Midwest Health Management, Inc.

Pros

• The nursing staff at Homestead Senior Living is caring and attentive to patients.
• The facility overall is described as very nice.
• The staff provided good care for the mother from 2012 to 2024, despite three administrative changes.
• The nursing team demonstrated consistent care for many years.

Cons

• The director pressured a quick move-in for a Medicaid contract, but six months later the state still has not received the application.
• The mother's level of care was raised without notifying the responsible party.
• The food is not hot and portions are so small that she remains hungry.
• The emergency call button has not worked properly for two years.
• Billing and accounting are a mess.
• The overall care is subpar.

Review

The experiences shared about Homestead of Elk City, OK paint a mixed picture. On the positive side, the facility itself is described as very nice, with nursing staff who genuinely seem to care about their patients. This impression of attentive, compassionate care from the nurses stands out as a bright spot in an otherwise complicated set of concerns. The reviewer notes that the caregivers provided good, trustworthy service for a long period, specifically from 2012 through 2024, even as the building went through three administrative changes. That continuity of care through staffing shifts is highlighted as a reassuring sign, suggesting that the people on the ground often did their best for residents despite administrative turnover.

However, the review also flags significant administrative and regulatory concerns that cloud the overall experience. A central issue concerns Medicaid: according to the director, the facility was in the process of pursuing a Medicaid contract, and residents were urged to move in quickly while there was still space. Six months have elapsed since that push, and the State reportedly has not received any Medicaid application from the facility. This gap fuels worry about the facility's compliance and the implications for residents who may rely on Medicaid to cover their care. The tension between the hurry to admit new residents and the bureaucratic delay surrounding Medicaid raises questions about communication, timelines, and accountability at the management level.

Another major concern relates to changes in the level of care. The reviewer notes that my mother's level of care was raised without notifying the responsible party, even though the family member is identified as a responsible party. The lack of notification about a change in care level touches on issues of consent, transparency, and care planning. When adjustments to a resident's care requirements occur, timely and clear communication with family or other designated parties is essential to ensuring safety, proper supervision, and alignment with a resident's needs and preferences.

Beyond administrative and regulatory issues, the review includes a strong reflection on the everyday experience of living there. The nursing staff, despite the broader concerns, are described as caring. The caregiver team is credited with taking good care of the reviewer's mother for many years, reinforcing the sense that frontline staff are doing their best within a framework that sometimes impedes ideal operations. This apparent dedication of the nurses contrasts with the mixed experiences described when administrative processes come into play, suggesting a disconnect between day-to-day care and higher-level management practices.

Other specific service concerns paint a more troubling picture of resident comfort and safety. Food quality is criticized as not hot, and meals are described as small, with portions estimated at about a quarter cup. The combination of tepid food and insufficient portions leaves the reviewer's mother still hungry, undermining basic comfort and nutritional needs. On the safety and reliability side, the emergency call button is reported to have significant malfunctions, at least in another facility referenced - the Ranch in Garden City - where it hasn't worked properly for two years. This issue underscores the reviewer's frustration about the overall value and safety of the care being provided, especially considering the financial costs involved.

Communication and billing surface as notable pain points, shaping the sense of overall reliability. The reviewer notes that staff or administration never seem to get back in a timely or effective way, with "never get back to you" and "accounting and billing are messed up" cited as recurring problems. Coupled with the perception that "care is subpar," these financial and administrative frustrations contribute to a broader sense of disappointment, even as the nursing staff are praised for their compassion and diligence.

Taken together, the review depicts a facility that, on a human level, can provide meaningful and compassionate care through its nursing team. The residents appear to benefit from attentive hands-on care and a supportive caregiver presence that persisted through multiple administrative changes over more than a decade. Yet, the same account highlights serious concerns about the management and regulatory processes that govern admission, changes in care level, communication with families, safety infrastructure, food quality, the reliability of essential systems like emergency call buttons, and the effectiveness of accounting and billing functions. The overall impression is one of guarded appreciation: strong front-line caregiving weighed down by administrative gaps, communication breakdowns, and service reliability challenges that, in the reviewer's view, detract from the overall quality and value of the care being provided.

This part of Topeka, Kansas, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities suitable for seniors looking to settle in the area. With a variety of dining options such as Sonic Drive-In, LaRocca's Pizza, and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers located within close proximity, residents can enjoy a mix of casual and comfort food. The presence of multiple pharmacies like Walgreens and Walmart Pharmacy ensures easy access to healthcare needs. In terms of medical facilities, there are several hospitals including Veterans Health Administration and Topeka VA ICU nearby, providing peace of mind for seniors requiring medical attention. Additionally, the selection of churches like First Baptist Church and Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene cater to spiritual needs. For entertainment, Wheatfield 9 theater is just a short distance away while green spaces like Gage Park offer opportunities for leisurely walks or picnics. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment with essential services tailored to the needs of seniors seeking a comfortable living arrangement.

Restaurants

• Sonic Drive-In (0.1 miles)
• LaRocca's Pizza (0.3 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (0.9 miles)
• Specks Bar And Grill (1 miles)
• KFC (1.1 miles)
• Johnnys Tavern - 11 (1.1 miles)
• Cook's American Grill (1.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Ks Lot Walmart 2131 (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CBD Nation Topeka (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Veterans Health Administration (0.8 miles)
• Topeka VA ICU (0.8 miles)
• Colmery-o'Neil Va Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Topeka Veterans Affairs Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Topeka ER and Hospital (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church (0.9 miles)
• Topeka Baptist Church (2.1 miles)
• Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene (2.3 miles)
• First Lutheran Church Elca (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Topeka Wheatfield 9 (1.1 miles)

Physicians

• The EyeDoctors Optometrists (1.1 miles)
• Dr. Kevin Lenahan & Associates - The Spectacle (1.1 miles)
• Dr Michael P. Malone O.D (1.3 miles)
• Barbara Bowman PhD (1.3 miles)
• Dr Michael Atteberry (1.3 miles)
• Kohake Deutscher & Hefner (1.4 miles)
• Topeka Surgery Center (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Classic Bean (1.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Gage Park (2.8 miles)