Hillcrest @ Shadow Lake in Papillion, NE

Pros

• They are working hard to improve their facility.
• The facility has great staff and friendly residents.
• The administration has made big positive changes.
• The facility is wonderful and impresses visitors with its staff.
• Hillcrest Shadow Lake is described as the best by far, with friendly management and competent staff.
• The nursing staff really cares and takes good care of residents.
• There are many compassionate people providing really great care.
• The staff at Hillcrest Shadow Lake is loving and caring.

Cons

• The facility is not clean, with bathroom accidents left on the floor for weeks and dirty carpets.
• The staff are unprofessional and disrespectful.
• The facility feels sad, unhappy, and dark.
• It is not the place to bring one's family.
• The place is a disgrace to Papillion and should be shut down.
• Residents deteriorate under their care, with significant weight and hair loss observed.
• Residents are left in wheelchairs watching TV and slumped over while sleeping.
• The memory care area exposes residents to loud, inappropriate materials and constant distress.
• The Director of Nursing is unkind and disrespectful to family members; staff attitudes reflect poor leadership.
• There is a lack of cleanliness and food safety; basic hygiene is neglected.
• Understaffing is chronic; workers are often on their phones and do not engage with residents.
• Items like glasses and other belongings are frequently lost or misplaced.

Review

Hillcrest @ Shadow Lake in Papillion, NE is best suited for families that can tolerate a facility with serious safety and cleanliness concerns and are prepared to advocate aggressively for accountability from leadership. The clear through-line from the reviews is that outcomes depend heavily on how well a family presses for oversight, documents needs, and stays engaged with staff and administrators. For seniors whose well-being hinges on consistent staffing, reliable cleanliness, and respectful communication, this community is a high-risk choice unless a vigilant family is willing to intervene regularly. In short, it is not a default senior living option; it only becomes acceptable when families commit to driving change from day one.

Those weighing alternatives should exclude Hillcrest if consistent hygiene, prompt assistance, and transparent family communication are non-negotiables. Families with memory-care needs or high fall risk should be especially cautious, given chronic reports of neglected care, delayed responses, and routines that leave residents uncomfortable or unattended. If care recipients require steady, compassionate engagement and a facility that prioritizes safety and accountability, it makes sense to look elsewhere. Prospective residents with no history of complex medical needs or cognitive impairment may find a marginally easier fit, but even then the bar remains high for reliability and oversight.

On the upside, a few reviewers point to meaningful improvements and brand-new momentum at Hillcrest. Some describe administration that has made tangible changes and staff members who are genuinely compassionate and attentive. A portion of the feedback portrays a cleaner environment and a culture where caregivers, when present and engaged, can provide decent care. These threads suggest that, under the right leadership and with consistent staffing, the facility can deliver moments of solid care and positive family interaction. Yet these positives are not universal, and they rely on a highly variable daily reality that many families simply cannot risk.

The principal drawbacks, however, are persistent and acute. The most troubling themes center on understaffing, inconsistent supervision, and lapses in basic care - dirty rooms or bathrooms, missed hygiene tasks, and slow responses to urgent needs. Multiple families report significant weight and health declines that improve only after relocation to another facility, underscoring questions about stability and ongoing care quality. In memory-care areas, residents are described as overstimulated or neglected, with activity and engagement issues that fail to meet the standard expected for cognitive support. Communication gaps with families create a sense of exclusion and misunderstanding, and reports of unprofessional behavior by some staff members amplify concerns about daily dignity and respect.

Overall, the positives do not offset the gravity of the cons. While there are accounts of compassionate staff and observable improvements, the frequency and severity of safety, cleanliness, and communication failures dominate the narrative. For families choosing under sensor-limited reliability, the risk of deterioration or overlooked needs is substantial enough to steer decisively toward alternatives with stronger staffing models and more consistent governance. Hillcrest may work for those who can demand accountability and tolerate a significant degree of hands-on oversight, but for most families the safer, more predictable path lies elsewhere.

In practical terms, the decision comes down to how willing a family is to test, monitor, and push for steady, verifiable improvements. Prospective residents should schedule multiple visits at different times, request conversations with direct-care staff and unit managers, and review incident logs and care plans with a critical eye. If the facility cannot demonstrate consistent cleanliness, rapid response, and respectful, transparent communication, it is prudent to move on to options with proven QA processes and steadier day-to-day performance. Hillcrest @ Shadow Lake is not a blanket judgment - it is a cautionary choice best reserved for families prepared to champion real, ongoing change and prepared to accept variable care quality unless a sustained pattern of improvement is established.

This part of Papillion, Nebraska offers a variety of amenities that cater to senior living. With multiple places of worship within close proximity, individuals can easily maintain their spiritual practices. The presence of several physicians and healthcare facilities ensures easy access to medical care. Additionally, there are numerous restaurants offering a range of dining options, as well as pharmacies for convenience in obtaining medications. Nearby parks provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation, while cafes offer a place to socialize and enjoy a cup of coffee. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded community for seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Places of Worship

• New Hope Community Church (0.1 miles)
• Lifespring Church Sbc (4.3 miles)
• Church Of The Holy Spirit (5.8 miles)

Physicians

• CHI Health Clinic Cardiology (Midlands) (0.3 miles)
• Sarpy Women's Health (0.3 miles)
• Lakeside Orthopedics (0.3 miles)
• McGill Family Practice (0.4 miles)
• Children's Physicians (3 miles)
• Creighton Family Healthcare (3.4 miles)
• Alegeant Health Physical Therapy Out Patient Clinics (3.8 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (0.6 miles)
• Brownie's Watering Hole (1.4 miles)
• La Mesa Mexican Restaurant (2 miles)
• Grecian Gyros (2 miles)
• Panda Express (2.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Summit Plaza (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Family Fare Supermarkets (4.1 miles)

Parks

• Halleck Park (0.8 miles)
• Clear Water Falls Park (3.6 miles)
• Looking Glass Park (4.4 miles)
• Chalco Hills Recreation Area (6.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Sapp Bros (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Omaha Surgical Center (6.6 miles)