Elmwood Care Ctr

Pros

• Excellent staff working each day to make a truly impactful difference for the residents.
• Grandpa has had nothing but great service from the nurses at Elmwood for eight months.
• The nurses go above and beyond to ensure residents are comfortable, safe, and happy.
• The staff enjoyed working with the people in their department and with the residents.

Cons

• The facility has terrible management.
• The staff environment is bad and residents are neglected.
• The dad's room was filthy and staff had an attitude when cleaning supplies were requested.
• Family members had to bring cleaning supplies and clean the room themselves.
• Visitors observed delays in care, with no one checking on residents for hours and call lights ignored.
• Residents were not receiving necessary care, including oxygen, until a doctor intervened.
• The administrator is a poor example of upper management, lacking compassion and enforcing unrealistic demands.
• A loved one died from malnutrition and kidney failure attributed to neglect and ignored concerns.
• The overall care was unacceptable for the price; families should look at other options and not send loved ones here.

Review

The reviews paint a picture of a facility that triggers strong, conflicting feelings among families and staff. On one hand, there are voices that acknowledge the hard work of the nursing team who show up every day and try to make a meaningful difference in residents' lives. Those comments highlight an essential truth: there are caring, dedicated nurses and caregivers who strive to support people during a difficult time. Yet, these same posts insist that the bigger issues lie in management and the overall environment created by leadership. When the focus shifts from bedside care to how the place is run, the narrative becomes far more negative, with repeated references to poor administrative leadership and a work climate that makes it hard for skilled staff to do their jobs well.

Several reviewers describe a management culture that feels unsupportive or distant from the realities of daily resident care. The administration is portrayed as lacking people skills, empathy, and a clear, consistent plan for staffing and resident welfare. One account specifically calls out a current administrator as a poor example of upper management, suggesting that unrealistic demands placed on supervisors and other employees contribute to ongoing understaffing and hinder efforts to deliver adequate care. The sentiment is that while the floor staff may be trying their best, the overarching leadership framework undermines their ability to meet residents' needs effectively.

The most troubling aspects shared involve direct concerns about neglect and delays in essential care. Families recount rooms left dirty and unsanitary, with instances where a cleaning broom was sought but not provided, forcing relatives to bring cleaning supplies from outside the facility. In another stark example, a patient did not receive oxygen until a doctor raised alarm, and a resident across the hall reportedly had to crawl to the bathroom because no one answered the call light. Such episodes underscore a recurring fear among residents and families: that urgent needs are not being acknowledged promptly, leaving people to fend for themselves in what should be a safe, supportive environment.

Tragic consequences are described in some reviews, amplifying the severity of these concerns. One reviewer recounts the death of a mother who entered for short-term rehab after a stroke and left malnourished with kidney failure, noting a drastic weight loss and an inability to eat or drink adequately due to a lack of timely assistance. They describe repeated assurances that someone would see a doctor as insufficient, with families reporting concerns that were ignored or delayed to the point where intervention came too late. The visual of pressure sores, immobility, and the collapse of kidney function serves as a stark indictment of how communication and prioritization failures at the facility can have life-or-death consequences. This account ends with a clear warning to others: listen to family members when they raise concerns about care quality, and steer clear if you value timely, attentive, and thorough oversight.

Additional voices echo similar themes around neglect and substandard care. One review focuses on a lack of rehabilitation, poor nutrition, and escape from necessary medical attention for an aunt who was not eating and developed bed sores. The author expresses a strong intent to ensure that the facility is scrutinized and potentially closed, signaling how deeply these experiences shake trust in the place. Another point of contention mentions a period of five weeks that was especially unacceptable for a father-in-law, leading the reviewer to urge families to explore other options before choosing this home. These stories collectively reinforce a pattern of concern about whether residents receive adequate nourishment, timely medical assessment, and consistent rehabilitative services.

Amid these strains, there is a contrasting note of affirmation about the nursing staff themselves. A later entry, describing an 8-month tenure for a grandparent, speaks warmly of the care received from nurses who go above and beyond to keep the resident comfortable, safe, and content. This positive testimony counters the harsher evaluations, reminding readers that the day-to-day care provided by nurses can be a bright spot even when administrative and systemic issues exist. The sentiment here acknowledges that excellent bedside care does happen, even if it is unevenly distributed across the facility and hampered by broader organizational shortcomings.

Finally, the collection of comments ends with a blunt caution to prospective families: do you love your elders? The closing line urges readers to seek alternative options and consider other nursing homes. Taken together, the reviews present a nuanced portrait: capable, compassionate frontline staff who can deliver excellent care under the right conditions, but systemic problems in management, staffing, communication, and timely attention that can lead to dangerous lapses in resident welfare. The overall message is clear - before making a placement decision, weigh heavily the experiences of families who see both the care that can be delivered and the severity of the problems that can arise when leadership and infrastructure fall short.

This area of Onawa, Iowa offers a mix of amenities that cater to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With a variety of places of worship nearby, including Faith Lutheran Church and St John's Catholic Church, residents have easy access to spiritual support and community engagement. Parks such as Onawa City Park and Gaukel Park provide opportunities for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. In terms of healthcare, Burgess Health Center and Burgess Family Clinic are easily accessible for medical needs, while pharmacies like Stangel Compounding offer convenient prescription services. Additionally, a selection of cafes and restaurants like Francine's Cafe and Bamboo Village Chinese Cafe ensure that seniors have options for dining out or grabbing a quick bite to eat. Overall, this neighborhood provides a peaceful setting with essential services within reach for those considering senior living in Onawa.

Places of Worship

• Faith Lutheran Church (0.1 miles)
• First Christian Church (0.4 miles)
• St John's Catholic Church (0.7 miles)
• Onawa United Methodist Church (0.8 miles)
• Onawa Evangelical Church (0.8 miles)
• Onawa Evangelical Free Church (0.8 miles)
• Onawa Bible Baptist Church (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Onawa City Park (0.3 miles)
• Gaukel Park (0.3 miles)
• Liberty Park (0.5 miles)
• Lewis & Clark State Park (3.1 miles)
• Campground Playground (5 miles)
• Whiting City Park (6.6 miles)
• Pelican Point State Recreation Area (14 miles)

Theaters

• Iowa Theater (0.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Burgess Memorial Hospital Heliport (0.8 miles)
• Burgess Health Center (0.8 miles)
• Burgess Family Clinic (7.7 miles)
• Vision Care Clinic (18.3 miles)
• Burgess Health Center (18.4 miles)
• Memorial Community Hospital Corporation (18.8 miles)
• Tekamah Chiropractic Center (19.1 miles)

Cafes

• Francine's Cafe (0.8 miles)
• Millers' Kitchen (0.8 miles)
• Onawa Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Uncommon Grounds (15.2 miles)
• The Fence-Post (16.5 miles)
• Gotta Get Some Coffee (19.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Bamboo Village Chinese Cafe (0.8 miles)
• Country Cafe (1.2 miles)
• Michaels Dairy & Pizza Inn (1.2 miles)
• Fiesta Brava (1.2 miles)
• Subway (1.2 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)
• El Jimador Onawa (1.3 miles)

Physicians

• Family Medicine Clinic PC (0.8 miles)
• Burgess Family Clinic (18.1 miles)
• Maple Valley Mercy Medical Clinic (18.4 miles)
• Horn Physicians Clinic (18.4 miles)
• Lyons Medical Clinic (20.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Stangel Compounding (0.8 miles)
• Whiting Family Pharmacy (6.7 miles)
• Western Iowa Compounding (18.3 miles)
• Maier Family Pharmacy (18.3 miles)

Transportation

• Onawa Municipal Airport (1.6 miles)
• U-Haul (18.8 miles)