Laverna Terrace

Pros

• LaVerna has policies and procedures in place to meet HUD requirements.
• National Church Residences ensures policies and procedures are fair and equal for all residents.
• Ninety percent of residents are excited about a new manager cleaning up the place and updating the files to meet HUD guidelines.
• LaVerna is a great place for loved ones to call home.
• The facility has very caring staff.
• The parent continues to enjoy the friends she has made there.
• Provena Terrace is described as a wonderful place, with precise and caring nursing staff who respect residents and address needs promptly, in a clean environment.
• The family member loves Provena Terrace and would recommend it.

Cons

• The current management is the worst it's ever been.
• The manager runs the home like a business rather than a final residence for seniors.
• She puts on a sweet face but does nothing for the residents, complicating their lives.
• Neighbors and family members want the manager out.
• The facility has been lacking due to the overturn of ownership and management.
• The manager is only there three days a week, which is insufficient for a large senior residence.
• The facility is run like a general business instead of a final home for seniors.
• The manager is described as a dictator who thinks seniors must "know their place."
• Family members fear repercussions when raising concerns, and promised welfare assurances have not been followed through.
• The current management situation is not acceptable and requires action.
• There are reports of bed bugs and televisions being turned off monthly for inexplicable reasons.

Review

The collection of remarks about LaVerna Terrace and Provena Terrace reveals a community navigating the realities of change, care, and communication. On one hand, there is an explicit effort from the management side to frame the residence as a home guided by formal policies, privacy protections, and HUD-related requirements. The message emphasizes that while not every resident or family member will be happy with every management decision, the goal is to provide a quiet, home-like atmosphere where residents' needs are pursued within the bounds of guidelines. The leadership highlights that National Church Residences has invested effort into fair and equal treatment for all residents, underscores the importance of privacy, and notes that certain individuals not listed on a resident's paperwork or POA cannot be spoken with directly, in line with privacy practices. The tone also acknowledges the reality that management is only part-time, with available hours listed, and that change often brings new faces and new expectations. Yet, there is a clear message of progress: a substantial portion of residents - about nine out of ten, the message claims - are excited about a new manager and the process of tidying up paperwork to meet HUD guidelines. The speaker offers an apology for past missteps, asserts a commitment to meeting residents' needs, and stresses that the goal is to work together, respectfully, to support the community.

In contrast to the management's hopeful outlook, a long-standing family member's perspective paints a markedly different experience at LaVerna Terrace. For years the parent resided there and had formed warm connections; the facility was once described as wonderful, with enjoyable relationships and a positive sense of community. The current state, however, is depicted as the worst yet, centered on the impression of a main manager who treats the home more like a business than a place for seniors to live their final years with dignity and care. The critique details a manager who smiles publicly but allegedly does little for residents, with neighbors sharing the impression that she is unsatisfactory. The concern extends to operational realities: the manager is reportedly only present three days a week, a schedule that the critic argues is insufficient for running a large senior residence with numerous resident needs. The general tone accuses the manager of an authoritarian style, described by some as a "dictator" approach that alienates family members and undermines trust. Family members argue that there should be a formal mechanism for designated relatives to speak with the manager on behalf of residents, with clear permissions, so that emergencies and ongoing concerns can be addressed without fear of repercussions. Promises made to families are alleged not to be kept, and the overall situation is cast as unacceptable, prompting a call for NCR to intervene and restore the facility to the high standard it once held. Throughout, the critique acknowledges that there are caring individuals within the facility, and it expresses a hope that NCR will take decisive action to restore LaVerna Terrace to its former standing as a top senior residence in Indiana.

Some reviews pivot to praise, offering a brighter picture of care in a related facility. A positive, emphatic note under a header that reads "WONDERFUL PLACE UNDERSTANDING EXCELLENT HELP" focuses on Provena Terrace. The correspondent describes a family member who has lived there for more than two years and who repeatedly expresses love for the place. The nursing staff is praised for precision and genuine care, with staff shown respect and prompt, efficient attention to the resident's needs. The environment is described as very clean, and while no facility is claimed to be perfect, the writer would definitely recommend Provena Terrace. In this account, the previous concerns about bed bugs are dismissed, with explicit reassurance that the resident's television has continued to function and that there have been no bugs observed. This positive portrayal contrasts with some of the tension surrounding LaVerna Terrace, offering a counterpoint that not all facilities within the same family of residences are experiencing the same challenges.

Yet the sentiment of decline appears in another voice as well, presenting a less favorable assessment of quality at the same or nearby facilities. This comment opens with uncertainty about the tone of management but quickly escalates into a stark critique of deteriorating conditions. The writer claims a noticeable decline in quality and alleges the presence of bed bugs for residents, alongside persistent issues with televisions being shut off each month for unexplained reasons. The chosen language conveys frustration and a sense that concerns are not being addressed in a satisfactory manner. The critic urges that something be done promptly, arguing that a beautiful building cannot compensate for a deficient quality of life. This perspective underscores a broader worry: that physical amenities and appearances do not inherently guarantee the well-being and happiness of residents, and that ongoing reliability and responsiveness from management are essential for a truly livable residence.

Taken together, these accounts illuminate a complex picture of life in these senior communities. There is a clear tension between policy-driven governance and the everyday needs, emotions, and relationships that define residents' daily lives. The management's emphasis on privacy, regulatory compliance, and careful, measured communication contrasts with residents' and families' desire for consistent presence, open dialogue, and the feeling that leadership is actively listening to and acting upon concerns. Family members repeatedly call for clearer channels of communication with the manager, greater accessibility, and accountability when promises fall short. They also highlight the importance of safeguarding residents' dignity, ensuring safe and comfortable living conditions, and balancing the practical realities of budgets and staffing with the intimate, human requirements of care and companionship.

Ultimately, the narratives suggest that improvement will hinge on transparent, responsive leadership and vigilant oversight. Residents and families seek a stable presence from management, regular and direct lines of communication, and concrete steps that demonstrate accountability to both HUD guidelines and the lived experience of aging adults. They deserve a home where privacy does not mask neglect, where a manager's accessibility does not vanish with limited hours, and where the quality of care aligns with the warmth and respect that families remember from years past. If National Church Residences can maintain the strengths indicated - careful attention to paperwork and compliance, a focus on privacy, and a willingness to address concerns - while also addressing the palpable calls for more robust, interpersonal management and timely action, these communities may better balance policy with the human needs at the heart of every residence.

Places of Worship

• Ark of Avilla Assembly of God (0.6 miles)
• Presbyterian Church (4.8 miles)
• First Baptist Church (4.9 miles)
• Grace Christian Church (4.9 miles)
• Crosspointe Family Church (4.9 miles)
• Fellowship Bible Church (5.1 miles)
• Faith United Methodist Church (5.3 miles)

Restaurants

• St James Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Taps Pub & Grub (1.4 miles)
• Pizza Forum (4.9 miles)
• Ben's Soft Pretzels (5.1 miles)
• Super Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant (5.2 miles)
• Applebee's (5.2 miles)
• Burger King (5.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Fischer Pharmacare Avilla (1 miles)
• Walgreens (5.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (5.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• Scott's Food & Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (9 miles)
• DeKalb Health PharmaCare (10.7 miles)

Physicians

• Parkview Physicians Group - Family Medicine (1.2 miles)
• Ronda Farnham, NP (1.2 miles)
• WeCare (4.3 miles)
• Drs. Roush and Will Optometrists (4.7 miles)
• Brenda OHara, MD (5.2 miles)
• Parkview FirstCare - Kendallville Internal Medicine (5.2 miles)
• Parkview First Care (5.7 miles)

Parks

• Kendallville Park & Recreation (4.8 miles)
• Ocker Park (5.4 miles)
• Jordan Wetland Park (6.5 miles)
• Chain O'Lakes State Park (7.4 miles)
• National History Musuem Sport Complex (8.5 miles)
• Memorial Park (9.3 miles)
• Auburn Dog Park (9.9 miles)

Theaters

• Strand Theatre (4.8 miles)
• Auburn Garrett Drive In (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Parkview Noble Hospital (5.8 miles)
• DeKalb Health (10.8 miles)
• Auburn Birthing Center (11.1 miles)

Transportation

• Csx Garrett Yard (5.9 miles)
• Century Aviation (10.3 miles)
• Amtrak-Wti (11.9 miles)

Cafes

• Five Lakes Coffee (8.7 miles)
• Cranberry Cottage Cafe & Tea Room (9.6 miles)
• Busy Brush Cafe (9.7 miles)