Lakeside Senior Living Community sits at 390 Dr. Smith Lane in McKenzie, Tennessee, and has a warm feeling right when you pull in, looking out over the lake and seeing folks sit out on patios or porches, maybe with a dog or cat by their side since they let residents bring pets. The apartments come in studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms, with open floor plans, balconies or patios, kitchens, bathrooms, closets, and each one lets you control your own heat and air, which makes it easy to settle in and make life comfortable in your own way. Folks can pick independent living, assisted living, or dementia care, and the place seems to do a solid job matching what each person needs, whether it's helping with a shower or managing medicines, or even just checking in every so often, since there's always staff around and a nurse practitioner plus a registered dietitian on the team. They serve meals in a dining room with chef-planned menus, so you might find roast beef, chicken dumplings, catfish, or just some scrambled eggs and hot dogs-nothing too fancy, but hearty and filling, and always someone to share a table with.
The community has a pleasant bit of land with nature gardens, open walking trails, and even some backyard wildlife now and then, so if you like sitting quiet or strolling with a friend, you'll find a good spot. There's a games room, a billiards table, a library for reading or quiet time, and craft, exercise, and television rooms for gathering. People get together for card games, singalongs, and all sorts of activities, and they take regular trips to town or for fun outings, sometimes visiting the beauty salon or barbershop right on site. Lakeside has transportation and parking, with ride services for doctor visits and errands, and the staff here get good marks for being helpful and friendly, always with a smile or a kind word. There are emergency call systems in each apartment, and the housekeeping and laundry help is steady and keeps things easy to manage. They serve seniors who want to live at their own pace, but who might need a hand now and then, and the whole place seems to focus on peace, joy, and strong connections among the residents and with their families. Residents and families tend to leave high marks in reviews, and Lakeside has gotten some awards like Best of Senior Living and Best of Senior Living All Star, and folks appreciate that the activities are meant to keep them busy, engaged, and feeling like part of the community. The Lakeside Retirement Community can be found online and has a Facebook page if you want to see more.
