Heartwood Extended Health Care in Tacoma, WA

Pros

• Heartwood is described as a very nice place where residents feel like family and the healthcare professionals are friendly.
• The staff at Heartwood are friendly, caring, and professional.
• Heartwood is fresh smelling and not institutional, with kind, accommodating staff and great personalities.
• The rehab program at Heartwood is incredible, with outstanding Physical and Occupational Therapists.
• Admissions staff at Heartwood, including Gail, are praised as responsive and supportive.
• The care at Heartwood is reported as excellent, with staff going above and beyond to comfort residents.
• The facility at Heartwood is cleaned daily and praised for its accommodations by some reviewers.
• Many reviewers call Heartwood absolutely amazing and among the best extended care facilities.

Cons

• The absolute worst place to put a loved one.
• This place is actually terrible.
• This facility will get on reviews and act like they care but in reality they don't do anything.
• This place is hell on earth.
• They don't know what they're doing, and don't care.
• Not all staff are bad, but some lie about falls and what actually happened to loved ones, and most of the staff needs retraining.
• This place is the worst! Do not take your loved ones here! Nobody deserves this place! They don't know what they're doing, and don't care!
• They neglected my family member and have been starving him every day.
• The head nurse Cecilia is rude and unprofessional.
• This facility is extremely unsafe, unethical and dangerous to anyone who is under their care.
• Do not deal with these people.
• The care and food is awful.
• They're hiding something and you will get the runaround on what happened to your family member.

Review

Heartwood Extended Health Care in Tacoma is best suited for families seeking a rehab-forward environment with a relatively social, home-like atmosphere. Positive impressions consistently highlight friendly, personable staff, access to Certified Wound Care nurses, and robust Physical and Occupational Therapy programs. The building is described as fresh-smelling and less institutional, with an active activities lineup and opportunities for visits and casual socializing in common spaces. For residents focusing on short- or mid-term rehabilitation and recovery, Heartwood can deliver meaningful gains when therapy teams coordinate well and staff remain approachable. Yet the fit tightens for those requiring near-constant safety oversight, meticulous clinical governance, or a memory-care setting where specialized supervision is nonnegotiable.

Alternatives to consider are facilities with demonstrably stronger, more consistent safety records, clearer communication channels, and tighter control of environment and staffing. Families prioritizing unwavering reliability in daily operations - such as predictable med administration, timely responses to call lights, and rigorous infection-control practices - may find Heartwood's inconsistencies too consequential. For residents with complex memory-care needs, high falls risk, or extensive wound-care requirements that demand round-the-clock oversight, other campuses with steady leadership and staffing stability may offer greater peace of mind. In short, Heartwood can be a solid fit when rehab and sociability are the priority, but not when sustained, high-trust care is non-negotiable.

The principal positives center on a staff culture that residents describe as caring and accessible, combined with therapy-driven progress and ongoing social engagement. Families report therapists who show up, a willingness to tailor activities, and a sense that residents are treated with dignity during rehabilitation. The care teams are praised for their competence in wound care and the breadth of therapy services, and the environment itself is repeatedly noted as friendlier and less clinical than many comparable facilities. These strengths translate into tangible rehab momentum and better quality of life for residents who respond to hands-on therapy and a vibrant daily rhythm.

However, the profile is clouded by a chorus of serious concerns about safety, responsiveness, and overall care quality. Reviewers describe chronic understaffing leading to long waits for help, delayed or missed medications, and insufficient assistance with basic daily activities such as showers and hygiene. Allegations range from unprofessional communication and documentation gaps to reports of neglect and unsafe conditions, including problematic handling of wounds, infections, or catheter care. Complaints about cleanliness, odors, and maintenance, along with reports of leadership turnover and perceived misalignment between administration and front-line care, create a track record that would worry families needing dependable, consistent supervision.

The key question for families is whether the rehab and resident-centered strengths justify the recurring safety and reliability concerns. When therapy is the primary objective, Heartwood's advantages can offset some risk, particularly if admissions or stays are oriented toward getting back to independence. But the breadth and frequency of negative experiences in other reviews indicate a real risk that day-to-day care may fall short of expectations, especially for vulnerable residents or those with long-term, intensive care needs. In decision terms, Heartwood tends to tilt toward suitability for capable adults pursuing recovery goals rather than for high-acuity, long-term care where reliable oversight and an impeccably clean, well-staffed operation are paramount.

For families leaning toward; or forced to consider, Heartwood, the next steps should be pragmatic and guarded. Schedule thorough, multi-day tours that include quiet observation of nursing response times, therapy scheduling, and housekeeping routines. Request candid conversations with the current nurse managers and therapy leadership, and insist on seeing the care plans, medication logs, and recent resident feedback channels. Probe for staff-to-resident ratios on different shifts, and ask how ownership changes have affected daily operations and capital maintenance. If dissatisfaction or red flags persist, or if the answers feel evasive, alternatives with stronger safety records and transparent reporting deserve priority. For those choosing Heartwood anyway, insist on written expectations, frequent family updates, and clearly defined escalation paths to address any future concerns promptly.

This part of Tacoma, Washington, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With a range of restaurants nearby such as McDonald's, Wendy's, and BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, seniors can enjoy convenient dining options. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for those looking to relax and socialize over coffee or a light meal. Access to physicians and pharmacies within a short distance ensures easy medical care and medication management. The presence of parks like Sheridan Park and Kandle Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Nearby hospitals such as MultiCare Regional Cancer Center - Tacoma offer reliable healthcare services while theaters like Grand Cinema offer entertainment options. Places of worship like Christ Episcopal Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church cater to spiritual needs. Overall, this neighborhood in Tacoma presents a well-rounded environment suitable for senior living with its diverse offerings and proximity to essential services.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.2 miles)
• Wendy's (0.2 miles)
• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (0.4 miles)
• Dawson's Bar & Grill (1.1 miles)
• Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar (1.4 miles)
• Hans's Place (1.5 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (0.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Alfred's Cafe (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Group Health Hear Center (1.2 miles)
• Michael Lee MD - Washington Gastroenterology (1.2 miles)
• Aesthetic Surgery Centre (1.3 miles)
• Kelly Christina Md (1.3 miles)
• Mt Rainier Surgical Associates (1.3 miles)
• Cedar Medical Center (1.5 miles)
• Sound Retina (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Costless Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Hilltop Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Sheridan Park (1.5 miles)
• Conservation Park (3.1 miles)
• Kandle Park (3.9 miles)
• Titlow Park (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• MultiCare (1.6 miles)
• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center - Tacoma (2.8 miles)
• Group Health Cooperative (3 miles)

Theaters

• Grand Cinema (2.9 miles)
• AMC Lakewood Mall 12 (4.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ Episcopal Church (2.9 miles)
• Bethlehem Baptist Church (3 miles)
• Iglesia Ni Cristo (3.8 miles)