August Healthcare

Pros

• The staff are very experienced and helpful with recovery after a stroke.
• She is awesome and great at communication.
• The service was excellent and the therapy staff were lovely.
• New staff have brought improvements and the facility is making big changes for the better.
• The therapy team is fantastic and makes a real difference in residents' lives.
• Southern Specialty is a five-star facility with supportive administration and well-maintained surroundings.
• The administration team has great communication and is helpful with questions and concerns.

Cons

• They don't clean the rooms correctly.
• They don't give meds on time.
• The facility is a dump and the place is nasty, with crowded rooms and staff who don't care.
• The administration is horrible; they disrespect employees and don't care about residents.
• They won't pay staff and blame them for things they didn't do.
• The director was cruel and threatened to report the patient to Adult Protective Services if she left.
• The patient room was filthy and the entire place smelled of urine and feces.
• The staff left the patient's diaper dirty, failed to administer medications on time, and nurses became angry when asked for help.

Review

Southern Specialty Care appears to be a facility that elicits a wide spectrum of experiences from families and patients. On one end, many reviewers rave about the quality of rehabilitation, the warmth and competence of the therapy team, and the positive impact of attentive administration. Several accounts credit the therapists with handling complex medical cases and driving meaningful improvements in recovery, particularly for patients who require tracheotomy or vent support. The therapy staff is repeatedly described as fantastic, diligent, and capable of achieving real progress for residents who are medically fragile. In addition, administrators and support staff receive frequent praise for their communication, accessibility, and willingness to help families navigate questions and concerns. Several reviewers even call the place a "gem" in Lubbock, noting that residents feel at home, that the building is clean and well cared for, and that the dietary team provides delicious, well-balanced meals. The administration's responsiveness is highlighted by multiple people who say that Dana, the administrator, and the broader admin team are consistently helpful, empathetic, and professional, with comments such as "Dana is amazing" and "the admissions coordinator is AMAZING." These positive voices emphasize a sense of confidence in the facility's direction and a belief that, when managed well, Southern Specialty can offer excellent long-term or short-term rehabilitation experiences.

Beyond therapy and administration, some reviewers explicitly praise the daily environment and the human touch of staff. The facility is described as clean and well maintained, with many noting a welcoming, home-like atmosphere. Families recount nurses and aides who are genuinely caring and willing to go above and beyond to support residents and their families. The consistency of good experiences with front-line staff and the emphasis on good communication with families are recurring themes, with several comments from relatives who felt heard and supported during difficult periods. In particular, the pediatric and adult care teams are singled out for praise, with many acknowledging that their loved ones received compassionate attention and respectful care from those who interact with them most often.

However, a substantial portion of the feedback paints a markedly different picture. A number of reviewers report serious shortcomings in routine care, including delays in medication administration, inadequate room cleanliness, and crowded or substandard living spaces. Some describe rooms as dirty or crowded and describe instances where basic needs were not promptly addressed, such as waking nurses at the station late at night or afternoon lapses in essential nursing tasks. There are accounts of unacceptable odors, dirty dressings, and overall dissatisfaction with cleanliness, which stand in stark contrast to the cleaner, more polished environment praised by others. Several families recount a strong sense of neglect or indifference from certain staff members, including accusations that some employees blame others, fail to take accountability, or do not treat residents with the respect they deserve. In one particularly sharp review, a staff member is labeled as "pathetic," reflecting broader concerns about accountability and communication within the team.

The negative feedback also extends to the administration and management structure. Some reviewers describe the management as disrespectful to employees, uncaring toward residents, or financially irresponsible, with complaints about pay, benefits, and the overall treatment of staff. One highly inflammatory narrative accuses the management of sabotaging careers and even harming patient welfare, suggesting that staff could lose wages or licenses and that residents might be put at risk. Several comments warn prospective families to be cautious, including a reviewer who claims the facility is affiliated with a larger hospital network (UMC) and recounts alarming experiences such as hospice complications, abrupt medication changes, and residents allegedly being moved out under distressing circumstances. There are also extreme statements urging families not to send loved ones to the facility, highlighting fears of neglect and unsafe conditions. While these accounts are isolated within the broader set of reviews, they contribute to a stark contrast with the positive experiences described elsewhere.

Amid the conflicting narratives, a few recurring motifs emphasize the importance of individual assessment and informed decisions. Some families report that new staff or reorganizations have led to noticeable improvements, suggesting that the facility can rapidly progress when leadership priorities align with patient care and family communication. Others warn that negative experiences can and do occur, sometimes involving critical lapses in basic care or troubling encounters with administration. This mix of praise and caution makes it clear that prospective patients and their families should conduct their own due diligence: tour the facility, speak with multiple staff members across shifts, ask explicit questions about medication timing and rehab plans, and verify the current administration and therapy team's approach to patient-centered care.

In summary, Southern Specialty Care presents itself as a place with strong potential and several standout strengths. The therapy program, many nursing staff, and a responsive administration that communicates well with families are repeatedly highlighted as major positives. Cleanliness and the overall environment also receive frequent praise from numerous reviewers who describe the facility as bright, well-kept, and home-like. Yet, this is counterbalanced by substantial criticisms from other families who report medication delays, cleanliness concerns, crowded rooms, and troubling encounters with management or certain staff. The testimonials suggest a facility on a positive trajectory - especially with leadership changes and a focus on compassionate care - but with notable and serious concerns that require careful attention. If you're considering Southern Specialty for a loved one, it would be prudent to verify the current status of staffing, administration, and clinical practices, and to seek out recent firsthand observations from current residents and families.

This part of Lubbock, Texas, offers a convenient and well-equipped neighborhood for senior living. With a variety of healthcare facilities including consultants in infectious diseases, pharmacies, and hospitals such as Covenant Women's and Children's Hospital nearby, seniors can easily access medical care. There are also several dining options ranging from fast food to ethnic cuisine like Thai Pepper and I Love Pho. Additionally, the presence of places of worship such as the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock and Highland Baptist Church provides spiritual support for residents. For leisure activities, seniors can enjoy Tech Terrace Park for outdoor recreation or catch a movie at Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock or TTU - SUB - Allen Theatre. Overall, this area offers a balanced mix of essential services and entertainment options suitable for senior living.

Physicians

• Consultants In Infectious Diseases (0.1 miles)
• Consultants-Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Dr David Blann Ob/Gyn (0.3 miles)
• Lubbock Imaging Center (0.3 miles)
• Dr Blann, Dr M. Owen And Dr J. Owen (0.3 miles)
• Roger James Wolcott (0.3 miles)
• Dr R. Wolcott Office (0.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Southwest Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Clark's Hub City Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• UMC Outpatient Pharmacy (1 miles)
• United Supermarkets Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Twin Oaks Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Covenant Pediatric Occupational Therapy (0.4 miles)
• Covenant Specialty Hospital (0.5 miles)
• Covenant Behavioral Health Service (0.5 miles)
• Covenant Women's and Children's (0.5 miles)
• Covenant Children's Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Covenant Children's Emergency Room (0.7 miles)
• UMC: Nuclear Medicine (1 miles)

Restaurants

• Thai Pepper (0.6 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.9 miles)
• Rosa's Café & Tortilla Factory (0.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Picantes (1.1 miles)
• Arandas Taqueria (1.1 miles)
• I Love Pho (1.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Catholic Diocese of Lubbock (1 miles)
• Highland Baptist Church (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Tech Terrace Park (1.3 miles)

Theaters

• Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock (1.7 miles)
• TTU - SUB - Allen Theatre (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• J & B Coffee Co. (1.8 miles)