Northwood Assisted Living Ctr

Pros

• The facility is described as the finest the reviewer has ever seen.
• The staff are dedicated to residents' happiness and care.
• The reviewer could not have found a better place for their mother.

Cons

• The care was described as the worst ever.
• The reviewer claimed the facility murdered their mother.
• The staff allegedly denied care after a head injury and withheld feeding or medications.
• The mother was left alone in pain, crying, and hungry in her room.
• Staff allegedly told the family to stay away from the room and to stop calling.
• The death was unexplained, and the cremation occurred without explanation.
• Belongings were discarded and not returned to the family.
• The facility was described as horrible and not trustworthy.

Review

A single thread runs through these accounts, but it is woven from starkly different experiences. On one end of the spectrum, families describe a facility that failed them in profoundly human moments, leaving them feeling unheard, disrespected, and even implicating grave harm. On the other end, there are voices that praise the place as a sanctuary of attentive care. Between these poles, the story painted by reviewers is one of extreme highs and lows, with emotions running from anger and fear to gratitude and relief. Taken together, the accounts reveal a facility that has become a battleground of expectations, communication gaps, and the deeply personal stakes of elder care.

One of the most devastating narratives centers on the sudden decline and death of a mother in December 2023. The writer says their mother, who was nonverbal and suffering primarily from dementia, suffered a head injury after being moved by the facility's staff. The account alleges that this injury was not treated adequately and that the facility denied certain care, including feeding, medications, and resuscitation that the family says matched their mother's wishes. The reviewer recounts being told by a nurse that their mother was going to die and that they should stay away and not call or visit, with instructions that seemed to isolate the patient in pain. The family claims they were ordered to stop calling and told that staff intended to let their mother die in her room, which allegedly led to a period of screaming in pain and neglect. The account also claims that the mother died without explanation, and, in keeping with distressing beliefs about respect for the departed, that she was cremated against the family's wishes. The reviewer expresses suspicion about a motive connected to money and alleges that the mother's belongings were discarded, prompting the family to pursue a civil lawsuit. The language used is charged and emotional, reflecting a profound sense of betrayal and outrage at what is alleged to have happened.

In a parallel but separate thread of the same account, the reviewer expands on what they describe as systemic neglect and intimidation. They claim the facility's leadership and nursing staff may have coordinated to keep family members at bay during critical moments, creating an impression that the elder was left to deteriorate without appropriate advocacy. The caller's sense of having the truth obscured is palpable as they describe being told to stop contacting the facility and to accept a situation that contradicted the mother's long-held beliefs about fighting for life. The narrative is not just about one tragic moment; it is the accumulation of many small interactions that built a perception of a culture where families are sidelined and where accountability for the care provided, or the lack thereof, remains elusive.

The second account shifts to a different patient, offering a critique of the facility's day-to-day responsiveness under emergency conditions. This reviewer is focused on a relative experiencing severe gastritis and vomiting, seeking basic, established treatments - IV fluids, antiemetics, and pain relief. They report a revolving door of staff members who ask the same questions repeatedly, leading to frustration over perceived inefficiency and redundancy. The writer contends that in one hour, seven different people entered the room to gather information that they already had and did not seem to use, creating a sense that care was bogged down in form-filling rather than action. There is particular consternation about a nurse performing a blood draw against the family's wishes and the perception that attention to the patient's medical history in the system did not translate into timely, appropriate care. The reviewer questions the necessity of multiple lab tests and suggests a lack of coordination or consideration for the patient's comfort and dignity. The experience culminates in a strong verdict: this is not the place to bring a loved one in an emergency, especially when time is of the essence and the distance to alternative care is substantial. The account ends with a firm decision never to return, even under the pressure of a medical crisis.

Adding contrast to the mix, another review offers an almost complete reversal in sentiment. This account is glowingly positive, describing the facility as the finest they have ever seen. The writer emphasizes that the staff are dedicated to the residents' happiness and care, and they express wholehearted gratitude for the level of quality and attention received. The praise is unambiguous: the reviewer could not have found a better place for their mother, and they frame the facility as a model of compassionate, capable elder care. This perspective highlights how experiences at the same institution can diverge dramatically depending on individual interactions, circumstances, and perhaps the specific care teams involved at any given time.

Taken together, these reviews present a facility that elicits a broad spectrum of experiences and emotions. For some families, the institution represents a place of fear, neglect, and even allegations of harm that lead to calls for legal action and demands for accountability. For others, it stands as a beacon of excellent care and genuine dedication to residents' well-being. The contrast raises important questions about consistency, communication, and the ability of management to foster a culture that consistently respects patients' wishes, delivers timely and appropriate medical care, and maintains open channels of communication with families. It also underscores the profound impact that how staff treat families and how they handle distressing situations can have on overall perceptions of care quality.

Ultimately, these accounts emphasize the vital need for clear, compassionate communication and rigorous accountability in long-term and emergency care settings. They remind readers that the experience of care is not monolithic; it is shaped by day-to-day interactions, policies, and the human moments when families fear for their loved ones. For those evaluating such facilities, the message is to consider a broad range of feedback, seek firsthand conversations with administrative leadership, and assess how the facility handles crisis situations, family involvement, and ethically fraught decisions. The stories are painful and powerful, calling for ongoing attention to patient rights, dignity in care, and the responsibility of care providers to act with transparency and empathy in the most difficult moments.

This part of Vermillion, South Dakota, offers a variety of amenities that cater to senior living needs. With cafes such as Latte Da and Cakes by Monica nearby, there are plenty of options for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. The proximity to hospitals like Sanford Medical Clinic and Vermillion Hospital ensures accessible healthcare services. Places of worship such as Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool and St Paul's Episcopal Church provide spiritual support for residents. In addition, parks like Prentis Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Pharmacies like Davis Pharmacy and Walmart Pharmacy are conveniently located for medication needs. Overall, this area provides a mix of essential services and recreational opportunities that make it a great choice for seniors looking to settle in Vermillion.

Cafes

• Latte Da (0.5 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (5.7 miles)
• Spink Cafe (9.4 miles)
• Wakonda Cafe (18.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco John's (0.5 miles)
• Cakes by Monica (0.5 miles)
• Burger King (0.6 miles)
• Erbert & Gerbert's (0.8 miles)
• Vermillion Welcome Table (1.2 miles)
• Charcoal Lounge (1.3 miles)
• Maya Janes (1.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Sanford Medical Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Sanford Vermillion Hospital (0.8 miles)
• Sanford Vermillion Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Sanford Hospice (0.8 miles)
• Akron City Convalescent Care (17.9 miles)
• Akron Chiropractic Center (18 miles)
• Ponca Medical Clinic (18.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool (0.6 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (0.6 miles)
• St Paul's Episcopal Church (0.9 miles)
• Concordia Lutheran Church (1 miles)
• Rapid City Diocese (1 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1.1 miles)
• UCC Church (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Prentis Park (0.7 miles)
• Todd Larsen Park (13.1 miles)
• Akron City Park (18.1 miles)
• Beresford City Park Department (21.1 miles)

Physicians

• Vermillion Medical Clinic (0.9 miles)
• Prairie Eye Clinic (1.2 miles)
• Akron Mercy Medical Clinic (18.1 miles)
• Sanford Vermillion Ponca Clinic (18.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Davis Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Pioneer Drug Co. (13.4 miles)
• Thorson Drug (18 miles)
• Lewis Drug (21.4 miles)

Transportation

• Becker Flying Service (21.3 miles)