Golden LivingCenter - Hillcreek

Pros

• Hillcreek is a very caring and professional rehab.
• The aides on the first hall are absolutely amazing.
• The physical and occupational therapy are excellent.
• The staff do a good job and are always available to help.
• The management team is available and goes above and beyond for the residents.
• Turquoise, the nursing director, was wonderful in helping him get things done.
• The facility is very clean and organized.

Cons

• The reviews describe the facility as unbelievably filthy, with strong urine smell and visible dirt, mold, and pests.
• Residents are reportedly neglected or left waiting for help for hours, with critical needs unmet.
• Management is accused of gaslighting families and ignoring legitimate complaints.
• Patients allegedly leave hospitalizations with infections acquired at the facility.
• The facility is said to be severely understaffed, causing long delays and unaddressed medical needs.
• Food quality is described as poor, unidentifiable, or served cold, with meals sometimes left uneaten.
• Personal belongings are reportedly lost or damaged, and housekeeping is insufficient (e.g., torn sheets).
• Bed bugs, lice, roaches, and mice are claimed to be present in the facility.
• Visitors are sometimes not allowed to stay overnight, limiting family oversight of care.
• Multiple reviews label the facility as one of the worst in the area, signaling unsafe or substandard care.

Review

The accounts from multiple families paint a complex and troubling portrait of Hillcreek, a facility that elicits both concern and, in a few cases, narrow strands of praise. Across years of comments, the overwhelming thread is a pattern of alleged neglect, frightening smells and filth, and a sense that residents' needs often take a back seat to other priorities. One especially devastating story reaches back three decades: a father who, two days before his planned return home, was found seated with blue-tinged legs and, despite his obvious distress, was not given timely relief. After being rushed to the ER, he died from sepsis two days later. The reviewer says he had begged to go to bed for hours and that his pleas went unanswered, a memory that lingers as a stark indictment of care at that time and, for some, of the facility's ongoing operation.

Not every voice is wholly negative, however. Several reviewers single out individual staff members who stood out in a sea of complaints. One describes Nurse Kimberly as a constant source of updates about a relative's weekly care, praising her dedication to the residents she serves. Another highlights the aides on the first hall as "absolutely amazing," and therapy staff as a bright spot in a facility otherwise described as fraught with problems. A review that mentions Hillcreek as "a very caring and professional rehab" also notes the value of therapy and the helpfulness of respiratory and social work staff. In these moments, the care and competence of a few dedicated employees shine through, offering a partial counterpoint to the broader concerns.

The prevailing sentiment, though, is that danger and neglect were all too common. A chorus of reviews warns prospective families to "do not endanger your family members," alleging neglect, inaccessibility, and a pattern of responses that felt evasive or dismissive. Complaints include delayed or non-existent responses to urgent needs, administration and corporate offices that are perceived as gaslighting families rather than addressing problems, and a sense that complaints are dismissed without meaningful resolution. The fear conveyed in these accounts is not abstract; it centers on residents who need help with basic daily needs and safety, and in some cases despair when care was not forthcoming during critical moments.

Nutritional and medical care appear as another area of intense concern. Several reviewers describe meals that are unappealing or poorly prepared, with accusations that residents are fed "what looks like vomit" and that food is frequently cold or unidentifiable. The reporting suggests that some residents pay for services or meals that are far from adequate, and that the overall standard of food is a recurring source of frustration for families and residents alike. Beyond food, there are repeated descriptions of medication delays, missed treatments, or hospital-level orders not being followed promptly - cases where essential medications or tube feeds were not delivered when needed, or were suddenly stopped for hours. The sense conveyed is that, in the worst moments, life-sustaining routines were interrupted, sometimes with consequences that families fear were preventable.

Several accounts focus on the physical environment and safety hazards. The facility is described as dirty and poorly maintained, with smells of urine greeting visitors and residents alike. Allegations run from visible dirt and mold to more troubling claims of pests - bed bugs, lice, roaches, and even mice - present in dining and kitchen areas. Torn sheets, lost personal items, and clothes-go-missing episodes add to a perception of disorganization and lack of accountability. The combination of odor, filth, and pests compounds the emotional toll on families who already worry about their loved ones' health and dignity, making a troubling first impression for visitors and an ongoing source of anxiety for residents' relatives.

Staffing issues form a significant theme in these reviews, touching both safety and quality of life. While some praise the attentiveness of certain workers, others describe long wait times for assistance, especially for residents with special needs such as tracheostomies or oxygen requirements. There are heartbreaking anecdotes of a patient who hit a call light and, after waiting, fainted, with little or no immediate help forthcoming. Another review describes a bedpan left for more than an hour and nurses arguing over who would clean a spilled tray rather than stepping in to help. The frustrations around staffing and responsiveness are framed as a systemic problem that makes it difficult for families to feel confident that their loved ones will be cared for promptly and compassionately.

Not all stories are gloom and accusation. A number of reviewers acknowledge the hard work of particular staff members and express gratitude for the care their loved ones did receive in moments of need. A few families value the opportunity to discuss treatment plans in depth with therapy and respiratory staff and emphasize that, despite the broader challenges, certain individuals demonstrated empathy, competence, and a genuine commitment to residents' well-being. These threads of appreciation remind readers that Hillcreek is not monolithic in the experiences it offers; the quality of care seems to vary significantly by staff, moment, and perhaps even by unit within the facility.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a complicated reality. On one hand, there are vivid, heartfelt narratives of neglect, unsafe conditions, and mismanagement that have left families feeling betrayed and residents at risk. On the other hand, there are stories of dedicated staff who break through the difficulties to provide meaningful care and connection. The facility, as described by these reviewers, appears to struggle with serious structural issues - cleanliness, safety, consistent communication with families, reliable medication administration, and prompt responses to urgent needs - while still containing pockets of effective, compassionate care in which staff members make a real difference for residents. For families considering Hillcreek, these accounts collectively argue for careful due diligence: visit in person, ask pointed questions about staffing, safety, and infection control, request direct updates on care plans, and listen to the experiences of current residents and their families to determine whether the facility can meet specific needs with a level of consistency and accountability.

This area of Louisville, Kentucky offers a range of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and diverse community. With several medical facilities nearby including dentists, pharmacies, allergists, cardiologists, and hospitals, residents can easily access healthcare services. In addition, there are places of worship for spiritual fulfillment and parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation. A variety of dining options are available within a short distance, offering convenient choices for meals. For entertainment, there is a movie theater nearby. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment with essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors looking to settle in the area.

Physicians

• Dr Pamela Asseff DDS, PSC. General & Cosmetic Dentistry (0.2 miles)
• Advanced ENT & Allergy (0.8 miles)
• The LASIK Vision Institute (1.4 miles)
• Family Allergy & Asthma (1.5 miles)
• Community Medical Associates (1.5 miles)
• Hubbard Clinic (1.5 miles)
• KentuckyOne Health Medical Center Cardiologists (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Martha Parish (0.8 miles)
• Lyndon Baptist Church (3.6 miles)
• Holy Trinity Catholic Church (3.9 miles)

Parks

• Buechel Park (1.2 miles)
• Des Pres Park (1.3 miles)
• Community Park (3 miles)
• Cherokee Park (4.2 miles)
• Charlie Vettiner Park (4.7 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Rafferty's (1.6 miles)
• Cattlemans Road House (1.6 miles)
• Skyline Chili (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Baptist Hospital East Park Tower (1.9 miles)
• Baptist Health Louisville (2 miles)
• Baptist Health Louisville Labor & Delivery (2 miles)
• Baptist Hospital East Surgery (2 miles)
• 3 East Olop (4.4 miles)
• Signature Care and Rehabilitation-Northfield (5 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Mall St Matthews and XD (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Fante's Coffee (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Heine Brothers' - Longest Ave in the Highlands (5 miles)