Broadway Community Living Home

Pros

• Joyce the Hair Cutter is described as an angel.
• Nurse Preeti is called an angel, and Nurse Vicky is described as very special.
• An amazing blonde nurse on assisted level 2 is loving and kind.
• The nursing aides are great.
• The kitchen helpers and other staff are super cool and loving.
• The chapel is phenomenal.
• The facility allows family to visit and share meals in the dining room, creating meaningful moments.
• Jeanna Loeffelhlholz, CNA, is awesome, compassionate, and hardworking.
• The facility is clean and well stocked with supplies.

Cons

• The head nurse Shannon and the Bethany Director did not call to inform the reviewer that her mother was dying, despite HIPAA rights and being on the call list.
• They claimed they did not have the reviewer's current phone number, even though it had been provided previously.
• They gave lip service and claimed they followed procedure to justify the lack of notification.
• Nearby relatives also failed to call to inform.
• The reviewer arrived an hour too late because Bethany administration did not initiate a call.
• An aunt's remark suggesting the reviewer should have arrived sooner was dismissive and hurtful.
• Stacie was singled out as not being great among the aides.

Review

For seventeen years, my loving dear mother lived at Bethany Home, navigating both independent and assisted care with a grace that made this place feel like a true home to her - and to us, her family. I visited every year, and twice a year for many years, including last year. What kept me connected to her, even from Hawaii, was the warmth of the community and the people who cared for her so deeply. Joyce, the Hair Cutter, was a bright light in her world - an angel in her own right - whose kindness always lifted Mom's spirits. The care behind the scenes was equally remarkable, with Preeti and Vicky standing out as exceptionally special nurses who brought calm and competence to every interaction. On the assisted level 2 unit, a blonde nurse whose name I didn't catch in the moment was also extraordinarily loving and patient; she even walked me through my mom's room after she passed away this past March and helped me discover momentos scattered on the floor from my mom's life, cleverly painted and preserved in the space she once occupied.

The everyday care at Bethany Home felt like a chorus of small blessings. The nurse aides, for the most part, were wonderful; their patience and kindness made a tangible difference in Mom's daily routines. The kitchen staff and other helpers were equally terrific - every interaction felt infused with care and warmth. The chapel elsewhere on the premises was phenomenal, a sacred space that offered solace during difficult days. I cherished the routines that allowed me to attend Mass there with my mother and share meals in the dining room when I could. The facility often accommodated my wishes to eat with Mom during visits from afar, making it possible to spend meaningful time together despite the miles that separated us. It was clear that the team understood the value of presence and ritual in the healing process.

Time and again, the staff reminded me that my mom was the nicest person imaginable, and they reflected her qualities back to me. They would tell me so when I would visit, and I internalized those reflections as a personal standard - one I aspired to live up to, every day. My mom and I had become best friends by choice, a bond that Bethany Home seemed to recognize and honor in its own quiet way. I called regularly, sent gifts and cards, and felt seen by the people who cared for her. The moment that stands out even now is receiving her 93rd birthday card and a framed picture of her and me, sent just days before she passed away. These gestures underscored how deeply Bethany staff appreciated her and how connected they remained to our family. It all contributed to a sense of trust and gratitude for the life she built there.

What haunts me, and what casts a shadow over the many bright memories, are the circumstances surrounding her passing. The head nurse, Shannon, and the Bethany Director failed to call me to inform me that my mom was dying - a missed alert that felt like an administrative coldness at a moment of immense sorrow. They claimed HIPAA constraints and said they did not have my current phone number, despite my giving it to them last year on multiple occasions and despite the fact that my uncle served as POA and several close relatives who lived nearby were aware of the situation. It felt like lip service mixed with a choice to withhold what should have been a straightforward call. I had spoken to my mom a week before her decline on her 93rd birthday, and she sounded alert and fairly strong; I learned later that I had missed her death by only an hour because Bethany's administration did not reach out. I drove from far away, flying twelve and a half hours and then driving to Dubuque, only to arrive an hour too late. Standing at her side in those final moments, I cried - not just for the loss, but for the way the information was handled. An aunt's cruel aside about how I should have "gotten here sooner" added an unnecessary sting to the sorrow.

The aftermath of this experience carried a mix of solace and sorrow. In Dubuque, the community reached out with kindness; I stayed at the Marriott Dubuque downtown for years, and they offered a sympathy card and a bouquet of roses in recognition of my mother's passing. The compassion I received from the staff there - particularly from an agency CNA named Jeanna Loeffelhlholz, who demonstrated profound empathy and dedication - left a lasting impression. Jeanna was described as AWESOME, compassionate, and an extraordinary worker, a sentiment I echo with heartfelt gratitude. The facility itself felt clean, well-stocked with supplies, and managed with a sense of care that reinforced the sense of trust I placed in those who cared for my mother.

In reflecting on Bethany Home, I recognize a landscape of both extraordinary kindness and serious administrative gaps. The staff who cared for my mother - the hair cutter Joyce, nurses Preeti and Vicky, the compassionate blonde aide on assisted level 2, the aides and kitchen crew, and the chapel team - conveyed a culture of warmth, respect, and attentive presence that made life better for her and for me during our long journey together. The positive experiences - the ability to attend Mass, share meals, celebrate milestones, and receive thoughtful gestures like the birthday card and framed photo - coexist with a painful reminder of how fragile communication can be in moments of crisis. The failure to notify me promptly of my mother's decline stands out as a grave misstep, one that blunts the otherwise admirable care and devotion evident throughout the facility. If Bethany can carry forward from this experience, a conscious focus on timely and compassionate family notification - paired with the same level of everyday kindness - would ensure that families feel valued and informed in their most vulnerable hours. My mother's legacy lives in the many lives touched there, and for that, I remain grateful for the care she received and the people who loved her.

Located in the heart of Dubuque, Iowa, this neighborhood offers a convenient and vibrant community for seniors. With several pharmacies nearby such as Union Family Pharmacy and Hartig Drug, healthcare needs are easily met. A variety of dining options, including Clubhouse and Copper Kettle, provide opportunities for socializing and enjoying delicious meals. Parks like Riverview Park and Veterans Memorial Park offer beautiful outdoor spaces for recreational activities. Additionally, there are several cafes for relaxing and catching up with friends, such as Convivium Urban Farmstead and Charlotte's Coffee House. Access to healthcare is readily available with physicians like Tri-State Occupational Health and Historic Bluffs Family Practice Clinic nearby. For emergency care, Mercy Hospital Emergency Room and Mercy Medical Center are within close proximity. Places of worship like Power Of Prayer cater to spiritual needs, while entertainment options can be found at Phoenix Theatres. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded living environment with amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors.

Pharmacies

• Union Family Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Hartig Drug (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Mercy Family Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Hartig Drug #3 (1.2 miles)
• Hartig Drug (1.4 miles)
• Hartig Drug (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Clubhouse (0.3 miles)
• KFC (0.4 miles)
• Hardee's (0.5 miles)
• Copper Kettle (0.7 miles)
• Zoro's Gyros (0.7 miles)
• Oolong Asian Cuisine (0.9 miles)
• Europa Haus Restaurant and Bier Stube (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Bee Branch (0.4 miles)
• Riverview Park (0.8 miles)
• Veterans Memorial Park (1.4 miles)
• Eagle Point Park (1.8 miles)
• Bennett Pavillion (2.4 miles)
• Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (2.4 miles)

Cafes

• Convivium Urban Farmstead (0.5 miles)
• Charlotte's Coffee House (0.9 miles)
• Wayfarer Coffee (1.1 miles)
• Monks Kaffee Pub (1.4 miles)
• Verena Street Coffee Co. (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Tri-State Occupational Health (0.6 miles)
• Historic Bluffs Family Practice Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Dubuque Obstetrics & Gynecology PC (1.4 miles)
• Bethann Bonner MD (1.6 miles)
• Medical Associates Acute Care (1.6 miles)
• Mercy Radiologists of Dubuque PC (1.6 miles)
• Professional Arts Plaza (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Stonehill Care Center (1.1 miles)
• Amer Mrne Dubuque Yacht Basin (1.2 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Emergency Room (1.6 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Power Of Prayer (1.4 miles)

Theaters

• Phoenix Theatres (2.8 miles)