Riceville Community Rest Home in Riceville, IA

Pros

• They have had a great experience, and the staff has been extremely helpful on multiple levels.
• The communication has been great, and residents are kept informed of any changes.
• The facility offers more individualized care and is considered the best place for a loved one.
• They actually do activities with residents and make them feel like part of the community.
• This facility is unique and not found anywhere else.
• The facility is a great place.
• The CNAs show up every day with leadership and experience in actually caring for and about the patients.
• Housekeeping and dietary services are excellent and exceptional.
• The staff holds the facility together.
• The staff is courteous and friendly.
• They provide great care for residents.
• The facility is nice, well equipped, with caring, well-trained, knowledgeable staff, and well-furnished rooms.
• It is an excellent care facility.
• The nurses are amazing.
• The place is super nice.
• It's a very nice small-town nursing home and clinic.

Cons

• The ADON is a liar and manipulator, and she is unprofessional in her leadership.
• The administration is burnt out and in need of an entire new system.
• Contracts are cut short, hours are not available, and they refuse to pay despite signed agreements.
• Agency nurses and CNAs are warned that they will be used, lied to, and contracts breached.
• The facility turns away and uses workers who actually care, due to poorly equipped administration.
• The facility fails to treat staff fairly and to honor contracts, making it hard to retain employees.
• There is a sad lack of accountability within the facility.

Review

Riceville Community Rest Home is best suited for families seeking a small, intimate setting where direct care staff drive daily life and residents are treated as part of a real community. The environment rewards hands-on, personalized attention, with consistent communication that keeps families informed of changes and progress. It works well for seniors who thrive on regular engagement, meaningful activities, and a homelike atmosphere where staff know the residents well and tailor care to individual routines. In short, this is the option to choose when the priority is authentic, day-to-day interactions with caregivers who treat residents like neighbors, not numbers.

That said, there are clear reasons to consider alternatives. This is a facility where administrative leadership and contract stability often come under scrutiny. Several reviews note a burnt-out administration and inconsistent accountability, especially around relationships with agency staff and contracted workers. For families whose decision hinges on rock-solid administrative oversight, predictable staffing, or formalized processes that endure leadership transitions, the risks here may outweigh the benefits. In such cases, exploring larger or more corporate-backed communities with tighter governance could be prudent.

The strongest positives center on care delivery and connection. Families repeatedly praise the communication that keeps them in the loop and the sense that staff actually does meaningful work with residents. Certified nursing assistants and nurses are singled out for their care, leadership, and steadiness, with housekeeping and dietary services also described as reliable and high quality. The facility projects a well-equipped, comfortable atmosphere with well-furnished rooms, and the broader culture emphasizes making residents feel included - an important factor for those prioritizing social engagement and daily activity as essential parts of care.

The most significant drawbacks live at the administrative level. The criticisms focus on leadership effectiveness and the reliability of the business side - especially the treatment of agency nurses and CNAs, contract integrity, and timely compensation. An impression exists that, without a strong admin team holding things together, the facility could struggle to maintain consistent staffing and operate with sustained accountability. These concerns do not negate the evident strengths of front-line care, but they do raise questions about long-term stability and how smoothly operations would run during leadership transitions or staffing pressures.

Ultimately, the pros can offset the cons if the right conditions exist and unless admin issues escalate. The front-line staff show up with genuine care, expertise, and a willingness to connect with residents and families, which compensates for some administrative fragility. When communication remains open and care plans are actively managed, families can feel confident about day-to-day life for their loved ones. The decisive factor is whether management can shore up reliability and establish predictable processes that keep the caregiver team aligned, especially when relying on agency staff to fill gaps.

For families considering Riceville Community Rest Home, the practical approach is clear: evaluate not only the warmth and competence of the direct care team but also the administrative track record and staffing stability. Schedule conversations with a named administrator and a front-line supervisor to gauge responsiveness and transparency. Request a current staffing schedule, a written care plan, and a plan for handling agency employees - how contracts are honored, how payroll and scheduling are managed, and what safeguards exist to prevent abrupt staffing changes. If these measures are solid, the community offers a compelling blend of personalized care, meaningful engagement, and a true sense of belonging that is hard to duplicate in larger homes. If they are not, consider alternatives that prioritize governance and contract reliability as much as compassionate, hands-on care.

Located in Riceville, Iowa, this area offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a peaceful and welcoming community. With several hospitals nearby such as Mitchell County Regional Center and Mitchell County Memorial Hospital, residents have access to quality healthcare services. Additionally, there are numerous places of worship including Wels and Immaculate Conception Church, providing spiritual support. For dining options, restaurants like Murph's 2 and The Togie Pub offer delicious meals in a cozy atmosphere. Seniors can also enjoy the nearby parks such as Lake Hendricks and Pioneer State Park for leisurely walks or picnics. Transportation services like Cedar River Taxidermy and U-Haul are easily accessible for convenience. With pharmacies like Smart Pharmacy by Sterling and physicians such as Coral Gerdts, DPM in close proximity, seniors can easily manage their healthcare needs. Overall, this area provides a blend of essential services and recreational opportunities ideal for senior living.

Hospitals

• Mitchell County Regional Center (0 miles)
• County of Mitchell (12.1 miles)
• Mitchell County Memorial Hospital (13.5 miles)
• Mitchell County Regional Health Center (13.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Wels (0.5 miles)
• Immaculate Conception Church (0.7 miles)
• Church of God & Christ Mennonite (0.8 miles)
• St Peter's Church Rectory (6.5 miles)
• Saint Peters Catholic Church (6.5 miles)
• St Paul's Lutheran Church (7.8 miles)
• Methodist Church (8.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Murph's 2 (0.6 miles)
• Hang Out (0.6 miles)
• 10th Hole Bar and Grill (3 miles)
• Gooseys Bar & Grill (6.1 miles)
• The Togie Pub (7.6 miles)
• Travel Lanes & Supper Club (11 miles)
• Sweet's Hotel Restaurant & Bar (11.1 miles)

Parks

• Lake Hendricks (1.4 miles)
• Pioneer State Park (6.3 miles)
• Lylahs Marsh County Park (6.4 miles)
• Roman Park (9.2 miles)
• Elma City Park (9.7 miles)
• Lake Louise State Park (12.7 miles)
• Spring Park (13 miles)

Transportation

• Cedar River Taxidermy (10.9 miles)
• U-Haul (13.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Smart Pharmacy by Sterling (13.5 miles)
• Prescription Center (13.6 miles)
• Adams Drug (16.7 miles)
• Brower Drug (18.4 miles)

Physicians

• Coral Gerdts, DPM (13.5 miles)
• Mitchell County Regional Health Center-St Ansgar Clinic (18.4 miles)

Cafes

• Old Central Coffee (13.7 miles)
• Kountry Kupboard (13.7 miles)
• Taste. By Unc's Cheesecakes (13.9 miles)
• Bubble's Cafe (16.7 miles)

Theaters

• Watts Theatre (13.7 miles)