St Marys Manor in St. Marys, KS

Pros

• It is a very great place, welcoming and warm to all.
• The facility is loved for its warmth, compassion, and family atmosphere.
• Special staff work here.
• The staff are great and the place really cares about its residents.
• It is a great place with caring staff.
• It is a good place for loved ones who need that service.
• It provides excellent care with friendly staff.
• The care at St. Mary's Manor is excellent.

Cons

• St Marys Manor lacks communication and coordination of basic nursing care.
• Hi-Lo beds are used as safety measures but are also used to cruelly restrain residents.
• Oral care is so poor that oral sores develop and dentures cannot be worn, resulting in severe weight loss.
• Multiple reports of malodorous urine were ignored, while a severe UTI was found on hospital admission.
• A weak lower-extremity foot broke after the first night of admission and was not x-rayed for days.
• Religious discrimination was evident and resident privacy rights were not respected.

Review

St. Marys Manor in St. Marys, Kansas is best suited for families seeking a warm, home-like environment where residents are treated with personal attention and care staff cultivate a genuine, family-style atmosphere. It excels for seniors who value daily warmth, approachable caregivers, and meaningful social engagement over a strictly clinical setting. The facility's strongest draw is the sense of belonging that permeates visits: staff seem invested in residents as people, not tasks. This is the kind of community where a friendly greeting and familiar routines provide comfort and continuity, making it a compelling choice for those who thrive on connection, shared moments, and a feeling of being cared for like family.

That said, this community may not be the right fit for those who require steady, flawless medical coordination or rapid, consistently accurate clinical responses. Families with residents who demand tightly managed nursing oversight, prompt assessment of acute changes, or rigorous protection of privacy and resident rights should consider alternatives. The most serious questions center on whether medical care can be delivered with the same precision and speed found in more clinically oriented settings. Red flags raised by residents' families - ranging from concerns about how care plans are communicated to fears about privacy and respect - should be weighed heavily by anyone prioritizing medical reliability and equity in treatment.

The strongest positives here are unmistakably human: warmth, compassion, and a family atmosphere that permeates daily life. Staff are described as special people who truly care about their residents, and the overall environment feels welcoming and supportive. When the care team connects with residents on a personal level, families experience reassurance that their loved ones are seen and valued beyond routine tasks. For families who prize daily companionship, social engagement, and care teams that are easy to approach, these relational benefits can substantially enhance quality of life and reduce loneliness, even when clinical gaps exist.

However, several red flags emerge around care coordination and clinical management. Communication and the translation of notes into actual care sometimes appear disconnected, with reports of basic nursing needs not being consistently met. Medical incidents paint a troubling picture: concerns about oral care leading to sores and weight loss, reports of unmanaged urinary issues, and a call for more timely imaging after injuries. Instances of restricted mobility devices used in ways that feel coercive, questions about privacy rights, and claims of religious discrimination further complicate the decision. Food quality, while not universally criticized, is noted as an area needing improvement. Taken together, these factors suggest that clinical oversight and respect for resident rights require vigilant, ongoing oversight by families or trusted advocates.

Despite these concerns, the pros can offset the cons for families who are prepared to engage actively in the care process. The home-like atmosphere and attentive staff create a foundation of emotional well-being that is hard to reproduce in more clinical settings. For residents who benefit from steady social interaction and a daily sense of belonging, the positives offer substantial value. The key to success lies in proactive oversight: regular care-plan reviews, close communication with the director of nursing, and a clear, documented path for addressing any medical or safety concerns as soon as they arise. When families participate as active partners - asking questions, requesting timely updates, and ensuring that nutrition and hygiene needs are prioritized - the overall experience can be favorable despite medical coordination gaps.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to priorities and risk tolerance. If warmth, a compassionate staff, and a strong sense of community are non-negotiable for the resident, St. Marys Manor delivers with impressive consistency. If, however, the resident's needs hinge on flawless medical management, rapid response to changing health status, and ironclad privacy protections, alternatives deserve serious consideration. A thoughtful next step is a thorough on-site tour with a focus on care coordination: request specific examples of how care plans are implemented, speak with the director of nursing about nurse-to-resident ratios and response times, and ask current families about their experience with communications and incident resolution. With clear expectations, St. Marys Manor can be a deeply satisfying choice for the right resident, while those needing tighter clinical control may find more suitable options elsewhere.

St. Marys, Kansas is a quaint and peaceful town with a range of amenities to cater to the needs of seniors. The town boasts a well-equipped hospital nearby, St Mary's Health Center, as well as several pharmacies and physicians' offices for easy access to healthcare services. There are also places of worship in the area, offering spiritual support and community engagement. For recreation, residents can enjoy the parks in the vicinity or take a trip to the nearby Kaw River State Park for outdoor activities. In terms of dining options, there are various restaurants and cafes providing a mix of casual and fine dining experiences. Additionally, the town offers convenient transportation options through U-Haul for any travel needs. Overall, St. Marys provides a serene environment with essential amenities for senior living.

Hospitals

• St Mary's Health Center (0 miles)
• Wamego Health Center & Wamego Family Clinic (13.9 miles)
• Wamego City Hospital (13.9 miles)
• Washburn Surgery Center (18.2 miles)
• Topeka ER and Hospital (19 miles)
• Cotton O'Neil Urish (19.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Immaculate Conception Church (0.3 miles)
• Sacred Heart Rectory (9.4 miles)
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church (9.4 miles)
• Sacred Heart Office (9.4 miles)
• Cowboy Country Church (11.9 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (12 miles)
• Light House Baptist Church (13.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• St Marys Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Wamego Drug Store (13.1 miles)
• Tallgrass Pharmacy (18.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (19 miles)
• Hunter's Ridge Pharmacy (19.1 miles)
• Jayhawk Custom Pharmacy (19.3 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (19.3 miles)

Physicians

• St Marys Family Practice PA (0.6 miles)
• Vision Source Optical Perspectives (13.6 miles)
• Wamego Family Physicians (13.9 miles)
• Wamego Family Health Care (13.9 miles)
• Cotton O'Neil Wamego (13.9 miles)
• St Francis Imaging Center (18.2 miles)
• Tallgrass Family Medicine (18.2 miles)

Parks

• Wamego City Park (13 miles)
• Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park (13 miles)
• Yellow Brick Road (13.1 miles)
• Kaw River State Park - River Access (18.5 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (13 miles)

Restaurants

• Kreem Kup Drive In (13 miles)
• Barleycorn's Downtown Bar & Deli (13.1 miles)
• Lincoln Street Station (13.1 miles)
• Friendly Cooker (13.1 miles)
• Toto S Tacoz (13.1 miles)
• McDonald's (13.1 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (13.2 miles)

Cafes

• Paramour Coffee (13.1 miles)
• Sommerset Hall Cafe (16.9 miles)
• Farmacy Cafe (17.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (19 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Hollywood & ScreenX - Topeka (18.1 miles)