service is lacking, both in quality and service. Main dining room servers are always visiting with each other instead of giving the Residents and their guests attentive service. And down in the Town Square it is even worse! It takes 30-45 minutes to get your order, and that's when it's not busy. Servers down there always seem to be chatting in the kitchen instead of serving. And I mean ALWAYS. When Mom first went in, there was only a buffet once a week for the main meal on Sunday. Now they do buffet service at the drop of a hat. And when seniors might have some mobility limitations, buffet service is not very convenient. Management says a server will help a resident navigate the long buffet table, but older people are proud, and often do not want to inconvenience anyone, so they struggle. Deep cleaning the kitchen? Have a buffet! Having a bake sale downstairs? Have a buffet! Expecting company to come tour the facility? Have a buffet! One reason Mom went in here was because they always had table service. Now that is no longer true, and the Residents suffer from that. Having been to several buffet lunches, I can tell you that the quality is also lacking. Empty platters slow to be refilled, food that is not at all hot, serving utensils that should be changed out and washed regularly are not, spills on the table not cleaned up, and I could go on. So food service, which is often the high point of an elderly person's day, is absolutely, totally lacking in both dining venues. Alexian's obsession with buffet service food is reason enough to find another venue for your loved one. For the prices charged to live at Alexian, this should be a more high-end facility with high-quality service. Constant buffets in lieu of more personal table service meals scream corner-cutting and low-end quality service. Having lived in Independent Living for many years, my mother has had occasion to need to have a stay in the Healthcare Department (skilled nursing) and also Assisted Living. Over the course of a 3-week stay in Healthcare, I found the nursing staff to be at times surly, unhelpful, unresponsive, and overall just offering sloppy care, for the most part. There were some nurses who were good, great even, but that was not the norm. And I visited almost every day, so my observations were plentiful. As for a short stay in Assisted Living, this is the ONLY place that Alexian shines. Nursing care much better than average. But again, as far as food service goes, I found the meals offered to Residents in Assisted always barely lukewarm. In the many meals I had there with my mom, I cannot remember one that was served hot. In closing, Alexian offers all the same services everyone else does like medical transportation, shopping transportation, recreational trips, etc., but for services rendered on an every-day basis, this Retirement Village is sorely lacking. Also, good luck ever getting someone on the phone. It doesn't matter if I was calling admissions, management, healthcare, rehab, dining service, etc., NO ONE ever answers the phone! It seems like all administrative staff leave at 3 pm every day, because no call made after 4 pm will result in speaking to someone because they have all gone home already. This truly is one very poorly run facility. Employees parking in the few spots close to the entrance to Assisted Living instead of leaving those spots for visitors, bus drivers who are on their cell phones with personal calls while driving up and down a winding mountain road. You have the safety of my mother in your hands! Get off the darn phone! It's like there is NO employee oversight anywhere at this large facility. I hate to give a one-star review, but after many years of personal observations, they do indeed deserve it.

A beautiful campus and facility at the top of the mountain--the views are incredible. The nurses and aides truly care for the residents and appear to be a great team. Leaving there, I have a peace of mind knowing my aunt is in good hands.

Alexian Village of Tennessee was a very nice, beautiful facility but not somewhere Mom is going to be able to afford. They had a large buy-in, and she is not able to do that. The staff was very nice. The rooms were adequate.

I have been to Alexian Village of Tennessee myself when I had surgery and also have friends there. Everything is absolutely top notch. The staff is wonderful. I don't have any complaints. The friends I visit are very happy there. The apartments are spacious, lovely, and set up nicely. I'm very pleased with the food. The grounds are a beautiful setting.