Sunnyslope Care Ctr

Cons

• The staff do not care about patients or employees' needs to take time off for sick children.
• Management is poor and uncaring toward staff and patients.
• The facility consistently smells like sewage.
• The nurses are rude and treat residents as an inconvenience.
• Call lights are not answered promptly, with staff often chatting instead.
• The food is disgusting, often cold, with undercooked vegetables and a lack of understanding of diets.
• Medicines are left out unattended.
• Hospice care is terrible, with patients reportedly being heavily medicated to keep them from waking.

Review

The place described by this observer feels like a sinking ship where the human element of care has largely vanished. There is a persistent sense that neither staff nor management truly see the people who live and work there as human beings with real needs. The writer makes it clear that the very acts of taking time off for a sick child or managing personal life are treated with little regard, and that this lack of support is symptomatic of a broader culture of indifference. The implications are felt not only by the residents but also by the staff who are forced to work in a system that rewards silence over accountability.

Chronic understaffing and what the reviewer calls bad management create a toxic cycle. The staff are stretched thin, constantly balancing too many patients with too few hands, and the leadership seems uninterested in addressing these core issues. The complaint isn't just about one stressful shift; it's about a persistent pattern that prevents anyone from delivering the level of care that residents deserve. The sense conveyed is that management has disengaged, allowing a situation where people are left to fend for themselves within a system that should be supporting them.

The sanitation and odor inside the facility are described as almost unbearable, with a constant stink of sewage that never seems to go away. This is paired with a bleak picture of the atmosphere in which staff operate: nurses who are rude and treat residents as an inconvenience rather than as people in need of help. While the reviewer acknowledges that there are a few nurses who seem to care, the overall impression is that caring, compassionate care is not the norm. The environment and the demeanor of many caregivers contribute to a sense of hopelessness for both residents and their families.

Responsiveness to patient needs is another critical failure highlighted in the account. Call lights are allegedly ignored because the nurses are too busy with their personal conversations and distractions. In a setting where urgent needs can arise at any moment, this lack of attentiveness translates into real discomfort and fear for residents who depend on timely assistance. The sense of abandonment on top of physical discomfort paints a troubling picture of a place where the hum of routine tasks drowns out the essential human connection that care should entail.

The quality of food and the adherence to dietary plans emerge as a troubling recurring theme. The meals are described as disgusting, frequently cold, and undercooked, with vegetables that remain hard or suitably uncooked. Even more concerning is the misalignment between what residents should be receiving diet-wise and what is actually served - an example given is serving a pureed diet when a full liquid diet is appropriate. The meals, rather than nourishing and supporting health, appear to be a source of frustration and distress, underscoring a broader neglect of individualized care.

Medication safety is another area of grave concern. The reviewer notes that medicines are left out unattended, creating obvious risks for misdosing or missed doses. In a setting where medications play a central role in managing pain, symptoms, and overall comfort, leaving them unsecured is alarming. This detail adds to the overarching impression of systemic neglect and a lack of respect for the safety and dignity of residents.

Finally, the hospice care described feels more like a regimen of sedation than a true commitment to easing suffering and preserving dignity. The claim that comfort is achieved primarily through drugging patients so they do not wake up presents a stark and unsettling view of end-of-life care. While it is presented as a personal observation, the intensity of this concern raises questions about the ethics and goals of hospice practices at the facility. The sense conveyed is that the focus has shifted away from compassionate presence and individualized comfort toward a clinical approach that prioritizes sleep over meaningful, person-centered care.

Taken together, the narrative depicts a facility where fundamental aspects of care - staffing, management, environment, responsiveness, nutrition, medication safety, and end-of-life support - appear severely compromised. The reviewer frames a stark indictment: a place where residents and their families experience neglect, discomfort, and fear rather than safety, dignity, and genuine care. The emotional weight of these experiences is palpable, leaving a lasting impression of a system that falls far short of what it should be.

Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, this area offers a variety of amenities within close proximity. With several restaurants like The Doghouse Tavern and Los Cactus Taqueria nearby, residents can enjoy a diverse culinary experience. For medical needs, there are multiple physician offices such as Ear Nose & Throat of Southeast Iowa and Ottumwa Orthopedics in the vicinity. Additionally, hospitals like McCreery Cancer Center and Ottumwa Regional Health Center provide easy access to healthcare services. Transportation options include MCS Charters and Amtrak for convenient travel arrangements. Places of worship such as First Lutheran Church and Faith Baptist Church offer spiritual support. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of dining options, medical facilities, transportation services, religious institutions, pharmacies like Walgreens and cafes like Nesters Cafe making it a suitable choice for seniors looking for a lively yet accessible community to call home.

Restaurants

• The Doghouse Tavern (0.7 miles)
• Safari (0.7 miles)
• Los Cactus Taqueria (0.8 miles)
• Champs Chicken (1.1 miles)
• Burritos Los Roy (1.1 miles)
• Scratch (1.2 miles)
• Market on Main (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Ear Nose & Throat of Southeast Iowa (0.8 miles)
• Ottumwa Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Ottumwa Orthopedics (0.8 miles)
• Jashim U Ahmed (0.8 miles)
• Ben Johnson MD (0.8 miles)
• Iowa Clinic Heart & Vascular (0.8 miles)
• Radiology Associates of Ottumwa PC (0.8 miles)

Transportation

• MCS Charters (0.8 miles)
• Ottumwa Hospital Heliport (0.9 miles)
• Tennyson Enterprises Hangar (1.1 miles)
• Amtrak (1.5 miles)
• Alamo (1.5 miles)
• R & B Taxi (1.8 miles)
• Ottumwa Cab (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• McCreery Cancer Center (0.8 miles)
• Ottumwa Regional Health Center (0.9 miles)
• Orhc Scheduling (0.9 miles)
• Child Health Specialty Clinic (1.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• East End Pentecostal Church (0.9 miles)
• First Lutheran Church (1 miles)
• Heartland Assembly of God (1.1 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (1.2 miles)
• The Bridge (1.3 miles)
• Calvary Open Bible Church (1.4 miles)
• Faith Baptist Church (1.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Nucara Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Compounding Solutions (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• South Side Drug (1.7 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Nesters Cafe (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Central Park (1.3 miles)
• Ottumwa Park & Recreation Department (1.3 miles)
• Sycamore Park (1.8 miles)
• Ottumwa park (2.1 miles)

Theaters

• Ottumwa 8 Theatres (2.5 miles)