Laura Lake Assisted Living

Pros

• Laurel Lodge is described as a safe and inviting place for loved ones.
• Becky Bowman helped the family with the arrangements and cost-saving suggestions.
• The staff and administration at Laurel Lodge are friendly, professional, and caring.
• Becky Bowman is wonderful in assisting families with settling loved ones into their new home.
• Carly Applewhite, the new executive director, is trusted and will listen to concerns with compassion and patience.
• Laurel Lodge is an answer to prayers for families needing a closer facility.
• Laurel Lodge is an amazing, clean, well-designed facility with personalized care and quality accommodations.
• Laurel Lodge is a hidden gem and a great place for assisted living.
• The performers find Laurel Lodge to be one of their favorite places to perform, and residents are welcoming.

Cons

• One reviewer lamented that their loved one's care did not match the almost $6,000 monthly cost.
• They described ongoing care and management issues under the new executive director.
• They depicted post-ownership decline: constant staff turnover, declining cleanliness, higher prices, worse food, and reductions in snacks and activities.
• They reported that nurses and med techs could not administer medications according to doctors' orders, causing significant frustration.
• They noted unreturned calls and emails from management when trying to escalate concerns.
• They warned potential residents to consider the facility carefully, mentioning state complaints and advising others to beware.

Review

Laurel Lodge is described by many families as a place that can feel like a safe, inviting bridge to the right next step for a loved one. Several reviewers highlight the facility as a potential home away from home when the time is right, and they point to Becky Bowman as a pivotal ally in planning transitions and trimming costs. The sentiment is clear: for families facing a difficult decision about care, Laurel Lodge can offer reassurance and practical support during the move, even if the current moment isn't yet the right time to relocate.

There is a strong sense of community and engagement within Laurel Lodge, as several accounts emphasize positive experiences during visits and interactions with residents. One reviewer notes that performers who visit the community consistently have the best time entertaining the residents, describing the experience as one of their favorite venues to perform. The staff and residents are portrayed as welcoming, with a warm, friendly atmosphere that makes visitors feel like part of the community. These moments of connection - holiday celebrations, planned activities, and attentive staff - are repeatedly highlighted as what makes Laurel Lodge feel special to those who participate.

Yet the narrative is not one-sided. A number of reviews recount significant concerns tied to costs and care, particularly during periods when ownership or leadership changes occurred. An earlier, strongly negative review centered on a perception that care did not proportionately match the nearly $6,000 monthly cost. In response to those concerns, families welcomed a new Executive Director, Carly Applewhite, and expressed cautious optimism: they asked for time and space to see improvements, and some reviewers even chose to replace their prior one-star rating with a more tempered three-star rating, with a willingness to raise it further if tangible progress continued to unfold. The call from these families was to stay involved, visit often, and communicate with management as part of the ongoing effort to turn things around.

Amidst the complexity, many reviews recount people-centric praise for individuals who make a difference in daily life. A Gainesville-based family member recounts moving a loved one closer to home and describes Becky Bowman as making the transition feel like family. The appreciation is vivid: Becky is praised not only for guiding the process but for the way she reassures and supports families at every step. Another reviewer - new to the assisted living experience - credits Becky with helping settle their loved one into a new home and expressing gratitude for both her and the staff. The sentiment extends to the broader Laurel Lodge team, with volunteers and staff described as friendly, professional, and clearly invested in the residents' well-being.

There are also personal narratives that reflect a more hopeful trajectory after leadership changes. A long-time volunteer shares how their weekly visits allowed them to observe genuine care, meaningful relationships with residents, and appreciation for holiday and activity programming. In their view, Laurel Lodge can be a wonderful place for families seeking care, and they have privately recommended it to others based on their firsthand experiences with the residents and staff. Even amidst ongoing concerns, there is an insistence that the community has real strengths and moments of heartfelt care that deserve recognition.

However, a substantial portion of the stories details difficulties tied to the transition from Laurel Lodge's prior ownership to The Oaks, and the impact this shift had on residents and families. One father's experience, spanning from July 2021 to March 2025, paints a stark contrast between earlier years - when the facility was described as wonderful, clean, with good meals and active social life - and the period after the ownership change. Reviewers describe rapid declines in staff stability, cleanliness, menu quality, and the availability of snacks and activities. Medication administration problems, inconsistent communication about refills, and a perceived lack of responsiveness from management and corporate offices are cited as particularly troubling. A specific incident where a family was contacted for a patient's emergency room visit and then not notified again is highlighted as emblematic of the issues faced by families during this era. The overall tone in these accounts is one of disappointment and concern, with several reviewers urging potential new residents to verify current conditions and to speak with state agencies for feedback on care quality.

Despite the concerns raised, there are numerous affirmations of Laurel Lodge's strengths. Several reviewers describe it as a beautiful and well-designed community that can feel like a hidden gem. They emphasize clean facilities, personalized care, and robust opportunities for activities and social engagement, all of which contribute to a sense that Laurel Lodge has the potential to be a wonderful place to live or transition to, especially when leadership is aligned with residents' needs. The recurring message from these voices is that Laurel Lodge has offered meaningful care and warmth, and that when the environment and leadership are responsive, the experience can be deeply positive.

The collection closes with a pointed reminder that opinions about Laurel Lodge are mixed and strongly held. While many families and volunteers celebrate the kindness of staff, the dedication of individuals like Becky Bowman, and the hope that improvements under new leadership would continue, at least one stark statement cautions against placing a loved one there at this time, underscoring fears about management and execution. Taken together, the threads describe a community with real strengths, ongoing challenges, and a clear sense from many families that Laurel Lodge can be a safe, supportive home when needs align with effective leadership, consistent care, and open, proactive communication.

This part of Marietta, Georgia, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to relocate to the area. With multiple pharmacies, restaurants offering various cuisines, theaters for entertainment, parks for outdoor activities, reputable physicians and hospitals for healthcare needs, cafes for socializing, and places of worship for spiritual fulfillment, residents in this neighborhood have access to everything they may need within a few miles. The proximity to WellStar Kennestone Hospital ensures quality medical care is easily accessible. The community also offers opportunities for social engagement and cultural enrichment through local churches and events. Overall, this part of Marietta provides a well-rounded environment that can cater to the needs and interests of seniors seeking a comfortable and convenient place to live.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Pharmacy Partners Of Ga (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Orchard Square Holding (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Cheeseburger Bobby's (0.8 miles)
• Golden Corral (1.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.8 miles)
• Frankies Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria (1.9 miles)
• Johnboy's Home Cooking (1.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Barrett Commons 24 (1.7 miles)

Parks

• Aviation Park Kennesaw (1.9 miles)
• Shaw Park (2.1 miles)
• Laurel Park (4.1 miles)
• Adams Park (4.6 miles)
• Harrison Park (5.1 miles)
• Swift-Cantrell Park (6.1 miles)
• Woofstock Park (6.6 miles)

Physicians

• Marietta Dermatology & the Skin Cancer Center (2.1 miles)
• Piedmont Imaging Center (2.2 miles)
• Pinnacle Orthopaedics (2.3 miles)
• Piedmont Heart of Marietta (2.4 miles)
• Non-Surgical Orthopaedics (2.4 miles)
• Resurgens Orthopaedics (2.5 miles)
• Kennestone Physicians Center (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• WellStar Kennestone Hospital (2.3 miles)
• Kennesaw Hospital (4 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Giga-Bites Cafe (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Transfiguration Catholic Church (3.7 miles)
• Kennesaw United Methodist Church (3.8 miles)
• Calvary Chapel Woodstock (4.6 miles)
• Northstar Church (6.4 miles)
• Congregation Etz Chaim (6.6 miles)