The Keystones of Cedar Rapids

Virgil

My mom is moving into The Keystones of Cedar Rapids. It's a very nice place. The staff is very helpful. We really liked the room that we picked out for her; it's very nice room. We checked two other facilities, but Keystones was by far the best. We went to the memory care unit and the assisted living. They have get-togethers and bingo, and they have a theater room where they play movies during the day. Without eating there, it appears to me as though that their dining is excellent. They also have nice outdoors areas where people can have flowers and things like that.

Terry

I went to tour The Keystones of Cedar Rapids. The staff was very friendly, and I was really impressed. They had a really nice PowerPoint to show. I was in a group setting, so they had a presentation. It was very informative with actual study information. Then I did get a tour, and the place is beautiful with lots of activities. I really like that. They had a pool and a beautiful dining room. They're playing bingo, and the residents seem very happy. We just thought it was overall a really nice place, but unfortunately we decided we're going to move my dad to Georgia (where there's more family that can come visit). I went into one of the rooms, and it was a one-bedroom. It was spacious and it had a full kitchen, a washer and a dryer, and a full bathroom. It was like a nice one-bedroom apartment with a little balcony, so it was very nice. The facility was homey and beautifully decorated. We walked around and the residents were able to put their personal items on their door, so it was a little more individualized for them. There's a nice little courtyard in the middle that people could do stuff. The atmosphere was really nice and very comfortable. There were some puzzles in the hallway and little things to do in the seating areas. Another thing that I really liked about the place was they said they have a bus that they take their residents grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, and things like that. It is really handy, so family members don't always have to come and take them. They're little more independent. The staff said sometimes if they didn't have an errand to do, they would just take them for a ride just to get them out and drive around. Sometimes they stop for ice cream, so I thought that was kind of nice that they are willing to let their residents sort of have the freedom to get out of the place if they want to (if they're not able to drive). My tour was pretty good and pretty solid. They served us a meal, and the meal was very good. I did not get a chance to take a look at the menu or the food options. They didn't really show that or talk too much about that. That would probably be one of my big things. If I were going to be my dad in there, I would definitely want to know if they have more options about what we were served. I would love to have more buffet style or restaurant style, where you get to choose your item. The staff members were all wonderful and very friendly.

Kathleen

The Keystones of Cedar Rapids was very pleasant and welcoming, and all together a really wonderful place. But then I found out that it didn't take pets. They have exercise for the residents and they have a swimming pool.

Melanie

The Keystones of Cedar Rapids was very well kept up. The reason it's a 4 to me is that it is a little bit too big for my mom. I think she's going to need that smaller community feel. Their facilities were nice. They had a theater room and all of that fun stuff. I talked to more than three people there, and they were very nice. They came up to chat with me. I did not get to try the food, but I got to see it. Food-wise, I'd say it's probably not very good. It has a lot of gravy. They were getting ready to do a fitness class when we came in. They were just wrapping up painting flowerpots, and I believe next week they're going to be planting flowers in those and putting them into the courtyard area. They actually gave me a sheet with all of the activities.

Chuck

My father is on a waiting list at The Keystone of Cedar Rapids. We toured it ourselves. It was nice, it looked good, and it was acceptable. We've heard good things about it from a lot of people. The location was one of the factors, and they seemed to have everything we needed, all the different care levels. The staff member was very good, and she was excellent.

Becky

We chose Keystone Cedars for my sister. It's a really nice place. We got interested in it because the employees and residents all seemed to have the same level of happiness. There wasn't anybody who was grumpy, and we saw lots of smiles, happy people, employees talking to one another and the residents, and the residents were laughing. It was very clean, bright, with lots of activities, and it looked like a pretty good match for my sister. They had a pretty big room, a living room, kitchen, dining area, and they offered some rooms that had a sitting area with windows all around. They had a nice courtyard with bird nests, butterfly houses, and stuff like that. It looked like a really inviting place where you might have a nice garden in your own backyard. They had an activity room and a dementia wing too, and that is reassuring that when she needs it, they have extra care right there in the same building. It had a nice layout, structure, and it's really homey.

Dawn

My tour at Keystone Cedars was very positive. The living atmosphere of the community is very communal, welcoming, and very nice. The staff member who assisted me during the tour was very knowledgeable, patient, and caring. Their dining area was open, bright, and sunny. It was nice. They have several things to keep the residents active like music and pet therapy, and they have a nice outdoor area.

Murphy19

My dad lived at Keystone Cedars and thoroughly enjoyed living there before he passed away, and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting him. The staff were so friendly and everyone we met in the halls knew his name. His apartment gave him plenty of space to call his own and the windows were low enough that he could look out the window from his favorite chair. A great variety of daily activities were available for residents and I loved that the facility had a library, movie theater and beautiful fish pond to visit. I miss visiting Keystone Cedars and the staff...it is a very warm and inviting place!

Liser08

My father just moved to Keystone Cedars. He called me the other day, and talked my ear off. He could tell me enough about his spacious apartment and how busy he was. He told me he really loves it in his new apartment. The staff made it easy to move. And they told me they just love my Dad. I would recommend this place to everyone.

Angie

We love Keystone Cedars. It's beautiful. Trish was very accommodating and friendly, and we exchanged lots of phone calls. She was always quick to get right back to me and answer our questions. It was really nice working with her. We got a tour one time while the residents were eating, and they were playing bingo the next time we visited. Everyone seemed happy there.

Sheran

Keystone Cedars' staff was very helpful, excellent, and answered all my questions. The cafeteria had a wide range and variety for the residents. It was a very nice place. The grounds were very nice. They had a swimming pool that was accessible with a whirlpool. The rooms were larger than in other facilities, and very clean. The residents said the food was excellent and well-balanced with fruits, vegetables and grains. They had everything that you should have.

kristinakelley1112

The decision of where to move a loved one can be quite daunting. This process, however, was made so much easier after visiting Keystone Cedars. It was a unanimous choice once we had seen the grounds, saw the accommodations, tasted the food and had talked with the staff members. Everything about Keystone Cedars is amazing! Mom loves her apartment! She loves to show it off. It did not take long for her to refer to it as "home". I enjoy dining there when i can because the food is second to none. Great choices every day. And the aides and other staff members ~ they are kind, compassionate, patient and you can tell they love their jobs. The are dedicated to providing friendly and efficient care. Activities ~ they certainly have them! The activity directors are genius at coming up with things that are interesting, fun and engaging. They have done flower arrangements, multi-media art pieces, painting, coloring. They play games a lot. One day they had "glamour shots" ... complete with accessories! At least once a week they get in the van and go for a ride -- just to get out and see the world for an hour or so. And they are always bringing people in the entertain or educate. Once a week we get together and say the rosary. There are movie days - complete with some of the best warm popcorn you will ever have! Special days are celebrated in unique ways ~ and family members are always encouraged to join in. Their goal must be to make every resident feel relevant, give them opportunity to socialize and keep them engaged. They certainly succeed at all. Bottom line is: they truly care. It is sort of like they become part of the family. My mom has shown herself to be quite the artist. She raised seven kids, so she probably just did not have the time to do anything like what she is doing. But she loves the projects. She makes bracelets and does a lot of drawing and coloring and painting. I went into her room about two weeks ago. She had just done 2 paintings that were all black on off-white paper. They were very abstract. She did not seem pleased with them, but then I asked if I could have them. She reluctantly agreed, warning me though that they were not that great. I matted and framed them. I gave them to one of my brothers who lives far enough away that he does not get to see all she does. He was very touched. It was a one of a kind gift that she had done just a week before I brought them to him. He will proudly hang them. And when I showed her the picture of how they turned out and him holding them, she was thrilled and so proud. The point, I guess, is that the fine folks at Keystone know how to encourage and engage the residents. Where we were reluctant and apprehensive going into moving her, we are now confident that we made the best decision, and that she is in the best place. She is socializing. She is learning. She has friends. And she is so well cared for. It is not all about our piece of mind. The most important part is that she loves it there. She is blossoming before our eyes. And that is worth everything to us. And that is a testament to the people that make up the Keystone Cedars staff - though I hesitate to call them that. They are like family. They are an excellent group of people. And they are fun. We feel so fortunate that we made the decision we did! She is very happy!

Richard460018

We picked out Keystone Cedars. My mother knew two ladies there who were very happy with the facility, and I think that made a big difference. She likes the rooms and the activities. They visited different places, like Walmart and to the grocery store. They have a library and play bingo. We ate lunch there, and she liked what they had. They had a choice of fried chicken or Salisbury steak, lettuce salad, or a soup, and dessert. If you didn’t like their choice of two entrees, they had a chef salad or you could order a hamburger. There was a lady that took us around who was very nice, very pleasant, and answered all of our questions, so we were happy with her. She gave us all the information. We’re very happy with Keystone Cedars. My mother likes it.

caring visitor35

Keystone was very nice and probably one of the better ones we’ve seen. We only really met the executive director. We spent a little time with her and she was very helpful. And she used the written materials that describe the facility well. We toured a typical apartment and also the memory care unit. They were very nice and nice sized; probably more the one-bedroom as opposed to the studio. The studio looked too much like a dormitory room and there’s not much to it, but the apartments were like a two-room area, one being the living room, kitchen area, and then the bedroom area and, of course, the bathroom. They seemed satisfactory for a person to live in. We saw some very nicely decorated areas and some nice residents who would probably be good friends to my mother. They did have activities that if someone is socially inclined there would be things to do as well as opportunities to leave the facility for shopping and things like that.

Cynthia117608350

Keystone Cedars is a beautiful facility, I think it’s fairly new. The rooms were kind of small. The price was more expensive than the other facilities we’ve visited, and so we were less impressed with that. The dining room was just OK. They have a shuttle to take residents to places. I would recommend it to my aunt, who is wealthy, because this is the perfect place for her. She would really like it. It seemed a little more upscale for my mother.

Delores.M

The lady showed me a couple of rooms at Keystone Cedars. We didn’t walk outside but she showed me the walking area they had available outside. The sizes were good, and they had a nice dining area and nice options for meals. They were all very good showing me around. That was a really nice neighborhood there, and had little, private outdoor spaces. It’s somewhat secluded, and yet there was a lot of things around it. It was very nice, kind of back in a cul-de-sac so that it was private. It was very nice and pleasant to look at. Everybody was very friendly.

Sandy110267850

I moved mom to Keystone Cedars Assisted Living. The place is clean and nicely appointed. It's a very comfortable place to live in. I felt that it's a place that she would enjoy living in.

Bob G.

Apartment: clean, quiet, very comfortable. Fitness room and pool: very clean and well-maintained. Activity room, Library, Clubhouse: very clean and comfortable. Food: excellent selection of drinks, salads, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Residents: all appear happy and friendly. Similar to a cruise ship experience. Staff: open, pleasant, caring, and helpful.

Joy Brecht

There is not enough room here to write about how fantastic "Cedar" is. I have nothing but praise for the staff and the care my dad got when he lived there. He loved his apartment and everyone there. Need assisted living for a loved one? Keystone Cedars is the place.

Mary S. Ernst

Moving my mother to an assisted facility was difficult for me. Now I know it was the best move. Cedars is inviting, well run, and friendly. Residents are a top priority for all staff. Wonderful care, great meals, varied activities and services.

RICHARD MILLS, son of former resident

When it became necessary for my mother to live in an assisted living facility, the idea was met with resistance and negativity. However, the country-like view from her room, the decor of the facility, the friendliness of the other residents, and the personal caring of the staff had her calling Keystone Cedars "home" within a short time. We experienced peace of mind, knowing she was in a physically safe environment that provided many opportunities and experiences that enriched her life. We are so grateful for the high level of competence in management and medical personnel. On a personal note, we have appreciated the availability of a guest room when we visited from out of state.

Margaret49

Delightful living place, clean, and very good staff. Good food, well served, and lots of entrees to choose from. Excellent activities available and very homey atmosphere. Happy to be a resident.

Ken & Joan

5 star services, facility, residents, and staff. Wonderful swimming pool, and good food with 5 selections. Frequent entertainment with a nice variety. Good place to call home.

Dixie5

It's very clean and comfortable. Good and caring staff. There are many things to do and nice entertainment. Needs improvement in food quality and serving temperature.

Joseph16

When I visited Keystone Cedars, I was happy with what I saw there. I believed the head of the nursing department was the one who gave me the tour. We talked for about an hour and a half about what they did and what was best. They had very nice units. There were activities but I did not see any entertainment during my visit. However, I looked for a place with memory care and nursing care because it won't be long before my wife would need the nursing care. Nonetheless, I would recommend this facility to others.

Jennifer20

My wife and I visited Keystone Cedars and we liked it. It is clean. The staff was very good, very cordial and inviting. They wanted us to stay there but the place was carpeted. It would be nice if they had non-carpeted floors and bigger rooms.