The reviews for Hickory Creek at Columbus show a deeply polarized picture: many families and residents praise the facility for compassionate, home-like care and excellent rehabilitation services, while a significant number of reviews raise serious safety, staffing, and neglect concerns. Positive reviews consistently highlight dedicated, loving staff members who create a family atmosphere, provide personalized medical attention, and produce strong outcomes for short-term rehab patients. Several families described therapists as "amazing," credited the staff with successful rehabilitation, and said residents flourished during their stay. The facility is also noted for a welcoming, cozy building, home-style meals, varied activities (including nail spa days, movies, and gentle exercise), and long-tenured leadership. Some reviewers call it a "second home," recommend it as the best nursing home in the area, and point to a deficiency-free survey as evidence of overall quality.
Conversely, a recurring and severe set of complaints centers on delayed responses to call lights, inconsistent assistance with toileting and hygiene, and evidence of understaffing. Multiple reviews allege neglectful care such as prolonged waits for bathroom help, staff preferring to diaper residents instead of assisting them to the restroom, residents being reprimanded for accidents, and personal care—baths and clothes—being left undone or dirty. There are specific safety-related allegations, including multiple falls, some resulting in brain bleeds, and instances where a gait belt was allegedly not used. Other safety concerns include improper medication administration, oxygen-management problems, roommate feeding neglect, and door/access control issues. Several reviewers report filthy bathrooms and an overall appearance of neglect in some areas.
The staff picture is mixed: many reviews praise individual caregivers and teams as compassionate, attentive, and professional, even going "above and beyond," while others describe poor personal skills, lack of concern, and active neglect. A few negative reviews name specific staff members and describe episodes where staff were observed smoking or spending time outside while patients waited for care. This creates a pattern of inconsistent care quality—excellent and attentive for some residents and situations, and dangerously inadequate for others. Families’ experiences seem to vary widely, which suggests variability in shift-to-shift staffing, training, or unit-level supervision.
Management, communication, and community life show both strengths and weaknesses in the reviews. On the positive side, leadership longevity and an open, friendly staff culture are frequently mentioned; several reviewers praised prompt attention when issues were raised and felt that concerns were addressed. Activities programming and social offerings are seen as strong contributors to quality of life. On the negative side, complaints about reprimanding residents, poor follow-through on safety protocols, and inconsistent cleanliness point to lapses in oversight and enforcement of standards. While some families would strongly recommend Hickory Creek and describe successful rehabilitations and long-term placements, others explicitly warn others not to place loved ones there.
Overall, the aggregated sentiment is mixed to polarized. The facility appears capable of delivering excellent, personalized care and strong rehabilitation for many residents, supported by compassionate staff and a home-like environment. However, a nontrivial portion of reviews report serious lapses in basic care, safety, cleanliness, and responsiveness that warrant attention. If considering Hickory Creek, prospective families should: 1) visit multiple times and at varied hours to observe staffing and responsiveness across shifts; 2) ask specific questions about staffing ratios, fall prevention protocols, gait-belt usage, medication and oxygen management; 3) request information on how the facility documents and resolves complaints; and 4) talk with current families about consistency of care and any recent corrective actions. These steps can help determine whether a particular unit or shift aligns with the positive experiences many reviewers reported or whether the concerning patterns described in other reviews might apply.