Hawthorne Inn of Peru

Pros

• The administrators, PAs, RNs, and CNAs cared for residents' daily lives.
• CNAs worked hard, maintaining residents' dignity and delivering attentive care.
• Therapists were knowledgeable, competent, individualized, and friendly.
• The activities team did a phenomenal job, being thoughtful and creative.
• The kitchen staff were kind and remembered residents' dietary preferences.
• The facility was clean, orderly, and smelled fresh.
• The living quarters were cozy and well maintained.
• CNA Julie was awesome.
• The reviewer highly recommended Manor Court for placement.

Cons

• The nursing staff did not attend to patients as closely as they should.
• CNA/nursing staff frequently stood in halls chatting while patients asked for help.
• The nurses acted as if they were above manual labor and stayed in the kitchen area.
• A resident was left in diapers much longer after rehab than appropriate.
• Social Services was described as nonexistent and some staff as rude.
• Residents were lined up in halls and wandered aimlessly asking visitors for help.
• Communication issues existed where calls to family were not returned because other family members could make decisions.
• There were allegations that staff could lie, manipulate, and spread gossip with CNAs, nurses, and Social Services.
• Administration was described as really bad, with problems trickling down to staff.
• Some staff were rude (e.g., a nurse needing an attitude adjustment).

Review

Manor Court emerges in these accounts as a place of stark contrasts - where some residents and families speak of warmth, dignity, and attentive care, while others recount frustration, procedural barriers, and inconsistent experiences of staff. Taken together, the narratives offer a deeply nuanced portrait of a facility that can feel both like a lifeline and a source of anxiety, depending on who you are, when you visit, and which staff members are on duty. What stands out across the comments is a persistent appreciation for certain caregivers and a parallel, more troubling sense that organizational gaps can undermine day-to-day well-being for residents.

On the positive side, several families describe Manor Court as a place where care, compassion, and personal attention truly matter. For many relatives, the daily interactions with PAs, RNs, CNAs, and therapists are the highlight of the facility experience. One reviewer emphasizes that the administrators, PAs, RNs, and CNAs made daily life more palatable by showing genuine care, with a loved one "adored so many of the nursing staff" and a resident who remained dignified and engaged because staff treated her with kindness and respect. Other accounts echo similar sentiments: therapists are described as knowledgeable, competent, and individualized in their approach, and activities staff is praised for creativity and energy in organizing meaningful programs that resonate with residents' interests. The activities team, in particular, is singled out as doing a phenomenal job, bringing thoughtfulness and a resident-centered focus that helps maintain quality of life. In these stories, care teams are not just performing tasks; they are building relationships and fostering a sense of community and purpose for the people who live there.

Family members also share moments of gratitude tied to specific individuals. One reviewer notes that CNAs "work their tails off," ensuring basic dignity in daily routines such as bathing, feeding, and assisting with mobility, often under hot room conditions and with demanding workloads. They commend particular CNAs and staff members by name, such as a CNA who was "awesome" on a certain hall and a nurse who, despite some critiques, was recognized for responsiveness and a generally respectful demeanor. The appreciation extends to state-of-the-art therapy professionals who provide specialized care and individualized plans that support residents' rehabilitation and functional goals. Collectively, these perspectives suggest that, for some residents, Manor Court delivers high-quality, compassionate care that respects personal history and preserves dignity.

Alongside the praise for individual caregivers, some reviewers highlight the facility's environmental strengths. They describe clean, orderly spaces and well-maintained living quarters, with the shared rooms designed to accommodate mobility aids and provide a practical layout for everyday living. The kitchen and food service, while not universally lauded, are acknowledged as attentive to residents' dietary needs and preferences, with staff who listen and adapt to feedback. Even in more mixed evaluations, the cleanliness and upkeep of common areas and rooms are repeatedly mentioned as positive attributes that contribute to a comfortable atmosphere for residents and visitors.

Yet, there is also a substantial and sobering counter-narrative in these accounts. A number of reviewers report real concerns about the consistency and attentiveness of care, especially in the context of rehab and daily living needs. Some say that nursing staff can be distracted or preoccupied, with instances of CNAs or nurses seen down the halls chatting while residents call for help, leading to feelings of neglect or delayed assistance. Others describe periods where residents who require incontinence care remained in diapers longer than expected, challenging the goals of rehab and independence that many families anticipate in a rehab-to-home trajectory. Falls are noted as a risk, with at least one reviewer recounting a fall that resulted in deep bruising, which adds to broader worries about safety and supervision.

Administrative and social-work experiences color another layer of the critique. Several comments describe social services as "nonexistent" or poorly coordinated, with residents and families feeling left to navigate complex decisions without timely guidance. A recurring theme is a sense that personal autonomy can be compromised by internal processes or familial dynamics, including situations where a relative outside the direct patient relationship appears to exert influence over decisions, sometimes to the detriment of the resident's rights or preferences. Reports of talking to family members who help manage or disrupt care plans, and concerns about gossip or politics within the staff, contribute to an impression that organizational culture and communication could be improved to protect residents' interests and maintain trust.

Some reviewers contrast the caregiving experiences with broader critiques of administration and corporate policy. There is sentiment that the nonprofit or corporate structure may limit responsiveness to family concerns, even as the staff on the ground often shows dedication and competence. One reviewer explicitly calls for more transparency and for corporate leadership to engage with feedback, suggesting that better communication from upper management could align expectations and improve overall satisfaction. Others acknowledge a tension between high-performing frontline teams and perceived administrative barriers, signaling a need for alignment across all levels of leadership to ensure consistent quality and accountability.

Pricing and facility design are additional points of discussion. The shared room arrangement, with limited private space and a layout reminiscent of a college dorm, is described as a financial and practical constraint by some families, who feel that the room-rent ratio and overall cost do not perfectly align with regional economic realities. There are nuanced judgments about the value proposition - one family notes that while the shared room is not ideal, the overall care and the availability of engaged staff and therapeutic services helped them decide to place a loved one there. The call for an occasional physical refresh of common areas and improved lighting underscores a desire for a facility that looks and feels up-to-date, which some residents and families associate with a sense of pride and vitality.

Ultimately, the collage of experiences at Manor Court reflects a facility that can be lifesaving and heartening for some, while presenting serious challenges for others. The most consistent thread is a recognition that dedicated, compassionate frontline staff can make a decisive difference in a resident's daily life, even as gaps in administration, social work support, and organizational responsiveness can erode confidence and create anxiety for families. For anyone considering Manor Court, the stories suggest a careful, balanced approach: visit with an eye for how staff interact with residents and families, inquire about the social services process and decision-making, and weigh the room setup and pricing against the importance of consistent, proactive care. The enduring message from these accounts is that the human side of caregiving - the kindness, attentiveness, and reliability of the people on the floor - often defines the experience just as much as the facility's physical environment or published ratings.

Physicians

• Bard Optical - Peru (0.1 miles)
• Saint Margarets Hospitals (0.3 miles)
• Sears Hearing Aid Center by Miracle-Ear (0.3 miles)
• St Margaret's Health Services: Chilson Dale DO (0.4 miles)
• St. Margaret's Ear, Nose & Throat Center (0.4 miles)
• A Woman's Connection (0.5 miles)
• Soderstrom Skin Institute (0.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Culver's (0.2 miles)
• Bayou Express (0.5 miles)
• Wendy's (0.6 miles)
• Master Buffet (0.7 miles)
• Liberty Family Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Steak 'n Shake (0.7 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Theaters (0.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Thompson Rexall Drug (4.3 miles)

Parks

• Veterans Park (0.9 miles)
• Centennial Park (1 miles)
• Washington Park (1.2 miles)
• Starved Rock State Park (7 miles)
• Hopkin's Park (8.4 miles)
• Veteran's Park (8.5 miles)
• Buffalo Rock State Park (10.9 miles)

Transportation

• Illinois Valley Regional Airport (VYS) (1.5 miles)
• Bus Stop (2 miles)
• U-Haul (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Lock 16 Cafe and Gift Shop (2.1 miles)
• Lil' MAD Cafe Gourmet Shop (2.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Illinois Valley Community Hospital (1.6 miles)
• St Margaret's Hospital (4 miles)
• St Margaret's Hospital (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Spring Valley United Church of Christ (4.2 miles)
• St Benedict Catholic Church (5.5 miles)
• United Church of Christ Congregational (8.1 miles)
• First Lutheran Church Elca (8.1 miles)
• Sacred Heart Church & Rectory (8.2 miles)
• Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church (9.5 miles)
• First Congregational Church (9.8 miles)