Golden LivingCenter - Meadowbrook

Pros

• The staff were kind and respectful.
• The therapy team was top-tier, and the nurses were attentive and compassionate.
• The facility was organized, responsive, and professional.
• The team was incredibly responsive and boosted morale.
• The staff genuinely care for the patients.
• The rooms are clean and comfortable.
• Activities and meals in the day room allow residents to socialize.
• The social worker went above and beyond to arrange for the patient to come home.
• The driver was understanding and kind.
• The dining supervisor was attentive and friendly.

Cons

• Inadequate supervision of residents to prevent falls.
• Personal belongings missing and never recovered.
• Lack of standards for incontinence care, with delays and soiled conditions.
• Wheelchair-bound residents found sleeping in the dining area or in the hallway.
• Residents wearing the same soiled clothes for two days.
• Discrepancy in how medications were dispensed to residents.
• A CNA brought her child to work and failed to return to take residents' oxygen levels for hours.
• The facility failed to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in illness and death.
• The regional director reportedly did not personally express condolences to families despite claims of being heartbroken.

Review

Avantara Arrowhead appears to be a facility that inspires strong, sometimes polarized, feelings among families and loved ones who interact with it. A large thread of reviews highlights a consistent commitment to care, responsiveness, and a warm, professional atmosphere. Many families describe staff who are kind, patient, and attentive, with therapy teams and nurses receiving frequent praise for their expertise and dedication. In several accounts, relatives note that the facility is organized and responsive, with admissions and daily operations run smoothly enough to allow for focused rehabilitation and recovery. The overall tone in these viewpoints is one of gratitude for the practical support and the sense that the place truly centers on the well-being of residents.

A number of reviewers point to concrete examples of the fabric of good care. Families describe loved ones receiving thorough rehabilitation services, with quotes about the therapy team being top-tier and the nurses being thoughtful and compassionate at every step. The social workers are singled out for going above and beyond, arranging transportation, coordinating services, and helping families navigate the sometimes complex logistics of post-acute care. Transportation arrangements, in particular, are highlighted as a meaningful support that reduces stress for families dealing with medical appointments and transitions. The dining staff and activities teams are also mentioned positively, with notes that residents can socialize, enjoy meals, and participate in day-room activities that foster a sense of community.

Several testimonials emphasize the emotional and morale-boosting aspects of care. In these narratives, the moment-to-moment encouragement from staff has a measurable impact on residents' spirits and recovery trajectories. Some families describe the facility as a place where their loved ones are treated with dignity, and where interactions feel personal and respectful. There is a strong sentiment that Avantara Arrowhead's culture emphasizes listening to families, recognizing individual needs, and making efforts to keep relatives informed about progress and changes in care plans. For families with relatives who have complex needs, this supportive approach is repeatedly framed as a critical piece of successful rehabilitation and discharge planning.

Yet the picture is not uniformly positive. A significant portion of the feedback arises from families who experienced serious frustrations or concerns. One reviewer characterizes management as a major problem, suggesting that issues with leadership and organizational responsiveness colored the entire experience. Other accounts describe multiple operational gaps that could affect resident safety and dignity: inadequate supervision intended to prevent falls, reports of missing personal belongings, and concerns about consistency in incontinence care. Several reviewers recount prolonged or repeated concerns about toileting help, incidents of residents left waiting for assistance, and instances of residents appearing uncomfortable or undignified in certain situations. The breadth of these concerns is striking, with mentions of wet or soiled bedding, unhelpful or delayed help with daily needs, and even issues with how medications were dispensed.

There are pointed, detailed critiques as well. Reviewers describe scenarios that include wheelchair-bound residents found sleeping in dining areas or hallways, residents wearing the same soiled clothes for extended periods, and requests for basic items like pillowcases and dry bedding going unmet for days. A number of accounts focus on specific lapses in care, including discrepancies in medication administration, delayed response to call lights, and a troubling report about a CNA bringing a child to work, which allegedly interfered with routine tasks like taking vital readings. Some families express distress about the handling of dignity at the end of life, which adds an emotionally charged layer to the broader concerns.

A subset of the commentary centers on broader, systemic issues raised by state oversight. One reviewer cites a state nursing facility survey report from 2022 that purportedly documents incidents occurring after a formal conclusion of an earlier investigation. Other timelines are noted, suggesting ongoing concerns reflected in public summaries of deficiencies. These references give a sense that there have been formal reviews and ongoing scrutiny, which some families interpret as evidence of persistent challenges within the facility's operations. There is also an implied tension between the positive, personal experiences of many residents and the more alarming, formal notes of deficiencies described by others.

Amid the mixed landscape, personal relationships and community context surface repeatedly. Some reviewers highlight that a family member who works at Avantara Arrowhead speaks highly of the institution, reinforcing a perception among others that the facility is a supportive workplace and care community. There are also testimonies praising staff for treating residents like family and for maintaining strong communication with distant relatives, sometimes spanning hundreds of miles. On the other hand, other voices express deep disappointment and fear, including fear for safety, quality of care, and the handling of medical needs during vulnerable moments.

In sum, Avantara Arrowhead is presented here as a facility that can deliver high-caliber rehabilitation and compassionate care in many situations, with staff who are capable, organized, and genuinely invested in residents' recovery and daily welfare. At the same time, a substantial portion of feedback highlights serious concerns about management, consistency of care, oversight, and specific day-to-day practices that can affect safety and dignity. The contrasting experiences reflect the reality that, for some families, the facility provides invaluable support and reassurance; for others, it raises red flags about governance, reliability, and the nuanced, ongoing needs of residents. Prospective residents and their loved ones may want to engage in thorough conversations with admissions, tour the facility, and review public oversight findings to determine how well Avantara Arrowhead might align with their specific care goals and expectations.

This area of Rapid City, South Dakota offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors considering living in the area. With multiple physicians and hospitals located within a short distance, residents can easily access medical care when needed. Additionally, there are several parks nearby, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Pharmacies are also readily available for prescription needs. Places of worship offer spiritual fulfillment, while a variety of restaurants cater to different culinary preferences. Transportation options like U-Haul Moving & Storage provide convenience for any moving or storage needs. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with essential services and activities to support a comfortable senior lifestyle.

Physicians

• Creekside Family Practice (0.7 miles)
• Rapid City Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Rushmore Ob-Gyn PC (0.9 miles)
• RCMH Rapid City Mental Health (0.9 miles)
• Emergiclinic (1 miles)
• Rapid City Medical Center (1 miles)
• Native Womens Health Care (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Storybook Island (0.9 miles)
• Canyon Lake Park (1 miles)
• Sioux Park (1.2 miles)
• Hall Park (1.3 miles)
• Dinosaur Park (1.7 miles)
• Wilson Park (1.8 miles)
• The Greenway x Capital Street (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Rapid City Indian Hospital , Pharmacy Refills (1 miles)
• Rapid City Indian Hospital Sioux San (1 miles)
• Rushmore Ambulatory Surgery Center (1.4 miles)
• Rapid City Regional Hospital (2 miles)
• Labor and Delivery (2.1 miles)
• Rapid City Regional Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Black Hills Surgical Hospital (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medicap Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Boyds Drug Mart (1.6 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Monument Health Home+ Specialty Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Boyd's Drug Rx Express (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westminster Presbyterian Church (1.2 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament Church (1.3 miles)
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (2 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Golden Phoenix (1.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Culver's (1.6 miles)
• Jimmy John's (1.6 miles)
• Blaze Pizza (1.7 miles)
• Culver's (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (1.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Scotters Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Essence Of Coffee (2.3 miles)