Hillcrest Guest Home

Pros

• The home is charming, historic, clean, and comfortable, and decorated as a home rather than a facility.
• The staff have honored the resident's wishes, overcome her communication challenges, and ensured her constant comfort.
• The home, with only three beds, allows staff to give greater attention and remains very responsive.
• The staff are dedicated and loyal, with near-zero turnover.
• The staff are highly capable and excellent at tracheostomy care; the home is ventilator-care certified as of October 2020.
• The owner has over 30 years of experience.
• The delegation nurse has served the home for more than 25 years, ensuring doctor orders are followed precisely, competently, and compassionately.
• The staff are great at negotiating with doctors and hospitals to ensure orders are written properly for patient needs and legal compliance.

Review

A charming, historic building stands out in the neighborhood not just for its architecture, but for the sense of warmth and care that radiates from within. It is kept immaculate, comfortable, and thoughtfully decorated so that it feels less like a clinical facility and more like a welcoming home. The environment invites residents to settle in and feel at ease, with every detail aimed at creating a serene living space rather than a sterile care setting. The overall impression is one of care that honors a sense of home, which is reinforced by meticulous cleanliness and a thoughtful, homelike atmosphere.

The care team operates with a deeply personalized approach. They have made it a priority to honor my wife's wishes, and through patient attention and adaptive communication, they have overcome challenges that could otherwise hinder comfort and quality of life. From day one, the staff seem committed to ensuring ongoing, constant comfort, taking cues from what matters most to the resident and the family. This dedication translates into daily routines that feel bespoke rather than routine, with caregivers who listen closely and respond with sensitivity and immediacy.

Size matters here in a meaningful way. With only three beds, the home cultivates an intimate, attentive environment where staff can devote more time and focus to each person as needed. The small scale fosters a rapid, responsive dynamic - caregivers are readily available when a request arises, and they can adjust plans quickly to meet changing needs. This proximity between residents and caregivers nurtures a sense of safety and reliability, reinforcing confidence that help is always close at hand.

The staff distinguish themselves not only by their capabilities but also by their loyalty and stability. There is near-zero turnover, a hallmark of a team that truly knows the residents, their histories, and their preferences. While the staff are highly skilled - especially in complex care tasks such as tracheostomy care - they are not nurses. Their expertise in providing hands-on, compassionate care is evident in every interaction, and their proficiency allows families to feel secure about the ongoing management of delicate medical needs. The home's certification for ventilator care, achieved in October 2020, marks an important milestone that underscores the team's capacity to manage more intensive medical requirements within this home-like setting.

Leadership provides a steady backbone for the operation. The owner brings more than three decades of experience to the role, infusing the home with seasoned judgment, steady governance, and a long-term vision for quality care. The delegation nurse, who has been with the home for over 25 years, offers a pillar of continuity and professional assurance. This nurse diligently oversees medical orders, ensuring that what doctors prescribe is followed with precision, competence, and compassion. The depth of experience within the leadership and clinical delegation lends a reassuring sense of reliability for families who rely on careful coordination of care.

Communication and collaboration with external medical professionals are handled with notable deftness. The staff excel at negotiating with doctors and hospitals to ensure that orders are written correctly to meet patient needs and conform to legal requirements. This proactive advocacy helps bridge the gap between home-like living and the necessary medical oversight, guaranteeing that care plans are both medically sound and administratively compliant. The result is a coordinated care experience in which the resident's health needs are prioritized without compromising the sense of home that defines the setting.

Taken together, the impression is of a place where warmth and professional competence coexist in a harmonious balance. The combination of a charming, historic setting with highly capable, loyal staff delivers a level of care that feels personal and trustworthy. The small size enables attentive, responsive service while the extensive experience of the owner and the long-tenured delegation nurse provides stability and meticulous adherence to medical orders. The capacity for skilled tracheostomy care and ventilator support, paired with proactive coordination with healthcare providers, creates a comprehensive environment designed to honor the resident's preferences and ensure ongoing comfort and safety. Families can feel confident that their loved one is cared for with both the heart of a home and the diligence of a well-managed care team.

This area of Portland, Oregon offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle down. With several medical clinics and hospitals nearby, residents have easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are plenty of pharmacies in the vicinity for medication needs. The numerous parks provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation, while a variety of restaurants and cafes offer dining options for every preference. Places of worship are also within reach for spiritual nourishment. Transportation options are available with an Amtrak station located just 5 miles away. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with ample resources for senior living.

Physicians

• Sellwood Medical Clinic (0.3 miles)
• Richmond Family Health Center (3.6 miles)
• Metropolitan Pediatrics (4.2 miles)
• Pediatric Associates Of The NW (4.9 miles)
• Kaiser Sunnybrook - Institut (4.9 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Mount Talbert - Emily West MD (5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.8 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Sellwood Park (0.6 miles)
• Sellwood Riverfront Park (0.6 miles)
• Tryon Creek State Park (1.4 miles)
• Rivervilla Park (2.4 miles)
• George Rogers Park (2.6 miles)
• Terwilliger Playground (2.6 miles)
• Spring Garden Park (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Providence Milwaukie Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Portland VA Medical Center (3 miles)
• Doernbecher Children's Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Shriners Hospitals For Children (3.4 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Wendy's (2.8 miles)
• Hopworks Urban Brewery (2.9 miles)
• Hanko's Sports Bar & Grill (2.9 miles)
• Salt & Straw (3.4 miles)
• Thunderbird (3.5 miles)
• Super Deluxe (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.4 miles)
• Portland Cà Phê (2.4 miles)
• Keeper Coffee Co. (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Coava Coffee Roasters (3.8 miles)
• Common Grounds Coffee House (4.2 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John Fisher Church (3.5 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Pioneer Place (4.3 miles)
• Century 16 Eastport Plaza (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (5 miles)