Baptist Retirement Ctr in Arcadia, LA

Pros

• The facility is nice.
• Her mother loves the memory care unit and feels well cared for and loved.
• The staff are very friendly.
• The staff take very good care of Eunice; she is happy there.
• Everyone looks out for her.
• The environment is good for elderly people.
• The atmosphere is friendly.
• Residents enjoyed bingo bash.
• The facility is excellent, well staffed, with amenities including a small lake with a pier.
• The place is clean and the caregivers are very good.

Cons

• The meals are bad, and ice has not been provided for two days.
• There is only one maintenance man for the entire facility, with no weekend maintenance despite 24/7 operation.
• They need someone who knows how to cook, and employees will not touch the meals served.
• The place is falling apart; CNAs are rude; housekeeping barely does anything and roaches are everywhere.
• The Director of Nurses hires her entire family, and most are worthless; the administrator is rarely there and focuses on female workers.
• The beautician is too busy sleeping with coworkers; they fired a janitor for sleeping with a resident.
• It needs to be torn down and workers fired, with the exception of maybe three people.
• The staff are uncaring; a resident was overdosed on morphine and died.
• A man with dementia wandered out the doors and was never found.
• The food portions are small and disgusting; employees steal from residents.
• People should not entrust their loved ones to this facility.
• These workers are dumping newborn cats out in the woods.
• This facility has gone downhill; care is horrible and staff ignored a resident for hours, with no check-ins or necessary assistance.

Review

Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia is best suited for families seeking a value-forward, social-focused assisted living option with a memory-care emphasis. Residents who respond well to a steady rhythm of activities, regular staff interaction, and a home-like atmosphere will find meaningful days here. The campus offers familiar comforts - a pleasant setting with a small lake and pier, welcoming common spaces, and private rooms with lake views - that can make extended stays feel comfortable. This is not a prestige campus, but for those prioritizing connection, routine, and a sense of community, the center can deliver a usable, supportive environment.

However, multiple reviews flag serious red flags that demand careful consideration. Dining is a recurring concern, with complaints about meals and service, suggesting the kitchen operation may be under stronger oversight. Maintenance is described as thin, with limited coverage on weekends and only a single maintenance person for the entire campus. There are troubling allegations about cleanliness and pest control, including roaches, which undermine confidence in basic premises sanitation. Leadership and governance surface as issues in several accounts, with criticism aimed at administrators and the hiring practices of the Director of Nurses. These themes are not minor; they point to a pattern families will want to probe before deciding.

On the upside, there are clear demonstrations of genuine care in the hands of some staff. Families of residents in memory-care and rehabilitation accents report warmth, attentiveness, and ongoing communication, and there are testimonials from patients and families who feel well supported by the caregivers who are present. Activity programming, including bingo and social events, is consistently praised as a bright spot, contributing to a sense of normalcy and engagement. The overall environment is described by some as clean, with staff who appear friendly and supportive, and a number of residents speak positively about their day-to-day experiences when the care team is engaged.

These positives, however, do not fully offset the most troubling gaps. Safety and consistency are the critical lines in the sand: episodes of unattended time, concerns about timely assistance for oxygen needs, and even allegations of more serious lapses have eroded confidence for some families. Reports of theft and inappropriate relationships within staff circles further complicate the calculus, suggesting that governance and accountability must be visibly stronger than they are in the strongest days. For families that depend on reliable oversight and predictable routines, these issues can overshadow otherwise encouraging anecdotes about kindness and companionship.

Prospective movers should approach with a concrete plan for verification. Schedule multiple visits at different times to observe staffing levels, maintenance responsiveness, and the general tone of the environment. Request direct access to care plans, incident logs, and the on-site dining operation to gauge whether meals meet basic standards. Talk to leadership about how emergencies, oxygen administration, and medication management are supervised and documented. Assess the memory-care unit specifically: caregiver-to-resident ratios, wandering protections, and how changes in health status are communicated to families. Comparing these elements against nearby options will illuminate whether this center's current trajectory aligns with safety and quality expectations.

In the end, Baptist Retirement Center can be a viable choice for families who want social vitality, meaningful memory-care engagement, and a sense of community at a reasonable cost, provided vigilant oversight is part of the plan. For those who cannot tolerate inconsistencies in safety, cleanliness, or staffing - and who require transparent, uninterrupted governance - the alternatives deserve serious consideration. If a family is prepared to drive improvement through direct engagement, ongoing care planning, and careful monitoring of dining, maintenance, and leadership responsiveness, this community offers a workable path to quality days. Without that hands-on posture, the risk of disappointing outcomes remains significant.

This part of Arcadia, Louisiana offers a variety of amenities and services that would be beneficial for seniors looking to relocate to the area. There are several places of worship nearby, providing opportunities for spiritual growth and community involvement. The presence of multiple restaurants and cafes allows for convenient dining options, while the availability of pharmacies and physicians ensures easy access to healthcare services. Transportation options such as U-Haul dealers and the Arcadia Airport make traveling simple, and the proximity to parks like Lake Claiborne State Park offers opportunities for outdoor recreation. Additionally, there are hospitals and medical centers within a reasonable distance, providing peace of mind in case of any health concerns. Overall, this part of Arcadia provides a well-rounded environment that caters to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient place to live.

Places of Worship

• Bienville 4-D Non Support (0.2 miles)
• First Baptist Church (0.3 miles)
• Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (0.3 miles)
• Kingdom Hall (0.9 miles)
• New Bethel Baptist Church (0.9 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (3 miles)
• Memorial United Methodist Church of Simsboro (8 miles)

Restaurants

• RBG royal bar n grill (0.4 miles)
• Subway (0.5 miles)
• Country Cottage (0.5 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.6 miles)
• Chick-A-Dilly (0.9 miles)
• Nelson's Soul Food & C (11.7 miles)
• GSU Campus Dining (11.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Brookshire Food & Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• New Arcadia Health Mart (0.4 miles)
• Fred's Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Brookshire's Food Stores (0.6 miles)
• Fred's Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (16.1 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (16.1 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.6 miles)
• Arcadia Airport (1.8 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (16.5 miles)

Parks

• Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days & RV Park (2.8 miles)
• Lake Claiborne State Park (12.4 miles)
• Huckleberry Trails Park Ruston (14.7 miles)
• Lincoln Parish Park (16.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (15.4 miles)
• Railway Coffee (16 miles)
• The Depot Coffee House (16.2 miles)

Physicians

• Northside Eye Care (15.9 miles)
• Northwood Medical Center (16 miles)
• Rainbow Health Access - Children's Clinic (16.2 miles)
• Kirton Foot Clinic (16.2 miles)
• Health Paradigm (16.3 miles)
• Ruston Family Medicine Center (16.3 miles)
• Dr Rel Gray (16.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Northern Louisiana Medical Center (16.6 miles)
• St Francis Primary Care Clinic-Ruston (16.6 miles)
• Lincoln General Hospital (16.6 miles)
• Allegiance Health Systems (16.8 miles)

Theaters

• Celebrity Theatres (16.8 miles)