Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab

Pros

• The facility is very clean and well maintained.
• The staff are caring and work well together.
• The food is amazing and served in good portions.
• The administrator goes out of his way to help residents.
• The facility is beautiful and residents look happy.
• Staff celebrate when residents come out of isolation due to Covid.
• Staff provide timely updates on residents' medications.
• Lantern Park is clean, spacious, and quiet, with friendly staff.
• Therapists and nursing staff are amazing, friendly, and dedicated.
• The facility takes great care of residents, treating them like family.

Cons

• Lantern Park was described as an absolute nightmare of a place, with a 92-year-old resident left in a sweltering hot room, severely malnourished, and without access to water.
• The staff reportedly avoided confrontation with the family when the resident's condition was known, delaying communication about serious incidents.
• It was alleged that the facility collected Medicare payments while allowing the resident to lie in a hot room and suffer.
• Most of the resident's clothes were missing, with only a worn shirt and socks returned.
• The quality of care was said to have declined since January, with very little help available on weekends.
• Unlicensed staff were observed performing nursing duties and documenting care, while doctors' orders were not completed for weeks due to staffing shortages.
• The night nurse-to-resident ratio was described as crazy, sometimes one nurse for almost 80 residents.
• The environment was described as smelling of urine, with residents needing prompting to use the bathroom and basic care being delayed.
• Caregivers were upset when concerns about tight compression socks causing skin indentations were raised, suggesting improper fitting and discomfort.
• A reviewer stated not to send loved ones there, noting neglect and implying there are far better facilities in Iowa.

Review

Lantern Park Specialty Care comes through in some reviews as a facility with real warmth, cleanliness, and capable therapy services, but it also provokes strong concern from families whose experiences were anything but uniform. On one hand, several visitors describe a clean, well-maintained environment where staff are caring, friendly, and attentive, and where therapy teams are praised for their dedication and effectiveness. A number of family members emphasize that nurses, aides, and therapists work well together, communicate with residents' loved ones, and treat residents with genuine kindness. The general sentiment in these accounts is that the place can feel like a homey, supportive community where residents are valued, and where updates about medications and progress are given regularly. For some, Lantern Park is exactly the kind of place they'd want for their own family members, with thoughtful therapists, responsive nursing care, and a facility that feels orderly and well-run.

Yet alongside these positives run starkly contrasting experiences that raise serious questions about safety, communication, and staffing. Several reviewers recount troubling incidents and patterns that left family members shocked and alarmed. In one account, a granddaughter details bruising along her grandmother's arm and body that appeared yellowed and purplish, suggesting the injuries happened some time earlier. She learned of the bruising only after noticing the marks while changing her grandmother's shirt, and she was told the incident had no report filed for hours. Another family member recalls a staff member claiming there was no report, only for human resources to later state that the resident had fallen. Crucially, no family member had been notified about this incident, raising concerns about communication and timely reporting. The injuries described imply neglect or at least inadequate monitoring, and the delays in disclosure are a recurring theme for several reviewers.

Other accounts focus on ongoing daily care and the tangible discomfort residents faced. One reviewer mentions that, during most visits, they had to call for assistance to help with basic tasks like changing clothes or aiding with bathroom needs, and that the facility consistently smelled of urine. In another case, a resident's compression socks were reportedly far too tight, leaving painful indentations and skin irritation when pointed out to a staff member. These episodes illustrate what families perceived as a pattern of under-staffing and insufficient attention to resident comfort and dignity, even in seemingly routine matters.

The most extreme concerns come from accounts that describe serious neglect and medical lapses. A reviewer who identifies as a former family member recounts a nightmare scenario: a 92-year-old father sent there for rehabilitation ended up severely malnourished and dehydrated, with a stomach infection and a sweltering room. The staff allegedly avoided confrontation, and an ambulance had to be called after the reviewer found the resident in distress. The family says the facility did not seem to recognize the severity of the situation, failed to keep them informed, and, in their view, effectively ignored critical health needs in the days leading up to hospitalization. They also report that clothing and personal items were missing, and the facility was slow to respond to concerns about the patient's condition. This account culminated in a strong admonition not to entrust a loved one to Lantern Park, with the family noting that Medicare payments had continued to be collected while the resident's condition deteriorated.

Staffing quality and medical administration emerge as another major point of contention. Several reviewers claim that unlicensed staff were performing tasks that should be handled by licensed nurses, with CNAs and other aides allegedly taking on nursing responsibilities or documenting and relaying nurse-to-nurse reports. There are accusations that physician orders were not followed or charted, sometimes for weeks, in addition to concerns about the nursing ratio - one reviewer cites as few as one nurse for nearly 80 residents at night. Such claims, if true, point to systemic issues around oversight, accountability, and the ability of the facility to meet medical needs in a timely and proper fashion.

Despite these troubling reports, other reviews offer a much brighter picture, highlighting a culture of care, teamwork, and patient-centered success. Families recount stories of excellent therapy experiences, with physical therapy and occupational therapy teams praised for their positive, encouraging approach and for helping residents regain mobility and independence. A veteran-related review commends the staff for being friendly and welcoming, while several accounts celebrate the consistent kindness and supportive demeanor of the caregiving teams. There are mentions of families being kept in the loop about medications and changes in condition, and of residents showing improvement or receiving dignified, compassionate end-of-life care when applicable. In these narratives, Lantern Park is described as a place where residents can feel safe and cared for, and where staff "go above and beyond" to support both residents and their families.

There is also historical nuance in some comments. One reviewer remembers Lantern Park from years past as a place with strong service and a proactive administrator who went to extra lengths to accommodate a patient's needs. Another long-reviewer juxtaposes a prior, more positive experience with a later, harsher evaluation of the facility during a period of significant changes and apparent strain on resources. A few reviewers acknowledge that the environment can vary over time, and that while some days may be marked by excellent care and smooth operation, other periods - especially during staffing shortages or weekends - can reveal troubling gaps.

Taken together, the collective impressions portray Lantern Park Specialty Care as a facility capable of delivering high-quality therapy, compassionate interaction, and a clean, well-kept environment, but also as a place where serious concerns about safety, communication, and staffing have been raised with alarming frequency. The contrast between glowing testimonials and accounts of neglect, unaddressed injuries, and delayed medical action is stark. For families evaluating this facility, the message that emerges is clear: there can be genuine, compassionate care here, but there are also reports of critical failures that require close scrutiny, proactive questions, and diligent oversight. Anyone considering Lantern Park would be well served to visit in person, speak to current residents and staff, request detailed incident reports and medical follow-ups, and, if possible, consult state or ombudsman resources to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the facility's current standards and practices.

This part of Coralville, Iowa, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple cafes such as Starbucks and Caribou Coffee within walking distance, you can enjoy a variety of dining options. Access to healthcare is easily accessible with several physician offices nearby, including dermatology, acupuncture, allergy, optometry, and obstetrics services. There are also pharmacies like Nucara Pharmacy and Walmart Pharmacy close by for your medication needs. For entertainment, there is Coral Ridge Cinema for movie buffs and various restaurants like Red Ginger and Olive Garden for dining out. Additionally, proximity to parks like Thornberry Off Leash Dog Park and Lower City Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation. Overall, this part of Coralville provides a well-rounded community with essential services for senior living.

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.3 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (0.7 miles)
• New Pioneer Co-Op (0.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.6 miles)
• Java House (2.4 miles)
• Sidekick Coffee And Books (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• Ahn Clinic Medical Acupuncture (0.4 miles)
• Dermatology Associates (0.8 miles)
• Town Square Dermatology (0.8 miles)
• Obstetrics and Geologic Associates (0.8 miles)
• Allergy Partners of Iowa City (0.8 miles)
• VA Coralville Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Dr. Martin Copeland, Optometrist, and Associates (0.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Red Ginger (0.6 miles)
• Hurts Donut Co. (0.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.8 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (0.8 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (0.9 miles)
• Red Lobster (1 miles)

Theaters

• Coral Ridge Cinema Coralville, Ia (0.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Town Square Allergy and Asthma (0.8 miles)
• Coralville Eye Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa (1.6 miles)
• Iowa Medical and Classification Center (2.3 miles)
• University of Iowa Department of Pathology (2.7 miles)
• UIHC Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Class Room (2.7 miles)
• U I Healthcare (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Nucara Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Hartig Drug (2.4 miles)
• Iowa Essential Oils (3 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Mormon Handcart Park (1.4 miles)
• Thornberry Off Leash Dog Park (2 miles)
• Lower City Park (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ the King Lutheran Church-Elca (2.1 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (3.3 miles)