Homestead of Shawnee

Pros

• Impressive staff starts with great management and the right tools.
• Great facility, clean, organized, friendly nursing and staff. An excellent place to put your loved ones. Highly recommended.
• The community is very clean and always smells nice. The staff is wonderful and very attentive!
• The facility was clean, the staff was friendly and attentive.
• Management does a great job running the facility!
• The food has improved quite a bit.
• Management is on site daily and very responsive to resident and family concerns.
• There are games, bingo, movies, and more for the residents to choose from for activities.

Cons

• They felt there were areas for improvement, including more regular cleaning of resident rooms, more activities for residents, and lower costs.
• The facility was described as being always on lockdown due to COVID, and the staff were not friendly.
• During the pandemic, the facility reportedly had no working phone service or easy access for families to visit, and family concerns went unheard.
• Maintenance and upkeep were criticized for taking a long time to fix issues, such as a towel ring that fell off and remained unfixed after multiple requests.
• They noted the absence of a resident transportation van, which limited outings or trips for residents.
• They felt activities were lacking and there were few outings, especially given the cost.
• They believed the food could improve, and communication and follow-up with families and residents needed improvement.
• Communication with the nurse and director was difficult.

Review

Across the various reflections shared about Homestead of Shawnee, a common thread emerges: families chose this community because it offered a humane, respectful home for their loved ones, with staff who could provide attentive care and a setting that felt safe and accessible. For some, the decision was driven by practicality - moving closer to home so they could visit daily - and the Homestead campus delivered on that need. One reviewer noted that moving her relative to Homestead came after seeing what she needed, and the proximity to the writer's residence made daily visits feasible, turning a difficult transition into a more manageable, reassuring routine. The property's single-story layout and a courtyard where a small dog could play were highlighted as meaningful comforts for residents, underscoring the sense of a home-like environment rather than a hospital-like setting.

The people who staff the place are frequently praised for their approach. Several reviewers foreground the importance of solid management and the right tools to support high-quality care, insisting that impressive staff start with effective leadership. The consistent praise for communication and knowledge among the team suggests that, for many families, the transparency of care was as important as the care itself. When people visit, they describe the atmosphere as welcoming and well organized, with staff who seem to genuinely know the residents and are ready to answer questions, provide updates, and coordinate care when needed. This sense of reliability appears to extend beyond nurses to the entire workforce, including aides and other care partners who interact with residents daily.

Cleanliness, organization, and a generally positive day-to-day vibe repeatedly show up in the reviews. A number of families call Homestead "clean," with facilities and rooms seeming to exude a well-tended, home-like ambience. The sentiment is not merely about appearances; families feel that the environment aligns with the dignity and comfort they want for their loved ones. Several accounts emphasize that the staff's courteousness - greeting visitors warmly and treating residents with kindness - helps create an atmosphere that feels respectful and supportive. The combination of tidy spaces, well-maintained rooms, and a staff culture that prioritizes residents' well-being contributes to a perception of Homestead as a place where families can feel confident about daily life and ongoing care.

Visitors who spend time in the community note a recurring sense of consistency in care. One reviewer, in particular, emphasizes the reliability of the staff across the board - how the same caring attitudes appear not only among nursing staff but throughout the resident community. In this sense, the home cultivates a rhythm and familiarity that can be comforting for both residents and their families, reinforcing the impression that ongoing routines, rather than sporadic care, define life at Homestead. The appreciation for consistency extends to residents themselves, with some accounts describing how residents greet visitors and display a sense of belonging in their surroundings, suggesting that the community has become a real home for the people who live there.

A number of specific daily-life aspects receive attention. The living arrangements are described in comforting detail: many residents enjoy two-room apartments featuring a bedroom and a sitting area, a large bathroom, and substantial closet space. Kitchenettes with microwaves and refrigerators add a self-contained feel to each unit, and the overall design - with ample room for furniture and personal belongings - contributes to a sense of autonomy within the community. Yet, reviewers also point to opportunities for improvement. Maintenance is sometimes slow to respond; a towel ring that fell off the wall was reported as not yet fixed after repeated requests, and lights or other small repairs can take longer than desired. These notes remind readers that, while the environment is generally well-regarded, there is still room for faster, more responsive service.

The dining experience and resident activities are other focal points in the feedback. Stories of meals improving over time, with residents becoming more willing to socialize in the dining room, highlight a positive shift in the food and service. The presence of regular activities - bingo, Bible study, discussion groups, and a weekly happy hour with local entertainment - helps foster community engagement and keeps residents mentally and socially active. Some reviewers mention that in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, programming and access to activities were disrupted, but they note a gradual rebuilding of those routines as the situation stabilized. The absence of a transportation service, however, is seen as a limitation for those who might benefit from excursions, suggesting an area where the home could expand opportunities for residents to stay connected with the broader community.

The physical footprint and location of Homestead also factor into many endorsements. Proximity to major roadways and easy access to the community can make regular visits more practical for families, reinforcing the overall sense that the home is well-suited to long-term accommodation. Reviewers frequently mention the appeal of being near family, the ease of visits, and the sense that the facility's layout - its ground-level design and large, capable rooms - supports a comfortable daily life for residents. Personal anecdotes about room size, light fixtures, and the overall aesthetic emphasize that the environment is more apartment-like than clinical, which many families see as a crucial point of comfort.

Ownership changes and ongoing management have surfaced as meaningful turning points in the life of Homestead of Shawnee. Several entries highlight a recent shift in ownership and the arrival of a new management team about eight months prior, describing it as a positive development. Families report that this leadership change has translated into better communication, more responsiveness to concerns, and a renewed emphasis on resident well-being. The sentiment is that the management team is more present and proactive, which in turn enhances trust and satisfaction among residents and their families. The same reviews note that the food, programming, and overall care have improved in tandem with these changes, reinforcing the view that strong, attentive leadership can drive meaningful progress.

Despite all the positives, reviewers are candid about a few persistent challenges. Some point to the need for more staff to handle the workload and sustain consistent service. Others call for more robust maintenance, quicker repairs, and more frequent cleaning of resident rooms. A few notes mention gaps in activities or opportunities for residents to participate in outings, as well as the desire for more transportation options to expand access beyond the campus. Praise is tempered with practical suggestions for enhancement, reflecting a thoughtful, realistic sense of what would further elevate the residents' quality of life.

Taken together, the experiences at Homestead of Shawnee paint a portrait of a community that many families come to view as a true home for their loved ones. The combination of convenient location, well-designed living spaces, a courtyard-friendly atmosphere for pets, a generally clean and organized setting, and staff who are often described as attentive, caring, and communicative, forms the backbone of the residents' daily life. The ongoing improvements in management, staff stability, and programming have strengthened confidence among families, even as they acknowledge areas where additional tweaks could further enhance care and comfort. For many, Homestead represents not just a place to reside, but a supportive community where care, connection, and dignity are prioritized day after day.

Located in Shawnee, Kansas, this area offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking for a vibrant and convenient neighborhood. With multiple theaters nearby such as B & B Theatres and AMC DINE-IN Studio 28, residents can enjoy entertainment options. Additionally, there are numerous dining choices including Jose Pepper's, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Fritz's Railroad Restaurant. For medical needs, there are several trusted physicians and pharmacies within a few miles radius. The area also boasts beautiful parks like Shawnee Mission Park for leisurely strolls. Places of worship like Lenexa Baptist Church and Good Shepherd Catholic Church provide spiritual fulfillment. Cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread offer cozy spots to relax with a cup of coffee. Overall, this part of Shawnee provides a diverse range of services to support seniors looking for an active and engaging lifestyle.

Theaters

• B & B Theatres (0.1 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Studio 28 (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Jose Pepper's (0.2 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (1.9 miles)
• Fritz's Railroad Restaurant (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• Red Door Woodfired Grill (2.1 miles)
• The Social Bar & Grill (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Latter Eyecare (0.9 miles)
• College Park Family Care - Lenexa (3.1 miles)
• Retina Associates (3.2 miles)
• Women's & Family Care (3.4 miles)
• Mid-America Physicians Chartered (3.8 miles)
• AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Shawnee Mission (4.3 miles)
• Shawnee Mission Special Addition Birth Center (4.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (4.1 miles)

Parks

• Shawnee Mission Park (1 miles)
• Shawnee Mission Dog Park (2.2 miles)
• Buffalo Meadows Park (4.6 miles)
• Garrett Park (4.9 miles)
• Antioch Park (4.9 miles)
• Cherokee Park (5.6 miles)
• Thomas S. Stoll Dog Park (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Lenexa Baptist Church (1.9 miles)
• Good Shepherd Catholic Church (2.2 miles)
• Mill Creek Community Church (4.7 miles)
• Overland Park Christian Church (5.4 miles)
• Overland Park Church of Christ (6.1 miles)
• First Christian Church (7.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Black Dog Coffeehouse (2.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)
• Brew Haha Coffeehouse (5.5 miles)
• Filling Station Coffee (5.7 miles)