Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community

    6705 Ballard Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37421
    4.9 · 40 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Staff, safe home, excellent care

    I moved my mom here and I couldn't be happier - the staff are warm, professional, and go above and beyond (Brandi, Donna and leadership were especially helpful). The community is spotless, safe and home-like with excellent food, constant activities and caring residents; my mom is healthier and more engaged. Transitions were smooth, I have peace of mind, and I highly recommend this place (5/5).

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.90 · 40 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      5.0
    • Staff

      5.0
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      5.0
    • Value

      2.0

    Pros

    • Caring, attentive and compassionate staff
    • Strong, visible leadership (named staff praised: Katie, Brandi Murray, Melissa, Donna)
    • High-quality clinical support (medication management, showers, hospice support)
    • Smooth move-ins and supportive transition process
    • Small, intimate community with a home-like atmosphere
    • Clean, well-maintained and recently renovated facility
    • Well-appointed independent living apartments
    • Excellent dining and dietary department
    • Varied, frequent activities and social opportunities
    • Nurturing, involved resident community
    • Staff who go above and beyond and respond quickly
    • Professional, experienced and tenured workforce
    • Family-oriented approach that provides peace of mind
    • Safe, comfortable environment for residents
    • Positive resident-staff relationships and warm culture
    • Strong reputation and long-standing presence (30+ years)
    • High staff morale; good place to work
    • Highly recommended by multiple reviewers
    • Waiting list indicates high demand and perceived value
    • Engaging dining experience and pride in food service

    Cons

    • High non-refundable deposit mentioned
    • Limited availability / small number of rooms leads to a waiting list
    • Cost / fees implied concern (deposit cited) but not detailed

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment: Reviews for Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community are overwhelmingly positive, with a consistent pattern of praise for staff, care quality, food, facility condition, and community life. Multiple reviewers gave top ratings or described their experiences as exceptional; the dominant themes are compassionate, attentive care and a warm, home-like environment supported by strong leadership and an experienced team.

    Care quality and staff: The most frequently mentioned strength is the staff. Reviews cite caring, attentive, compassionate personnel who manage daily clinical needs (medication administration, meals, showers) and provide emotional support, including during end-of-life care. Several individual employees and leaders are named repeatedly—Katie, Brandi Murray, Melissa, and Donna—indicating personalized, memorable service. Comments highlight staff responsiveness, willingness to go above and beyond, and the relief families feel knowing loved ones are safe and well-cared for. Reviewers describe the workforce as professional, tenured, warm, and proud of their work, which contributes to continuity of care and resident comfort.

    Facilities and apartments: The facility is consistently described as very clean, well-maintained, and recently renovated in parts. Independent living apartments and the retirement section receive positive mentions for being well-appointed and comfortable. The small size of the community is framed as a positive by many—creating an intimate, family-like atmosphere—though it also contributes to limited availability. Overall physical impressions include spotless common areas and a ‘cruise ship’ or resort-like vibe tied to constant activities and entertainment.

    Dining and dietary services: Dining is a standout area. Multiple reviewers praise the food, the dining experience, and the dietary team’s professionalism; one reviewer specifically calls out Melissa for taking pride in food service. Descriptors such as “excellent food,” “delicious,” and “best atmosphere” are used, and the culinary program appears to be a meaningful contributor to resident satisfaction and social engagement.

    Activities and social life: The community is described as lively and engaging, offering a steady schedule of activities and entertainment that fosters friendships and resident involvement. Reviewers report residents being happy, active, and socially connected. The combination of planned activities and a nurturing culture helps residents feel at home and discourages isolation.

    Management, reputation, and operations: Leadership and management earn positive remarks for being professional, motivating, and hands-on. The community’s long-standing presence (noted as 30+ years) and a reported waiting list suggest a strong local reputation and sustained demand. Several reviewers emphasize that the community is well-managed and that leadership contributes to staff morale and quality of care.

    Family experience and transitions: Families repeatedly describe a smooth transition process and appreciate staff support during move-in and during difficult times (e.g., hospice and bereavement). Reviewers say Hickory Valley provided peace of mind and tangible relief to families who needed reliable ongoing care for loved ones.

    Work environment: Multiple comments indicate Hickory Valley is also a positive place to work—staff describe the workplace as welcoming with actual leadership presence (“real bosses”), which likely reinforces staff retention and consistent resident care.

    Notable concerns and patterns: Negative comments are scarce and not detailed. The few concerns that do appear relate to cost and availability: one reviewer noted a high non-refundable deposit, and the community’s limited size contributes to a waiting list. Those are the primary recurring negatives across the summaries; there are no consistent complaints about care quality, food, cleanliness, or staff conduct.

    Conclusion: Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community presents as a small, well-maintained, and highly regarded senior community with exceptional staff, strong leadership, excellent dining, and a robust activity program. The dominant impression from reviewers is trust—families and residents repeatedly emphasize compassion, professionalism, and a family-like atmosphere. The main caveat prospective families should be aware of is limited availability (a waiting list) and at least one report of a sizable non-refundable deposit; otherwise, reviewers overwhelmingly recommend the community as one of the best options for senior living in the area.

    Location

    Map showing location of Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community

    About Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community

    Hickory Valley A Senior Living Community sits on beautifully landscaped grounds and offers both independent living and assisted living, making it a place where seniors can get care suited to their own needs, and there's a lot to talk about with the way daily life goes on there because you get maintenance-free living, different floor plans like studio, studio deluxe, and one-bedroom apartments that come with kitchen appliances for those that want to make their own meals, and every apartment is designed for comfort and accessibility. Residents can enjoy weekly housekeeping, linen services, and personal laundry, and they have all utilities included in the lease except for phone and cable, and there's an ongoing focus on keeping things simple and stress-free with helpful services.

    The community works hard to support independence and dignity while offering help where needed, with highly trained staff onsite, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants available at all hours, though the nurse is available part-time, and everyone gets care tailored to their health and medication needs, including medication reminders and optional medication management. There are also specialized care options, so if someone needs extra help, it's there.

    The dining experience features restaurant-style meals with communal dining rooms, and guests can join in for a meal or even an overnight stay, which can make visits easier for families. Residents get transportation services for shopping, appointments, and outings, and there's a personal driver on staff too, so getting around is less of a worry. You'll find a beauty shop onsite, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and indoor entertainment spaces, with games, hobbies, and scheduled religious services. The facility is two stories and feels a bit like an upscale hotel but keeps a homelike feeling, making it both elegant and comfortable.

    The activities calendar is packed with things like themed dinners, live entertainment, outings, and wellness programs, helping residents stay active in mind and body, and there's a focus on education too, with seminars and other community events. Grounds are lovely and let folks enjoy the outdoors as part of regular life. The entire staff works to uphold high service standards-Hickory Valley holds a five-star service rating-and the aim since 1983 has been to help residents thrive in a warm environment, with plenty of opportunities for socializing and personal growth. The Administrator is Katie Leathers, and there's involvement with groups like the Tennessee Health Care Association, and even CNA training is available. Flexible, month-to-month leases mean people aren't locked into long contracts, and there's no endowment model to worry about.

    If someone's looking for comfortable maintenance-free living combined with strong health support, recreation, and a caring staff, Hickory Valley Retirement Center has provided these things for decades and continues as a vibrant senior community striving to enhance every resident's quality of life.

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