Nursing Home Communities in Topeka, KS

"I spent several days at Plaza West Healthcare and Rehab Center last year. It was in the rehab and therapy wing, and they did a good job. The rooms, maintenance, and housekeeping were fine, and the food was good. The staff was also excellent, from the head nurse down to the aides. They were all very accommodating and very friendly. They were just short-staffed on aides. They also kept my current medication and took care of it anytime a change was needed. I stayed in one of the larger private rooms, and it was great. I had a bed, a dresser, and a very large bathroom. I can't complain about the room at all. I participated in one or two activities during my stay. I ate meals in my room because I was in a wheelchair, but I know the dining area was used. They had something called a circle fitness thing where everybody in their wheelchair got in a big circle and they would do balloons back and forth for your legs and arms."

"My dad was at McCrite Plaza Topeka and the personnel, the nurses, the nurse's aide, the social worker, and the place, and everything was great. It's just very homey and the outside is beautiful. If you take them on the patio, there are flowers and there's a pond to walk around. And on the inside, they had a recliner, and it just seemed very homey. I think he liked the food. They have everything that you could ask for. They have a nice outdoor area, they have crafts, and I believe they have a bar and all that stuff available. But he didn't use it because he was in rehab. They have a lot of activities for the people. I thought his room was homey because I'd been in another rehab facility and this one had a nice recliner, a TV, a window, and a nice closet. And it was a nice size."

"I had to make the decision to get my dad 'outta there' ASAP! I had to beg to get any type of communication from the social worker and the therapy team regarding his progress. My dad never met the social worker the week before I moved him. Call lights are not responded to in a timely manner. On multiple occasions, I witness staff just sitting at the nurses station ignoring call lights. I also heard them complain how busy they are. The admissions coordinator was great! Once, he moved in, it changed once he became a resident. Staff didn't really know him. Such as drink and food favorites. He wasn't really encouraged to attend activities. Nobodyreally took time to make him feel like McCrites was his home. "

"My grandma lived in her own apartment until she was 105. In her last year, many relatives wanted to take her in, but she was stubborn and insisted on finding a senior assisted living center. My aunt and uncle who always looked out for her found ManorCare on Wanamaker Road in Topeka, Kansas and felt comfortable that it would be a good choice.I visited my grandma many times at ManorCare and I was impressed. It was a nice place with a good atmosphere. It was always clean and I liked her room. She had a room alone, which I think is important and it had plenty of space. One of my fondest memories will always be when my aunt put a Christmas tree on my grandma's dresser and it was one of those that lights up on its own and the lights change color. I can remember sitting there and looking at that tree and enjoying my grandma's company.I believe the food was well prepared too. I never actually tasted it, but my grandma seemed fine about it. There were activities, but she wasn't too terribly interested in those, but when we'd come out, she enjoyed playing cards with us like she always did.The reason I ranked it four instead of five is because I think in the ideal situation, the living center would offer accommodations similar to apartments or condos with more space and privacy. ManorCare is the traditional style with hallways and rooms. "

"I went to the facility one time because my grandmother was in very bad health and was expected to pass soon. I got to the front door and it seemed as if the security of the facility was top notch. Once inside it seemed like the residents had plenty of activities to do during the day. The staff was relatively nice. The cleanliness was about average and I personally thought it could have been cleaned a little better. I would have loved to have seen a place for the residents to be able to go outside and get some fresh air. It seemed kind of stuffy inside the building. I don't think I would pick this facility again. "

"Rolling Hills... great place. We moved our loved one in and were immediately impressed with how EVERY patient was treated kindly. When an aide or nurse would enter a room, they spoke cheerfully and caringly. The place was clean--and is was kept that way. The meals are great. Family members can join in for a meal for $3--with a couple hours advance notice. During our first few days, we stuck around to make sure our loved one was getting the care needed. Sometimes there were delays. If the button was pressed for help, it occasionally took WAY too long for someone to come. We know patients often call for the minor things--but unless the staff come, they wouldn't know whether it was major or minor. We think the problem is that there just isn't always enough staff--especially during the times before and after meals, when patients are being moved from the cafeteria to rooms, and vice-versa. Shortage of staff is probably a problem everywhere. When our loved one took a downturn, the staff there kicked into high gear and gave complete and ongoing care. We were thrilled. Our loved one is now gone. We are writing the care home to thank them for all they did. We will mention names, but not here... except to say that if you have Kiki waiting on your loved one, you will be most fortunate!!"

"The Legacy on 10th Avenue was very nice, but they didn't have an available room at the time. The room was just fine, and the grounds were very nice. "

"I'm living at The Gardens at Aldersgate with my husband. When I came here, I had to be put in a wheelchair, and they had to use a Hoyer lift with me. I was in the physical therapy department, The Villages at Aldersgate, and my husband was as well, and everybody on that unit has a room of their own. I worked very hard in physical therapy, and now I'm able to walk, and I don't need a walker or a cane. I've done so well that I've achieved what's called independent status here. We were both tested by Aldersgate staff, and he was deemed to need a nursing home, and it was determined that I needed assisted living, and I said no, I'm not going anywhere without my husband, so we both came to the nursing home part. They have a lot of fun activities for us here every day. They have parties that are just really nice and they have at least one party a month. I think in October and December, we had three parties each. They meet you at the level you're at, and work with you at that level, and try to elevate it if possible. We've had really good experiences. I am not in need of disposable briefs myself. I just wear cotton panties, but for those that do, they are very conscientious about making sure that you don't smell diaper smells. Everything is very clean and tidy, and they check to see if people need to be changed. If they do, they take care of it immediately. They're good about that 24/7. They come in at night, and they check on those things. They're very courteous. Another nice benefit is that they provide transportation to all medical appointments at no extra charge. I'm on dialysis, so that's three times a week, and if I need any additional appointments, like my husband and I went out to a dentist, they provided transportation for that. They have wonderful services here, such as podiatry. They do a nice job sanding down my toenails and things of that nature. They have a beauty salon here, too, where I have my hair done or my fingernails polished. If we don't care for what's being served at a particular meal, there is always what's called an always available menu, and they will prepare anything on that in place of what's being served if we so choose. They're on top of everything with housekeeping, and they have laundry people working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They're very good and efficient at keeping our clothes stain-free and delivering them back to our rooms after about a three-day turnaround at the most. They're really good about keeping clean sheets on everybody's bed. They come in and they vacuum and dust. We each have our own restroom. There's no shower or tub in our room. They have a shower room that they will take us to, and we are scheduled for two showers a week, but if it needs to be more frequent, they can do that. We're very fortunate that the transportation is included in the rent. It's very affordable, and they've taken our insurance and made it most affordable for us to stay here. This is a good facility, and the other residents are quite friendly. We have what's called reserved seating in the dining room, where we sit at the same table, meal after meal, and get to know other neighbors at the table. When you come, you're gonna see a lot of smiles on most of the residents' faces. That was a big determining factor too, whether the other residents who were already here were happy or not. We don't wanna be around a bunch of people who aren't."

"My sister is in Countryside Health Center. It looks like a mental hospital. That's what it reminds me of. It smells OK. The one thing that bothers my sister is that the mental people because she is afraid of them. She is in a semi-private room. It is very small. They need to improve on the activities. There isn't as much here; it doesn't seem to be. "

"My mom is at Aldersgate Village Life Plan Community. It's nice and peaceful. She wasn't able to get out of her bed before and now she can, so they're working with her that way. She just looks a lot better than before. Her room has a bed, a recliner, and a dresser. It's pretty neat and clean. There's a bathroom right inside the room. The staff seems to be pretty helpful and ready to help her out. They check on her quite often. The food smells really good and looks good. Also, the place is pretty clean and everything."

"The Manor has been a high quality home for many years. It is located in a small town near a large city but they get most of their employees right from Rossville. That was out first choice for my mother when she was declining from Senile Demensia. We have relatives in Rossville and even knew some of the employees there. As it turned out mom was there a very short time before she unexpectedly died from a heart attack. The careing and sympathy extended to our family was outstanding. It is only a ten or fifteen minute drive from Topeka so it was no trouble to visit mom daily while she was there. I would not hesitate for a second if I needed another placement for a loved one's care. "

"We have a friend that lives in Brookside, and she just loves it. That will be a place that is apparently suitable to some people, and that's what we are looking at. She is in the independent living side. We saw the cafeteria, her room, the community room, and the chapel. They have activities like they are playing games and cards. The facility is really clean, and they are well staffed. We look at the dining area, but it is not a dining time, so we did not see the food. The rooms are very clean and very spacious for a single person. "

"My loved one, Paul, was living at Brookside. He absolutely LOVED IT THERE!! The staff are amazing, caring, compassionate people. The facility is always clean & smells nice, has a home like feel to it. Atmosphere is peaceful not chaos like most. The grounds are beautiful. The facility is being updated to make it even better. While in the hospital, Susan, one of the owners, visited him. She was even there at the facility close to midnight checking on him, our family and the staff when he was at the end of his life. Other staff visited him in the hospital as well. Paul wanted to go back to Brookside to pass, because they were like family to him. I do not have enough time or space to list all the amazing things about this facility or the staff. I would choose to be in their care if I could not take care of myself. They work together with you & the loved one to achieve the best goal. Nursing, Social Work, Dietary, Activities, Biz Office, House Keeping EVERYONE is AMAZING! BEST place EVER!!! "

"My mother is in Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living. We chose it mainly because we were very familiar. My aunt had already been there and gotten her care there. We knew what it was like and we met with the people and liked it. It's very clean. It's a good place. The staff was very knowledgeable and very attentive. There are several things available, but she's not participating. Comparing it to others, the price is about normal. She has to have just about everything as far as help, so it's pricey."