Hickory Creek at Columbus

    5480 E 25th St, Columbus, IN, 47203
    4.3 · 33 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    2.0

    Good short rehab; unsafe long-term

    I had a mixed experience: many staff and therapists were kind, hardworking, and helped with successful short-term rehab, activities, and a warm, homey feel. But chronic understaffing, long waits for assistance, missed/incorrect meds, filthy bathrooms, unattended bathroom needs and falls (unsafe oxygen handling and reprimands for residents) made the place feel neglectful and unsafe for long-term care. I'd consider it for short rehab stays only and would strongly advise anyone placing a loved one to monitor care closely.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.27 · 33 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.3
    • Staff

      3.5
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      4.3
    • Value

      4.3

    Pros

    • Caring, loving and family-like staff
    • Hard-working and dedicated employees
    • Exceptional short-term rehab and therapy outcomes
    • Personalized and specialized medical care
    • Open, friendly and accommodating staff communication
    • Home-like, welcoming atmosphere and cozy building
    • Home-style, exceptional meals
    • Active activity program (nail spa, movies, gentle exercise)
    • Successful transitions to long-term placements and loyal residents
    • Leadership longevity and supportive teamwork
    • Deficiency-free survey and strong overall reputation
    • Cleanliness and efficiency reported by some families
    • Good volunteer environment

    Cons

    • Long response times to call lights and requests
    • Perceived understaffing and inconsistent staffing levels
    • Allegations of neglect (not assisting to bathroom, delayed hygiene)
    • Multiple reports of falls and safety incidents (including brain bleeds)
    • Failure to use safety equipment (gait belt) in some incidents
    • Inconsistent or improper medication and oxygen management
    • Dirty or poorly maintained bathrooms and personal care items
    • Staff spending time smoking while on duty or with patients
    • Preference for diapering over timely bathroom assistance
    • Residents reprimanded or written up for behavior/accidents
    • Roommate feeding or assistance neglect reported
    • Access/control/door security issues mentioned
    • Wide variability in staff skill and professionalism
    • Some explicitly do not recommend the facility

    Summary review

    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.

    Location

    Map showing location of Hickory Creek at Columbus

    About Hickory Creek at Columbus

    Hickory Creek at Columbus is a senior community in Indiana that offers different types of care including assisted living, independent living, memory care, home care, and skilled nursing. The building has safety features like sprinkler systems, accessible design for wheelchairs, and is fully equipped to help prevent accidents, which makes moving around easier for everyone. Residents have access to washers and dryers, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and guest parking, so visitors don't need to worry about where to park. The property includes a game room, dining room, a fitness center, and a salon/barbershop, along with kitchens or kitchenettes and regular housekeeping and maintenance. Staff help residents with bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, and eating if someone's not able to do these things alone, and they give extra help for walking and using wheelchairs. Laundry and dry cleaning are available and personal care assistants work with each resident based on their written care plan.

    The staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and a care team with an administrator named Emily Russell. Hickory Creek at Columbus offers medical services like podiatry, wound care, medication support, therapy for speech, physical abilities, and occupational skills, and provides help with overall health management to prevent problems like pressure sores. Residents can get influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations here and benefit from programs that focus on their general health and wellness. The center runs many activities, including social gatherings, arts and crafts, educational programs, and exercises. People can take part in family or resident councils where everyone can share their thoughts about the community. There are transportation services for medical appointments or outings in town, and the facility sets up scheduled tours for those wanting to explore.

    Long-term care, short-term rehab following things like a stroke or surgery, skilled nursing, hospice, and respite care are all available, with support for both the resident and their families. Teams often include doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, and even spiritual and bereavement counselors, especially for those needing extra comfort or end-of-life support. The exclusive Road to Recovery program helps new residents set recovery goals in the first 72 hours, aiming for the best possible outcome with a team approach toward rehabilitation, wound care, and mobility. The place isn't attached to a hospital but accepts Medicare and Medicaid and has Medicaid specialists for those who need financial help. Out of 38 certified beds, the usual occupancy is around 30, which means it's not overcrowded and residents receive personal attention. The facility is managed by American Senior Communities and is part of a larger group of care homes, but operates as a non-profit and works with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

    Hickory Creek at Columbus is designed to be homelike, cheerful, and peaceful, with rooms and shared spaces set up to be both secure and comfortable. Meals are provided with full dining services, and housekeeping keeps things tidy. The staff's main goal is to help residents keep their dignity and self-respect, making sure care is done according to each person's needs and professional standards. The focus always stays on health, comfort, and safety for all who live here.

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