Golden LivingCenter - St. James

Pros

• The staff were wonderful.
• They were caring and professional.
• They handled her with dignity and gentleness.
• The facility has a down-home feel.
• The therapy department did a great job.
• The transport drivers were great.
• The staff were very nice, caring, and helpful.

Cons

• The rooms are dirty, items go missing, and nothing is done about it.
• Most of the staff are unfriendly and disrespectful toward residents.
• The facility demanded back pay be placed in a trust and restricted the resident's access to his own money.
• They attempted to charge residents' accounts and debit cards, sometimes without proper authorization.
• The place is described as money-hungry, dishonest, and evil.
• Residents experience theft of possessions and inadequate care, including humiliation when needing help to use the restroom.
• The administration is unprofessional, and staff argue in front of residents.
• There is little to no teamwork; caregivers work in silos and residents are left alone.
• The facility is dirty with an unbearable odor.
• The social worker failed to provide discharge planning or updates, leaving families uninformed.
• Some staff are disrespectful or mean; only a few demonstrate genuine care.
• This place should not be in business.

Review

Accounts from several family members and former residents present a deeply troubling picture of St. James Living Center, formerly known as Golden Livingcenter, and the care surrounding it. The threads running through the anecdotes touch on financial control, potential exploitation, inconsistent care, and a management culture that many feel undermines residents' autonomy and dignity. Taken together, the comments speak to a facility where the impression of safety and support is uneven, with some genuinely caring staff and episodes of care that fall far short of expectations.

One central concern centers on money and financial independence. A brother who has lived at the center for about five years became entangled in a dispute over his Social Security back pay. According to his family, payment was placed into a trust controlled by the facility, and ever since he has not been allowed to access it. The family questions whether the money should be accessible to him and wonders if there is a nefarious motive behind the restriction. The situation is complicated by Medicaid coverage for his care, but the insistence on channeling funds through the facility raises serious questions in the eyes of his relatives about autonomy and financial exploitation.

Another troubling thread involves the handling of residents' payment methods and the potential for unauthorized charges. Several accounts describe a monthly SSI payments arrangement with a debit card, and a recent demand from facility staff for card information purportedly to make a payment. Some reviewers report that attempts were made to debit Cash App accounts or otherwise charge money from afar, despite not living in the same state and not having direct involvement with the facility. In multiple statements, they characterize these events as illegal or highly suspicious, and some say they would pursue remedies through the Ombudsman or legal channels if needed. The impression left is that of a facility where money is being scrutinized and extracted in ways that feel invasive and inappropriate to family members and residents.

Quality of care and the physical environment are another major axis of complaint. Reviewers describe rooms that are dirty, with items missing and clothing stained with food or not cleaned properly. The dissatisfaction extends to daily care, with several accounts of unfriendly staff, poor treatment of residents, and a sense that basic housekeeping and comfort take a back seat to other concerns. Several family members emphasize the emotional toll of seeing a loved one treated disrespectfully or left without appropriate assistance during intimate moments such as using the bathroom. These observations feed a broader sense that the facility's upkeep and attentiveness to residents' dignity are inconsistent.

Against the negative background, there are notable exceptions. A number of reviews praise the hospice care experience, noting that staff treated the patient with dignity and compassion in their final days. These accounts describe a "down home" atmosphere and professionalism during hospice, which stood out in contrast to other experiences at the center. Similarly, some reviewers praise the therapy department and the physical therapy staff for being helpful, with one account highlighting effective therapy outcomes for their loved one and appreciation for dedicated transport personnel. The social worker, however, is singled out in one account as not providing adequate discharge planning or communication, suggesting that while some departments excel, others fall short in coordinating a complete care plan.

The organizational context adds another layer to the mixed experiences. The facility's corporate change - Golden Livingcenter selling to Health System Inc, with the new name St. James Livingcenter - appears to have influenced perceptions of leadership and accountability. Personal anecdotes from caregivers who trained there as certified nursing assistants describe a culture of limited teamwork and frequent conflicts, with staff from different roles circulating negative or demeaning comments about residents. These impressions point to an environment where morale, collaboration, and consistent caregiving practices are undermined by internal tensions and a lack of visible commitment to resident-centered care.

Overall, the reviews present a spectrum of experiences that cluster around a few persistent themes. Financial control and alleged attempts to withhold or redirect funds raise alarms about autonomy and potential exploitation. Hygiene, room condition, and consistent nutrition or care quality are recurrent complaints, with some residents feeling neglected or disrespected by the care team. Yet there are countervailing moments of compassion and competence, especially in hospice and certain therapy-related interactions, which illustrate that capable, caring staff can and do exist within the same facility. The combination of these experiences leads to a strong sense of caution for families considering placement, and it helps explain why several reviewers emphasize speaking up - whether through the state ombudsman, formal complaints, or legal counsel - when suspect practices appear to be taking place.

In sum, the collective voice from these accounts is a portrait of a nursing facility that elicits strong emotions: concern and distrust around financial and administrative practices, frustration and disappointment with daily caregiving and environment, and occasional gratitude for staff who deliver humane, effective, and respectful care. The narratives underline the importance of transparency, consistent staffing, and a clear, resident-centered approach to care - and they suggest the need for continued oversight and advocacy to ensure that residents' rights, dignity, and financial autonomy are protected.

Located in a quaint and peaceful part of St. James, Missouri, this neighborhood offers a variety of conveniences within close proximity. With several restaurants ranging from fast food options like Subway and Sonic Drive-In to local favorites such as Los Mendiolas Grill, residents have plenty of dining choices. The area also boasts easy access to healthcare facilities, including Forest City Family Practice and Phelps County Regional Medical Center. For spiritual nourishment, there are multiple places of worship nearby such as the First Baptist Church and St James United Methodist Church. Additionally, seniors can enjoy leisurely walks in the nearby parks like St James Park Entry or venture out a bit further to Splash Zone Waterpark for some outdoor recreation. Overall, this neighborhood offers a balance of amenities for those seeking a comfortable and convenient living environment in St. James.

Restaurants

• Public House Brewing Company (0.3 miles)
• Subway (0.3 miles)
• Los Mendiolas Grill (0.4 miles)
• Ruby's Ice Cream (0.4 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Burger King (0.6 miles)

Physicians

• Doctors Office (0.5 miles)
• Forest City Family Practice (0.5 miles)
• DR Brent Caudill MD (0.8 miles)
• The Dermatology Center (7.9 miles)
• Heartland Cardiology (8.6 miles)
• Phelps County Regional Medical Center (8.9 miles)
• Central Missouri Urology Clinic (8.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church (0.7 miles)
• Broadway Baptist Church (0.8 miles)
• St James United Methodist Church (1.1 miles)
• Missouri Ministries-Church-God (1.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.1 miles)
• City of Light and Life Ministries (2.8 miles)
• Oak Grove Church of Christ (2.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Forest City Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Sinks Pharmacy (8.4 miles)
• Medley Pharmacy Inc. (8.5 miles)
• Sinks Pharmacy (8.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (9.9 miles)
• Walgreens (10.1 miles)

Cafes

• Firehouse Coffee Shop (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)
• The Purest Coffee (9.5 miles)
• The Giddy Goat Coffeehouse (9.8 miles)
• Scooter's Coffee (10.2 miles)

Parks

• St James Park Entry (1.3 miles)
• Splash Zone Waterpark (9 miles)
• Schuman Park (9.2 miles)
• Ridgeview Park (10.4 miles)

Hospitals

• DaVita Rolla Dialysis (8.2 miles)
• Phelps County Regional Medical Center (9.6 miles)
• Phelps County Regional Medical Center Medical Group (10.3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Forum (8.5 miles)

Transportation

• City Cab (9.5 miles)