Terrace AL Of Hillcrest Home, Inc

Pros

• It is a very nice assisted living.
• Residents are treated like family in a clean environment.
• The staff is great and provides a positive experience.
• Safety is prioritized for the residents.
• The facility seems very clean with pleasant staff.
• Dawn, the social worker, is a godsend who truly cares about residents and their families.
• There are lots of caring people doing good things.
• The environment has a home-like feeling.
• The CNAs are wonderful and provide great care.
• The facility offers living arrangements from skilled nursing to assisted living to independent apartments.
• Reviewers recommend it.
• The environment features great food, along with good staff and a pleasant atmosphere.

Cons

• The facility is completely understaffed and the food is terrible.
• The reviewer says this is not acceptable.

Review

This community comes across as a place that many visitors and residents clearly value for its cleanliness, warmth, and sense of family. Reviewers repeatedly note that the facility feels clean and well-kept, which helps create an inviting atmosphere from the moment someone arrives. The emphasis on safety is strong, with comments highlighting that residents' well-being is put first. In short, there is a consistent impression of a safe, orderly environment where residents are treated with care and courtesy.

Many voices describe the experience as pleasant and uplifting, underscoring that residents can have a good time with the staff and fellow residents. Observations about the staff are often paired with remarks about the overall mood - people feel welcomed, comfortable, and well attended to. Some reviewers specifically point to the architecture as contributing to a home-like feel: quiet, warm spaces that help reinforce a sense of respite and belonging rather than institutional impersonal settings. The facility also advertises a clear continuum of care, with living arrangements spanning from skilled nursing and assisted living to independent apartments, which many reviewers see as a practical and reassuring arrangement for families planning for changing needs over time.

A standout theme in several testimonials is the role of Dawn, the social worker. Described as a "God send" and "my rock," Dawn is praised for her genuine care for both residents and their families. These accounts portray her as deeply committed, offering emotional support and practical assistance during difficult periods. For some families, Dawn's presence appears to have been the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling supported, underscoring the importance of compassionate guidance in the care journey.

The care crew earns high marks in other threads as well, especially the Certified Nursing Assistants. Reviewers frequently describe the CNAs as wonderful and the caregiving as high quality, noting attentive, respectful, and hands-on support that contributes to a sense of trust and reliability in daily care routines. This consistency in positive feedback about direct care staff helps reinforce the perception of a community where residents are tended to with skill and kindness.

Yet, not everything is uniformly positive. A notable minority of reviews raises concerns about staffing levels and food quality. Several accounts describe being under-staffed, with the implication that staffing shortages can impact the overall experience and the pace of service. Alongside this, a critique about the meals suggests that the food may not meet all residents' expectations, calling attention to the emotional weight of mealtime experiences for both residents and their families. One poignant testimony shares a deeply personal narrative - staying with both parents as they were dying - to emphasize that, for that family, the food and staffing issues were unacceptable in the moment of greatest need. This contrast underscores that, for some, the living environment excels in many ways but falls short in crucial areas of daily life.

Beyond the clinical and logistical details, there is strong evidence of a caring and connected community. Reviewers talk about "lots of caring people doing good things" and the sense that many residents' families have established long-standing ties with the place. Some reviewers note that their own friends' parents have lived there, and even that a family member still works there part-time, which speaks to a lasting sense of community and continuity. The collective sentiment is that these are people who care deeply about those who live there, contributing to a warm, familial atmosphere even as occasional criticisms remind readers that improvements are possible.

Overall, the facility is portrayed as a well-maintained, welcoming option that offers a home-like environment with a broad spectrum of care options. The combination of cleanliness, safety awareness, approachable staff, and a close-knit community creates a compelling picture for many families seeking a place where residents are treated with dignity and compassion. At the same time, the recurring concerns about staffing levels and the quality of meals point to areas where the facility could focus improvement efforts to ensure that the care experience matches the strong positive impressions in other aspects. For those seeking a setting that blends warmth, professional caregiving, and a continuum of living arrangements, this community presents a convincing option, especially for families who value caring staff and a supportive social environment, with Dawn's exceptional service highlighted as a notable exemplar of the facility's compassionate ethos.

This part of Sumner, Iowa offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing for seniors looking to settle in a peaceful community. With multiple hospitals and physicians within close proximity, healthcare needs can easily be met. Additionally, there are several restaurants serving a range of cuisines, as well as cafes for social gatherings. Places of worship are also nearby for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. The abundance of parks provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Transportation options are available for easy access to neighboring areas. Overall, this area presents a welcoming environment with essential resources for senior living.

Hospitals

• Community Memorial Hospital (0.1 miles)
• Covenant Clinic (15.8 miles)
• Mercy Hospital (15.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (0.2 miles)
• Cones and cups (0.6 miles)
• Westgate Tap (7.9 miles)
• Langer's Hub and Grub (8 miles)
• Here's 2 U (9.4 miles)
• Jimmy D's (10.3 miles)
• Alpha Tap (10.9 miles)

Theaters

• Sunset Community Theatre (0.6 miles)
• The Grand Theatre (15.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• United Methodist Church of Sumner (0.7 miles)
• Christian Dental Society (0.7 miles)
• Living Water Church (0.8 miles)
• First Baptist Church (0.8 miles)
• St John Lutheran Church (0.9 miles)
• Faith Youth (0.9 miles)
• St Peter's Lutheran Church (8 miles)

Parks

• North Woods County Park (1.9 miles)
• Split Rock County Park (7.6 miles)
• North Park (7.9 miles)
• Downing County Park (8 miles)
• Alcock County Park (10.4 miles)
• Odessa Avenue Park (10.7 miles)
• Twin Bridges County Park (11.8 miles)

Physicians

• Covenant Clinic (8.4 miles)
• Fredericksburg Family Health Clinic (9 miles)
• Covenant Clinic (14.6 miles)
• MercyOne Oelwein Family Medicine (15.8 miles)
• Unity Point Clinic-Denver (16.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Schuchmann's Pharmacy (15.4 miles)
• Between Times Christine Fisher Oelwein (15.4 miles)
• Oelwein Family Pharmacy (15.4 miles)
• Scott Pharmacy (15.6 miles)
• Denver Drug (16.7 miles)
• Martin Health Care Services (16.9 miles)

Transportation

• X-L Specialized Trailers (15.5 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (15.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (16 miles)

Cafes

• Fayette Sweets Cafe (15.6 miles)