Heartland Health Care Ctr

Pros

• The facility is much cleaner now and free of bugs.
• The atmosphere has improved significantly since new ownership.
• Jessy deserves five stars for the care she provides.
• The therapy department is friendly, motivating, and very helpful.
• The staff are caring, pleasant, hardworking, and treat patients like family.
• The admission process is smooth and staff communication is professional.
• The nurses check on patients often and provide attentive, reliable care.
• The food is tasty and overall management is professional.

Cons

• The facility was dirty and infested with bugs like ticks, ants, and ear wigs.
• The wheelchair was broken and the footboard had a huge hole.
• The bed situation was inadequate; they wouldn't provide an air mattress for wounds, leaving the patient on a thin mattress over a metal frame.
• Two managers came in screaming and yelling at him for 10 minutes, with no apology.
• A fall occurred and it took about an hour for a nurse to respond, with documentation issues contributing to the incident.
• The billing practices were described as scams aimed at taking the patient's savings.
• The toilet lacked handicapped grab bars and essential equipment was hard to obtain locally, requiring distant purchases.

Review

The collection of experiences at SKLD Ionia paints a picture of a facility that has seen dramatic ups and downs and, more recently, noticeable change. One reviewer describes a year ago in stark terms: the place was "horrible," dirty, and crawling with bugs - ticks, ants, ear wigs - so bad that a life EMS driver pointed out ticks in the writer's room, and even a wheel-chair was broken. The bed had a huge hole in the footboard, and CareLink supplied the bed that was in use. The author even says they have pictures documenting the conditions from that time. That same person notes a strong sense of relief now that the building is under new ownership: "a lot cleaner," no bugs, and an atmosphere that feels calmer and more respectful. They emphasize that today there are not random pieces of equipment cluttering the halls and that the environment is markedly improved.

The improvements appear to extend beyond cleanliness and atmosphere to the quality of care and the responsiveness of staff. The same reviewer now highlights real progress in therapy and daily care, mentioning that they actually did some physical therapy this time and appreciated staff who listened to their requests. They single out a staff member named Jessy who would receive a five-star rating for the level of attention and effort shown. Conversely, they recount a troubling episode from the prior year when two managers came into their space and screamed at them for about 10 minutes. The vascular surgeon who was on the line at the time listened to the entire incident and later apologized, while the facility's head nurse allegedly did not acknowledge the event despite a witness present. Those memories illustrate how far the facility has come in terms of behavior and accountability, contrasted with the past.

Documentation and safety remain a recurring thread, however. The reviewer recalls a year that involved not only interpersonal conflicts but also concerns about patient safety and record-keeping: a fall while attempting to get to the bathroom requiring ambulance transport, and a time when the RN did not chart the incident. The writer also mentions a CNA who left the building after describing a chaotic scene where "every light was on" and staff were largely gathered at the nurses station. They emphasize that, in that past time, charting and communication were clearly problematic, and they had to take it upon themselves to document issues going forward. While acknowledging the current staff's improved responsiveness to lights and calls, they still flag environmental and equipment shortcomings - specifically, a lack of handicapped bars in the bathroom and a clunky light-switch setup that requires managing from across the room. The bed remains a sore spot: the mattress is described as four inches thick and not capable of providing adequate support for someone with serious back issues or wounds. They recount a sequence in which CareLink replaced the frame with a unit from before, but without the air mattress they needed, and the overall story suggests ongoing struggles around equipment, funding, and decisions about what patients truly require for healing.

The narrative also includes deeply personal accounts from family members who interacted with SKLD Ionia in different roles. One reviewer speaks of a family member who stayed for rehab in Ionia and encountered confusing Medicaid billing and renewal issues. They report that Medicaid was canceled because it wasn't renewed on time, followed by conflicting assurances about whether there were outstanding bills or not. The patient's caregivers describe only a few nurses who consistently delivered care while the rest left the patient largely unattended - an impression that, if accurate, points to staffing variability and inconsistent responsiveness. Another family member writes about a husband who spent about a week at SKLD Ionia and was "very happy with his care," noting attentive nurses, ready access to ice water, help staying dry, and therapy that supported recovery. This contrast - between a difficult financial and administrative experience on one hand and warm, reliable bedside care on the other - highlights the mixed nature of the facility's reputation.

Several accounts center on the positive, life-affirming aspects of care. Multiple reviewers praise the therapy department as strong, friendly, and genuinely helpful, with staff who know how to get patients out of bed, to the bathroom, and to other daily routines. Names like Michelle C, Sarah, Peggy, and a nurse named Kim A appear as standouts who provided exemplary care and professional, compassionate attention. One reviewer even notes that the setting felt like a family environment: staff were described as caring, kind, and genuinely invested in patients' well-being rather than treating them as a routine "paycheck." The sentiment is reinforced by others who extol the facility as a good place for rehab, with therapy teams that motivate and support long-term recovery. There are also notes of gratitude for the way the staff prepared families for respite or short stays, with many reviewers expressing confidence that SKLD Ionia can deliver both clinical and emotional support to patients and their loved ones.

Yet the opinions are not uniformly glowing, and a troubling line of critique remains: a reviewer warns of "scam artists" and legal robbery, asserting that the facility pushes families to spend down savings and drain resources even after a loved one has passed. That stark warning sits alongside more balanced appreciation and praise, underscoring that perceptions of the business side of care can be as volatile as the clinical side. Still other reviewers emphasize the day-to-day reality of living with a disability or chronic pain in rehab settings, including the frustration of limited access to an air mattress, the difficulty of getting call lights acknowledged promptly, and the broader sense that some administrative processes could be smoother. Taken together, these voices reveal a facility that has improved in many tangible ways - cleanliness, responsiveness, and a compassionate therapy culture - while still contending with bureaucratic barriers, equipment gaps, and the ongoing challenge of aligning patient needs with resources.

Across all perspectives, SKLD Ionia emerges as a place with strong potential, grounded by a consistent thread of care that many patients and families describe as compassionate and capable, especially in the hands of dedicated therapy teams and attentive nurses. The most persistent positive themes center on cleaner surroundings, a safer and more hopeful atmosphere, a handful of standout caregivers who deeply invest in patients' progress, and a broader sense that, under new ownership, the facility has moved away from the deficits that once defined it. At the same time, lingering concerns about fall risk, bed quality, equipment adequacy, and administrative hurdles remind readers that ongoing improvements are needed. For many, the current reality still feels far closer to a place of healing and support than to the frightening picture from a year ago, and several reviewers express optimism that the course of care at SKLD Ionia will continue to trend upward, helped by engaged staff, effective therapy, and a more patient-centered approach. In all, the consensus is clear: there is substantial evidence of positive transformation, tempered by reminders that care quality and operational systems are still a work in progress.

This part of Ionia, Michigan offers a convenient and bustling community with easy access to essential services such as pharmacies, restaurants, places of worship, cafes, physicians, theaters, transportation options, hospitals, and parks. With multiple pharmacies nearby like Rite Aid and Lifecare within walking distance, seniors can easily access their medications. There are also a variety of dining options including fast food restaurants like KFC and Pizza Hut as well as sit-down establishments like Four Friars and Oriental Star. Places of worship such as SSPP and Zion United Methodist Church provide spiritual support for residents. Additionally, there are healthcare facilities like Grand Rapids Ophthalmology and Ionia Family Practice close by for medical needs. The proximity to parks like Ionia State Recreation Area makes it easy for seniors to enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Overall, this area of Ionia provides a well-rounded community for senior living with a range of amenities and services nearby.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0 miles)
• Lifecare (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Meijer Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Belding Apothecary (11 miles)
• Rite Aid (11.1 miles)

Restaurants

• The Bowling Alley Ionia (0.1 miles)
• Seven Ten Entertainment (0.1 miles)
• Four Friars (0.1 miles)
• Ionia Bowl 300 (0.1 miles)
• KFC (0.1 miles)
• Pizza Hut (0.1 miles)
• Oriental Star (0.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• SSPP (0.2 miles)
• St Peter & Paul Church (0.2 miles)
• Zion United Methodist Church (0.3 miles)
• Resurrection Life Church (0.4 miles)
• Christian Service Center (0.4 miles)
• The Well Church (0.5 miles)
• Saint Johns School (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Sozo Coffee Roasting (0.2 miles)
• Bluewater Cafe (0.4 miles)
• Biggby Coffee (12.7 miles)

Physicians

• Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (0.3 miles)
• Pennock Ionia Center (0.4 miles)
• Family Health Center-I CMH (1 miles)
• Tony Balice Clinic (1 miles)
• Tony Balice Walk-In Clinic & Occupational Health (1 miles)
• Sparrow Ionia Occupational (1.2 miles)
• Ionia Family Practice (1.3 miles)

Theaters

• Ionia Theatre (0.5 miles)

Transportation

• Nature's Image Taxidermy (0.8 miles)
• U-Haul (3.4 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (6.5 miles)
• The Depot (11.1 miles)
• National Car Rental (11.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Icmh Specialty Clinic (1 miles)
• Ionia County Memorial Hospital (1 miles)

Parks

• Ionia State Recreation Area (5 miles)
• Bogue Flats Recreation Area (11.5 miles)
• Powers Park (11.6 miles)
• Flat River State Game Area (11.7 miles)
• Powers Playground (11.7 miles)