Ridgewood CC/Anna Sundermann Home

Pros

• Ridgewood brought comfort to the family during the mother's last days.
• The mother had a great experience throughout her therapy and loved the staff.
• The staff were nice, friendly, and caring.
• The facility was bright, clean, and cheery inside.
• The care provided to the mother and sister is excellent, specialized, and individualized.
• Communication between staff and family is excellent.
• The staff - from leadership to maintenance - are professional and caring.
• The family feels blessed to have their mom and sister living there.

Cons

• Ridgewood is accused of not truly caring for patients and families.
• Ridgewood allegedly revoked Medicare coverage for non-progressive rehabilitation.
• The "update" meeting is described as shocking, with a discharge deadline and self-pay of $241 per day that included no therapy.
• Ridgewood is said to have kicked the patient out and required self-pay without any therapy.
• The reviewer strongly suggests looking elsewhere for care, implying Ridgewood's quality is lacking.
• Ridgewood allegedly filed a new Medicare claim with the same issues after the appeal.
• The facility is said to have failed to provide therapies promised by Madonna Hospital.
• The reviewer warns that 23 days of poor care could undo months of progress at Ridgewood.
• The management is characterized as problematic, implied to be a broader issue at the facility.
• The facility is criticized for treating its employees terribly.

Review

Ridgewood is described across these accounts as a place that can offer real comfort at deeply difficult moments, even as families navigate the demanding and emotional journey of recovery and care. In one account, the writer recalls finding "comfort" for their family during their mom's last days, emphasizing that they would not have wanted a better place to be. They speak of a level of care and a staff that their mom valued during her therapy, and they remember the facility as a space that felt friendly and supportive in those fragile days.

Several reviewers highlight consistently positive impressions of the staff and the environment. The facility is praised as clean, bright, and cheery, with a sense of warmth that comes through in interactions with patients and families. Phrases like "nice, friendly and caring staff" and "the staff [are] professional and caring" appear in multiple statements. In particular, the dedication and kindness of the people working there - spanning from the highest levels of management down to maintenance staff - are repeatedly acknowledged, contributing to an overall impression of a welcoming, well-run environment.

Yet intertwined with these affirmations are serious concerns about the actual delivery of rehabilitation and the way certain administrative decisions were handled. A central thread is the perception that the rehabilitation therapy provided at Ridgewood did not measure up to what the patient had received elsewhere, especially when compared to Madonna Hospital. The account notes that progress in Ridgewood's rehab was limited after an earlier, more intensive routine at Madonna, and that Ridgewood would reportedly allow only a few minutes of therapy rather than sustained sessions. This discrepancy feeds a broader worry about true patient- and family-centered care, particularly for patients who are trying to regain independence and walk again.

The tensions culminate in a controversial episode about Medicare coverage and care planning. The reviewer describes a meeting that was set with one week's advance notice, framed as an "update" on progress, but which felt, in their words, accusatory and abrupt. They recount being told that their mother would have to be discharged, or else pay a daily rate of $241 with no therapy included. The emotional impact is clear: a patient with a catastrophic medical history (multiple surgeries, a subarachnoid aneurysm, a life-threatening sequence culminating in a major stroke) was confronted with an ultimatum during a crisis moment. The family emphasizes the disproportion between the severity of the health situation and the abrupt financial/medical decisions being imposed.

In the same breath, this account details a strenuous sequence of events that followed: a successful appeal of the Medicare decision, a subsequent new claim from Ridgewood, and ongoing stress about moving a loved one to a facility that could truly support rehabilitation and walking again. The writer illustrates the larger systemic stress that can accompany complex medical journeys - misdiagnoses by hospitals, transfers between facilities, life flights, and the long road of surgical recoveries - all amplified by the administrative and financial pressures of long-term care. The moral weight of "23 days of poor care" potentially erasing progress gained in earlier weeks is a stark warning about how fragile recovery can be, even when medical treatment is advancing in other ways.

Against these harsher notes, another thread of testimonies emerges, describing Ridgewood as a place where care for a family's loved ones remains deeply individualized and attentive. One reviewer states that both their mother and sister reside there and that the level of care is "excellent, specialized and individualized to each of their needs." They report excellent communication with staff and a sense of reassurance derived from steady, supportive interaction with caregivers at all levels. In this view, Ridgewood seems to excel in tailoring care to two people with differing mental and physical challenges, and the writer expresses gratitude and relief that their mom and sister are in a place that feels attentive and safe.

A separate positive note appears in another testimonial, emphasizing how kind and caring the staff is toward the patient's mother, and how many beneficial things have been done for her. This perspective reinforces the sense that, for some families, Ridgewood is a place where genuine kindness and meaningful progress occur in tandem with an accommodating, respectful atmosphere. It also underscores a broader sentiment that the quality of care can be high and that the facility has the capacity to support a loved one through meaningful phases of their life.

Amid the many affirmations of care, one comment stands apart as a critique of internal policies: "This place treats their employees terrible." This remark introduces a warning about the potential impact of internal management practices on the broader environment of care. It suggests that internal dissatisfaction or difficult working conditions at Ridgewood could, in some people's view, color the experience of patients and their families, signaling the importance of organizational culture in shaping the quality of patient care and family interactions.

Taken together, the collection of experiences presents a nuanced portrait of Ridgewood. Some families found profound comfort, warmth, and personalized care, praising the staff's compassion, the cleanliness and brightness of the facility, and the thoughtful communication that helped them feel supported. Others faced difficult questions about the adequacy of rehabilitation therapy, the transparency of Medicare decisions, and the stresses of administrative processes during a time of acute medical need. The stories converge on a central truth: for families navigating serious health crises, the care experience hinges not only on clinical expertise but also on the consistency of communication, the alignment of therapy with patients' rehab goals, and the empathy and stability of the care team.

This part of Seward, Nebraska, offers a peaceful and convenient environment for senior living. With several places of worship nearby such as Grace Lutheran Church Wels and Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, residents can easily maintain their spiritual practices. There are also various dining options including The Doghouse Grill and La Cocina Mexican Rest for enjoyable meals with friends and family. For outdoor activities, Plum Creek Park is a short distance away while healthcare needs can be addressed at Memorial Hospital or Seward Family Pharmacy. Additionally, transportation options like U-Haul are available for easy accessibility to other parts of the town. Overall, this area provides a supportive community and essential amenities for comfortable senior living.

Places of Worship

• Grace Lutheran Church Wels (0.1 miles)
• Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church (0.2 miles)
• Union Ave United Methodist Chr (0.3 miles)
• St Andrew's Episcopal Church (0.5 miles)
• Church Of Christ Seward (0.5 miles)
• Calvary Baptist Church (0.5 miles)
• Our Reedemer Lutheran (0.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Par 15 Lounge (0.2 miles)
• The Doghouse Grill (0.7 miles)
• Subway (0.8 miles)
• Amigos/Kings Classic (0.8 miles)
• Runza (0.9 miles)
• Tasteful Indulgence, Cake Art of Seward (1 miles)
• La Cocina Mexican Rest (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• Winchell's Donuts (0.8 miles)
• Panama (0.9 miles)
• JD's Coffee Shop (1.1 miles)
• The Mill Coffee & Tea (21.7 miles)
• Crescent Moon Coffee (21.7 miles)

Parks

• Plum Creek Park (0.8 miles)
• Seward Parks & Recreation (1.2 miles)
• Fallbrook Park (19.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Memorial Hospital (1 miles)
• Seward Memorial Hospital & Clinics (1.1 miles)
• Lincoln Regional Center (21.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Seward Family Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Mueri Drug (1.1 miles)
• Milford Valu-Rite Pharmacy (10.6 miles)
• Russ’S Market (20.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (21.3 miles)
• Walgreens (21.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (21.4 miles)

Physicians

• Wergin Robert MD (1 miles)
• James Plasek MD (1.1 miles)
• Seward Family Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• Milford Family Medical Center (10.6 miles)
• Utica Family Medical Center (13.2 miles)
• Lincoln Eye & Laser Institute (19.5 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul (1.1 miles)
• U-Haul (2.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (10.8 miles)
• 92 West (20.3 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (21.4 miles)