Overall sentiment about Cottages of Clayton Inc is mixed but strongly polarized: many reviewers report excellent, compassionate care, a warm family atmosphere, engaging activities, and strong leadership in nursing and administration, while a notable minority describe serious operational and safety lapses, inconsistent care, and management problems. The facility receives repeated praise for the direct-care personnel, several named caregivers, and for leadership figures (notably the Director of Nursing Amanda Treadway and administrator Morgan Crow) who are described as patient-focused, hands-on, and improvements-oriented. Multiple families emphasize that staff treat residents like family, go above and beyond (holiday gifts, special events), provide meaningful socialization, and create a home-like environment in individual cottages that feel welcoming and comfortable. Positive accounts frequently cite good food (specific praise for ribs and BBQs), abundant activities (bingo, bus rides, holiday and seasonal events), attractive grounds, sunlight-filled seating areas, and the ability for residents to maintain independence with safe transport assistance and scheduled outings.
However, a substantial portion of reviews raise red flags about operational reliability and resident safety that should not be overlooked. The most consistent negatives include high staff turnover and staffing shortages that appear to produce uneven care: some shifts or aides are described as excellent and compassionate, while others are characterized as overworked, unresponsive, or inattentive. Several reviews describe medication-related problems — delays, missed doses, or medicines running out before refills — and some families reported unacceptable clinical lapses such as delayed pain medication, neglected foot or sore issues, falls without adequate alert/response, and refusal of routine assistance (e.g., help with teeth brushing). These clinical concerns directly contradict other reports of timely and proper care, indicating significant variability in performance from day to day or shift to shift.
Sanitation and safety concerns recur in multiple reports: odors from urine or soiled diapers, feces found on bathroom floors, dirty common areas, and reports of rooms smelling or being unkempt. While many reviewers say the grounds and overall facility are clean and well maintained, others explicitly state the facility is smelly, dirty, or rundown — again pointing to inconsistency across cottages or over time. Some families report difficulties locating staff when needed, call buttons not being answered, and portable potty use or leaving residents unattended. Security concerns are also raised, including reports of missing personal items and alleged staff theft, prompting at least one reviewer to suggest hidden cameras. Frequent room moves (one report of five moves in four months) and inconsistent housekeeping (room cleaning twice a week vs. reports of dirty rooms) contribute to family unease.
Management and culture issues are another notable theme. While numerous reviewers praise the administrator and DON for being responsive and resident-centered, others accuse ownership and management of being rude, unprofessional, or motivated primarily by money. Specific mention of an owner named Doug and critiques of hiring practices — "hires anyone just to have a body" — suggest perceived problems with recruitment, screening, and staff retention. Several reviewers also mention a perceived bias toward private-pay residents and a lack of recognition for hardworking staff. Communication problems appear at multiple levels: voicemail/mailbox issues making it hard to reach residents, phone staff described as rude, and poor internal staff communication that can leave families feeling uninformed.
Dining and activities receive mostly positive comments but with some caveats. Many families praise meals, themed events, and engaged kitchen staff (Dee, Dorothea) and appreciate social programming that keeps residents active and connected. Conversely, some reviewers cite small portions, poor nutrition, or low-quality meal choices (e.g., corndogs for dinner) for some residents, particularly those with higher care needs or lower-income status. Activity offerings are often cited as a strength — Monday–Friday programming, holiday parties, and outings — but at least one review described limited activities, indicating variability depending on cottage or staffing.
In sum, Cottages of Clayton appears to excel at creating a warm, social, home-like environment in many cases, with strong clinical leadership and direct-care staff who genuinely care for residents. At the same time, recurring themes of staffing instability, inconsistent cleanliness and clinical responsiveness, medication management issues, and uneven management practices introduce significant risks. These mixed signals suggest the facility can provide an excellent experience when staffing and leadership are present and effective, but families should investigate current staffing ratios, turnover rates, medication policies, call-bell response times, infection-control/housekeeping practices, security procedures, and how the facility handles complaints and clinical escalation before making a placement decision. Meeting the DON and administrator, asking for recent inspection reports and staffing rosters, and touring multiple cottages at different times of day would help verify whether the positive attributes described in many reviews are consistent and whether the negative issues have been addressed.
