Swope Ridge Geriatric Center

Pros

• The staff at the facility are very caring and treat residents like family.
• The care provided at this urban nursing home is excellent, despite some minor issues with professionalism.
• The staff show true compassion and a genuine desire to care for elders.
• The social worker was a big help in assisting with the recovery process and providing necessary resources.
• Some of the staff go above and beyond by bringing in little extras to uplift residents' spirits on bad days.

Cons

• The DON and administrator are running the facility down.
• The staffing issues start with the disabled DON and administrator.
• The DON runs off all the help, leaving staff with no suitable person to follow.
• Aides in the facility are generally uneducated women who just need a job, leading to bad behaviors and attitudes.
• The administration is clueless about how the facility is actually run by the aides.
• The facility is understaffed and underpaid, resulting in residents suffering.
• The lack of professionalism among some staff members is noticeable.
• The facility needs various renovations as it is outdated.
• Sentences have been slightly modified for readability.)

Review

Mixed Experiences at an Urban Nursing Home: Staffing Challenges and Compassionate Care

Providing quality care for aging individuals is a challenging task that requires dedicated professionals. In the case of an urban nursing home, the overall experience can be varied, reflecting the diverse range of staff and resources available. This article explores two contrasting reviews that shed light on both the strengths and areas for improvement in such a facility. While one review highlights issues with leadership and staffing, the other praises the compassionate care provided despite these challenges.

Review 1 - Shortcomings at the Top: One reviewer expresses concern over poor management at the nursing home, particularly regarding the Director of Nursing (DON) and administrator. The DON's disability limits their ability to oversee operations effectively, while the administrator allows this situation to persist, neglecting their own duties. Consequently, staffing issues arise due to inadequate supervision from these key figures. The reviewer asserts that new faces are needed to rectify this situation as they believe it all starts at the top.

Furthermore, rampant turnover seems to be a result of mismanagement, as competent staff members are driven away by the DON's actions. Consequently, suitable replacements are lacking, leaving residents without reliable caregivers. Such concerns highlight a need for better communication and stronger leadership within the facility.

Review 2 - Compassionate Care Despite Challenges: In contrast to Review 1's criticism, this review paints a more positive picture of compassionate care provided by staff members at this urban nursing home. Although acknowledging some limitations in professionalism and outdated facilities, this reviewer emphasizes that genuine compassion compensates for these drawbacks.

The caring attitudes demonstrated by many members of staff positively impacted this reviewer's experience during their aunt's six-month stay after suffering a stroke. The dedication shown by staff in attending to every aspect of her needs was commendable. Beyond their professional duties, they ensured her emotional well-being by going above and beyond to add cheerfulness during her difficult days. This personalized care made a significant difference in the patient's recovery journey.

These contrasting reviews shed light on an urban nursing home that faces both challenges and successes in caring for its residents. On one hand, concerns rise from mismanagement at the top, resulting in poor staffing situations and a lack of suitable replacements for departing staff members. On the other hand, genuine compassion displayed by some dedicated staff members compensates for these challenges, making a positive impact on residents' lives.

Improvements are certainly needed to address the staffing issues and enhance professionalism within this facility. Additionally, necessary renovations should be prioritized to improve the overall environment. However, it is clear that some staff members genuinely care for their patients, going above and beyond to ensure their well-being despite any limitations they may face.

Ultimately, this article highlights the importance of compassionate care in nursing homes while calling attention to areas that could benefit from improvement. By addressing these concerns effectively and focusing on enhancing professionalism and resources, this urban nursing home has the potential to provide even better care to its residents in the future.

Parks

• Swope Park (0.5 miles)
• Loose Park (2.9 miles)
• Historic Hyde Park (3 miles)
• Skiles park (3.2 miles)
• Central Park (3.5 miles)
• Washington Square Park (5.1 miles)
• Harmon Park (5.3 miles)

Physicians

• Research Medical Center: Yandrapu, Harathi MD (1 miles)
• Mill Creek Park (3.3 miles)
• The University of Kansas Hospital - Westwood Campus (3.9 miles)
• Raytown Family Medical Care (4 miles)
• KC CARE Health Center (4 miles)
• The University of Kansas Cancer Center - South (5.5 miles)
• Village Pediatrics (5.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Go Chicken Go (2 miles)
• BKS Artisan Ales (2 miles)
• Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant (2.6 miles)
• Bier Station (2.7 miles)
• Winstead's (2.8 miles)
• Bistro 303 (3.5 miles)
• Beer Kitchen (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Central United Methodist Church (2.4 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (3.7 miles)
• Resurrection Downtown (5.6 miles)
• Word Of Grace Fellowship (6.2 miles)

Cafes

• Front Range Coffeehouse & Provisions (2.6 miles)
• McLain's Bakery (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Broadway Cafe (3.5 miles)
• Billie's Grocery (3.9 miles)
• Filling Station (4.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (3.2 miles)
• Kansas City VA Medical Center : Midwest Biomedical Research (3.3 miles)
• Cambridge A Pre/Post (4.4 miles)
• Truman Medical Center (4.9 miles)
• Children's Mercy Research Institute (5 miles)
• VA Honor Annex (5.3 miles)

Transportation

• KC Streetcar (5.1 miles)
• Amtrak Kansas City - Union Station (5.2 miles)