Shepherd-The Valley Lutheran

Pros

• The staff go above and beyond to make residents feel not just cared for, but truly at home.
• Every interaction is filled with patience, respect, and compassion, and it's clear they treat residents like family.
• The building is always clean, well-maintained, and inviting, with activities that keep everyone engaged and smiling.
• Meals are not only nutritious but also tailored to residents' preferences, making dining something to look forward to each day.
• Families are welcomed with open arms, and communication is consistent and reassuring - we never feel out of the loop about our loved one's care.
• What really sets this place apart is the personal touch.
• The staff create a community filled with dignity, joy, and peace of mind.
• Shepherd of the Valley in Howland is truly a blessing to our community.

Cons

• The facility is terrible and understaffed.
• Requests for help took almost an hour to be addressed.
• The desk clerk was lazy, causing visitors to wait 35 minutes.
• The care provided was terrible for the amount paid.
• The staff, including nursing, yell and are very mean to residents.
• Family members are left in the dark about patient care.
• The receptionist let others ahead of the family and did not ask who they were there to see, which was disappointing.
• Shepherd of the Valley was deceitful about how far the patient could walk and what she could do in rehab.

Review

From the first moment you walk through the doors, the atmosphere at Shepherd of the Valley in Howland feels warm and welcoming. Multiple voices in these reviews describe a place where staff go above and beyond to make residents feel not just cared for, but truly at home. Interactions are filled with patience, respect, and genuine compassion, and many reviewers note that residents are treated like family. The building itself is consistently described as clean, well-maintained, and inviting, with a rhythm of daily activities designed to keep everyone engaged. Dining is highlighted as a bright spot, with meals that are nutritious and thoughtfully tailored to each resident's preferences, turning meals into a daily moment to look forward to. Families feel welcomed and kept in the loop through reliable and reassuring communication about their loved ones' care.

A recurring thread in the praise is the personal touch that staff bring to everyday life at the facility. Reviewers speak of celebrations for birthdays, comforting support during difficult days, and spontaneous chats that cultivate a sense of community built on dignity, joy, and peace of mind. This isn't just about medical care; it's about creating an environment where residents are valued as individuals and where staff members invest time in meaningful, human connections. In this sense, Shepherd of the Valley is celebrated as a place that blends professionalism with heart, offering a sense of safety and belonging for residents and reassurance for their families.

Many reviewers explicitly frame Shepherd of the Valley as a community that stands out in the area. One description calls it a blessing to the community, emphasizing staff who show genuine love for their work and treat residents as family. The facility is praised for thoughtful care across medical needs to daily life activities, with a sense that the team is capable and devoted to residents' well-being. The overall sentiment from these comments is one of trust: a place where caregivers are seen as reliable, compassionate professionals who strive to keep residents safe, valued, and well cared for. The positive affirmations include strong endorsements of both the staff's dedication and the overall environment.

Among the most affirming statements is a heartfelt recommendation that blends professionalism with heartfelt compassion. Some reviewers go so far as to declare the staff "simply amazing," underscoring the impression that the team not only delivers high-quality care but also brings kindness, empathy, and respect to every interaction. The combination of competent care and genuine warmth creates an impression of a facility that residents can feel proud to call home - and where families feel confident about the day-to-day experience of their loved ones.

Not all feedback, of course, aligns with the glowing portrait. A number of reviews present serious concerns about understaffing and the quality of care. One reviewer describes a scene where it took almost an hour for help to arrive after a resident called for assistance, with staff repeatedly indicating they would need to fetch someone else. The sense conveyed is that money is spent on care, yet the level of attentiveness did not meet expectations in that moment, prompting disappointment and a search for alternatives. The contrast between stories of warmth and stories of delay creates a complex picture of a facility that can be both a place of genuine care and a site of frustration for families.

Further complaints highlight systemic issues. Some reviewers report that staff do not distinguish urgency in call lights, responding without promptness, and recount rude or unprofessional responses when concerns are raised. Warnings to prospective families are strong in tone, with phrases like "Do not take anyone to this facility" and descriptions of staff who yell or fail to provide empathetic care. These accounts emphasize a perception that, for every dedicated team member, there might be gaps in policy, training, or morale that affect resident experience and family trust.

Other notes recount specific incidents that deepen concerns about communication and transparency. A reviewer describes a situation where a receptionist appeared unwelcoming and rushed, allowing other visitors ahead of a family waiting for an update on a loved one. There are stories of isolation policies during COVID, limited window visits, and moments when families felt left in the dark about patient care. In one particularly painful reflection, a family describes their grandfather being unable to receive timely help or even a brief video call when he needed a connection to loved ones, leaving a lasting impression of hurt in the context of a hospital-to-nursing-home transition.

There are also detailed personal narratives about rehabilitation experiences that left families dissatisfied. Some residents reportedly left rehab weaker, with expectations about walking and mobility not met. Families describe being told one thing about a resident's capabilities and witnessing a different reality at discharge, leading to deep disappointment and distrust. These accounts emphasize the tension between the facility's ability to provide comprehensive care and the fulfillment of rehabilitation promises, a gap that can be devastating for families seeking a clear, hopeful path for their loved ones.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced portrait of Shepherd of the Valley in Howland. The facility is celebrated by many for its warm, respectful, and person-centered care, where staff create a home-like atmosphere, celebrate residents' lives, and maintain a clean, engaging environment. Yet there are persistent, serious concerns raised about staffing levels, responsiveness to calls, communication with families, and rehabilitation outcomes. This dual picture suggests that experiences at Shepherd of the Valley can vary widely, influenced by shift, staff on duty, and the specific needs and expectations of residents and their families.

For anyone considering Shepherd of the Valley, the message is to recognize both the strengths and the challenges described by current and former residents and their families. The facility can offer a nurturing, dignity-filled environment with attentive, compassionate care and a strong sense of community. At the same time, families should be mindful of reports of understaffing, delays in response, and inconsistent experiences with rehabilitation outcomes. As with any care decision, visiting in person, speaking with multiple staff members, reviewing current policies, and asking direct questions about staffing, response times, and rehabilitation goals can help families determine whether this facility aligns with their loved one's needs and their expectations for comfort, safety, and ongoing communication.

Restaurants

• Antones Kitchen (0.7 miles)
• Burger King (1.5 miles)
• Wendy's (1.5 miles)
• Eat'n Park Restaurant (1.5 miles)
• Up A Creek (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Grotto Ali Babba (2.3 miles)

Physicians

• Hope Center For Cancer Care (0.7 miles)
• Howland Medical Pavillion (0.7 miles)
• Thomas Raymond Neuman (1.6 miles)
• Pediatric Associates of Warren (1.6 miles)
• Martuccio Eye Care (1.6 miles)
• Vein Center (1.7 miles)
• Circulatory Center (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• St Joseph Urgent Care Center (0.7 miles)
• Surgery Center Howland (0.8 miles)
• Mercy Health - Heart and Vascular Institute, Eastland (2.5 miles)
• St Joseph Health Center (2.5 miles)
• Planned Parenthood (4 miles)
• Corporate Care (4.2 miles)
• Sanford Drug Testing (6.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.2 miles)
• Revco Drug Stores (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Marc's Stores (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.7 miles)

Parks

• Mosquito Lake State Park (3.1 miles)
• Burbank Park (4.6 miles)
• Waddell Park (5.8 miles)
• Tod Park (7.1 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (3.5 miles)
• Winner Aviation (4.5 miles)
• Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG) (4.5 miles)

Cafes

• The Mocha House (3.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.6 miles)
• Fowler Grind (6.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Champion Church of the Nazarene (6.4 miles)