Caldsted Foundation Inc. sits in Chattanooga, TN, right over on 3701 Cherryton Dr, and goes about its work quietly, helping older folks who need a place to live and don't want to worry every month about rent or food or basic things like utilities or medicine, which sure does make for some peace of mind if you ask around. The community is meant for seniors at least 65 years old who are still able to look after themselves, meaning you need to be able to walk on your own and take care of bathing and such, so there's independence here, but there's help, too-like three meals every day (except no supper on Sundays or holidays), weekly housekeeping, utilities that include things like electricity, gas, and water, and even free Wi-Fi, which has become more useful over the years, and they've got laundry on every wing and maintenance on call if something breaks, so people don't worry much about the little stuff that can add up. Now, there's a monthly service fee set at 35% of your gross social security income, but there's a minimum-no one pays less than $430 a month, and there's a $5,000 entrance fee for everyone coming in, but it's all laid out up front, and they don't take in anyone with more than $400,000 in assets or more than $50,000 in income ($60,000 for couples), so you won't find any high rollers here, and it makes for a neighborly feel, where folks are looking out for each other because they know what it's like to have to count pennies.
Caldsted Foundation Inc. doesn't have employees, but there's a board in charge-folks like Rob Taylor, Andrew Mcgill, Hicks Armor, James H Pesnell, Pamela B Bracher, and Dan Gray manage how things run, and even though there aren't paid staff listed, the place pays out for accounting and professional services, with Paul Johnson III CPA handling those numbers, which gives some structure and keeps things squared away financially. The foundation itself has been around a while and you see it in their balance sheets with assets like savings, investments, and buildings, so there's stability, and each year their expenses run a steady sum, mostly taken care of by their revenue, which means they can keep operating the way they do.
You'll find there's a festive, family-friendly spirit in the halls, and folks talk about spending time together, whether it's over meals, trying out new hobbies, or just chatting in one of the common rooms, and if someone wants to get involved, there are always volunteer opportunities or community donation drives popping up. The place sits near plenty of restaurants and parks, which comes in handy for outings, and there's access to a good number of doctors, pharmacies like Walgreens and hospital branches for when health needs crop up, as well as several churches nearby for those who want that kind of connection. Caldsted Foundation Inc. doesn't provide around-the-clock skilled nursing, but there is memory care and some health support, though it's mainly a place for seniors who get by with a bit of help-if you need more medical attention or can't move around safely, it probably isn't the right fit, but for those who want company and to keep their independence, it feels welcoming, and there's a long-standing sense of fairness and community that folks appreciate, especially since the rules are clear and the mission is to make sure no one has to give up essential things just to pay for a place to live in their older years.
