Columbine Manor

Pros

• The staff were tremendously supportive and kind.
• Salida is fortunate to have this intimate, well-appointed nursing facility.
• The nurses are sweet and attentive and genuinely care.
• Residents living there receive excellent care.
• The staff have been helpful and invested in residents' progress and wellbeing.
• The facility is a single floor with professional, caring staff and is regarded as a gem.
• The facility has done a great job taking care of residents, with very professional staff, and it is recommended.
• The staff are caring and loving, and residents feel safe and comfortable.
• Amy G. and her team provide thorough support, including post-discharge guidance.
• The staff's heart, compassion, empathy and skills are exceptional.

Cons

• The reviewer wouldn't send their worst enemy there.
• The reviewer was deeply concerned about the decline in the quality of care over the past six months.
• The reviewer observed constant staff turnover and difficulty locating basic hygiene supplies or oxygen supplies.
• The lack of organization is alarming.
• The administrator Macy was observed yelling at staff in public areas, which the reviewer called unprofessional.
• The reviewer witnessed the administrator eating before residents were served, a behavior felt like a slap in the face to residents.
• It is becoming clear that the top priority here is money, not the residents.

Review

The experiences shared about Columbine Manor Care Center in Salida reveal a facility where care can be deeply human and supportive, yet where concerns about staffing, administration, and day-to-day operations also surface. Several families spoke movingly about how their loved ones were treated with warmth, kindness, and genuine attention. One brother and sister-in-law described the facility as a place that cared for their sister exceptionally well, noting that even a short stay of about 10 days was met with accommodation and a staff that was tremendously supportive. In similar fashion, another review highlighted the staff as loving, compassionate, and knowledgeable, delivering professional care during a difficult final period and offering emotional support to friends and family. The sentiment extended to the broader community, with a caller praising Columbine as an intimate, well-appointed nursing facility that Salida could be proud of.

On the positive side, several residents and their families spoke about the consistency and warmth of the caregivers. The nurses were described as sweet and attentive, with a genuine care for residents that stood out in the daily experience of living there. One person who had spent 11 months at the facility expressed gratitude for the staff's helpfulness and investment in their wellbeing, even noting that they were leaving only to be closer to family in Florida. There were mentions of a single-floor layout and a sense of gem-like quality in the facility, underscoring how physical design and accessible staff contributed to a comforting environment. For families navigating dementia or other complex needs, there were notes about education and ongoing support from specific teams, such as Amy G. and her colleagues, who were praised for stepping in before discharge to ensure continued care and guidance.

Other voices emphasized the dedication and emotional investment of staff, describing a culture where caregivers go above and beyond to love and support residents. Comments about staff who "truly love their residents" and a general sense of caring and dedication point to a culture that can make a meaningful difference in daily life for those inside. Several reviews also highlighted the broader care ecosystem within Columbine, including contributions from various teams - nurses, doctors, facilities staff, physical therapy, cafeteria staff, and volunteers - who together form a network that families rely on during challenging times. In particular, the sense that the staff's heart and empathy can make a real impact on families during stressful periods shines through in multiple testimonies.

However, the picture is not uniformly rosy. A number of reviews present a stark contrast, focusing on distressing experiences that raise questions about staffing, organization, and leadership. One deeply negative account stated outright that they would not recommend the facility to anyone, alleging understaffing, visible neglect (a friend sitting in urine for an extended period), and a general sense that high ratings came from staff members rather than residents. The critique described a facility overwhelmed by too many patients for too few caregivers, with one nurse responsible for dozens of residents on certain shifts. Such accounts paint a scene of fatigue, insufficient oversight, and concerns about basic responsiveness to resident needs.

Other comments focused on management and behavioral concerns from leadership. A reviewer claimed that the administrator at times treated staff poorly, including yelling in dining and hallway areas, and on one occasion served their own plate in front of waiting residents, which felt belittling and unprofessional. There was also a strong assertion that the facility's priorities lay more with money than with residents' well-being, a charge that, if true, would undermine trust in the leadership and in the care environment. Additional remarks about the executive director suggested a lack of experience or maturity in steering the facility toward safety and health-centered outcomes, further contributing to a mixed overall impression.

Organizational challenges were a recurring theme in the negative feedback. Reviews described persistent turnover among staff, making it hard for residents and families to know who to expect or where to find essential supplies such as hygiene items or oxygen. The sense of disarray extended to practical logistics and communication, with residents and family members feeling that promises from administration were not always fulfilled and that residents' comfort and dignity could be compromised by gaps in preparation and follow-through. The combination of turnover, insufficient resources, and concerns about administrative priorities created a divide between experiences of heartfelt care from front-line staff and frustration with the institution's overall management.

Taken together, the collection of testimonials presents a facility capable of delivering compassionate, attentive care that many families deeply appreciate. It also holds a history of significant challenges related to staffing stability and administrative leadership that have, for some, translated into troubling experiences and a loss of confidence in the facility's ability to consistently protect residents' safety and dignity. For anyone considering Columbine Manor, the messages suggest weighing the very human warmth and specialized attention that dedicated caregivers can provide against the factors of organizational efficiency, staffing ratios, and leadership responsiveness. Prospective families might find it valuable to engage directly with both front-line staff and administrators, ask specific questions about nurse-to-resident ratios, turnover, supply management, and how concerns are addressed, and observe how the facility operates on a day-to-day basis to determine whether the environment best supports their loved ones' needs and their family's expectations.

This section of Salida, Colorado, offers a diverse range of amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors. With several places of worship nearby, individuals can easily access spiritual guidance and community support. Additionally, there are pharmacies in close proximity for convenient medication management. Transportation options such as Budget Truck Rental and U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer provide easy access to moving services or transportation for outings. A variety of dining options like Uptown Grill and The Firefly Restaurant offer delicious meals without the hassle of long commutes. For healthcare needs, there are multiple physicians' offices in the vicinity, ensuring medical care is readily available. Finally, cafes like Sacred Ground Coffee provide cozy spaces for relaxation and socialization with friends or family members. Overall, this part of Salida offers a well-rounded environment that promotes comfort and convenience for senior living.

Places of Worship

• Salida Universal Faith Church (0.2 miles)
• First Lutheran Church (0.4 miles)
• Grainery Ministries (0.4 miles)
• Cornerstone Church (0.5 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (0.5 miles)
• Poncha Springs Church of Christ (0.8 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Nature's Medicine (0.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (1 miles)

Transportation

• Budget Truck Rental (0.2 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.6 miles)
• G B Taxidermy (0.7 miles)
• Harriet Alexander Airport (0.9 miles)
• Harriet Alexander Airfield (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Uptown Grill (0.2 miles)
• Country Bounty (0.3 miles)
• The Firefly Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Los Girasoles (0.5 miles)
• Super Bowl Lanes (0.5 miles)
• 50 Burger (0.6 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• The Medical Clinics (0.2 miles)
• Central Colorado Dermatology (1 miles)
• First Street Family Health (1.1 miles)
• Salida Dermatology (1.2 miles)
• First Street Family Health (1.2 miles)

Cafes

• Sacred Ground Coffee (0.2 miles)