Mary's Loving Care

Pros

• The staff at Royal Oak has been phenomenal.
• Rick, Sam and Carissa were very welcoming when his father was admitted, and the nurses and aides have been great during his time there.
• The staff were truly fantastic - kind, personable, and attentive.
• The facility was clean, the staff was wonderful and attentive, and my grandmother was cared for the most at this facility out of all the others she has been to.
• The therapists there were excellent.
• The food was very good.
• The staff there are truly amazing - from administration to nurses, rehab, housekeeping, maintenance and laundry - professional, kind, compassionate, helpful and caring.
• They treated her with dignity and grace, ensuring she was cared for with kindness.

Cons

• The meals were cold and unpalatable, with chicken sometimes served frozen in salads.
• The hallways smelled bad at times.
• The viewing areas were hardly swept up.
• Calls to the nurses' station went unanswered at times.
• Prescriptions were not called in as promised, causing essential meds to be missed.
• Messages left for staff were not returned, leaving family waiting.
• Two days of medications were missed for the patient.
• Physical therapy was rushed and infrequent, with little patient care.
• Some staff were rude.
• The facility seemed underfunded and short-staffed, affecting care.
• A patient was left on a bedpan for two hours, with poor cleaning causing rashes and bruises.
• No RN or doctors were on staff at times; there was a lack of timely medical care.

Review

The collection of impressions from this facility paints a picture of an environment with real strengths in some hands and significant gaps in others. On the negative side, many reviewers described meals that were cold, unappealing, and sometimes poorly prepared, with reports that chicken in salads could even be still frozen when served. Hallways were said to carry unpleasant odors at times, and several complaints focused on housekeeping and cleanliness, including viewing areas that weren't swept regularly. Taken together, these sensory experiences contributed to a sense that basic comfort and dignity could be inconsistent from day to day.

Medical management emerged as a major concern for several families. A recurring worry was the failure to call in prescribed medications to pharmacies in a timely manner, sometimes resulting in a patient going without important medications for days. There were specific mentions of anti-platelet drugs, heart medications, and pain management not being addressed promptly. In one case, a pacemaker patient reportedly was not receiving essential heart meds or blood thinners, raising anxiety about how well the healthcare team was coordinating orders between the RN, the doctor, and the pharmacy. Calls to the nurses' station were described as going unanswered with messages left that were not returned, especially during discharge planning when medication reconciliation is crucial. Overall, the sense was that communication around medication management and continuity of care could be fragile and error-prone.

Staff responsiveness and the quality of interpersonal interactions were another throughline in the reviews. Some families praised individual nurses, aides, and front-line staff as compassionate, responsive, and genuinely caring. Names like Miss Janice were highlighted as outstanding, and several reviewers noted that certain team members were genuinely attentive, friendly, and helpful. But there were contrasting reports as well: other reviews described rude staff, doors left unanswered, and a general feeling that some nurses and aides did not consistently follow through on patient needs. A common theme was that while some staff were excellent, the overall experience could feel inconsistent, with episodes of frustration and perceived indifference punctuating more positive moments.

Rehabilitation and physical therapy drew mixed reactions. A number of reviewers felt therapy was rushed or handled in a way that suggested high patient loads and limited time with each person. The sentiment was described as "wham bam good bye" in some cases, with therapists appearing to move quickly through sessions. Conversely, a few reviews praised the therapy team as excellent, noting meaningful progress, confidence-building, and real help in regaining function. The truth, as reflected in the mixed comments, seems to be that the therapy experience varied considerably depending on the shift, the therapists, and patient volume on any given day.

Hygiene, safety, and the day-to-day environment were marked by pointed concerns. There were accounts of patients not being bathed for long stretches, being left in soiled briefs, or not properly moved or rotated, leading to discomfort and distress. Instances of rashes and bruises were attributed to inadequate cleansing or handling, and one particularly vivid account described a roach being killed in front of a patient while others warned about spiders in rooms. Some reviewers even recounted extended waits for basic assistance, such as being left on a bed pan for hours, with a sense that basic hygiene and comfort were not reliably ensured. These observations helped form a broader picture of a facility struggling with maintenance and safety protocols.

Despite the negatives, there were notable, hopeful, and positive pockets of care that kept some reviewers hopeful about the facility's mission. Several accounts spoke highly of the warmth and dedication of staff members who showed genuine concern for residents' well-being. Families appreciated staff who went beyond the call of duty, bringing in snacks, personally engaging with residents, and maintaining a humane, compassionate tone even in challenging circumstances. Some reviews highlighted clean facilities and a consistently thoughtful approach to end-of-life care, where staff treated patients with dignity, compassion, and respect during difficult moments. In these cases, the care experience felt closer to what families hoped for when choosing a place for their loved ones.

A subset of reviews documented a decision to move loved ones to other facilities after disappointing experiences, or to seek more reliable and consistent care elsewhere. People described switching to private homes or other nursing homes where care was perceived as more attentive or better organized. There is also mention of reporting to state agencies and seeking external oversight, indicating that families were motivated to pursue accountability and improvement. While some reviewers maintained a sense of gratitude for individual caregivers within the facility, the overall tone for the majority of accounts leaned toward caution and a determination to find higher-quality care for their loved ones.

Overall, the picture that emerges is of a facility with undeniable potential and pockets of exemplary staff and practice, but with serious and recurring challenges that affect patient safety, daily comfort, and consistent medical management. The building itself is often described as dated, yet clean in places, suggesting that structural improvements alone would not fix the care gaps. The strongest calls to action are for better staffing, more reliable communication, stricter adherence to medical orders, and a renewed commitment to basic hygiene and patient dignity. For families seeking care, the takeaway is to anticipate variability and to advocate vigorously for clear medication management, prompt responsiveness, and steady, compassionate care across all shifts.

This area of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, is a convenient and diverse neighborhood for senior living. With several physicians and pharmacies nearby, medical care is easily accessible. There are also a variety of restaurants and cafes for dining out or grabbing a quick bite to eat. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there are several parks within a short distance, providing opportunities for walking, picnicking, and enjoying nature. In terms of healthcare services, there are hospitals and imaging facilities in close proximity. Additionally, transportation options are readily available with the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport just a few miles away. Overall, this area offers a mix of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Physicians

• Ent Allergy Health (0.5 miles)
• Southwest Family Physicians (1.2 miles)
• Cuyahoga County Board of Health (3.7 miles)
• Allergy Diagnostic (4.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Discount Drug Mart (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Marc's Stores (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Marc's Stores (3.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (1.1 miles)
• Kosta & Vics Restauran (2.9 miles)
• Rosewood Grill (3.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• Mitchell's Ice Cream (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.2 miles)
• Metropolitan Coffee (7.4 miles)

Parks

• Surrarrer Park (1.5 miles)
• Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reserve North (1.8 miles)
• James Day Park (2.1 miles)
• Strongsville Wildlife Area (3 miles)
• Cleveland Metroparks - Big Creek Reservation (4 miles)
• Rocky River Reservation (4.9 miles)
• Bain Park (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Benchmark Imaging Group (2.9 miles)
• CCF Fairview Hospital (6.1 miles)
• Cleveland Clinic - Fairview Hospital (6.1 miles)

Transportation

• Concourse C (3.5 miles)
• Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE) (3.5 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint C (3.6 miles)
• United Airlines Ticket Counter (3.6 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (3.7 miles)
• Concourse B (3.7 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark 383 Strongsville (3.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Ignatius of Antioch Church (7.7 miles)