Sunnyside Home

Pros

• The staff are attentive and caring.
• The Memory Unit individualizes residents' care and staff know their habits, likes, and dislikes.
• The Kensington sets up celebrations beautifully for residents.
• Families are happy their loved ones are at the Kensington due to great care, cleanliness, and personal attention.
• Leadership and staff make residents feel at home.
• Residents maintain independence with supportive care.
• Residents enjoy a wide range of activities and entertainment.
• Residents love their apartments at The Kensington.
• The Kensington Evergreen Court memory care is a wonderful place with staff who care with love and skill.
• The food is excellent.
• Staff treat residents with dignity and respect; visitors feel like family.
• Outings and activities keep residents mobile and connected to the community.

Review

The Kensington comes across in these accounts as more than just a place for care; it feels like a genuine home where attention to each resident's routine and preferences matters. In the Memory Unit especially, families note how staff learn and remember individual habits, likes, and dislikes, which allows the care to feel personalized rather than generic. One reviewer highlights how the team even goes above and beyond by organizing a thoughtful birthday celebration for a loved one, underscoring the level of care and attention given to even small moments that matter to families.

Across several reflections, families describe the staff as attentive, caring, and consistently compassionate. The sentiment is that care at the Kensington is paired with a real sense of cleanliness and personal attention, creating an environment where visitors feel welcome and at ease. Specific staff members are repeatedly praised for their impact - Meghan, Sissy, and Levi are named as exemplary - and visitors remark that when they arrive, they are treated like family rather than outsiders checking in on a patient.

There are uplifting stories about residents who were hesitant to leave their homes but found a reassuring, homelike atmosphere at the Kensington. One grandmother, initially on the fence about moving, thrived with the support provided and was able to maintain a level of independence while still enjoying the community's structure and activities. For many families, the Kensington isn't just a place to live; it's where residents discover a renewed sense of activity and purpose. They speak of enjoying a broad range of programs and entertainment and loving their apartments, which many describe as the perfect home for their loved ones.

The Evergreen Court memory care experience is consistently described as wonderful, with repeated emphasis on the quality of care and the excellence of dining. One reviewer notes four months of living there and emphasizes that the staff approaches each day with love and skill. The building itself is pictured vividly: housed in the historic Clark Hotel, built around 1917, with architectural splendor that includes brass, marble, and a grand dining room with a towering ceiling. The combination of high-quality meals and well-executed memory care programming leads the family to strongly recommend Kensington for both assisted living and memory care.

Visitors recount a deep sense of dignity and respect extended to every resident. They describe receiving timely attention and consistent communication about their loved ones, including help with transportation to appointments and a variety of outings to keep residents mobile and engaged with the broader community. Programs such as Bible study and other group activities resonate with families, who also praise the facility's willingness to seek answers when questions arise. The overarching message is one of belonging and reassurance: at the Kensington, families feel that their relatives are treated with care, kindness, and a level of attention that eases concern and fosters happiness.

Personal stories reinforce the intimate, family-like atmosphere. One account describes three years of care for a mother who had a moderate stroke, highlighting how the Kensington helped her adjust to new realities with music programs and constant engagement. When hospice care became appropriate, the facility's partnership with hospice services provided comfort and continuity, with a poignant note about the caregiver staying nearby for days and the staff bringing food to a loved one in the room when necessary. Such narratives convey a rare blend of professional expertise and tender, human support that families deeply value.

Additional memories emphasize the broader impact on family life and long-term relationships. From the comfort of knowing a father-in-law or a father is well cared for, to the sense that the staff's compassionate approach makes aging and illness feel more manageable, families express gratitude for the community Kensington has built. They describe the staff as a source of reassurance - protecting against the fear of loneliness and ensuring residents stay engaged, safe, and supported. The nursing department and activities programs are repeatedly highlighted as strong components of the overall experience, reinforcing the message that Kensington is more than just a place to reside; it is a place where people live with dignity, respect, and a vibrant sense of community.

In summary, the Kensington is depicted as an assisted living and memory care center with a warm, homelike atmosphere in the downtown Hastings area. Reviewers highlight its historic setting - an old hotel repurposed to support modern care - and praise the attentive, compassionate staff, exceptional meals, robust activities, and meaningful family involvement. Whether a resident expresses a preference for independence with support, or requires intensive memory care, families consistently describe Kensington as a place where loved ones are valued, treated with dignity, and integrated into a welcoming community that feels like family from the moment of arrival.

This area of Hastings, Nebraska offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With several places of worship nearby, including Lutheran, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, and more, residents have opportunities for spiritual fulfillment. There are also many healthcare options in close proximity, such as orthopedic clinics, pharmacies, and a home care service. Additionally, the area features an array of dining options ranging from Chinese cuisine to classic American fare, as well as a local brewery for those who enjoy craft beer. For leisure activities, seniors can visit the Rivoli Theatre or explore the nearby parks and recreational areas like Lincoln Park and Prairie Lake State Recreation Area. Overall, this part of Hastings provides a mix of essential services, dining choices, entertainment options, and natural surroundings that may appeal to seniors seeking a vibrant community to call home.

Places of Worship

• Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (0.3 miles)
• Seventh Day Adventist Church (0.7 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (0.8 miles)
• Church of the Nazarene (1 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1.2 miles)
• North Shore Assembly of God (1.3 miles)
• Church of Christ (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Barista's Daily Grind (0.4 miles)

Physicians

• Central Nebraska Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (0.6 miles)
• Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics (0.6 miles)
• Moscati Health Center (0.6 miles)
• Ashvini Sengar MD (0.6 miles)
• Mary Lanning Home Care Service (0.7 miles)
• Primary Care Center (0.8 miles)
• Hastings Laser Eye Surgery Center (0.8 miles)

Transportation

• Thrifty Car Rental (0.7 miles)
• Hastings Municipal Airport (HSI) (2 miles)
• Masterpiece Taxidermy (18.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Crosier Park Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Keith's Pharmacies (0.9 miles)
• Keith's Drive-In Drug (0.9 miles)
• Bert's Rexall Drug (1.1 miles)
• Village Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Ron's Pharmacy (18.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Imperial Garden Express (1 miles)
• Special Scoops Ice Cream Parlor (1.1 miles)
• Runza (1.1 miles)
• Odyssey Downtown (1.1 miles)
• First Street Brewing Company (1.1 miles)
• Murphy's Wagon Wheel (1.1 miles)
• Sanchez (1.2 miles)

Theaters

• Rivoli Theatre (1.1 miles)
• Rivoli Theatre (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Hastings Park & Recreation (1.7 miles)
• Hastings Recreation Complex (1.7 miles)
• Lincoln Park (2.3 miles)
• Prairie Lake State Recreation Area (6.8 miles)
• Crystal Lake State Recreation Area (10.4 miles)
• The Nature Conservancy (13.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Hastings Regional Center (2.8 miles)