Morningside of Wilmington

Relocated my mother from New England to Morningside Assisted Living in Wilmington NC a few weeks ago. The transition came up fairly quickly and involved a transfer from a physical rehab facility to Morningside. My experience working with Director Haley Franklin, and Admissions Director Christine Brinkley, was exceptional, from explaining living options, costs, on-site resources, and the handling of the virtual assessment that enabled my mom to onboard expediently at Morningside. Our first 2-3 weeks of experience with the facility have also been very positive, finding all staff to be courteous, compassionate, professional and responsive.

I don’t normally do these reviews, but this was one I felt like I needed to do. Last week, I came in with a friend of family to Morningside for a visit with her grandmother, and was greeted by the warmest young woman named Megan! She was super inviting and welcoming. From the moment we walked in, she greeted me with such a warm and genuine smile that immediately made me feel welcome. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and more than willing to help with anything I needed. I left feeling impressed and grateful — she is a wonderful first impression for the entire place, so thank you, Megan!

My father was diagnosed with dementia years ago, and one of the hardest decisions our family faced was knowing when it was time for him to move into a care community. The management team at Morningside made that transition so much easier for us. Their compassion, guidance, and support through every step of the process meant the world to us. I had a lot of questions and concerns, and they were always available—whether by phone or text—to offer help and reassurance. Their dedication gave our family peace of mind during an incredibly emotional time. One of the things that really stood out for us—and especially for my dad—was the beautiful outdoor spaces. Being able to sit in the sun and enjoy the fresh air brought him a lot of joy, and that made all the difference.

My husband and I went for a tour of the facility for my sister-in-law. The facility definitely was not very clean, and one empty room we went in smelled like a sewer. Unbelievable. My mother-in-law lived there 15 years ago, and it was spotless and NEVER smelled bad. Things have really changed.

My mother lived at Morningside for 6 months in 2023. During the time she was there, her health declined to the point where she was not eating, dressing or getting out of bed. When I mentioned issues to management, I was told that we should move her if we’re not satisfied. They were not interested in changing or improving. This response was beyond frustrating as a daughter trying to advocate for my mom. When I tried to call the parent company phone number, there was never an answer. There were many errors with her medication, one being that her medicine could not be found because it was put in another lady’s drawer that had her same first name. The facility was reported several times for violations during the time my mom lived there. She ended up in the hospital for the whole month of December after her health declined. Morningside is for self sufficient adults who do not need much assistance and extra care. We are lucky she was treated at the hospital and is now healthier and living elsewhere. I often think how it would have ended up if we had continued to let her live there.