Golden Belt Home Health

Pros

• Kindred Hospice were a godsend.
• Carol and Lisa were very helpful and wonderful.
• Carol and Lisa acted like they genuinely cared.
• They promptly came out the next day to set up and bring the medications.

Cons

• The staff were horrible.
• They caused stress from the moment they walked in.
• They refused to answer medical questions, saying they couldn't do that.
• They added more stress instead of making it easier to pass.
• The social worker insulted family members and was condescending and judgmental and not helpful.
• The social worker made them feel judged and looked down on and didn't care.
• The social worker was pushy with their beliefs.
• Family members were not taken care of when a family member was dying.
• They couldn't reach the main nurse.
• When they did reach the nurse, the nurse wasn't pleasant and made excuses and hung up.
• The main nurse wasn't helpful.

Review

Two families shared deeply conflicting experiences with hospice care during an incredibly difficult time, leaving a shared impression of inconsistency in the service and a mix of relief and distress. One account centers on an arrival that felt more like an added burden than a support, while the other highlights both a troubling social encounter and moments of genuine compassion from different nurses. Taken together, these accounts paint a picture of care that ranged from supportive to frustrating, depending on who was involved and when contact was made.

In the first recollection, the moment the hospice team walked in the room, the atmosphere shifted from sorrow to stress. The family describes their world as already fragile and emotional, with everyone crying and leaning on each other for support. They wanted to ask medical questions, but they felt shut down, receiving only negative responses like "no, no, we can't do that." The frustration is palpable: the family was hoping for guidance and clarity, but instead felt hemmed in and afraid they wouldn't get the answers they needed at a critical time. The reviewer emphasizes that hospice care is supposed to help families navigate the end of life and make things easier, yet this experience felt like it added more stress rather than lightening the burden. The family sought help through a local hospital connection - Hutchinson hospital and Kindred Hospice - and notes that once they reached out, the response was swift in its own way: the team would come out the next day to set up and bring medications. That gesture is framed as a kind of relief, a "God send" who could bring practical support at a moment of upheaval.

The second review moves through a different set of interactions, focusing on the interpersonal dynamics within the care team. The writer starts by saying they were not impressed with the service overall, and quickly zeroes in on the social worker. This social worker is described as insulting toward family members, condescending, judgmental, and not helpful at all. The tone suggests that the social worker's approach made the family feel judged and looked down upon, with a demeanor that gave the impression she did not care about their concerns or beliefs. The reviewer notes a sense of conflict with the social worker's insistence on particular beliefs, describing the experience as pushy in relation to the family's preferences or spiritual stance. The critique extends to the practical side of care: the family felt they were not cared for adequately at a time when their loved one was dying, and they had trouble reaching the "main nurse." When they did reach this nurse, the experience was not positive - the nurse was described as not pleasant and making excuses, even hanging up the call. This combination of communication barriers and an abrasive bedside manner contributed to a sense of neglect and frustration at a moment when care and reassurance were most needed.

Amidst this critique, there is a counterpoint that shines through in the second review: not all staff were experienced as impersonal or unhelpful. The writer specifically notes that two nurses, Carol and Lisa, stood out as genuinely caring and helpful. They are described with warmth, described as wonderful, and as people who treated the family with real concern. The reviewer says they were very impressed with Carol and Lisa, emphasizing that these nurses acted with sincerity and compassion. The contrast is telling: while the main nurse's reception left the family wanting, Carol and Lisa offered a humane, reassuring presence that helped counterbalance the negative feelings stirred by other team members.

Together, these accounts suggest an uneven delivery of hospice care, characterized by dramatic swings in how the staff engaged with a grieving family. On one hand, there is the practical, time-sensitive support that comes quickly when requested - setting up medications and providing a rapid arrival - that can feel like a lifeline in the moment. On the other hand, there are failures in communication, perceived disrespect, and difficulties in obtaining consistent, compassionate contact with the primary nurse. The social worker's approach, as described, appears to have intensified the family's distress rather than alleviating it, turning what should be a time of support into an experience marked by judgment and resistance to the family's needs and beliefs.

What stands out across both narratives is the degree to which the human elements of care shape the experience of hospice services. The reviewers highlight how essential empathy, clear communication, and respectful engagement are when families are navigating end-of-life care. They also illustrate how reliably consistent care can hinge on individual team members. The same organization can be a comfort to some and a source of deep frustration to others, depending on which staff members are involved, how they communicate, and how effectively they coordinate with other parts of the care network. The mixed impressions underscore a critical takeaway: for hospice care to truly ease the burden during such a trying time, it must marry timely practical support with consistently compassionate, respectful interpersonal care across all members of the team.

In the end, these experiences echo a clear message: end-of-life care is as much about the people delivering care as it is about the care itself. The presence of caring nurses who connected with the family, like Carol and Lisa, demonstrates the positive impact that empathetic, attentive professionals can have during moments of intense vulnerability. At the same time, the negative impressions of the social worker and the difficulties with the main nurse remind us that gaps in empathy, communication, and accessibility can dramatically color a family's experience. For families facing the hardest days, consistency in kindness, responsiveness, and respect across all staff members is not just a courtesy - it is an essential component of true supportive care.

This part of Great Bend, Kansas, offers a convenient and comfortable location for senior living. With multiple physicians and hospitals within walking distance, residents have easy access to medical care. Places of worship are also nearby for spiritual nourishment. Various pharmacies ensure that medications are readily available. A variety of dining options, including familiar chains like Wendy's and Applebee's, offer convenience for meals out. Parks nearby provide opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and stay active. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded community with essential services close at hand for seniors looking for a supportive and accessible neighborhood to call home.

Physicians

• St Rose Health Center (0 miles)
• Central Kansas Surgical Care (0 miles)
• Regional Surgical Associates PA (0 miles)
• Great Bend Internists (0.1 miles)
• Central Kansas Family Practice (0.2 miles)
• Dr Celestine Jain-Ofoma M.D. (0.3 miles)
• Kansas Medical Specialist (0.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Central Kansas Medical Center (0 miles)
• The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus Emergency Department (0.7 miles)
• Clara Barton Hospital (10.8 miles)
• Great Plains Health Alliance (11.3 miles)
• Ellinwood Hospital Clinic (11.3 miles)
• Ellinwood District Hospital (11.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Dominican Sisters (0.1 miles)
• Heartland Center For Spirituality (0.1 miles)
• Prince of Peace Catholic Church (0.3 miles)
• Central Baptist Church (0.3 miles)
• First Southern Baptist Church (0.4 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (0.4 miles)
• First Church of the Nazarene (0.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medical Park Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (0.8 miles)
• The Medicine Shoppe #1196 Great Bend (0.8 miles)
• Cardinal Pharmacy (10.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (0.3 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.4 miles)
• Arby's (0.4 miles)
• Burger King (0.4 miles)
• Pizza Hut (0.4 miles)
• Braum's (0.4 miles)
• Applebee's (0.5 miles)

Cafes

• Scooter's Coffee #313 (0.3 miles)
• Perks Coffee Shoppe (1.3 miles)
• Wheatland Cafe (19.3 miles)

Parks

• Veterans Memorial Park (0.4 miles)
• Fort Zarah Park (4.1 miles)
• Kansas Department Wildlife (5.9 miles)
• Hoisington Recreation Commn (11 miles)
• Doerr Vernon Park (16 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.8 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (1.2 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.3 miles)
• Royal Trophies (8.9 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (11.3 miles)

Theaters

• Golden Belt Cinema 6 (1.4 miles)