Shelby Woods Home

Pros

• The staff were extremely nice and helpful.
• The care provided to loved ones was appreciated.
• Advanced entry has simplified sign-in procedures across the industry.
• Shelby Oaks staff deliver good customer service.
• The facility is described as one of the best, with personable, knowledgeable, and helpful staff and a homey, pleasant atmosphere.
• The reviewer described the father as being in great hands.
• Admissions and tours were professional and excellent.
• Dexter was described as wonderful and attentive to patients' needs.

Cons

• The staff never answered the phone, and when they did, they were rude and condescending when concerns were expressed.
• The inside of the facility is run down, nurses act like they don't want to do their jobs, and it took hours to get the patient the required pain medication.
• After two days, the patient looked horrible and concerns about reinfection and possible sepsis were ignored until a lawyer was threatened.
• There is no NP or MD on staff on weekends, which is insane for a facility mainly housing the elderly and the compromised.
• The facility's management and the nurses' treatment are described as disgusting and the care and communication as severely lacking.
• The family felt the patient was treated with disrespect, as if he were less than others, which caused deep distress.
• Patients were treated with no respect and often had to rely on family to feed them; there was no phone in the room and poor staff responsiveness.
• The director refused to come out of his office for scheduled meetings, and voicemail information was conflicting and confusing.

Review

A recent collage of visitor reflections paints a complex portrait of care at Shelby Oaks and a nearby facility, revealing a landscape where genuine kindness and professional dedication mingle with serious concerns about communication, timeliness, and leadership. Across several accounts, the staff are praised for their warmth, attentiveness, and readiness to help, making many visitors feel welcomed, heard, and confident that their loved ones are in capable hands. The most consistently positive notes spotlight the caring demeanor of individual staff members, the calm and homey atmosphere, and practical improvements in the admission and check-in processes that help families feel connected from the start.

Many reviews center on Shelby Oaks as a place where staff members are described as "extremely nice and helpful," where patients' needs are recognized, and where serious medical care is delivered with a spirit of courtesy. Several commenters emphasize the knowledge and responsiveness of the team, with phrases like "they seem knowledgeable and try to answer our concerns" and "the staff is very cooperative and attentive." The facility is praised for its professional admissions and the warmth of people who greet visitors at the door. One account singles out a staff member named Dexter as "soo wonderful and very attentive to the patient's needs," noting that he remains busy but keeps an eye on what patients require. Another reviewer praises a front-desk experience and the convenient implementation of an updated check-in system, a small detail that left them feeling reassured and welcomed. In short, for many families, Shelby Oaks represents a place where care begins with people who genuinely care and where the day-to-day atmosphere is described as "homey" and reassuring.

There are also explicit affirmations that the care can be exemplary. One reviewer calls Shelby Oaks "one of the best facilities I have ever experienced," praising the staff for being "personable, extremely knowledgeable and helpful ASAP," and noting that the patients seemed at peace within a supportive and well-run environment. The sense that "the atmosphere is homey, and pleasant" runs through several positive accounts, reinforcing the view that when staff are engaged, residents are more comfortable, and families feel listened to and respected. A couple of reviews celebrate the overall experience of admission and tours as smooth and professional, underscoring that good first impressions can set the tone for a trust-filled relationship between families, residents, and caregivers.

But the narrative is not uniformly positive. A detailed, emotionally charged post presents a stark counterpoint: a family member who was admitted after a major surgery recounts a prolonged struggle to obtain essential pain medications, alongside what they perceived as dismissive attitudes from staff and an absence of on-site medical leadership during weekends. The author accuses the facility of ignoring timely pain control - "they took literally hours upon hours to get my dad his REQUIRED pain medication," and describes overheard comments that suggested other patients were prioritized over this individual. The account further details a frightening progression to septic complications, a disputed discharge plan, and an insistence that a hospital-level medical evaluation would have been more appropriate. The reviewer asserts the nursing and medical leadership failed to meet expectations, and they characterize the experience as a stark deterioration in care that nearly had dire consequences for their loved one. The message is unmistakable: changes in management and name do not automatically resolve underlying problems, and patient advocacy is essential when concerns escalate.

Further, another review focuses on communication gaps and leadership challenges, describing a lack of proactive communication about care plans and rehabilitation goals. According to this account, social workers were unavailable when needed, family members learned about discharge by chance rather than through scheduled updates, and there was a perception that staff conversations prioritized medical personnel over families. The voicemail and information-handling dynamics add to a sense of confusion, with family members repeatedly seeking clarity and finding it elusive. In this critique, two staff members are singled out for their compassion - Tasha, a CNA or M.A., and a nurse who clearly communicated about discharge - but the overall tone is one of frustration with leadership, accountability, and the consistency of care.

Taken together, these voices reveal a facility that can be a beacon of compassionate, professional care when the stars align - where staff members are genuinely kind, where visitors feel heard, and where certain individuals go above and beyond to support patients and families. Yet the same volume of feedback also underscores that effective communication, timely symptom management, and strong leadership are non-negotiable components of a high-quality experience. When those elements falter, families fear for their loved ones and question the overall reliability of the care environment. The recurring call is for robust leadership, clearer communication channels, and processes that ensure pain management, timely attention, and proactive family involvement remain consistent, regardless of who is on duty or what day of the week it is.

In the end, the stories converge on a simple truth: the human element matters most. The kindness of individual aides, the attentiveness of nurses, and the reassuring presence of admitting staff can make a world of difference in moments of vulnerability. At the same time, the testimonials insist that systems - front-desk responsiveness, social-work follow-through, and reliable medical oversight - must match that warmth with dependable, transparent, and timely care. For families considering Shelby Oaks or similar facilities, the message is clear: celebrate what works - clear welcome, respectful treatment, and compassionate attention - while advocating for strong leadership, robust communication, and a commitment to patient-centered care every day, across all shifts.

This part of Memphis, Tennessee, offers a convenient and well-equipped neighborhood for senior living. With multiple pharmacies within close proximity, access to medical care and prescription needs is easily accessible. The area also provides a diverse range of dining options from EP’s Bar & Grill to Sonic Drive-In, catering to various preferences. Additionally, there are several healthcare facilities nearby including Christ Community Health Services and Graceland Internal Medicine Group PSC, ensuring quality medical attention is readily available. For recreation and leisure, residents can visit Central Park or Mud Island River Park for outdoor activities. The vicinity also boasts reliable transportation options with the Memphis International Airport just a short distance away. Overall, this neighborhood provides essential amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment in Memphis.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Walmart Fuel Station (4.1 miles)
• Walgreens (5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (5.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.9 miles)
• Walgreens (7.4 miles)

Physicians

• Christ Community Health Services (3.1 miles)
• Memphis Children's Clinic (3.7 miles)
• Graceland Internal Medicine Group PSC (4 miles)
• Delta Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center (4.2 miles)
• Horn Lake Family Practice (4.6 miles)
• South Third Health Loop (5.4 miles)
• Southcrest Women's Healthcare (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• EP’s Bar & Grill (4.2 miles)
• Waffle House (4.4 miles)
• Country Skillet (4.8 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (4.9 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (5.2 miles)
• Arby's (6.3 miles)
• Memphis Barbecue Company (6.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Twin Lakes Baptist Church (5.1 miles)
• Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church (5.5 miles)
• St John's United Methodist Church (8.7 miles)
• Grace-St Luke's Episcopal Church (9.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Baptist Memorial Hospital (6.3 miles)
• University Of TN Apha-Asp (8.9 miles)
• St Francis Hospital (9 miles)
• Regional One Health Main Campus (9.1 miles)
• Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (9.2 miles)
• Memphis VA Medical Center (9.3 miles)
• St Jude MRI Suite (9.6 miles)

Transportation

• Memphis International Airport (MEM) (6.4 miles)
• TSA Security Check Point (6.4 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (6.4 miles)
• National Car Rental (6.4 miles)
• Memphis International Airport Crew Room (6.5 miles)
• Wilson Air Center (7.4 miles)
• FedEx Hangar 26 (7.6 miles)

Parks

• Central Park (7.9 miles)
• Mud Island River Park (9 miles)

Theaters

• Malco Powerhouse Cinema Grill & MXT (8 miles)

Cafes

• Otherlands Coffee Bar & Exotic Gifts (9.4 miles)
• Kay Kafe (9.6 miles)