La Verna Heights Retirement

Pros

• The staff in the Alzheimer's unit are described as doing a great job and truly caring for their patients.
• The facility is described as one of the best care facilities, with loving, caring staff.
• The director of nursing oversees staff who lovingly attend to the needs of every resident.
• The care provided is described as compassionate and first-rate.
• The management team and staff work well as a unit and are highly organized.
• The facility is praised for cleanliness and a pleasant fragrance.
• The residents are treated by honest, sweet staff who truly care about one another.

Cons

• The reviewer labeled the facility a horrible place, alleging staff prevented a resident from leaving and undermined the resident's autonomy.
• The fianc?'s mom was often left in bed, which led to bedsores, and she was found lying in her own feces.
• Beverages were kept across the room out of reach, the room was frequently filthy, and care was not consistently provided.
• Nurses and aides were often difficult to locate, and the turnaround time for help was high with little clarity on what was happening.
• Administration was never present and would not address problems, making it hard to get needed care.
• Laverna was described as profit-driven, with a staff member stealing the mother's wedding rings and the administrator rarely available.
• There were only two RNs and one CNA considered good; other staff were agency workers there for a paycheck.

Review

The reviews surrounding LaVerna/Laverna reveal a broad spectrum of experiences, ranging from glowing praise to alarming warnings. Some families and visitors describe the facility as a place of genuine care, cleanliness, and compassion, while others recount distressing episodes of neglect, mismanagement, and even theft. Taken together, the accounts paint a picture of a home that can feel like two very different places depending on who is there, when they visit, and which part of the operation they encounter.

On the positive side, several observers highlight the commitment and kindness of staff, especially within the Alzheimer's unit. One reviewer notes that the locked Alzheimer's unit "never smelled" because trash bags were promptly taken out and tied up, and they describe the people there as doing a great job who truly care about their patients. This impression of careful, attentive care is echoed by others who came away thinking the facility offered some of the best care they'd seen. A visitor who brought an elderly sister for knee-rehabilitation was struck by the cleanliness and fragrance of the place and mentioned that LaVerna had recently been purchased by a new firm with up-to-date changes. They credited the director of nursing and her staff with attending to each resident's needs with evident dedication, and they expressed gratitude that they had found a good place for their loved one. Another patron called it "one of the best care facilities I've ever seen," complimenting the loving, caring staff they observed during multiple visits and even planning another visit for a family member's birthday. A staff-family member also praised the administration and the management team for their coordination, organization, and a culture of compassionate care, highlighting a positive experience when a family member needed services. In addition, a separate testimonial from Savannah, Missouri, lauded the people there as honest and sweet and noted that they care deeply about one another, which bolsters the impression of a compassionate community atmosphere across sites.

Yet the same facility draws sharp, scathing criticisms from other families who report serious lapses. One account describes a brother being kept from his sister by staff and family conflict over whether the man is capable of making his own decisions, with the sister feeling he is being unfairly restricted. This reviewer labeled the place as "horrible," pointing to what they perceived as coercive or controlling behavior by staff and a decision-making dynamic that marginalized a family member's rights. Another much more graphic complaint centers on a fianc?'s mother who allegedly endured bedsores from staying in bed too long, was found lying in her own feces, and received UTIs that were not promptly addressed. According to this account, she was served water and other beverages far from her reach, the room was often filthy, and food was left out throughout the day. The family claims nurses and aides were difficult to locate, and the turnover of help was consistently high, with little transparency or clear communication from staff. They warned other families not to send their loved ones there, insisting that real care and genuine concern were lacking.

A recurring theme among the negative reviews is staff reliability and staffing levels. Another reviewer stated that only two registered nurses and one male certified nursing assistant were truly competent, with all other aides coming from agencies who were there primarily for a paycheck. They claimed they ended up cleaning their mother's room themselves and that three UTIs reportedly remained untreated in her waste for an indeterminate time before they moved her out. The sense of frustration with administration - described as rarely present and unresponsive - was also noted, with calls for a new director of nursing to implement meaningful changes. A different posting, written from the perspective of a staff member as well as a family member of a former patient, praised a specific administrator - Katie Johnson - for caring beyond the call of duty and for a management team that felt cohesive and well-organized, supported by a positive survey. This mixed voice underscores how experiences can diverge within the same facility depending on leadership, department, and even the particular shift or unit a person encounters.

Complicating the overall impression is the assertion by another commenter that LaVerna is profit-driven, with tangible consequences for residents. They claimed that the facility's profit motive is evident in how residents are treated, including an accusation that a family's wedding rings were stolen by staff and that the administrator was rarely present or available when problems arose. The reviewer advised against choosing the facility and suggested transferring a loved one elsewhere, recounting a move to Living Community in Saint Joseph where they reported an excellent experience. This accusation of theft, paired with perceived absenteeism of administration, starkly contrasts the more favorable portrayals and feeds the sense that experiences there can be unpredictable.

The opposing narratives center on the idea that the facility's reputation may depend heavily on the unit, the staff on duty, and the responsiveness of leadership. For some families, LaVerna represents a place of warmth, cleanliness, and engaged care, where staff members appear genuinely committed to residents' well-being and where facility changes under new ownership have been adopted with refreshing vigor. For others, the same institution feels disjointed, under-staffed, and lacking in accountability, with serious concerns about infection control, basic daily needs, and dignity. One review even emphasizes the need to investigate facilities thoroughly before committing to care, advising prospective families to visit, observe, and verify therapy availability and administrative responsiveness before deciding which center is right for their loved one.

In sum, the collection of experiences reveals a care facility that has achieved moments of notable excellence - cleanliness, compassionate staff in certain units, thoughtful leadership, and a sense of community in some locations. At the same time, there are persistent and credible reports of neglect, safety concerns, theft, poor communication, and profit-driven practices in other accounts. Potential families and residents would do well to approach with due diligence: visit multiple times, speak directly with administrators and front-line caregivers, observe the unit where a loved one would reside, verify the presence and reliability of staff, and consider the broader track record of the organization during the period of concern. The stories remind us that behind every review is a real person seeking care, dignity, and safety, and that the true experience can be as varied as the people who deliver it.

This particular area of Savannah, Missouri offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. There are several places of worship nearby, providing opportunities for spiritual growth and community involvement. Additionally, there are pharmacies and physicians' offices in close proximity, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. The area also boasts a selection of restaurants and cafes for dining options, as well as parks for outdoor recreation. Transportation options are available for those who may not drive, and there is even a theater nearby for entertainment purposes. In terms of healthcare facilities, hospitals and surgical centers are within a reasonable distance for any medical needs that may arise. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded environment with various resources to support senior living.

Places of Worship

• Sisters Of Saint Francis (0.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (0.3 miles)
• Savannah United Methodist Church (0.7 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (1 miles)
• St Paul United Methodist Church (5.4 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (8.4 miles)
• St John Charismatic Episcopal Church (8.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Countryside Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Advantage Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Poirier Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (8.7 miles)
• Walgreens (8.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (9.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Just One More (0.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (8.2 miles)
• Chedders Cafe (8.2 miles)
• Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen (8.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (8.2 miles)
• 54th Street Grill & Bar (8.3 miles)
• Hardee's (8.9 miles)

Parks

• Messick Park (1.1 miles)
• Krug Park (9.5 miles)
• St Joseph Park Maintenance (10.5 miles)

Physicians

• Savannah Medical Clinic (1.1 miles)
• Northwest Health Services (1.1 miles)
• Susan Vega (7.1 miles)
• Trinity Family Care (7.4 miles)
• Mosaic Life Care (8.3 miles)
• Wiles Eye Center (9.3 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates (10.1 miles)

Cafes

• The Pasture Cafe (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (10.2 miles)
• Muddy Mo Coffee Company (10.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.8 miles)

Transportation

• West Nodaway (6.9 miles)
• Success Truck Leasing (7.8 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Hollywood - St. Joseph (7.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Surgery Center Of St Joseph (9.3 miles)
• Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (10.7 miles)
• St Joseph Center For Outpatient Surgery (10.9 miles)