Good Samaritan Society - St. John's

    3410 Central Ave, Kearney, NE, 68847
    3.1 · 14 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    2.0

    Caring staff but chronic understaffing

    I have mixed impressions: many staff were caring and attentive - residents (Elsa) clearly enjoyed their stay and the Thanksgiving meal. But chronic short-staffing, unsupportive management, and poor treatment of employees left me worried about compassion and reliability; I would not recommend it for family members. I can't comment on patient care.

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

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

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    3.14 · 14 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      3.7
    • Staff

      3.0
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      3.1
    • Value

      3.1

    Pros

    • Caring frontline staff
    • Attentive caregivers
    • Respects individual preferences
    • Staff make residents feel special
    • Staff work hard to assist residents
    • Positive resident testimonials (e.g., 'Elsa loves her stay')
    • Very good care reported by some reviewers
    • High-quality holiday/dining experience (wonderful Thanksgiving dinner)
    • Overall positive staff interactions ('great staff')

    Cons

    • Short-staffing / poor staffing levels
    • Perception that some nurses are not caring
    • Poor treatment of employees
    • Lack of compassion (reported)
    • Unsupportive management
    • Reported termination/firing of an employee
    • No transportation assistance for employees
    • At least one reviewer would not recommend for family members
    • Unclear or mixed impressions of clinical care quality

    Summary review

    The reviews present a mixed but distinct pattern: praise for many direct-care staff and certain resident experiences, alongside consistent concerns about staffing levels and management practices. Several reviewers emphasize that frontline caregivers are caring, attentive, and respectful of residents' preferences, and that staff often go out of their way to make residents feel special. Positive, specific examples include a very positive resident report ("Elsa loves her stay"), statements that residents receive the "very best care," and a memorable Thanksgiving dinner. Those comments suggest that when staff are present and able to focus on residents, the interpersonal and experiential aspects of life at the facility can be strong.

    However, a number of negative themes recur across reviews. Short-staffing and poor staffing levels are mentioned explicitly and appear to be a central concern; this can affect both perceived care quality and staff morale. Some reviewers directly state that nurses are "not caring" and even say they would not recommend the facility for family members, indicating that clinical care and consistency may be uneven. One reviewer explicitly said they "cannot comment on patient care," which underscores variability in what different reviewers observed or experienced.

    Management and employee-treatment issues are another clear cluster of concerns. Several summaries cite poor treatment of employees, unsupportive management, lack of compassion (in the employment context), and a reported firing of an employee. There is also a practical complaint about "no transportation assistance for employees," which may contribute to staffing challenges, retention problems, and employee dissatisfaction. Together these points suggest organizational and administrative problems that could indirectly affect resident care by increasing turnover, lowering staff morale, or reducing staffing continuity.

    On the positive side, accounting for activities and dining, at least one review highlights a "wonderful Thanksgiving dinner," which indicates that special events and meal experiences can be positive and meaningful for residents. Multiple mentions of "caring," "attentive," and "great staff" point to strong individual caregivers who make a favorable difference in residents' daily lives even amid systemic issues.

    Overall, the sentiment is mixed: meaningful strengths in individual caregiver-resident interactions and specific resident experiences coexist with important operational concerns—chiefly staffing shortages, variable nursing compassion or competence as perceived by reviewers, and problematic management practices affecting employees. The most actionable implications from these reviews are that leadership should address staffing levels and employee support (including practical barriers like transportation), investigate the causes of reported poor employee treatment and firings, and work to ensure consistent clinical standards so that positive individual caregiver experiences become the norm rather than a contrast to broader concerns. For prospective residents and family members, these reviews suggest budgeting time to tour the facility, meet direct caregivers and managers, and ask targeted questions about staffing ratios, staff turnover, employee support programs, and recent actions taken in response to any staffing or management issues.

    Location

    Map showing location of Good Samaritan Society - St. John's

    About Good Samaritan Society - St. John's

    Good Samaritan Society - St. John's sits in Kearney, Nebraska, and offers different types of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care, so people can choose what fits them best, and they switch care levels if they need it over time, because some folks just want someone to take care of yard work and housekeeping while others come for help with daily tasks or for memory care since there's support for Alzheimer's and dementia, and the place also runs a Skilled Nursing Facility for folks with more serious medical needs. People living here can get meals, utilities included, rides when needed, and there are big senior apartments, twin homes, and duplexes for those looking for affordable housing, all coming with an emergency response system which lets someone get help fast if something goes wrong. The Rehabilitation Center at St. John's handles both inpatient and outpatient rehab if someone's recovering from an illness or surgery, and the center covers caregiver support and short-term rehabilitation along with long-term care, so families also get help when they need a break. The staff can help with different health needs, like incontinence care, diabetes support, and care for people who can't walk, and the nursing staff handles high-acuity cases too. You'll see a calendar packed with religious services, crafts, games, offsite and onsite activities, health programs, and entertainment, so people can fill their days if they want, and there's a focus on treating everyone with dignity and caring for body, mind, and spirit. Residents can use common areas indoors, take part in devotional activities, and join in both group and private moments. The setting feels homelike, and the idea is to make folks feel valued and peaceful, especially since there are hospice services if needed. The community does offer social media and online tools with some Facebook connection and a way for folks to post their own pictures, which means families can keep in touch more easily. Reviews run mixed at around 2.9 out of 5, so experiences can vary, and people looking to move in will want to check if space is available since they aren't always taking new residents. The whole thing runs under the Good Samaritan Society, which is known around Nebraska, and the staff speak English. St. John's lists itself for assisted living, independent living, rehab therapy, and all kinds of healthcare and caregiving, but office hours shift, so you'd want to call or check their website for up-to-date info.

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