Ciena Healthcare Management

Pros

• DeShawn is professional and knowledgeable.
• DeShawn is thorough yet concise in his responses.
• DeShawn remembers the little details that give patients confidence in his care.
• DeShawn has a unique sense of humor, a gentle nature, and prompt attention to patients' needs.
• Regency at Chene is a great facility with fantastic staff across departments.
• Shannon, Kelley L., and Rachel are praised for making residents' celebrations special at Hickory Ridge.
• Michelle, the physical therapist at the Laurels of Willow Creek, was fantastic and helped a resident be pain-free.
• The Laurels of Charlottesville is described as a friendly environment with knowledgeable staff; Hannah and Tyra are acknowledged for their efforts.
• Amy Peterman is an excellent housekeeper who engages with residents daily and makes a difference.
• The Laurels of Willow Creek is praised for top-tier therapy and care, including outpatient and short-term inpatient therapy.

Cons

• Willowbrook Manor is described as having a 16-patient ratio for one person, which the reviewer says makes good care impossible.
• The dad's short-term stay is described as hell, indicating extremely poor experience.
• Kith Haven is portrayed as worse, with the city known not to go there due to how bad it is.
• Regency and Fenton Healthcare are criticized for long waits to be seen and for issues with call lights.
• The reviewer accuses Ciena of ignoring these issues and cites legal limits on patient loads as being violated.
• Medicare.gov data are referenced as showing fines and 1- to 2-star ratings for Kith Haven and Willowbrook.
• The reviewer urges people to stay away from all nursing homes managed by Ciena, suggesting relocation out of Genesee County for better care.
• Families are said to be lied to about rehab suitability, with claims that patients aren't rehab-worthy.
• Pain management is described as severely delayed (examples include an 8+ hour wait for pain medication and a 911 call).
• Night staff are criticized for poor care, including unkind or disrespectful treatment and being ill-equipped to handle residents' needs.

Review

The collection of comments about several nursing facilities paints a nuanced picture of care, culture, and daily realities in long-term and rehabilitative settings. Across these voices, there is a strong thread of appreciation for dedicated individual caregivers, a clear sense of pride in the organizations that employ them, and, in some cases, sharp critique of staffing realities and administrative practices. One personal note stands out at the outset: DeShawn, a nurse at Regency at Westland, is remembered with warmth and respect. S. Brown describes him as professional and knowledgeable, someone who answers questions with thorough yet concise explanations, remembers the little details that build confidence in his care, and even brings a gentle humor and prompt responsiveness to his role. The sentiment is tangible - caregiving, when performed with consistency and kindness, can become a bright constant in a patient's daily life.

Yet for every positive, there are voices raising concerns about organization and staffing across several facilities. A reviewer called attention to Ciena-managed operations in Genesee County, highlighting Willowbrook Manor in Flint, Regency in Grand Blanc, Kith Haven in Flint, and Fenton Healthcare in Fenton. The critique is pointed: a claim that Willowbrook operates with 16 patients per nurse, which the reviewer argues makes it impossible to provide high-quality care. They describe long wait times, call lights that go unanswered, and a broader sense that these issues are not isolated but systemic - a "CIENA issue" that the management allegedly ignores. They urge readers to review Medicare data and fines, suggesting that Kith Haven and Willowbrook carry low star ratings. The message is blunt: the reviewer believes that, in their view, staying away from Ciena-managed facilities in that area is the best path to safer, more responsive care for loved ones.

Other testimonials skew positive about the organization and its people, reinforcing a sense that the care experience is deeply dependent on who is on the floor and what kind of leadership is at the helm. An employee who has been with the company for 18 years expresses pride in what she calls a great, family-oriented workplace that emphasizes teamwork and caring for employees. She recounts relocating her own father from California to North Carolina for better care after a stroke, and describes that transition as life-changing - her father receiving what she perceives as superior care and feeling settled in a new home. This is paired with a sense of loyalty to the Ciena/Laurels family, expressed with warmth and gratitude by Chandra, who signs off with pride in the organization and its people.

Further affirmations of the organization's strength come from the Regency at Chene location, described as a great place to be, with praise directed at the administrator, nurses, activity department, social workers, housekeeping staff, and admissions team. The sentiment is that Regency at Chene represents a well-rounded, cohesive community - a place where multiple departments work together to ensure residents' well-being. A seasoned professional echoes this with a broad statement about having worked in several facilities, yet considering this one the best, thanks to caring staff who collaborate to create an environment conducive to self-improvement and a meaningful impact on elders and those who cannot fully care for themselves. Taken together, these voices convey a belief in a culture that values people, teamwork, and purpose.

Individual moments of recognition also pop up in more intimate settings. A specific celebration stands out: a father's 88th birthday, observed at Hickory Ridge with the help of three staff members who pulled off a joyful, resident-centered event. Names like Shannon, Kelley L., and Rachel are called out for their hands-on assistance - organizing the setup, slicing and distributing cake, and keeping spirits high with upbeat energy and compassion. The reviewer describes a time of communal celebration that felt personal and meaningful, a reminder that everyday care extends beyond basic needs into moments of happiness and dignity. It is such gestures, as much as clinical skill, that make a facility feel like a genuine home.

Among the many anecdotes praising care, there are also glimpses of both satisfaction and critique in different care contexts. Positive notes about Laurels facilities surface in several forms: the Willow Creek site earns praise for outpatient therapy, with Michelle, the physical therapist, singled out for helping a family member become pain-free from a shoulder injury. The Laurels of Athens and the Laurels family more broadly are described as places with long-tenured staff, a supportive atmosphere, and a culture of teamwork. One reviewer emphasizes how the staff at The Laurels take care of appointments and daily needs, describing a family-friendly environment where residents feel seen and valued. By contrast, there are also warnings from a different angle: a review for Laurels of Charlottesville that calls out practices around rehab placement and alleged misrepresentation to families, urging caution about whether a facility is truly equipped for a resident's needs. In the same vein, another account describes a painful delay in pain medication - an eight-hour wait - that undercuts the sense of trust and safety a family expects in urgent situations.

The spectrum of experiences continues with reflections on ambiance, staff demeanor, and the daily rhythms that define life in a facility. A reviewer notes "Beautiful facility with wonderful staff," praising how nurses and aides deliver attentive, compassionate care. Another succinct message, "Great staff, very caring, very well run team," reinforces a sense of stability and reliability in the hands of a capable team. There are also practical, everyday affirmations of quality: someone who has visited the Blanchester, Ohio site for rehab twice describes it as top-notch, a place they would not hesitate to return to, while another person credits Amy Peterman for outstanding housekeeping and daily engagement with residents. Such comments underscore that beyond clinical outcomes, the lived experience - meals, rooms, cleanliness, activity programming, and personal connection - shapes overall impressions of a facility.

Across these narratives, the voices converge on a central truth: the human element - the people who show up every day, from nurses and therapists to custodians and activity coordinators - defines how a facility feels to residents and families. When staff are committed, attentive, and collaborative, residents describe a sense of safety, happiness, and respect. When staffing pressures squeeze time and attention or when communications and expectations aren't aligned, families notice: delays, frustration, doubt, and a desire for better oversight and accountability. The stories celebrate the bright spots - caregivers who go the extra mile, administrators who foster teamwork, and facilities that feel like true communities - while also signaling the hard realities that come with managing complex care environments.

In sum, the comments portray a landscape where strong, compassionate caregiving can shine brightly in the day-to-day lives of residents, even within systems that face significant staffing and management pressures. The accounts honor individuals like DeShawn, Michelle, Shannon, and Rachel for their dedication and humanity, while also calling for ongoing attention to staffing ratios, timely responses to calls, and transparent communication with families. The overarching message reflects both pride in the people who do this important work and a call for continuous improvement across facilities to ensure every resident receives timely, respectful, and high-quality care.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Wendy's (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)
• Alex's of Berkley (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks Reserve (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)

Physicians

• Be Well Medical Center (3.6 miles)
• Beverly Hills Orthopedists (3.8 miles)
• Providence Medical Center (4.3 miles)
• Royal Oak Pediatrics PC (4.6 miles)
• Millenium Diagnostic Center (6 miles)
• Michigan Institute For Neurological Disorders (6.1 miles)
• Troy Orthopedics Associates (6.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Botsford Hospital (4.7 miles)

Parks

• Shain Park (4.8 miles)
• Starr Jaycee Park (5.2 miles)
• Harding Park (6 miles)
• Clawson Park (6.4 miles)
• Flanders Park (6.7 miles)
• Woodland Hills Nature Park (7.2 miles)
• Palmer Park (7.7 miles)

Theaters

• Riviera Cinema (5.3 miles)
• Emagine Royal Oak (5.3 miles)
• MJR Troy Grand Digital Cinema 16 (6.9 miles)
• AMC Star John R 15 (7.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Hugo of the Hills Church (7.8 miles)