All the Comforts of Home

Pros

• Charter Senior Living offers outstanding retirement living.
• The staff are attentive.
• The food is delicious.
• The activities are fun.
• The activities coordinator plans weekly outings for residents.
• Residents enjoy plays, trips to Nashville and the Chattanooga Aquarium, and scenic drives.
• Charter Senior Living is highly recommended.
• The staff are friendly and warm.
• The facility is clean.
• The residents seem happy.
• The facility is beautiful, friendly, and welcoming.
• Dawn is amazing; the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is warm.
• The staff are exceptional and very helpful; they treat residents with kindness; management is terrific.
• The staff, facility, and service are superb.

Cons

• One reviewer moved their mom out because promises made at move-in were not kept, with little staff checking on her despite being a fall risk, and she had to buy and prepare her own meals while being billed for meals she rarely had.
• Another reviewer said they would never place their mom there, as when they called for details the administrator was said to be too busy and hung up on them, describing the service as the rudest they'd experienced.
• A reviewer described a very negative experience, claiming the director broke her word and evicted their mother without justification, causing hardship and advising others not to place a loved one there.
• One reviewer criticized cleanliness, wishing the floor and toilets were cleaned more regularly.

Review

Across two well-regarded senior living communities in Cookeville, the impressions shared by residents and families are consistently warm and detailed. The overarching sense is one of thoughtful care, engaging activities, and a welcoming atmosphere. Visitors repeatedly describe both Charter Senior Living and Morningside of Cookeville as places where staff go the extra mile to make residents feel at home, with a strong emphasis on safety, dignity, and community.

At Charter Senior Living, the tone throughout is one of encouragement and satisfaction. A regular visitor describes it as outstanding retirement living, noting that she is there nearly every day to see a dear friend. The staff are frequently called attentive and the environment is described as clean and inviting. Food is highlighted as delicious, and the activities program stands out in particular thanks to Cheyanne, the activities coordinator, who plans outings throughout the week. The residents enjoy a variety of outings, including plays, trips to Nashville to visit the Parthenon, excursions to the Chattanooga Aquarium, and even weekly "nowhere" trips - a scenic drive that becomes a favorite. Overall, the impression is that Charter Senior Living offers a vibrant social calendar alongside strong caregiving, leading to enthusiastic endorsements and recommendations from families and residents alike.

Other voices reinforce the positive picture at Charter. Reviewers repeatedly note that the staff are friendly and warm, the facility feels beautiful and welcoming, and the residents appear happy. The consistency of good experiences is underscored by comments about how easy it is to visit and how well residents are treated. People express genuine appreciation for the sense of community and the sense that Charter is a place where families feel comfortable leaving their loved ones because they trust the care and atmosphere.

Shifting to Morningside of Cookeville, the sentiment remains largely celebratory, though with a few caveats. Families and residents frequently highlight the exceptional and compassionate nature of the staff, emphasizing that the team forms personal relationships with residents and their families. The leadership and day-to-day care are repeatedly described as kind, caring, and professional. Commentators note that Dawn Huckaby (the director) and the broader administrative, nursing, and dining teams provide steady, thorough communication and maintain a strong focus on safety. Many reviews point to the way staff members strive to balance independence and supervision, helping residents stay secure while preserving their sense of autonomy. In particular, families commend the way Dawn and the staff navigated COVID-19 challenges, keeping residents safe while maintaining clear and timely communication with loved ones.

The atmosphere at Morningside of Cookeville is frequently praised as warm, family-like, and welcoming from the moment you arrive. Reviewers describe the lobby and common areas as inviting, with staff and residents greeting visitors with smiles. The lake and fountain on the grounds become a notable highlight for many families, who appreciate the peaceful surroundings as part of the overall sense of well-being within the community. In addition to the setting, residents are said to enjoy the activities and the focus on residents' interests, with staff consistently going the extra mile to create meaningful experiences and maintain a lively but respectful environment. The sentiment of "being welcomed home" recurs across multiple reviews, reinforcing the sense that Morningside places strong value on making both residents and their families feel included and cared for.

Within this same community, several testimonials spotlight specific residents and teams, illustrating a strong culture of gratitude and admiration. Families speak glowingly of Dawn, Diane, Gwen, and the rest of the staff who attend to administrative, nursing, housekeeping, and dining needs with patience and competence. The attention to personal care - helping residents maintain dignity, independence where possible, and a calm, gentle approach - comes through clearly in these narratives. The consistency of respectful care and the ability of staff to build trust and rapport with both residents and families are recurring themes that many reviewers highlight as a core strength of Morningside of Cookeville.

Not all feedback is uniformly glowing, illustrating that no care setting is without challenges. One reviewer recounts a very negative experience at Morningside, describing a breakdown in trust when the director at the time, Ms. Norrod, allegedly broke her word and evicted the reviewer's mother. They also report concerns about the level of daily oversight for a resident who was a fall risk, the burden of providing and preparing food in a private room to maintain dietary needs, and being billed for meals that were not frequently used. This perspective serves as a stark reminder that even highly regarded facilities must continually honor commitments, maintain consistent oversight, and align billing with actual services provided. It stands in contrast to the many positive accounts, underscoring the importance of clear communication and reliability in elder care.

Beyond the singular negative account, additional reviewers describe a broader pattern of satisfaction with Morningside's culture. They emphasize a welcoming, family-like environment, with residents being treated as family and guests consistently greeted with smiling faces. The sense of community is reinforced by comments about how the staff and administration cultivate relationships, the way visitors are acknowledged and included, and the overall feeling that residents can enjoy a high quality of life while receiving attentive support. The combination of professional, compassionate care and an atmosphere that feels like home contributes to a strong sense of reassurance for families seeking assisted living for their loved ones.

Taken together, the reviews present a picture of two Cookeville communities that excel in warmth, engagement, and dedicated caregiving. Charter Senior Living is portrayed as a place where a robust calendar of social outings - led by people like Cheyanne - complements a well-run, clean, and inviting environment where families feel comfortable visiting and residents seem genuinely happy. Morningside of Cookeville is depicted as a home-like setting where a compassionate, professional team - under leaders like Dawn Huckaby - builds meaningful relationships, supports residents' independence while ensuring safety, and keeps families well informed. While there are reminders to stay vigilant about promises kept and consistent daily oversight, the prevailing messages celebrate care that treats people with respect, dignity, and genuine kindness, making these communities appear as strong choices for seniors seeking comfortable, engaging, and supportive living environments.

This part of Cookeville, Tennessee offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With close proximity to theaters, restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and hospitals, residents have easy access to entertainment options as well as healthcare services. Additionally, the presence of places of worship provides opportunities for spiritual growth and community engagement. The nearby parks offer recreational activities and outdoor spaces for relaxation. The availability of transportation options such as the regional airport and U-Haul dealer ensures ease of travel for both residents and visiting family members. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded living experience with a focus on convenience and accessibility for seniors.

Theaters

• AMC CLASSIC Highland 12 (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• Dill Christopher MD Satellite Medical Urgent Care (1.8 miles)
• Satellite Med (1.8 miles)
• Plateau Oral Surgery (2.3 miles)
• Kids Kare Pediatrics (2.6 miles)
• Hometown Family Care (2.7 miles)
• Cookeville Family Medicine & Urgent Care (2.7 miles)
• Putnam County Health Department (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• KFC (1.9 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (1.9 miles)
• Golden Corral (2 miles)
• O'Charley's Restaurant + Bar (2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2 miles)
• Logan's Roadhouse (2.1 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Poet's Coffee (3.8 miles)
• Bravo Cafe & Grill (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Christian Church (2.4 miles)
• Fellowship-Christian Athletes (2.4 miles)
• Heavenly Host Lutheran School (2.6 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.8 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.9 miles)
• Holladay Church Of Christ (4.3 miles)
• Pilgrim Baptist Church (5.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Cookeville Medplus Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.1 miles)
• Pegasus Express Pharmacy (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Respiratory Home Care (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Cane Creek Park (3.8 miles)
• Franklin Park (4.3 miles)
• Burgess Falls State Natural Area (5.7 miles)
• Burgess Falls State Park (6.2 miles)
• Edgar Evins State Park (7.6 miles)

Transportation

• Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB) (3.8 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (7.8 miles)