The Rutherford Assisted Living & Memory Care

Pros

• The Rutherford Memory Care has a homelike atmosphere with welcoming and warmhearted staff.
• The staff are super nice, professional, and treat residents like family.
• Families report that their loved ones are happy and well cared for at Rutherford.
• Residents enjoy creative, engaging activities and regular short day trips.
• The Activities Director, nursing staff, and RAs make an effort to include residents in activities.
• Stephanie Seiffert, the Community Relations Director, provides exceptional support and helps families through the process.
• Administrators and Directors of Nursing communicate changes and needs to families, keeping them informed.
• The front desk, kitchen, maintenance, and care teams are kind, helpful, and proactive.
• The facility is consistently clean, well maintained, and safe.
• Rutherford is described as a wonderful place where residents thrive and feel like family.

Cons

• The Rutherford is described as disorganized and under-staffed with high turnover, leaving families to manage basic cleaning themselves.
• The review notes a poor communication system and delayed responses to residents' health or safety needs.
• Residents are said to endure long, ear-piercing emergency alarm tests with staff often unavailable.
• Some reviews claim the facility should be investigated by the state due to mismanagement and questionable billing practices.
• Visitation is restricted, with family members and even long-time pastors denied access in some cases.
• There are reports of bedbugs, neglect, insufficient food, and a lack of basic supplies like laundry detergent.
• Staff are described as lazy and disrespectful, with instances of sleeping on the job and perceived favoritism.
• Extreme leadership turnover and the addition of fees for services without proper notice are repeatedly mentioned.
• At least one reviewer states that Rutherford is not suitable and that families should look elsewhere.

Review

The Rutherford Memory Care emerges in these impressions as a place that many families view through a deeply positive lens. Numerous reviewers describe a homelike atmosphere where care feels personal, and where the staff's warmth and attentiveness help families feel confident about their loved ones' daily lives. Words like "God-send," "welcoming," and "warmhearted" recur in praise for the environment and the way care is delivered. Visitors repeatedly note that their loved ones appear happy and content during visits, which is a meaningful reassurance for families navigating the transition to memory care.

A central thread in the favorable feedback is the sense that the staff treat residents like family. Several reviewers emphasize the family-like atmosphere, with employees who go beyond the basics to make residents feel seen and valued. Specific names surface in positive accounts, including Tamika, the Activities Director, who is highlighted for engaging residents and making an effort to involve them in varied activities. In these notes, Stephanie Seiffert, the Community Relations Director, is singled out for guiding families through the process and being a dependable point of contact. Other staff - administrators, RAs, and front-desk personnel - are remembered for their consistent kindness and willingness to assist. The overall impression is of a cohesive team that strives to create a supportive, homey setting for residents.

Beyond the atmosphere and staff warmth, several reviewers point to the breadth of programming and the attentiveness to daily routines. The memory care unit is described as offering creative activities, regular short trips or outings, and ongoing efforts to tailor activities to residents' interests. Families frequently mention that their loved ones are involved in meaningful events and that the kitchen team is proactive about meals that residents will eat. In these accounts, praise also goes to the care teams for communication with families, so that loved ones' needs and changes in condition are acknowledged and addressed.

Not all feedback aligns with the glowing reviews, however. A substantial portion of the narrative reflects concerns about organization and management. Some reviewers describe disorganization, under-staffing, and high turnover among directors and medical staff, which they say leads to gaps in communication and responsiveness. Specific complaints include delays in responding to intercoms, reliance on temporary staff, and a perception that health issues or changes in care preferences aren't consistently communicated between shifts. Several reviews mention unexplained or unexpected fees, with the sentiment that certain services aren't completed before new charges appear. These voices suggest that, for them, the experience hinges significantly on leadership, staffing stability, and transparent financial practices.

There are even more pointed and distressing accounts that speak to serious quality concerns. A few reviewers describe experiences they consider dangerous or neglectful, using strongly negative language to convey their concerns about bedbugs, limited food, laundry shortages, and a general sense of neglect. Some accounts recount restrictions on family visits or a sense that staff members were not acting in residents' best interests. In one highly emphatic critique, a reviewer claims that the facility should be investigated, citing frequent turnover, unresponsive communication, and inappropriate behavior by some staff. While these voices are not the majority in the collection, they carry severe implications about safety, dignity, and the quality of daily life for residents when problems arise.

Amid the lighter, consistently affirming notes, there are persistent affirmations about staff devotion and individualized care. Several families highlight years-long placements with residents who are content and well cared for, with administrators and nursing leadership that communicate clearly and keep families informed of changes. The consistency of praise for specific individuals - such as Vicky, the administrator; Brooke, the director of nursing; and the reception/front-desk team - reflects a core belief that capable leadership and respectful daily interactions are central to a thriving memory care experience. In these accounts, residents are described as thriving socially and emotionally, with staff members who make efforts to ensure residents' needs are met and dignity is preserved.

Taken together, the collection paints a picture of a facility that can be a deeply rewarding home for some families and a source of significant concern for others. The Rutherford Memory Care seems to embody two contrasting realities: a warm, family-like environment with engaging activities and highly regarded staff, and a set of organizational and care-management challenges that, for some, undermine confidence and raise questions about safety, consistency, and fairness. Prospective families are encouraged to visit with eyes open: meet the administrators and nurses, ask pointed questions about staffing levels and turnover, request a tour focused on daily routines and activity participation, and discuss fees and services up front. In this way, they can determine whether the specific community - at a given time and under current leadership - aligns with their expectations for quality of life, safety, and compassionate care for their loved one.

This part of Murfreesboro, Tennessee is a vibrant and convenient area for senior living. With several places of worship nearby such as St Marks United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church, residents can easily maintain their spiritual practices. There are also various restaurants like McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A, as well as pharmacies such as Terrace Pharmacy and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to essentials. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple physician offices and hospitals in close proximity, providing peace of mind for seniors. Additionally, the area offers recreational opportunities with parks like Cannonsburgh Village and Old Fort Park for leisurely walks or picnics. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and fulfilling environment for seniors looking to settle down in Murfreesboro.

Places of Worship

• St Marks United Methodist Church (0.4 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (2.5 miles)
• Experience Community (2.6 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Oscar's Taco Shop (1.5 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (1.5 miles)
• Cook Out (1.5 miles)
• Boulevard Bar & Grille-Murfreesboro (1.6 miles)
• Sir Pizza (1.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• Total Family Health & Wellness (0.8 miles)
• Hearing Aid And Audiol (1 miles)
• Dr Michael MacQuarrie Office (1 miles)
• Radiology & Diagnostics Plc (1.2 miles)
• Middle Tennessee Plastic Surg (1.2 miles)
• Mid-State Gastroenterology (1.2 miles)
• Bradley Donald H MD (1.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Uspi Mid State Endoscopy Center (1.2 miles)
• Ecmo Advantage (2 miles)
• Allergy & Asthma Center PC (3.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Terrace Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Black's Apothecary (1.4 miles)
• Reeves-Sain Drug Store (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Reeves-Sain Extended Care (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (2 miles)

Transportation

• Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT) (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Just Love Coffee Cafe - The Fountains at Gateway (3.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Cannonsburgh Village (2.4 miles)
• Old Fort Park (2.9 miles)
• Kids' Castle At Old Fort Park (2.9 miles)
• Stones River National Battlefield (4.2 miles)
• Richard Siegel Park (4.4 miles)