Art Of Living - Community Living Arrangement X in Decatur, GA

Pros

• The experience at Art of Living is great, with lots of activities and road trips.
• Hassan is living his best life at AOL and loves the day program and living with his roommates.
• The staff are exceptional, patient, helpful, and professional, and have gone above and beyond to support Hassan.
• Joi has been a huge help coordinating MARTA and helping him acclimate.
• Art of Living pushes independence by offering choices, provides a monthly calendar of activities, teaches life skills, and involves the community.
• AOL is a lifesaver and a safe haven for loved ones, with amazing staff and constant communication.

Cons

• One reviewer described a caregiver yelling openly at an exceptional adult in public, calling it completely unacceptable and humiliating.
• They reported the same caregiver yelling to slow down and to keep up, indicating a lack of patience with people with exceptionalities.
• They warned that if someone lacks patience to work with people with exceptionalities, they should find another line of work.
• They characterized the company as unprofessional, rude, careless, and bogus, noting a high turnover with a new caregiver every week.
• They alleged the owners are liars who will withhold paychecks or cut days when favors can’t be done, implying mistreatment of employees.

Review

This community is best suited for adults with developmental disabilities who want a structured, socially engaging living environment where independence is actively cultivated. In Decatur, Art Of Living offers a residential setting with three roommates per home and a robust day program that emphasizes choice, real-world skill-building, and community involvement. Families report residents settle into a steady routine, participate in road trips and local activities, and gain confidence handling everyday tasks. For those prioritizing practical life skills alongside companionship and supervised autonomy, this option delivers a clear path to greater self-sufficiency within a safety-conscious framework.

Alternatives should be considered for families where caregiver consistency and professional boundaries are non-negotiable. Several reviews flag turnover among front-line caregivers and note at least one explicit incident where a staff member spoke to a participant in a public, disrespectful manner. While not universal, these reports suggest a risk of fluctuating staffing and variable treatment that could disrupt progress. For residents who require a highly predictable caregiving cadre, or who want a setting with strictly uniform staff and incident handling, other providers may offer greater steadiness or more stringent supervision.

The strongest positives center on the day program, which features a broad slate of activities, ongoing life-skills coaching, and frequent community outings. The model pushes independence by giving residents real choices and a monthly calendar to structure their days, while staff are described as patient, professional, and supportive. The residential aspect, with shared living spaces and a focus on safety, complements the program by reinforcing learned routines in a familiar home environment. The willingness to help residents navigate public transportation (MARTA) and other community resources further reinforces the goal of genuine inclusion.

Yet, the negatives can’t be dismissed. A public-facing incident where a caregiver yelled at a resident raises legitimate concerns about demeanor and boundary-setting, and the broader pattern of turnover can erode continuity of care. Some reviewers question leadership practices and responsiveness, which, if borne out, would undermine trust and impede long-term progress. Prospective families should weigh these concerns against the recurring praise for patient staff and meaningful engagement, recognizing that a handful of troubling experiences can color the overall impression.

In practice, the pros offset the cons most strongly when the family prioritizes growth through structured activity and community participation. If the goal is to move beyond passive supervision toward meaningful daily living and social integration, the program’s assets, activity variety, life-skills emphasis, and proactive communication, can drive sustained improvement. To mitigate risks, demand transparent staffing details, insist on stable caregiver assignments, and request a concrete plan for addressing any disciplinary or behavioral concerns. A candid conversation about current turnover rates, training standards, and incident follow-up will illuminate whether the environment can be trusted to stay consistently uplifting.

Overall, this community offers a compelling option for families seeking an empowered, activity-rich path to independence within a safe, supportive home setting. It is less suitable for those who must insist on unbroken continuity with a single, small team of caregivers or who require flawless day-to-day conduct from every staff member. The decision hinges on balancing the program’s strong emphasis on autonomy and community engagement against the reality of staffing variability and occasional management questions. Prospective families should visit, observe resident–staff interactions, and press for clarity on staffing plans and incident-resolution processes before committing, then tailor any participation to a staged transition that preserves progress and minimizes disruption.

This part of Decatur, Georgia offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to individuals considering senior living. The area features a selection of restaurants, pharmacies, parks, theaters, physicians, cafes, transportation options, places of worship, and hospitals within a short distance. In addition, the proximity to MARTA stations provides convenient access to public transportation for easy travel around the city. The presence of healthcare facilities such as Grady Memorial Hospital and Atlanta VA Medical Center ensures accessible medical care for residents. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded community with diverse offerings that cater to the needs and interests of seniors looking for a vibrant and convenient living environment.

Restaurants

• Club Bolts (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (3 miles)
• Poco Loco (3.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.5 miles)
• Trackside Tavern (3.7 miles)
• The Brick Store Pub (3.9 miles)
• Taqueria Del Sol (3.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.9 miles)

Parks

• Glen Emerald Park (1.8 miles)
• East Lake Park (1.9 miles)
• Bessie Branham Park (2.7 miles)
• McKoy Park (2.7 miles)
• Toy Park (3.9 miles)
• Grant Park Neighborhood Association (4.1 miles)
• Pemberton Place (5.9 miles)

Theaters

• Starlight Six Drive-In (2.7 miles)
• AMC Madison Yards 8 (3.5 miles)

Physicians

• Oakhurst Pediatrics (2.8 miles)
• Dekalb Medical Ctrdecatur Decatur (4 miles)
• Thomas D Gurley Jr MD (4.4 miles)
• Atlanta OB/GYN (4.7 miles)
• Garson Padoan Sonia MD - Piedmont Urgent Care by Wellstreet (4.9 miles)
• Decatur Health Imaging (5.3 miles)

Cafes

• El Tesoro (3 miles)
• Muchacho (3.6 miles)
• Dancing Goats Coffee Bar (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)
• Starbucks Reserve (6.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.4 miles)

Transportation

• MARTA Inman Park - Reynoldstown Station (3.8 miles)
• Marta - Westbound (4.1 miles)
• MARTA - King Memorial Station (4.6 miles)
• Marta - Dome/Gwcc/Phillips Arena/Cnn Center Station (5.8 miles)
• MARTA - North Avenue Transit Station (6 miles)
• MARTA - Midtown Station (6.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Inman Park United Methodist Church (3.9 miles)
• First Baptist Church of Decatur (4.1 miles)
• Mountainside Seventh Day Adventist Church (4.3 miles)
• Avondale Church Of Christ (4.3 miles)
• North Decatur Presbyterian Church (5.3 miles)
• Kelley Chapel United Methodist Church (5.7 miles)
• Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Grady Memorial Hospital (5 miles)
• Atlanta VA Medical Center (5.7 miles)
• Marcus Autism Center (6.5 miles)