R & N Middleton Residential Care Home #3

Pros

• Razel, the unit manager, is thorough and helpful.
• The staff are very professional and the environment is very clean.
• The physical and occupational therapists are wonderful.
• The rooms and property are nicely kept and fresh.
• The care at ManorCare Tice Valley has been excellent.
• The reviewer notes that the staff were caring and responsive.

Cons

• The facility was understaffed with RNs, LVNs, and CNAs who could not adequately check on patients or keep them clean and safe.
• One RN would not call 911 when a patient was having mini TIAs.
• Administrators were not helpful and rarely resolved concerns, except Razel who listened and cared.
• The care line was described as a joke that did not demonstrate care.
• There was a complete lack of communication with families, leaving patients and relatives anxious.
• There were not enough staff to adequately care for patients, even though the remaining staff did their best.
• Medications were given incorrectly.
• Some nurses were rude.
• The facility appeared dirty and poorly maintained, with torn walls and outdated interiors.
• The environment was extremely loud, with constant alarms, yelling, and blaring TVs, making it unhealthy for residents.
• There was a Covid outbreak with a lack of clear plan and poor communication.
• Call lights went unanswered for hours.

Review

ManorCare at Tice Valley, operated under ProMedica, attracts a wide range of experiences from families and former patients. The stories span heartwarming praise for individual staff members and alarming accounts of care failures, creating a complex picture of a facility that some see as profoundly caring in parts and severely lacking in others. Across the board, Razel, the unit manager, emerges as a consistent thread - described by some as thorough, attentive, and genuinely caring, even as other reviewers fault the system that surrounds her.

Several families recount troubling conditions that raise serious concerns about basic cleanliness and safety. One account describes an 82-year-old father who was admitted for rehabilitation after a fall. A caretaker found soiled diapers on the restroom floor, and the room was reportedly uncomfortable, with a temperature around 64 degrees. The traveling nurse who visited later reportedly called the place the cleanest she had seen, which stands in stark contrast to the family's experience. Within a week, the father passed away, and the reviewer framed him as a brave veteran who deserved better care, urging others not to place loved ones there. This narrative anchors a fear expressed by others: that neglect or poor standards can have tragic consequences, especially for the most vulnerable residents.

Understaffing is a recurrent theme, touching every facet of daily life in the facility. Reviewers describe shortages of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nursing assistants who are present and able to perform critical tasks. In one dramatic example, an RN would not call 911 when a patient was experiencing transient ischemic attacks, raising questions about acute responsiveness during emergencies. Another reviewer noted that even basic help - like assistance with the bathroom or a call button - could take 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes longer, leaving patients and their families frustrated and anxious. The frustration is echoed in comments about the "buzz" for nurse responses and the perception that family members must step in to ensure care, which in turn heightens concerns about safety and dignity.

Communication and administrative responsiveness are another major thread. Several reviewers condemn the administrative side as unhelpful or dismissive, with repeatedly voiced complaints that concerns are not resolved. One reviewer singled out the care line as ineffective and described interactions with the administrator Maggie as coercive, alleging threats to withhold care unless a Yelp review was removed. The lone exception, according to these voices, is Razel, who is repeatedly praised for listening and showing genuine care. Yet even with Razel's attentiveness, others report that concerns raised to higher-level administration often go unaddressed, leaving families feeling unheard and abandoned during stressful times.

The reviews also depict a spectrum of clinical experiences, including alarming incidents and procedural concerns. Some residents described the chilling reality of delayed critical care, unresponsive call bells, and poor management of medications. There are accounts of patients whose oxygen levels dropped to dangerous lows, who were left waiting for updates about changes in condition, and who faced repeated delays in receiving essential treatments such as breathing therapy. There are stories of outbreaks and seeming mismanagement of infection control, complicated by a sense that the facility was not communicating effectively with families about the status and safety of residents during COVID-19-related episodes. The anxiety surrounding these situations is compounded by reports of moving patients around within the building during outbreaks, and a broad perception that families are not kept adequately informed.

Amid the negative experiences, positive testimonials offer a counterpoint that cannot be dismissed. One reviewer, a former patient, spent two weeks at Tice Valley after heart surgery and described the room as clean, the staff as caring and responsive, and the physical and occupational therapy as excellent. An accompanying account from another reviewer, who is an RN and visits a loved one several times a week, reports consistently good care: the patient is kept clean, dressed, and well-attended, with medications and meals properly managed. A different family member recounts that their 98-year-old grandmother received attentive support, with ongoing activities and a well-maintained environment. These positive voices acknowledge that when well-staffed and well-led, the facility can deliver the level of care families expect.

In the broader arc of these experiences, what emerges is a facility that can be a lifeline for some residents and a source of profound distress for others. The strongest, most persistent praise centers on Razel - the unit manager who appears to be a credible anchor for compassionate, hands-on care in the midst of systemic challenges. The most vivid warnings come from those who faced delays in basic needs, perceived mismanagement, and a lack of transparent communication with families, sometimes culminating in traumatic events or near-misses. The contrast between the stories suggests that the care environment at ManorCare at Tice Valley can be deeply variable, shifting with staffing levels, administrative responses, and day-to-day leadership on the floor.

For families considering this facility, the range of experiences invites careful due diligence. While there are testimonies of personal attentiveness, professional competence, and patient-centered routines when conditions allow, there are also persistent, serious warnings about understaffing, delayed responses, outdated interiors, noisy environments, and inconsistent communications with loved ones. The recurring call is for stronger staffing, clearer protocols, better training, and more reliable channels for families to stay informed - especially during emergencies and health changes. In that context, Razel's documented willingness to listen and engage stands out as a potential positive touchpoint in an institution where the lived experiences of residents and their families can diverge so dramatically from day to day.

This part of Walnut Creek, California, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple pharmacies such as CVS and Rite Aid nearby, access to healthcare services is easily accessible. There are also various dining options ranging from casual fast food like Taco Bell and Chick-Fil-A to upscale restaurants like Gott's Roadside and True Food Kitchen. Additionally, there are several cafes for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. For entertainment, there are theaters like Century Walnut Creek 14 and XD within close proximity. In terms of healthcare, there are reputable physicians and medical centers nearby such as Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. The numerous parks provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Public transportation options like the Walnut Creek BART Station make it easy to travel around the area. Overall, this part of Walnut Creek offers a well-rounded community with convenient amenities for seniors looking to retire in a vibrant neighborhood.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Medical Center (1.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Gott’s Roadside (1.4 miles)
• True Food Kitchen (1.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.6 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• Wendy's (3.6 miles)
• Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria (4.4 miles)
• Jack's Restaurant & Bar (4.9 miles)

Cafes

• Philz Coffee (1.5 miles)
• Marketplace Cafe (1.6 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (2.3 miles)
• Bondadoso Coffee & Tea Collective Add to Favorites (2.4 miles)
• Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen and Coffee Bar (3.1 miles)
• Philz Coffee (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)

Theaters

• Century Walnut Creek 14 and XD (1.5 miles)
• Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD (4.8 miles)

Physicians

• Derek Jue (1.6 miles)
• Ford Lloyd C MD (3.6 miles)
• Golden State Dermatology (3.8 miles)
• Michael Y Chang, DO (4.1 miles)
• Ipm Medical Group (4.2 miles)
• Muir Orthopaedic Specialists - Redwood (4.3 miles)
• Muir Orthopedic Specialists (4.3 miles)

Parks

• Rudgear Park (1.9 miles)
• Civic Park (2 miles)
• Livorna Park (2.6 miles)
• Heather Farm All Abilities Playground (3.3 miles)
• Heather Farm Park (3.3 miles)
• Hap Magee Dog Park (3.4 miles)
• Heather Farm Dog Park (3.5 miles)

Transportation

• Walnut Creek BART Station (2.1 miles)
• Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station (3.7 miles)
• U-Haul of Concord (6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Queen of All Saints (7.5 miles)