Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed: several reviewers praise the facility's cleanliness, friendly and caring staff, active programming, and secure environment, while a number of serious concerns center on staffing shortages and inconsistent clinical care. Positive comments consistently note that the facility is well maintained, rooms are nice, the central dining area and on-site rehab spaces are convenient, and that staff can be attentive and responsive. Several family members report meaningful interactions such as birthday celebrations and an activities program that engages Alzheimer's residents, and some describe the facility as a first-choice recommendation due to its comfort care and positive family impact.
Care quality appears to vary. Many reviews highlight compassionate, watchful care with staff who respond to questions and monitor residents closely, especially in secure units designed to prevent wandering. Comfort and end-of-life care are singled out positively in at least one review. However, multiple reviews report troubling care lapses: neglect related to personal hygiene (not giving baths, leaving residents in the same clothes), dental/nighttime care issues, and instances where injuries occurred (a fall, concussion, bruises). There are also reports of delayed or inadequate medical attention that necessitated emergency room visits and a reported decline in a resident's condition after an incident. These issues suggest inconsistency in clinical oversight and day-to-day personal care.
Facility features and safety: reviewers generally agree the facility is clean and well maintained, with a central dining room and rehab centers located at both ends of the living areas—features that families find convenient. Locked or secure units for residents with cognitive impairment are appreciated and described as effective for wandering prevention. At the same time, the documented falls and injuries raise safety concerns that may be tied to staffing levels or monitoring practices; the positive descriptions of watchful monitoring contrast with the reports of incidents, indicating variability across shifts or individual cases.
Activities and programming receive mixed feedback. On the positive side, there are multiple mentions of an active schedule, celebrations, and targeted activities for Alzheimer's residents that help residents maintain appetite and engagement. Nevertheless, at least one reviewer explicitly said resident programs have room for improvement, suggesting the schedule or quality of programming is not uniformly strong for all residents.
Operational and admission concerns are prominent. Several reviews point to recurrent staffing shortages, with direct consequences: the facility has been unable to admit patients at times, cannot provide transportation, and is not equipped to manage dialysis patients. These limitations can be decisive for families seeking placement for residents with specific medical needs. Staffing shortages are also cited as a reason why otherwise positive reviewers would modify their recommendation; staffing levels appear to be the single most frequently mentioned issue influencing overall satisfaction.
In summary, Diversicare Of Smyrna has clear strengths: a clean, well-kept environment, visible efforts at resident engagement and recreation, secure units for cognitively impaired residents, and staff who in many cases are described as caring and responsive. The most significant and recurring concerns are staffing shortages and inconsistent care practices that have led to hygiene neglect, delayed medical attention, falls/injuries, and limits on admissions or services (transportation, dialysis). These patterns suggest that experiences at the facility can vary significantly depending on staffing and specific clinical needs. Prospective residents and families should weigh the facility's environmental and programmatic strengths against the reported variability in clinical and personal-care consistency, and consider confirming current staffing levels, medical capabilities (including dialysis care and transport), fall-prevention protocols, and daily hygiene routines during their decision process.
