Art Of Living VII in Stone Mountain, GA

Pros

• Art of Living has been a pleasant surprise.
• David loves this day program.
• Joi has been a huge help with MARTA and getting him acclimated.
• The staff at Art of Living is exceptional and patient.
• Everyone there has gone over and above in making Hassan successful.
• Hassan is living his best life at AOL.

Cons

• The reviewer notes that a caregiver at Dollar Tree yelled at an exceptional adult, calling it completely unacceptable and damaging to the person’s dignity.
• The same reviewer says that if someone lacks patience to work with people with exceptionalities, they should find another line of work.
• The reviewer contends that people with exceptionalities deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not humiliated in public.
• One reviewer describes the company as unprofessional, rude, careless, and bogus, citing a high turnover and weekly changes in caregivers.
• The reviewer claims the owners are liars who will withhold paychecks to force compliance, calling that behavior mean.
• The reviewer states they would not use the company anymore and have switched to a new service.

Review

Art of Living VII in Stone Mountain is best suited for adults with developmental disabilities who crave a lively, structured environment that blends a robust day-program with supported, small-group living. The community shines for those who want real opportunities to exercise independence, participate in frequent activities and community outings, and live with a small cohort of roommates. Families seeking a program that prioritizes life skills, autonomy in planning activities, and consistent engagement with the surrounding community will find AOL VII especially compelling. It works best for residents who respond well to a calendar-driven routine and a caregiving team that emphasizes skill-building in real-world settings.

That said, some families should consider alternatives. The strongest caveat is the potential for instability in caregiving assignments. Several reviews flag high staff turnover and weekly changes in caregivers, which can unsettle someone who depends on familiar faces for daily routines and trust. Another red flag is a concrete incident where a staff member yelled at a person supported by the program, prompting concerns about temperament and supervision. For families prioritizing unvarying caregiving teams, or requiring more intensive medical oversight and behavior support, other options with deeper medical staffing or more rigid staffing structures may be a better fit.

The core strengths of Art of Living VII lie in its program design and the daily lived experience it creates. The day program is described as engaging and expansive, with a strong emphasis on independence: residents choose activities, follow a monthly calendar, and practice life skills through hands-on community participation. The presence of relatable, patient staff, highlighted in multiple endorsements, helps translate those opportunities into real gains, from navigating public transit with assistance to building confidence in social and practical tasks. The vibe is routinely described as safe and encouraging, with families expressing relief that their loved ones are truly thriving in a community setting.

Yet the less favorable threads cannot be fully dismissed. The most serious concern voiced is about staff stability, including reports of frequent caregiver turnover and inconsistent assignments. A separate complaint centered on unprofessional behavior by a staff member in a public setting, underscoring the risk that a lapse in supervision can occur. While many families praise communication and ongoing updates from the team, the presence of these outlier experiences suggests a need for prospective families to probe staffing rhythms, supervision structures, and incident-resolution processes before committing. These aren’t universal experiences, but they are salient signals for due diligence.

The pros strongly offset the cons for prospective residents who prioritize growth through structured enrichment and authentic community integration. When the team aligns with a resident’s pace and interests, the day program becomes a powerful platform for autonomy, social engagement, and practical skill-building, benefits that tend to compound over time. The residential component, small homes with roommates, provides real-life practice in sharing space, negotiating routines, and supporting one another, which can be transformative for independence. Families should weigh these enduring gains against the risk of caregiver turnover, planning visits and asking for concrete details on staff stability, supervision, and grievance handling.

In the end, Art of Living VII is a strong, practical choice for families focused on meaningful daily activity, independence, and community involvement for adults with exceptionalities. It earns praise for compassionate staff, clear communication, and a program that treats daily living as a skill to be learned and celebrated. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution: those who require unwavering caregiver continuity, or who need high medical or behavioral supervision, should explore alternatives or demand transparent staffing data and strong escalation protocols before making a commitment. A thoughtful site visit, direct conversations with the program director, and a clear understanding of staffing norms will determine whether AOL VII aligns with the resident’s goals and the family’s tolerance for turnover.

Places of Worship

• St Stephen The Martyr (0.9 miles)
• Lilburn Alliance Church (1.4 miles)
• Mountain Park First Baptist Church (2 miles)
• Mountain Park United Methodist Church (2.2 miles)
• Corpus Christi Catholic Church (4.7 miles)
• Bethany Baptist Church (5.4 miles)
• Rehoboth Baptist Church (5.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)

Parks

• Mountain Park Park (2.4 miles)
• Stone Mountain Walk Up Trail (3.3 miles)
• Almost To The Top Of Stone Mountain (3.6 miles)
• Stone Mountain Park (3.8 miles)
• Henderson Park (4.1 miles)
• Briarlake Forest Park (6.6 miles)
• Sweet Water Park (7 miles)

Restaurants

• Parkview High School Cafeteria Building D (2.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (2.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3 miles)
• Local No. 7 (3.3 miles)
• Metro Cafe Diner (3.3 miles)
• Stone Mountain Pizza Cafe (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3 miles)
• White Windmill Bakery and Cafe (7.1 miles)

Physicians

• Stone Mountain Family Practice (3.4 miles)
• Gynecology and Obstetrics of Dekalb PC (3.4 miles)
• Abc Pediatrics (3.9 miles)
• Ankle And Foot Centers Of Georgia (5.3 miles)
• Northlake Emory (5.7 miles)
• Reagan Medical Center (6.2 miles)
• Snellville Family Medicine: DeKalb Medical Physicians Group (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• Movie Tavern Northlake Festival (5.5 miles)
• SMG Duluth (6.4 miles)
• Regal Hollywood (6.9 miles)

Transportation

• MARTA - Doraville Station (7.7 miles)