Stephanie's Love and Care Facility

Pros

• Barbara's dedication and expertise are evident.
• She has a genuine passion for caring for her residents.
• Barbara takes the time to discuss her operations and staffing, instilling confidence.
• Barbara is described as a kind and compassionate woman.
• The home is spotless, smells pleasant, and feels like a real house.
• Loving Care provides personal care and attention, with meaningful socialization for residents.
• The facility is a rare gem, standing out for its warmth and the people who work there.
• Family members felt confident entrusting their loved ones to Barbara's care.

Cons

• The reviewer states that two other mainstream facilities provided horrible experiences before finding Barbara's care.
• The reviewer describes having a very traumatic experience at a larger local Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility.

Review

A recent visit and a long memory come together in a way that underscores why small, house-based care can feel so personal and secure. Barbara's place presents itself as a quiet, spotless home where the everyday rhythm of life carries a gentle, reassuring sense of order. The home was clean and inviting, with a pleasant scent that suggested attention to comfort and dignity. The residents rested peacefully, a sign to any first-time visitor that the environment is calm and well managed. Barbara took the time to sit with me, to discuss the services she offers, and to share her philosophy of care. As a registered nurse with thirty years of experience running this operation, her dedication and expertise were clear in every answer, every shared story, and every confidence inspiring moment. It was evident that she cares deeply about the people who live there, and that care radiates outward to the entire staff and the home's atmosphere. I left feeling that I could entrust my own family members to her hands without hesitation.

Fast-forward to memories that extend well beyond that first impression, and the story takes on a more personal, almost timeless resonance. Eleven years after my grandmother's passing, I still remember Mrs. Barbara Jackson and the nurse staff with warmth and gratitude. We had endured two other mainstream facilities that left us with uneasy, hurtful memories before we found Loving Care. That discovery felt like a turning point: a rare gem of a home that could offer what our family needed most. The setting itself reinforced the sense of home - an actual house rather than a sterile campus - and the atmosphere matched the architecture: intimate, manageable, and quietly managed, with eight residents at most, creating a small and attentive community rather than a crowded, bustling facility. The house always seemed to carry a respectful scent of cleanliness and care, never clinical, more like a well-loved home than a medical facility.

What followed was a deeper, more meaningful engagement. I remember sitting down with Mrs. Jackson during a doctor's appointment, asking her honestly about how she ran the operation, how she vets her employees, and how she ensures quality care every day. The responses were direct, thorough, and satisfying - evidence of someone who has built a system around safety, respect, and genuine caregiving. It wasn't just about policies on paper; it was about the lived practice - the way she and her staff engaged with residents, the way they vetted caregivers to maintain a consistent standard of kindness and competence, and the way they balanced professional care with heartfelt human connection. The transparency she offered gave me the confidence I needed to place my grandmother there, and the ongoing access I had to visit at any time of day reinforced that trust. I could show up unannounced and still find a calm, controlled, and loving environment.

On those visits, the reality of daily life at Loving Care stood out in every small detail. I found my grandmother in a calm, peaceful state more often than not, which spoke volumes about the care model in place. Barbara and her nurse staff gave residents personal attention - helping them with routines, encouraging outdoor time, and facilitating social interaction among all the residents. This wasn't a place of passive supervision; it was a place of active compassion, where personal care was the norm and where residents were gently guided to engage with the world around them. It's those personal touches - the time spent with each resident, the careful attention to their mood and comfort, and the way caregivers approached each day with deliberate tenderness - that distinguished Loving Care from the more impersonal experiences we had elsewhere. The home's warmth and the people who worked there were what made the difference, turning what could have been a challenging season into something that felt manageable and, ultimately, meaningful.

There's a particular resonance to the language I used then and continue to hold today: this place lives up to its name. It is, in every sense, loving care. The staff's commitment extended beyond basic duties; they invited the residents to step outside, to be engaged with the world around them, and to be part of a community where individual personalities were known and cherished. For my family, Loving Care didn't merely house my grandmother; it offered a space where dignity, respect, and gentle, attentiveness formed the daily routine. The effect was palpable enough to inspire lasting gratitude that has echoed through the years, and I remain grateful for the way Mrs. Jackson and her team handled the delicate balance of independence and safety that excellent memory care requires.

If there's a sentiment I want to convey about the entire experience, it's gratitude - deep, enduring gratitude from the Hines family. We want to ensure that Mrs. Jackson knows that her work did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. This care home offered a level of personal attention and professional competence that is hard to find, and it provided a reprieve during a time that could have otherwise been overwhelming. In the course of those Sunday afternoons - and occasionally on Tuesdays when I would spend hours there - I witnessed a consistency of presence and care that reinforced our trust. Even as emotions rose at times, there was a steadfast sense that my grandmother was in good hands, being cared for with kindness and respect. That sense, in turn, gave our family a sense of peace and fond memory that endures.

Ultimately, the most meaningful thread of these experiences is the relief and gratitude that followed a traumatic encounter with a larger local assisted living or memory care facility. For my parents and the rest of our family, Barbara and her staff arrived as a beacon of reassurance at a moment when reassurance felt scarce. To this day, we thank God daily for having found Barbara and the Loving Care team. Their care made a tangible difference in my grandmother's final months, and their influence continues to shape how we think about who should care for our loved ones when the time comes. The contrast between that trauma and the steady, compassionate presence of Barbara's team is a reminder of what truly matters in care: consistent, heartfelt attention that honors the person living with memory challenges and the family who loves them.

In the end, the testimony of these memories speaks to a simple truth: a home-based approach to memory care - one that treats residents as individuals and families with shared hopes - can offer a level of security, dignity, and warmth that larger facilities strive for but do not always illuminate. Barbara Jackson's Loving Care shines not because it is flashy or large, but because it is intimate, attentive, and powered by a nurse's decades of experience and a staff's equally devoted commitment. For any family seeking a place where care feels personal, where a house becomes a home, and where trust is earned by the daily acts of kindness and professional competence, Loving Care stands out as a beacon of what good memory care can and should be.

This area of Jacksonville, Florida offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies nearby, including Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy, accessing medication and healthcare services is easily achievable. There are also various dining options such as El Jefe, McDonald's, and Kaika Teppanyaki Asian Fusion for seniors to enjoy a variety of cuisines. Additionally, places of worship like Riverside United Church of Christ and West Jacksonville Baptist Church provide opportunities for spiritual fulfillment. Access to quality healthcare is readily available with physicians like Jacksonville Pediatrics and Florida Retina Institute in close proximity, as well as hospitals such as Ascension St Vincent's Riverside and UF Health Jacksonville Towers nearby. Recreation options include parks like Adams Park and Riverfront Park for outdoor activities or leisurely walks. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking convenience, cultural diversity, healthcare accessibility, and recreational opportunities in their daily lives.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• El Jefe (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.3 miles)
• Nacho Taco (2.4 miles)
• Hardee's (2.8 miles)
• Kaika Teppanyaki Asian Fusion (2.8 miles)
• Hawkers Asian Street Fare (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Riverside United Church of Christ (2.2 miles)
• West Jacksonville Baptist Church (2.7 miles)
• Allen Chapel Ame Church (2.7 miles)
• Faith Baptist Church (6.7 miles)

Cafes

• European Street Cafe (2.6 miles)
• Casbah Cafe (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.1 miles)
• Metro Diner (4.2 miles)
• European Street Cafe (4.2 miles)
• Southern Grounds (4.8 miles)

Physicians

• Jacksonville Pediatrics (2.6 miles)
• Florida Retina Institute (2.7 miles)
• Hortencia Espino, MD (2.7 miles)
• Southeast Orthopedic Specialists (2.8 miles)
• Carithers Pediatric Group (2.8 miles)
• Cardinal Health (3.2 miles)
• Akumin (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Ascension St Vincent's Riverside (2.9 miles)
• Childrens Medical Services (3.3 miles)
• UF Health of Jacksonville (3.4 miles)
• UF Health Jacksonville Towers (3.4 miles)
• Baptist Primary Care (7.7 miles)

Parks

• Adams Park (3 miles)
• Riverfront Park (4.3 miles)
• Cortez Park (4.8 miles)