Sc Baptist Ministries-Aging in Laurens, SC

Pros

• Martha Franks is a wonderful place to live, with good friends, great food, engaging activities, and a wonderful staff.
• The staff are friendly, polite, and genuinely helpful.
• The grounds are beautiful, and the facility is clean and cheerful.
• Families feel at peace knowing their loved ones are cared for with love and patience.
• The community has a strong, loving Christian atmosphere where residents are treated with dignity and respect.
• Independent Living residents enjoy three meals a day, housekeeping, maintenance services, and a nurse on call.
• Martha Franks often feels like a big extended family where residents and staff share laughter, prayer, and service.
• The leadership is trusted for its compassionate, service-oriented approach.
• Residents experience a supportive environment with plenty of activities and opportunities to socialize.

Cons

• Very ghetto. Would not recommend.
• This facility used to be a great community, but some admins are nasty and selfish, cross-contamination is high, and the hallways stink.
• The staff is described as being there for a paycheck and not truly caring for residents.
• At least one RN is refusing to wear a mask and reportedly yells at people, showing disregard for the elderly.
• The facility is said to have bed bugs, roaches, lies, and not stand behind its name.
• The hallways stink and supplies run out; admin don't care.
• Don't trust this community to house loved ones.
• Dhec really needs to swamp in and shut them down due to dirty conditions.

Review

Martha Franks Retirement Community in Laurens, SC, is best suited for seniors who prize a warm, faith-centered environment where residents are treated like family, and where daily life blends meaningful social opportunities with clear access to care. The campus life reflects a long-standing Christian mission, with a sense of belonging that comes from small-town hospitality, active chaplaincy, and a calendar packed with activities, meals, and shared purpose. For independent living seniors who want predictable routines, engaging neighbors, and ready support as needs evolve, MFRC offers a compelling home base that can grow with the resident.

Those who should consider alternatives are families prioritizing strictly consistent clinical oversight and minimal variability in staffing. Several reviews flag concerns about inconsistent staff experiences and administrative shifts, which can translate into uneven daily care. If questions about cleanliness, pest incidents, or accountability surface repeatedly, or if care needs lean toward complex medical or skilled-nursing demands with strict regulatory scrutiny, it is prudent to compare other options. The occasional negative account about operational gaps - whether in housekeeping, billing, or incident handling - merits careful due diligence before committing, especially for loved ones with heightened care requirements or sensitive health conditions.

On the plus side, the community earns strong marks for its culture and caregiving ethos. Residents and families consistently describe a friendly, respectful staff that treats elders with dignity and warmth. The environment blends spiritual life with practical amenities - multi-course meals, generous activity calendars, and social opportunities that reinforce connection to family and church networks. The grounds are frequently praised as beautiful, and the campus offers a range of living arrangements, from independent cottages to assisted living and skilled care as needs evolve. Across many testimonies, MFRC feels less like a facility and more like an extended family, where staff are readily accessible and residents know they are valued.

Yet the most troubling disclosures center on lapses in care and facility operations. A minority of reviews allege serious missteps - missed meals or hydration, inadequate bathing, or restricted responsiveness that left a resident uncomfortable or unsafe. Others raise flags about cleanliness, pest concerns, or the reliability of housekeeping and maintenance. Questions about staff consistency - with different aides moving in and out over short periods - can undermine trust, especially for families trying to establish a stable routine for someone who depends on predictable care. Administrative friction and accounting issues also surface in some accounts, suggesting the need for clear, transparent governance for peace of mind.

Balancing the positives and the red flags suggests a nuanced decision: MFRC delivers a deeply comforting, community-oriented lifestyle with genuine faith-driven care, strong resident-to-staff relationships, and practical amenities that support independent living while offering scalable assistance. For families prioritizing a welcoming culture, spiritual enrichment, and a sense of extended family, the upsides often outweigh the concerns, particularly when tours confirm consistent, attentive staff and visible care planning. But for those whose benchmark is flawless daily operations, spotless reputations in every department, or highly regulated medical acuity, a comparative search is wise.

When evaluating MFRC, the recommended approach is concrete and deliberate. Schedule multiple visits at different times, including informal moments of daily life, to observe how staff interact with residents and how the environment actually feels beyond signage and brochures. Speak directly with residents and with family members who have recent experiences, and request a candid tour of dining, housekeeping, and the skilled care units. Verify the governance structure, staffing stability, incident logs, and the cadence of care planning - plus the availability of nursing on call and the ease of moving between levels of care if health needs progress. If alignment exists across culture, care philosophy, and practical daily life, Martha Franks stands out as a compelling choice; if any of the core care expectations remain uncertain, it is prudent to compare alternatives with a sharper eye toward consistency, cleanliness, and governance.

This section of Laurens, South Carolina offers a convenient location with a variety of amenities nearby. There are several parks for leisurely walks and outdoor activities, as well as places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. A selection of restaurants provides dining options, ranging from fast food to sit-down meals. Pharmacies and physicians are easily accessible for healthcare needs, and hospitals are within a short drive for more serious medical assistance. Transportation services are also available in the area. Additionally, there are cafes where seniors can socialize and enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal. Overall, this part of Laurens offers a mix of services and facilities that cater to the needs of senior residents looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Parks

• Laurens County Administrator (0.2 miles)
• Pine Street Park (8.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Presbyterian Church (0.4 miles)
• Second Baptist Church (1.4 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (1.4 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.4 miles)
• Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church (3.6 miles)
• Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church (3.7 miles)
• New Prospect Baptist Church (4.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits (0.6 miles)
• Roma (0.6 miles)
• Little Caesars Pizza (0.7 miles)
• Whiteford's Giant Burger (0.8 miles)
• KFC (0.9 miles)
• China Star (0.9 miles)
• A Taste of Home (1.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Adair Apothecary (0.7 miles)
• Drug-Lo Discount Drugs (0.7 miles)
• Laurens Drug Co. (0.7 miles)
• Fleetwood Pharmacy Of Laurens (1 miles)
• Wattsville Drugs (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Ingles Market (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Laurens Family Practice (0.9 miles)
• Laurens County Communi (5 miles)
• Piedmont Pediatrics (5.1 miles)
• Greenville Kidney Center PA (5.2 miles)
• Carolina Women's Center (5.2 miles)
• Laurens County Mental Health (5.3 miles)
• The Family Healthcare Center (5.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Self Medical Center-Laurens (4.9 miles)
• Laurens County Health Care System (5.1 miles)
• Laurens County Hospital (5.1 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul (6.5 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (8.4 miles)

Cafes

• Main Street Bake Shoppe (8.5 miles)
• Steamers Cafe & Catering (8.5 miles)
• Tavern Cafe (8.8 miles)
• Joanna Cafe (13.6 miles)