Atria Weston Place is an affordable senior living community located off of Middlebrook Pike in western Knoxville. While Atria Weston Place is a bit far from the noise of the city, it still has access to some of the best health care and senior care facilities in the area. It’s within walking distance of the Hillcrest Medical Nursing Institute, Middlebrook Surgery Center, Knoxville Rehabilitation Hospital, and Covenant HomeCare and Hospice. This last option is especially convenient, as it makes the transition to different types of care easier to coordinate for family members and staff. There are also several clinics a short distance away, making it easier to transport residents to appointments or request third-party specialists to visit the facility for a checkup.

» Savings Resources: How to Find Affordable and Low-Income Senior Housing

What we really like about Atria Weston Place is the value. As one of the most affordable assisted living communities in the city, Atria Weston Place offers all the standard care you would expect, including help with bathing, eating, dressing, and other ADLs. The community also offers the Atria InnerCircle app, which updates residents and family members concerning upcoming menus, events, activities, community messages, billing statements, and resident vital signs. This can help make communication much easier, especially since family members don’t have to call the front desk every time they want to know how their loved one is doing.

The one thing that the community could improve upon is a lack of extra amenities. It does offer a beautiful garden, courtyard, gazebo, and outdoor dining, which makes it ideal for seniors who like to spend time outdoors, but it doesn’t have nearly as many lifestyle “perks” as communities like South High Senior Living. Amenities are a great way to improve quality of life and social engagement, so we’d like to see more things like the game rooms, movie theaters, and snack bars that you see at other communities in the area, like Trinity Hills of Knoxville.  But again, the price is hard to beat, especially considering that the advertised prices are all-inclusive (room and board plus assisted living care).

Atria Weston Place offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Many assisted living communities don’t have accommodations for independent seniors, which makes Atria a good option for older adults who are independent or semi-independent and like knowing that help is always nearby. The real benefit of a community that includes independent living plus assisted living (and memory care) is that you can continue to age in place without having to completely upend your life and move somewhere unfamiliar if your needs change.

» Learn More: Atria Senior Living Review

Atria Weston Place generally receives positive reviews from family members and staff. Multiple reviews have noted positive changes in resident physical and mental abilities after spending time at Atria Weston Place. However, some negative reviews have specifically mentioned issues with urine smells in certain areas of the property. One reviewer also complained that, despite the competitive, all-inclusive pricing, the annual rate increases priced them out of receiving care at Atria Weston Place. Price hikes are fairly common for assisted living communities, so this is something to remember as you consider your budget.

South High Senior Living is a great choice for seniors who want to live in a suburban environment without moving too far from the conveniences of the city. Located right next to Cecil Webb Park (and its recreation center), South High Senior Living is just a short drive from downtown Knoxville. The community provides residents with scheduled transportation to appointments and for group outings. This makes South High Senior Living convenient for older adults who can no longer drive but still want to get out and enjoy the city.

Unlike Atria Weston Place, South High has various on-site amenities to keep residents entertained and engaged with their peers. This is crucial, as seniors who feel socially engaged are less likely to struggle with depressive symptoms and are better able to cope with distress.2 Some of the most popular amenities are a billiards room, piano lounge, activity room, and salon. South High is also a modern facility with contemporary furnishings and bright, comfortable, pet-friendly apartments.

One of the community’s drawbacks is the lack of pricing transparency. While starting costs tend to fall below the average for Knoxville, South High doesn’t provide many financial resources to prospective residents or their families. This can make it hard to know how much you’ll have to pay until you’re ready to sign on the dotted line. You can expect steeper prices if you require memory care, but again, it’s hard to know exactly how much you’ll pay until you’ve started the application process.

» Compare Costs: Memory Care Costs

Like most of the communities on this list (excluding Atria Weston Place), South High Senior Living does not offer independent housing. Instead, it has assisted living, memory care, and respite care. The addition of respite care is a good option for seniors with caregivers who need a temporary reprieve from their responsibilities. We appreciate that the community offers a variety of care options.

Many reviews commend South High Senior Living on its attentive staff, clean facilities, and excellent food quality. One reviewer mentioned that as soon as they walked in the door, they were greeted with a friendly concierge service. Current and former staff members have also expressed excitement about working at South High, and the environment is positive because everyone truly cares about the well-being of residents.

However, not all feedback has been positive. Some negative reviews were related to a potential sale of South High Senior Living that would have turned the senior community into a drug rehab facility, but the plans for this change have since fallen through.3 Other reviewers have mentioned poor communication from directors and administrators, as well as slow responses to call buttons (sometimes up to 30 minutes).

Trinity Hills of Knoxville is located in the picturesque hills of the eastern part of the city, just a short distance from the Knoxville Zoo. Despite the rolling hills and beautiful trees, there are still plenty of city amenities nearby, including convenience stores, shopping malls, and restaurants. What we really like is that the community offers five unique, pet-friendly apartment layouts to choose from for assisted living and memory care residents. This is a big step up from Windsor Ridge, which offers only three relatively similar apartment layouts. While the layout of an apartment may not be very important to everyone, having more choices over your accommodations and the style of your living space can make the transition to assisted living or memory care much easier.

» Compare Care Options: Assisted Living vs. Memory Care

Along with the beautiful location, Trinity Hills offers many on-site amenities to make life more fun and productive for residents. The community has an on-site house of worship with nondenominational church services, large common areas with pianos, a game room, a library, a full-service beauty and nail salon, and spacious apartments with kitchenettes. While some of these amenities may be commonplace in assisted living communities, including places like StoryPoint Knoxville West and South High Senior Living, few communities in Knoxville offer a nail salon. It may not seem like a big addition to some, but it’s these little perks that can really make the assisted living experience more enjoyable.

Unlike Windsor Ridge, which offers a plethora of living and care options, Trinity Hills of Knoxville offers only assisted living and memory care. These two options are still enough to manage the needs of many seniors, but having respite care or the ability to stay for short periods would make Trinity Hills accessible to even more people. That said, Trinity Hills goes above and beyond to offer quality service, encouraging residents to take part in various programs and daily activities to boost body and brain health.

Trinity Hills has gotten a lot of positive feedback for the communication between administrators, caregivers, and staff. Many reviewers mention how easy it is to communicate with staff to ask questions and handle issues that arise. A lot of family members also say it is a great place for religious seniors, since the community offers on-site chapel services. However, a few negative reviews have criticized the community for being understaffed at night and on the weekends, causing a decline in the quality of care during these times.

» Learn About: Christian Senior Living and Senior Care Organizations

Located southwest of the Rocky Hill neighborhood along Northshore Drive, StoryPoint Knoxville West (formerly known as The Manor House) is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. This luxury senior living community is nestled among the suburban neighborhoods of west Knoxville, just a few blocks away from dense forests south of Highway 322. This makes it a good spot for seniors who want to enjoy a quiet life in a family-friendly neighborhood that is only a 20-minute drive from the city.

» Related Reading: Luxury Retirement and Senior Living

What really stands out about StoryPoint Knoxville West is the luxurious atmosphere and property. While StoryPoint is costlier than more affordable communities like Atria Weston Place and Windsor Ridge, it justifies the high cost of care with resort-style living. There are four spacious apartments to choose from, and the philosophy at StoryPoint is centered on pampering residents in every way possible — from gourmet meals to a fully equipped business center. We love that StoryPoint hosts a wide range of interesting activities and outings, such as hot air balloon rides, nature excursions, and casino nights.

However, it’s important to point out that a lot of what StoryPoint offers is designed for seniors who need minimal assistance, particularly when it comes to physical activities. So, while it is an assisted living community with a memory care unit, it is best for semi-independent seniors who still remain relatively active.

Like Trinity Hills of Knoxville, StoryPoint Knoxville West offers only assisted living and memory care. It might be more useful to think of StoryPoint as semi-independent living or assisted living “lite,” as it puts a lot of emphasis on keeping seniors active, both mentally and physically. This is not to say that StoryPoint doesn’t offer professional support for ADLs and cognitive decline, but the lifestyle is definitely geared toward older adults who want a fun and exciting lifestyle while also getting some support with daily living.

Most online reviews give very high praise to StoryPoint Knoxville West. Many reviewers commend the excellent food and activities, along with the beautifully manicured courtyard that’s great for family visits and get-togethers. Most residents and family members agree that there is a “homey” feeling that most other large facilities struggle to replicate. However, some detractors have mentioned rude treatment from front desk staff. Additionally, a few reviews criticized the staff shortages that occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assisted living staff shortages were a nationwide issue during the pandemic, so this is not exclusive to StoryPoint.

Windsor Ridge is a large senior care community located north of the junction of I-640 and I-275. The location is very convenient, as it’s close to shopping and restaurants and only a short drive to downtown Knoxville. The property is also ideal for nature lovers, as it features elegant landscaping and plenty of walking paths.

» Related Reading: Changes in Health and Health Care Needs as We Age

Along with the prime location, residents have access to more care options than any other community on this list. The assisted living and memory care units are complemented by dozens of wellness services, such as rehab programs, therapy spa baths, recreational activity programs, and community events. These make Windsor Ridge an excellent choice for family members who want more comprehensive, personalized care that enhances social, mental, and physical well-being.

The community offers only three room layouts, all of which are similar in size. However, each room comes with various amenities and safety features, including kitchenettes, emergency pull cords in bedrooms and bathrooms, handicap-accessible showers, and cable television.

Windsor Ridge offers assisted living, memory care, respite care, short-term stays, and adult day care. This makes it an ideal place for those who want access to a continuum care as their needs change or families who have multiple older loved ones with differing needs. Windsor Ridge can accommodate long-term residents in need of ADL support and memory care, as well as short-term stays due to illness or surgery. The adult day care also gives seniors a great place to go to enjoy activities, socialization, and security whenever their regular caregivers are unavailable.

All of these different options can also make it easier to transition a senior from home into a senior living community. For example, if an older adult has already been to the facility a few times for adult day care, they may feel more comfortable moving in for assisted living when they see familiar spaces and faces.

Windsor Ridge has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from family members, residents, and staff. Many reviews praise the cleanliness of the property, the happy environment supported by attentive staff, and the great parties the community throws on a regular basis. A few reviews also mention that the close relationships formed between caregivers and residents give the community a homey vibe that’s hard to find elsewhere. While there are very few negative reviews of Windsor Ridge, a few people mention that the facilities are not quite as new as they are at other assisted living communities in the area.