My mother lived there for several years in the independent living apartments. As far as the amenities go, the apartments are a very good value. They are well maintained, offering a little porch and a small garden, a feature hard to find in many senior communities. A stacking washer and dryer in each unit is a huge plus. Two meals a day are provided, and meals can be delivered when the weather is bad, or if residents don't want to walk to the dining hall that day. Basic housekeeping is also included (vacuum, mop, and clean bath fixtures/surfaces as well as kitchen floor and surfaces). Of course residents are expected to pick up after themselves, but the weekly cleaning service is good. Attic storage in the cottages is a nice plus for seasonal decorations, out of season clothing, etc. Small pets (cats, small dogs, birds, etc.) are allowed, and this is so critical in the lives of so many seniors who live alone. The fact that Southside is pet-friendly was a key factor in my mother's decision to move there. Most of the staff is very friendly and quick to respond to resident's needs, sometimes going over the top to help, especially a woman named Jerri, who I hope is still working there. The housekeeping staff is very nice as well. When my mother was there, the food was all right, but the menu choices were limited. I have heard they have a new chef, so hopefully that has changed. Southside is much more affordable than many similar facilities, and offers many activities for residents, as well as a chapel and hair salon.My mother also enjoyed walking the grounds for her exercise. Maintenance is usually prompt, but if you have a weekend or nighttime maintenance emergency requiring a professional (like a clogged toilet that does not respond to the efforts of staff members), there is no provision for that, and residents either go out of pocket for Roto Rooter or they won't be able to use the toilet. The staff on duty will try to resolve the problem themselves (they get a star for that!) but the owner of the facility does not allow staff to call a professional after hours or on weekends, and that is a serious consideration. That policy may have changed since my mother lived there, so please inquire about this before you commit to a lease. I gave them four stars instead of five only because of the lack of after-hours emergency maintenance, limited menu options (at that time), and due to the fact that there were a couple of staff members during my mother's stay there who were busybodies, and two other staff members who persistently proselytized their religious beliefs to residents. The rest of the staff is excellent.

I lived in Southside Gardens and I loved it. Each person had a little cottage, but you had to go outside to go over to the dining room. Even though you really try to make it friendly for handicapped people, you can't keep the sidewalks clear. We had a terrific storm, so we couldn't get out to go across to the facility, so that was why I moved. They were wonderful. They had wonderful meals. I had a fenced yard and I liked the little cottages. I liked my front porch. It just was difficult for me using a walker. They have another facility on the property that is assisted living, but I was in independent living. Everybody was nice there. This is a unique situation; I used a walker, so it wasn't conducive due to that. I called 911 one day and the manager ran over there and got my dog and took him to the vet for boarding for me. Just doing extra things that they don't have to do. They had a chef who owns a restaurant here in Baton Rouge and the meals were just wonderful. They provided two meals, but they didn't have breakfast. The place was beautiful. They had all this landscaping, they kept all the cabins spotless on the outside, and they had a weekly yard service. It was wonderful. Their activities were similar to others. I was paying more there, but I had a full kitchen and I had a washer and a dryer in my apartment.

We visited someone who lived at the facility and I was disappointed with some aspects of the facility. The rooms are extremely small and not very clean. Some areas definitely need some maintenance attention. I was very disappointed.

My parents liked Southside Gardens. They liked the fact that it didn’t have interior quarters, only small cottages that were a nice size. They were very satisfied with the food. They had the opportunity to meet the residents and had a good feeling about the place.

Southside Gardens is probably where my father would go. It fits better within his budget. The amenities were good. The staff was very friendly and very caring. They have 2 different types of private area. The private rooms were smaller than those at another community, but the staff appeared to be just as caring. It was not as new, but the location was just as close to my father's present house, and the price was more fitting with his income at present without getting any assistance. And if residents needed to have special appointments, they were able to bring them to that and stay with the residents if they needed to.

I’ve been to Southside Gardens, and it’s very nice. The apartments are very bright and very inviting. The people I talked to were very professional and very nice. The facilities were extremely clean, and the residents seemed happy. It’s in a very good neighborhood, and a lot of things are close by that make it convenient for people that live there.

I am in the independent-living part Southside Gardens. It is a nice place. They serve two meals a day. If you want a third meal, you have to pay a little extra money for it. The food is pretty good. Today, we have a Thanksgiving dinner for all the patrons and residents. The staff are very friendly. I am occupying a one-bedroom apartment. I have a big living room, a dining room, and a very large bedroom. My bathroom has a bathtub and shower, and there are handles all over so that we do not slip. The kitchen is small, but it has everything in it -- a stove, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher. The people here are nice; I have not met a grumpy person yet. They provide me transportation wherever I want to go. They have a bus, and if we want to go to the casino, they take us all to the casino. Every Saturday, they take us to Walmart.