Willow Lane care for the elderly

Pros

• Nelson has a lot of knowledge and training, and the family trusts him more than any doctor or therapist they have ever worked with.
• He consistently keeps his appointments, always arrives with a smile, and works hard to help rehabilitate her.
• Nelson helps her stay on her exercises and cares about her continued advancement.
• The nursing staff are genuinely caring and kind, described as top-notch medical service with love and care.
• The RTs are knowledgeable and provide more information than the doctors.
• Linda, the DON, has been a great help in coordinating care.
• The subacute housekeepers, especially Silvia, keep the place and patients comfortable.
• The food is very good most of the time.
• Leila the social worker goes above and beyond to assist families and patients.

Cons

• The reviewers describe the facility as negligent in patient care, with bedsores forming from lack of turning and failure to provide a promised pressure-relief mattress.
• Delays in obtaining essential devices (like hand splints) and rude interactions by staff are reported.
• A resident physician is described as insensitive and dismissive of the patient's pain, even claiming the patient is brain-dead.
• The care is characterized as lacking a holistic approach, with the patient deteriorating while families must repeatedly beg for basic care.
• Poor communication is a common complaint, with few updates and staff not answering the phone.
• Hygiene and personal care are said to be neglected, including dirty appearances and unkept nails.
• There are concerns about missing medical documentation and lost belongings.
• Diabetes management is criticized for inconsistent glucose checks and conflicting orders.
• Therapy is described as inconsistent or removed without clear justification.

Review

A broad chorus of voices describes a facility that provokes both gratitude and deep frustration. On the one hand, Nelson, a therapist associated with HI Desert Home Health Services, is repeatedly praised for his expertise, reliability, and positive demeanor. His wife's progress under his care is celebrated: he is credited with keeping her on track with her exercises, reducing her reliance on medications for pain, and helping her regain the ability to move from bed to chair unaided. The appreciation for Nelson is specific and heartfelt, with thanks directed to him and to Mark and Carolyn for recognizing the impact of his work.

Yet the same community of experiences turns sharply toward serious concerns that color many other accounts. A strong undercurrent of anger, fear, and grief runs through several narratives. Families describe a pattern of neglect and neglectful practices - bedsores that appeared or worsened after admission, and promises of pressure-relieving mattresses that were never fulfilled. In one account, a patient who arrived with brain injury developed stage 2 bedsores within days, with staff telling the family the wounds existed before transfer or were not present at all when asked to explain. The lack of timely turning and preventive care is repeatedly lamented, painting a picture of a facility where patient turnover can occur without the protection of consistent, preventive skin care.

The density of specific procedural failures is striking. Delays in ordering splints for a patient's hands stretched for weeks, despite repeated requests from family members who sought a quick solution to prevent contractures. An OT's perceived rudeness, slow responsiveness, and a sense that certain requests were dismissed or deprioritized compound the sense that basic needs were not being addressed in a timely fashion. Patients and families also recount interactions with a physician who appeared dismissive and improperly skeptical of the patient's pain. There are vivid claims that pain medications, when administered, can alter respiration, yet a physician contends the pain response is not voluntary. Such disputes over pain assessment and treatment contribute to a climate of distrust and fear for loved ones who cannot speak for themselves.

Family members frequently describe a sense of being forced to fight for attention and answers. They report being told that a second medical opinion would not be pursued, and that transfers from hospital care to the facility seemed engineered to free hospital beds rather than to secure appropriate rehabilitation. The emotional toll is evident: a loved one's condition deteriorates, and the family feels that the care team is not meeting the level of vigilance and advocacy they expect for someone recovering from serious brain injury. Worries about diabetic management - such as intermittent glucose testing and sudden orders to discontinue accu-checks - add another layer of concern, illustrating a perceived disjunction between medical judgment and a patient's known conditions.

Nevertheless, the reports are not uniformly negative about every staff member or every moment of care. Several accounts highlight the compassion and competence of particular team members who were easier to reach, more responsive, and more respectful. The director of nursing, Linda, is singled out as a helpful presence who offers real support within a system that sometimes falls short. Nursing staff, when engaged, are described as dedicated and capable, with some caregivers going "above and beyond" for their patients. The radiology and therapy teams receive praise as well, with some staff (including the physical therapy care providers and respiratory therapists) recognized for their knowledge and for providing more information than doctors in some encounters.

There are also stories that celebrate positive, even affectionate, interactions amidst the challenges. Leila, a social worker at the facility, is remembered for her substantial help in planning the next steps for a patient's family, offering a sense of continuity and care during difficult times. The subacute housekeepers, notably Silvia, are thanked for keeping the environment comfortable and clean despite limited space and the pressures that come with a crowded facility. For some families, the care team's humanity - described as genuinely caring and kind - leads to moments of relief and gratitude even as other aspects of care are questioned.

Other anecdotes add even more texture to the landscape. A husband who stayed for respite notes a troubling incident: clothes ripped, a sudden onset of Bell's palsy, and a sense of overmedication - claims that prompted a state-level complaint and an outward sense that accountability was insufficient. In contrast, a mother who spent months there after a serious fall is praised for the staff's attention and empathy, with particular thanks to Leila and the overall support system that helped the family navigate the difficult process. Throughout, there is a tension between moments of high-quality care and episodes of perceived neglect or mismanagement, each coloring the overall impression of the facility.

In one particularly painful thread, a family member recounts watching a loved one suffer through a stroke while feeling that therapy and rehabilitation were not being provided consistently. The patient's hygiene, the cleanliness of the environment, and the timeliness of visits emerge as recurring concerns, alongside questions about the adequacy of staff to handle critical needs and emergencies. Some narratives describe missed calls, delayed responses, and a sense that communication with families is inconsistent or unreliable, which only deepens the worry about a loved one's safety and future outcomes.

Taken together, these accounts sketch a facility that cannot be boiled down to a single verdict. There are moments of genuine relief, competence, and care that lift spirits and reassure families. Intertwined with that are persistent concerns about quality of care, safety practices, communication, and the overall coordination of medical and supportive services. The range of experiences - from effective therapy and compassionate staff to allegations of neglect, miscommunication, and incomplete care plans - creates a complex portrait of HI Desert Home Health Services. For families contemplating placement, the narratives underscore the importance of ongoing oversight, clear communication, and vigilant advocacy to ensure that a loved one receives the holistic, timely, and respectful care they deserve.

Parks

• Joshua Tree National Park West Entrance (2.1 miles)
• Joshua Tree National Park (2.4 miles)
• Dog Park (6.1 miles)
• yucca valley Community Center Park (7.1 miles)
• Bucklin Park (14.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Joshua Tree Saloon (2.9 miles)
• Natural Sisters (3 miles)
• Country Kitchen (3 miles)
• Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant (3 miles)
• Pie For The People (3.5 miles)
• Steak 'n Shake (5.4 miles)
• Burger King (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• The Dez (3 miles)
• Joshua Tree Coffee Company (3 miles)
• Larry Milt Western Cafe (5.3 miles)
• The Yucca Tree Eatery (6.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• 8 Star Cafe (7 miles)
• Organic Market Cafe (9.2 miles)

Physicians

• M.B. Ob/Gyn (3.2 miles)
• Schultz Eye Clinic - Yucca Valley (5.6 miles)
• Morongo Basin Community Health Center - Pediatrics (5.7 miles)
• Desert Advanced Imaging (6.3 miles)
• Dr Edith Jones-Poland (6.6 miles)
• Yucca Valley Family Healthcare Association (6.6 miles)
• Desert Oasis Health Care- Primary Care (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Community United Methodist Church (3.3 miles)
• Gene Gerald Garrett (5.5 miles)
• Yucca Valley United Methodist Church (6.6 miles)
• Crossview Bible Church (7.7 miles)
• Living Waters Worship Center (7.9 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (13.7 miles)
• Jesus Christ Church (13.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Avalon Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• Walgreens (5.9 miles)
• New Pharmacy (6.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.4 miles)
• Vons Pharmacy (6.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (12.6 miles)

Transportation

• Yucca Valley Transit Center (6.5 miles)
• Alamo (9.1 miles)