Serenity Place Memory Care in Fort Payne, AL

Pros

• The staff are attentive and the facility is so good that families move their loved ones there.
• The staff are very caring and provide excellent care for residents.
• The staff care for all residents, and the smaller setting helps them get to know individual needs and preferences.
• The facility is consistently clean inside and outside.
• Serenity Place staff are excellent to work with; the nurses are kind, helpful, and truly care for patients, delivering better care than other facilities and earning high recommendations.
• Administrators and the team are wonderful and supportive, making transitions seamless and joyful for families.
• The staff work tirelessly to assist families in every way.
• Residents feel right at home quickly thanks to the warm, home-like environment created by the staff.

Cons

• The reviewer believed the facility should be shut down or placed under new management.
• The reviewer stated that the staff do not care for the residents.
• The reviewer alleged that staff stole morphine from dying residents and blamed the shortages on spills.

Review

Serenity Place Memory Care in Fort Payne, Alabama, is best suited for families seeking a small, intimate memory-care environment where caregivers form real, know-you connections and residents feel at home quickly. The campus offers both assisted living and memory-care spaces on a shared site, but the culture remains distinctly person-centered: staff learn residents' routines, preferences, and triggers, and respond with steady, predictable caregiving. This setting excels for seniors in early- to mid-stage dementia who benefit from familiar faces, consistent routines, and hands-on help with daily tasks. Families prioritizing a warm, neighborly atmosphere over a sprawling, clinical campus will find Serenity Place aligns with their goals. It's a home-away-from-home feel rather than a hospital-like environment, with professionals nearby to provide practical support.

Positive reviews consistently spotlight the heart of Serenity Place: a dedicated, caring staff that treats residents with kindness and respect. Nurses and aides are described as attentive and patient, and administrators take an active role in guiding families through transitions, especially the move from assisted living into memory care. The smaller-scale setting allows caregivers to tailor activities and care plans to individual residents, adjusting routines to personal likes and dislikes. Residents are supported throughout the day, and the building earns praise for cleanliness and upkeep both inside and outside. Family members repeatedly report feeling heard and reassured by ongoing, hands-on involvement from leadership and maintenance teams who extend practical help beyond typical caregiving duties.

Overall, Serenity Place carries a 3.9 rating from 8 reviews, with a clear tilt toward positive experiences but a notable minority expressing serious concerns. One reviewer raised a severe accusation about medication mismanagement and theft, a claim that strikes at the core of trust in any memory-care setting. While this represents a single voice among many, it underscores the need for rigorous medication-security practices, transparent incident reporting, and ongoing staff training. Prospective residents should demand clear policies for medication storage and handling, access controls, and meticulous documentation. Request to review medication administration records and interview the nursing team about safeguards. The overwhelmingly favorable feedback about staff care suggests such safeguards, implemented rigorously, can keep Serenity Place on a solid track.

Taken as a whole, the strong staff culture and intimate setting largely offset the advantages and drawbacks typically found in smaller facilities. The intimate environment reduces confusion and anxiety for residents thanks to familiar faces and consistent caregivers, while visible administrator and maintenance involvement reinforces reliability. Cleanliness, smooth transitions for new residents, and genuine affection for seniors emerge as standout advantages. Yet the potential for mishandled medications remains a tangible risk that could erode confidence if not addressed directly. If the facility demonstrates robust, transparent safeguards - regular audits, secure med storage, and timely accountability - the positives are likely to outweigh the concerns for most families. A practical emphasis on communication and safety will matter most here.

For families weighing alternatives, this community may be less suitable for residents needing aggressive medical oversight, complex clinical interventions, or an expansive, highly structured activity calendar with broad therapy options. Larger campuses with dedicated clinical directors and more formal risk-management systems may appeal to those prioritizing comprehensive medical support and a wider array of services. Consider facilities with scalable programming, more robust outdoor security, and clearly documented incident-tracking practices when medical needs are pronounced or when families want more confidence in 24/7 clinical oversight. Still, those who value a tight-knit, homelike feel and a cooperative, family-inclusive management approach will likely find Serenity Place a strong fit - so long as safety practices are verified upfront.

Practical next steps for decision-makers are clear. Schedule an in-person tour during a typical day to observe staff interactions with residents, note how caregivers handle transitions, and assess how accessible leadership is for family questions. Ask for the staff-to-resident ratio, request a sample medication administration record, and review the facility's medication-security procedures, incident logs, and any recent state surveys. Inquire about transition plans for new residents, daily activity options, and how memory-care programming is personalized. Seek candid references from current families and request a trial stay if possible to evaluate fit without long-term commitment. When the care team demonstrates consistent warmth, transparent processes, and a practical approach to risk management, Serenity Place offers a compelling choice for the right resident - and a clear reminder to verify the safety framework before moving in.

This part of Fort Payne, Alabama, offers a convenient and accessible location with various amenities nearby. The area is home to several hospitals and medical facilities, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are numerous physicians' offices specializing in different fields such as surgery, neurology, urology, and more. For dining options, there are various restaurants offering a range of cuisines just a short distance away. Residents can also enjoy outdoor activities in the nearby parks and walking trails for leisurely strolls or picnics. Places of worship are also within close proximity for spiritual enrichment. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors seeking a comfortable living experience in Fort Payne.

Hospitals

• DeKalb Regional Medical Center Emergency Department (0.5 miles)
• Community Health Systems (0.6 miles)
• Isbell Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• DeKalb Regional Home Health (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• Thompson Surgical Associates (0.6 miles)
• DeKalb Neurology and Sleep Center (0.6 miles)
• Walker & Isbell Surgeons PA (0.7 miles)
• Clinical Urology Associates PC (0.7 miles)
• Scottsboro ENT (0.7 miles)
• Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (0.9 miles)
• Gadsden Orthopaedic Associates PC (0.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Santa Fe Cattle (0.7 miles)
• Los Arcos 5 (0.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.8 miles)
• Waffle House (0.8 miles)
• Captain D's (0.9 miles)
• Zaxby's (1 miles)
• Jack's (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• C & H Discount Drugs (0.8 miles)
• C & H Drugs (0.8 miles)
• America's Best Care Plus (1.8 miles)
• C & H Discount Drugs (2.8 miles)
• Kilgore Express Pharmacy (6.1 miles)
• Independent Health Services (6.2 miles)

Parks

• Alabama Walking Trail Park (1.6 miles)
• Fort Payne City Park (2 miles)
• Fort Payne City Park (2 miles)
• National Park Service (2 miles)
• Manitou Park (2.3 miles)
• Wolf Creek Overlook (2.8 miles)
• Little River Canyon National Preserve (7.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Family Life Center (1.7 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (1.8 miles)
• Dugout Valley Worship Center (1.9 miles)
• Ft Payne Church of God (2 miles)
• Second Baptist Church (2.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.3 miles)