Golden LivingCenter - Camden

Pros

• The Springs of Camden staff provided excellent care, consistently going above and beyond expectations.
• The administrative team, social workers, nurses, and aides demonstrated unending patience and kept families promptly informed.
• Transportation Director Mr. Jeffery Larcks and Nurse Hope were singled out for compassion and reliability.
• The facility was described as clean, welcoming, and safe for patients and visitors.
• The staff were friendly, helpful, and professional toward patients and visitors alike.
• Check-in and visitation were convenient, with thoughtful processes that enhanced the visiting experience.

Cons

• The facility allegedly keeps detox patients longer than necessary to make money.
• The director, Dr. Roark, is described as conniving and using religious claims to justify keeping people there for profit.
• Care is not one-on-one; patients report long delays for call lights and insufficient assistance with bathing and daily needs.
• There are serious concerns about financial mismanagement and theft of residents' money, including money disappearing after cremation and a specific claim that $170 was stolen.
• A dietary aide manager, Ms. Cassie, is described as unprofessional and abusive toward elderly residents.
• The environment is cited as unclean and unsafe, with odors of urine and issues like broken beds and lacking rails.
• Poor communication and scheduling problems are noted, with appointment mix-ups and transportation issues; some reviews advise not sending loved ones there.

Review

The Springs of Camden is described by many as a place where moments of outstanding care sit side by side with troubling gaps in communication, administration, and financial handling. On a personal note, several reviews center on family members who felt the care their loved ones received was deeply compassionate and professional. A brother's experience stands out for its warmth and dedication: the administrative office manager Jessica, the social worker T, the nurses, and all the aides are praised for knowing the weight of their duties and carrying it with patience, even when the brother could be difficult. The family members recount being promptly called and kept up to date on changes in condition, and they express sincere gratitude for the direct and indirect care teams who showed up with genuine commitment day after day.

Yet the place's operations are not uniformly praised. A separate experience from February 28, 2025 highlights a sharp contrast: a head nurse failed to notify a family member that a thyroid test at Camden Hospital had been rescheduled, resulting in a two-hour drive for no reason. In that moment, accountability and communication were called into question. One staff member, the Director of Transportation, Mr. Jeffery Larcks, is remembered as an unexpected beacon - an angel of mercy who apologized in the patient's room and offered to share his name and number so future appointments could be communicated in a timely way. Nurse Hope is singled out as another bright spot - one of the few who consistently earns praise for her attentiveness and care - earning an A+, a gold star, and a smiley face in the narrative, with gratitude directed toward both of them for their bedside reliability.

Beyond these personal moments, the facility receives mixed reviews about its overall care environment. One account paints a harsh picture of detox operations, suggesting that patients are kept longer than necessary for monetary reasons and that one-on-one attention is lacking. The reviewer alleges the director, Dr. Roark, uses spiritual arguments to justify the stay and her authority, describing her as conniving and claiming that she manipulates situations to keep the business running. The language here is severe and accusatory, and it centers on perceived misalignment between patient welfare and profit motives. Despite this, the same reviewer notes that the staff and the facility's general atmosphere can feel professional and clean, indicating that individual experiences can diverge sharply within the same setting.

There are voices that emphasize positive, even glowing, impressions of the Springs. Several entries simply say that "everyone was helpful," the facility was clean and welcoming, and that the environment felt safe. One person states they were very impressed with the cleanliness, the "snappy" attentiveness of the nursing staff, and the overall impression that the place was well run. Another message calls the facility "awesome" and expresses gratitude for being part of such a great staff, while a visitor notes that the check-in and check-out process was smooth, with a welcoming greeter and optional mask available - an experience described as warm and easy for visitors.

But not all entries align with the higher praise. A critique targetting a specific staff member - dietary aide manager Ms. Cassie - paints a troubling image: unprofessional conduct, kitchen behavior, and negative interactions with elderly residents. The accusation describes disorganization and hostility in the kitchen area, portraying Cassie as problematic to the point of questioning her employment elsewhere. This single testimonial stands in tension with the broader sentiment of a generally friendly and caring staff, illustrating how isolated interpersonal dynamics can skew a reader's overall impression of the facility.

Visitation experiences and family interactions are repeatedly highlighted as positive anchors amid broader tensions. One account mentions a stepdaddy visit that, despite a strong overall sense of cleanliness, carried a persistent odor of urine. Another visitor expresses appreciation for the facility's security features, noting the code-access entry that keeps things efficient in bad weather and the responsiveness of staff to visitors' needs. A different review describes a warm, supportive atmosphere during a casual visit to see an old friend, with a courteous greeter and options for masking, underscoring that the human touch remains a cornerstone of the Springs' perceived quality.

Financial and administrative concerns surface prominently in a few notes, painting a sobering counterpoint to the tales of kindness and professional care. A family recounts a troubling situation where funds for a cremation or funeral costs were mismanaged or disappeared, with the sense that staff were reluctant to engage and that a long-standing concern about inheritance or policy of a deceased relative remained unresolved. Another reviewer claims that a staff member stole money, painting a stark image of vulnerability in a place entrusted with vulnerable populations. These stories amplify warnings about the importance of transparent bookkeeping, careful consent, and accountable governance within what is otherwise described as a caring environment.

In the end, the Springs of Camden emerges as a facility of complex character. On one hand, there are deeply moving testimonies to patient-centered care, compassionate staff, and moments of genuine professionalism that brighten families' lives - instances where a nurse's night and day commitment, a transportation director's accountability, or a calm, organized visitation experience leaves a lasting, positive impression. On the other hand, the collection of reviews does not shy away from critiques of scheduling failures, potential detours into detox for profit, spiritual or moral rhetoric used in ways that feel coercive, inconsistent care experiences, serious concerns about financial management, and apparent lapses in basic nursing and emergency response. Taken together, they tell a story of a facility that can shine in ways that matter deeply to families, while also exposing areas where governance, communication, and day-to-day operations demand ongoing attention and improvement.

This part of Camden, Arkansas, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With multiple restaurants nearby such as McDonald's, Sonic Drive-In, and Cardinal Cafe, you will have easy access to dining options. The proximity of Ouachita County Medical Center and several pharmacies ensures that healthcare needs are met conveniently. Places of worship like Living Hope Community Church and New Haven Missionary Baptist Church provide spiritual support for residents. Additionally, transportation options are available with the East Camden & Highland RR Co. in the vicinity. Overall, this area offers a mix of essential services and community resources that can contribute to a comfortable senior living experience.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.5 miles)
• Cardinal Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (0.6 miles)
• KFC (0.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.7 miles)
• Catherine's Bistro (0.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Ouachita County Medical Center (0.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Greater Love Church (0.5 miles)
• Living Hope Community Church (0.6 miles)
• New Haven Missionary Baptist Church (0.7 miles)
• Whitest Chapel Baptist Church (0.7 miles)
• Camden Bible Baptist Church (0.7 miles)
• First Baptist Church of Camden (1 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Morrison's Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Brookshire Food & Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• M & S Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Brookshire's Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Morrison's Clinic Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• Milton Brunson MD (0.6 miles)
• Dr Milton Brunson (0.6 miles)
• Medical & Surgical Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Hester Eye Care (0.6 miles)
• Ouachita Valley Family Clinic-A Baptist Health Affiliate (0.7 miles)
• Ouachita Valley Kidney Center (0.9 miles)

Cafes

• Perfect Cup (0.6 miles)

Transportation

• East Camden & Highland RR Co. (0.8 miles)