Hillcrest Firethorn

I sincerely expected the worst and was happy to find the opposite! From the first time entering Hillcrest, each person we met, including kitchen staff, couldn't have been more helpful, patient or kinder! Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Activities, Bath Aides, and Housekeeping's positive attitudes and words of encouragement helped me to accomplish my goal of returning home. My daughter, Marjie, and the rest of my family were treated respectfully and included in my recovery. My family and I would gladly recommend this Rehabilitation Center!

Never use this facility for a loved one! Skilled nursing beds in facilities that would meet my mothers needs were full when my mother was supposed to be discharged from the hospital. When we found there was an opening at HF we read the reviews. The reviews were so bad that I decided to contact the administrator before moving my mother there. The administrator assured me that it was only the very few disgruntled patients & families that wrote the bad reviews so not having a lot of choices we took her at her word. My mother experienced ALL of the incompetent, lazy & rude care that had been written on the reviews and more! The APRN & the therapists are very good but even they can’t make up for the uncaring caregivers, the horrible dietary department & the poor management. In addition to the numerous examples in earlier reviews they managed to plug her PICC line by not caring for it properly, (one nurse actually said “we don’t touch those things”) & it had to be removed. She choked numerous times on food that she should not have been given b/c she was supposed to be on soft foods only (not hard, overcooked crispy “food”). We talked to 13 different people about her food & they never did get it right. When her condition seemed to be worsening & she wasn’t responding as much & I tried to ask the LPN what was happening, I was told “QUIT BOTHERING ME. She must be tired” When they weren’t helping mom get to the bathroom for long periods of time she would try to get up herself but was too weak. I expressed concern that she was going to fall so they put the bed in the lowest position & put a mat on the floor so she would land on it when she fell RATHER THAN toileting every 2 hours as they had been told to do. Medications were left on her bedside table (see picture) & she was told to take them as the med aid walked out (mom was partially blind & had bad tremors) so couldn’t see them & would have dropped them. I could go on with many more examples of pathetic care. We just decide

My 92 year old mother recently spent about 3 weeks in rehab. The entire staff was so caring, kind, and concerned about her care and well-being. This includes the folks that brought her meals to her room, the cleaning staff, the nurses and staff, the PT and OT folks, the front desk, hair stylist, and all the other staff we worked with. We were impressed with the PT and OT she received as it all related to what she needed to go back home to independent living. The nursing staff was really good to work with especially in regards to her medications. We are grateful for Hillcrest Firethorn as Mom is now home (independent) and will be celebrating her 93rd Birthday this weekend! PS: I shouldn't forget Priscilla the therapy dog from Trinity Lutheran Church. She is precious!