The Blake at Kingsport

Very nice facility. Dining hall is top-notch, staff is super-friendly, and after all the normal kinks have been worked out, my mother seems to enjoy her new home. She is much better off there, with social interaction than alone in her previous home. I feel better knowing she is at The Blake…

The Blake has been a wonderful, caring place for my parents. My dad pasted away there in April and was treated with kindness and respect right up to the end. My mother has decided to return home but has very mixed feelings about leaving the Blake and all the amazing staff that have become her second family. She has very warm feelings for all who have cared for her during her time there. Our family is very grateful to everyone there who took such great care of them.

The Blake is a wonderful assisted living community. They provide compassionate care, serve great food, and offer a wide variety of daily activities to keep their residents happy and engaged. I would recommend The Blake to everyone!

Nick and Cary Grabar: assisted living residents We live at the Blake at Kingsport, a senior living community, where we are enjoying our latter lives to the fullest with the best of care and services. We experienced a similar facility, Grand Oaks, when we lived in Washington DC for two months. We never imagined there would be a facility like that in our backyard! We especially like the holistic approach to health where there are activities available to continue to help us be healthy in mind, body, spirit, emotionally and relationally. Entertainment, food, activities, staff and leadership are excellent! It is easy to understand why there is always a waiting list for new residents. Come join our family! Picture: Dining with Sylvia, our granddaughter.

A year ago, my mom broke her hip. We thought she wasn’t long for the world. We knew she would need assisted living if not something more. My husband and I toured it with Tramara, the sales director. We wanted to move in ourselves after the tour! After leaving the building, I group chatted with my siblings. I then called my mom. Everyone was ok with mom moving from Ohio to Tennessee. The waitlist for her large one bedroom was only 3 months. The call came that they were ready for her! A chaotic few days and the move happened. Move in was easy with all the rolling carts and equipment The Blake let us use.. people were stoping by to meet the new resident! She has been there 9 months. She is thriving! Southern peer pressure is a real thing. People sweetly convince you to do stuff you may not want to! If you miss, they seek you out to see what is wrong. My mom now does group fitness 4-5 days a week! She is stronger than she has been in YEARS! Cammie Entrekin is fabulous as social director. She has activities all the time. She loads the luxury mini bus every Monday for a shopping trip (wal-mart, grocery, shoes, Buc-ees, etc) and every Friday they go to lunch. This prevents the building from getting claustrophobic and gives the residents different experiences and opportunity to buy stuff for their rooms. The Blake offers 3 meals a day. Breakfast 7-9, lunch 11-1, dinner 4-6. I am not a fan of the hours since joining for dinner is difficult for working family. Mom would prefer breakfast go to 10 since she likes to be lazy in the morning. There is a daily menu and a we serve this every day menu to choose from for each meal. Activities are often. Bingo or some group game every afternoon in the ice-cream/coffee bar area. There is a book club held in the library. There is the Blake bakers where they bake cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cheesecake, etc. they have margaritas on Monday nights and wine down Wednesday (they give small portions and limit to two drinks!) in the piano bar. They have musical entertainment every week at least once! There are concerts in the courtyard and in the chapel. Church service is at least once a week in their very own chapel. There are movies every night in the theatre! Those chairs are comfy!! They have special family engagement activities like antique car show, Hoe down, Luau, teas, 50’s day, and they celebrate every holiday like valentines, StPatrick’s, Halloween will have costume contest and trick or treating. Christmas has special dinner and pictures with Santa in the prettiest Santa chair. Easter they have brunch and had a nice brunch for grandparents day! Every Saturday in fall is a tailgate party. Yes, it is a lot and all included with being a resident! No nickel and diming for each event! Now for my personal observations! There is no old smell or antiseptic smell. It just smells clean and fresh. There is free laundry rooms or staff can help with laundry. Staff comes and cleans once a week but empties trash cans two times a day so never anything f li Geri g to smell in the rooms! They have water stations in buffets in every hallway so fruit water or maybe juice or lemonade. There is a fresh fruit bowl at each station. Healthy!!! The staff all chips in to help. The executive director has driven the bus. Sales will help with social. Kitchen staff helps with parties. I have never heard “that isn’t my job!” Everyone seems to enjoy their job and are always willing to help. They do have salon for hair and nails on site. They have nurses on duty at all times and Nurse practitioner is there 3-4 days a week. If you don’t want to go to a doctor, they will provide care at The Blake. If you need more specialized care or want to see another doctor, the bus/van/car will take you if you can’t drive Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. The decorations in the facility are frequently updated to match holiday or season. It is beautiful. This is lengthy but you are making a life choice for you or loved one! The Blake has been wonderful!