Miller's Merry Manor Inc

Pros

• The Waters of Columbia City is praised for its friendly, caring staff and a family-like atmosphere.
• The building is clean, odor-free, and feels homelike, with ongoing updates improving comfort.
• The administrator and staff are described as friendly, helpful, and providing top-notch customer service.
• Staff engage with residents personally, greeting them by name and sharing conversations.
• Activities are well-received, with residents enjoying programs like bingo and planned events.
• Families feel supported by the care team, who go above and beyond during stressful times.
• Tours and admissions are positive experiences, with welcoming staff and a warm environment.
• The care is repeatedly described as outstanding and professional.

Cons

• The food was overcooked and dry, with mushy vegetables and bland rice.
• Therapy calls were frequently unanswered, and staff were described as unfriendly and unhelpful.
• The facility was criticized for freezing conditions and inadequate heating that affected residents' comfort.
• There were allegations of neglect and miscommunication, including alleged false oxygen readings and delays in medical transport.
• A reviewer claimed a relative developed pneumonia and suffered health setbacks due to care at the facility, citing insufficient timely treatment.

Review

Across a cluster of reviews about two Columbia City care facilities, a clear picture emerges of a community that many families feel is warm, attentive, and home-like, even as a few voices raise concerns about specific areas or past experiences. The Waters of Columbia City is repeatedly described as a refreshed, clean, and inviting place where staff know residents well, engage with them personally, and create a family-like atmosphere. Miller's Merry Manor (MMM) in the same town is pictured similarly by many, with strong praise for care, professionalism, and the supportiveness of management and frontline workers - though there are notable exceptions where families recount serious lapses in care and communication.

For The Waters, the positive threads are consistent and abundant. Several reviewers mention a recent makeover and ongoing updates, noting that the building feels clean, orderly, and even charming despite being older in age. The staff frequently receives compliments for friendliness, attentiveness, and genuine engagement with residents. In tour experiences and daily interactions, administrators and caregivers are described as approachable and supportive. In particular, Laurie, the administrator, is highlighted repeatedly for her availability, responsiveness, and customer-service orientation. Families describe instances where Laurie and other staff members go above and beyond to answer questions, coordinate with social services, and smooth transitions - such as helping with insurance details or arranging in-house services to continue care seamlessly.

Other staff members also receive frequent praise for their roles in daily life at The Waters. Sheila, the RN, is mentioned as someone who actively involves residents in activities and helps tailor opportunities to individual needs; Brook is recognized for friendliness in social services; Ciera runs tours with a welcoming demeanor; Amber plans activities; Erica, along with other team members, is described as giving "extra attention" to residents. The atmosphere is characterized as one big, caring family, where staff are mindful of residents' names and conversations with them are common and meaningful. Families repeatedly note the ability to visit easily, the open, honest communication from the team, and the sense that residents are treated with respect and warmth. The overall sentiment is that The Waters offers a calm, homelike environment with staff who care deeply about the people living there.

That same warmth is echoed in specific stories of everyday life at The Waters. One reviewer highlights how the staff's approach makes a difference in activities and engagement - mom loves bingo, and staff members help ensure she can participate, see the cards, and enjoy the moment. Rooms are described as clean and newly refurbished, reinforcing the sense that the facility strives to maintain a presentable, comfortable home for residents. Families repeatedly express gratitude for the way the staff treat their loved ones with kindness, and they speak highly of the sense of calm and "done-for-you" service that the team provides. Even during stressful times, families say they felt supported and heard by a team that treats residents with respect and a family-like approach.

Yet not all notes about The Waters carry a glowing hue. At least one reviewer speaks frankly about a significant area for improvement: the kitchen and food service. The critique centers on overcooked vegetables that lose their nutritional value, meat that is dry and lacking juices, and plain sides like white rice and bread that fail to offer flavor or variety. The critic argues for a refocusing on proper nutrition and culinary preparation, suggesting improvements in menu planning, cooking methods, and perhaps leadership within the kitchen to bring meals back to the level of care families expect from a place they trust with their loved ones. It is a constructive counterpoint to the otherwise predominantly positive feedback, signaling that even highly regarded facilities may need to continually refine every facet of resident life, including mealtime experiences.

Another facet of The Waters reviews concerns communication and responsiveness to inquiries about therapy and short-term needs. One reviewer recounts frustration with difficulty reaching staff for short-term therapy arrangements, noting repeated unreturned calls and unfriendly or unhelpful responses when responses did come. This single, sharp criticism stands out against the broader chorus of praise and highlights how important timely communication is to families navigating care decisions and transitions.

Turning to Miller's Merry Manor in Columbia City, the tone is largely favorable in many of the more recent reviews. Multiple reviewers describe MMM as a place with excellent care delivered by a professional, compassionate team - from top management to frontline staff. The sentiment is that MMM provides a robust level of care, with staff who are attentive to residents' needs, patient and supportive for families, and able to foster a sense of healing and stability during recovery or long-term stay. One reviewer describes MMM as a "healing home" during a period of rehabilitation, expressing gratitude for the care received and noting the breadth of people involved in making daily life run smoothly. The praise often centers on the consistency, kindness, and dedication of the team, which helps families feel confident in the care their loved ones are receiving.

Not every reflection on MMM has a positive ring, however. A late-2010s review details a harrowing experience from 2017, describing significant concerns about care quality during a hospital transition and the days surrounding a pneumonia diagnosis. The writer recalls a sequence of troubling events: a facility with rooms reported as too cold, a delay in recognizing and addressing a severe ear infection, a failure to coordinate timely ENT evaluation, a dramatic turn of events with a collapsed lung and severe bacterial pneumonia, and subsequent ICU care and new dependencies that altered the patient's life. The reviewer attributes these outcomes to negligence and miscommunication, portraying a timeline in which what should have been a straightforward, responsive process became a life-altering sequence of failures. The memory is bitter, marked by distrust of the staff's actions at the time, and it ends with a pointed remark about the few options for trach/vent facilities in the region, underscoring the gravity of the concerns.

In more recent years, MMM remains a preferred option for many families, as reflected by subsequent positive entries. A 2023 note, for instance, lauds the team at MMM for the care of a family member, calling out outstanding support from staff and management and offering strong recommendations. This continued praise suggests a complex picture where the facility has both enduring strengths - consistent, compassionate care - and, in some cases, past incidents that families remember with stark detail. The dichotomy from one era to another illustrates how experiences can diverge over time, potentially reflecting changes in leadership, staffing, or process improvements that shape resident and family perceptions.

Taken together, these reviews depict two Columbia City facilities that are widely associated with warmth, attentiveness, and a family-centered approach, while also showing that even highly regarded places can struggle with elements like nutrition quality, timely communication, and the handling of medical emergencies. The Waters of Columbia City is repeatedly praised for its clean, welcoming environment, the accessibility and kindness of an administrator and frontline staff, and the tangible sense of a close-knit community that treats residents like family. Miller's Merry Manor earns strong praise for the overall standard of care and the professionalism of its team, even as some past experiences serve as cautionary tales about how quickly things can go wrong when communication breaks down or when medical issues are not managed promptly. In both cases, families highlight staff who truly care, and they remind us that successful long-term care hinges on consistent warmth, clear communication, and ongoing attention to the full spectrum of residents' needs.

This part of Columbia City, Indiana, offers a variety of essential services and amenities within close proximity, making it a convenient and accessible area for senior living. With several physician offices nearby, including specialists in optometry, occupational health, and ear nose & throat care, residents can easily access medical care when needed. There are also several cafes and restaurants in the area for dining out or grabbing a quick bite to eat. Pharmacies are readily available for prescription needs. While hospitals are located a bit further away, there are options within a reasonable distance for more serious medical concerns. Additionally, there are places of worship for spiritual support and community engagement, as well as parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this part of Columbia City provides a well-rounded environment that caters to the various needs and interests of older adults looking to settle in the area.

Physicians

• Mark Burkett, DO (0.5 miles)
• David Lieb (0.6 miles)
• Delalande Philippe MD (0.6 miles)
• Columbia City Optometry (0.9 miles)
• Parkview First Care (1.1 miles)
• Parkview Occupational Health Center (1.1 miles)
• Ear Nose & Throat Associates PC (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• Church Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Brew Ha (0.6 miles)
• Goldwood Gardens (0.7 miles)
• Big G's (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (15.8 miles)

Restaurants

• 11th Frame (0.6 miles)
• Downtown on the Square (0.6 miles)
• Brew'ha (0.6 miles)
• Pizza Hut (1.2 miles)
• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• Carol's Corner (8.2 miles)
• Magic Wand Restaurant (10.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Hipp Drug (8.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (10.7 miles)
• Walgreens (12.9 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (15.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Parkview Laboratories (1.8 miles)
• Parkview First Care (7.8 miles)
• Otis R. Bowen Center For Human Services Inpatient Unit (10.9 miles)
• Rehabilitation Hospital of Ft. Wayne (15.2 miles)
• Iom Health System (15.3 miles)
• Lutheran Health Network (15.3 miles)
• Orthopedic Hospital Physical (15.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Blue River Community Church (5.2 miles)
• Cecil George Rev (9.9 miles)
• Green Center Umc (12.7 miles)
• Pine Hills Church (15.6 miles)
• Unlimited Potential (16 miles)
• Christ's Covenant Church (16.3 miles)

Parks

• Chain O'Lakes State Park (13.7 miles)
• Indian Trails Park (13.9 miles)
• Roanoke Park (14.9 miles)