Overall impression: Reviews of Topeka Presbyterian Manor are mixed but show strong recurring positives alongside some serious and recurring concerns. Many reviewers praise the facility's welcoming staff, active social environment, good therapy services, and attractive grounds; these strengths make the property a top choice for multiple families. However, there are several reports of inconsistent clinical care, administrative friction, and facility maintenance problems that prospective residents and families should consider carefully.
Care quality and clinical safety: A dominant theme is variability in clinical care. Numerous reviewers explicitly state that nursing and therapy staff are attentive, kind, and effective — especially physical therapy and rehabilitation services, which are frequently described as excellent. At the same time, a subset of reviews describe troubling clinical lapses: missed or delayed medication administration (including an IV diuretic issue), slow physician response, delayed transfers to hospital that later required blood transfusion, and an account where a resident died after a fall. Infection control issues were also reported (a pink-eye outbreak that some felt was not noticed promptly) and at least one incident where blood remained on the floor for hours. These are serious issues that contrast sharply with otherwise positive clinical reports and point to inconsistent execution of clinical and safety protocols.
Staffing, staff behavior and activities: The staff are most often described as warm, friendly, and willing to spend time with residents — helping them engage in activities, joining conversations, and delivering meals cheerfully. Several reviews highlight staff who "love on" residents, attend to personal needs, and provide personal attention that families appreciated. Activity programming is another clear strength: residents are described as engaged in cards, TV groups, art shows, animal videos, and many social opportunities. Therapy and gym spaces receive positive mentions. However, some reviewers report unprofessional conduct by certain staff members and that the facility appears understaffed at times, which can undermine care and responsiveness.
Facilities and living arrangements: The campus has three levels (independent, assisted and skilled nursing) and offers spacious independent apartments with patios and ample closet space. Assisted living rooms are described as smaller, sometimes with roommates and a kitchenette, which may not suit all couples or those seeking private assisted suites. Grounds and communal spaces get positive notes — a pond, flowers, and improvements that have reduced I-70 traffic noise — and the dining room is large and pleasant. There are also practical benefits like covered, per-person parking. Conversely, some parts of the building are older and have experienced maintenance problems (pipe break and flooding reported), and some reviewers consider the facility not as modern or nice as other options.
Dining and programming: Meals are frequently called "very good" and tasty, and many residents enjoy the dining experience. A few reviewers did note that food quality was inconsistent and that improvements were expected with a new food director. Programming is robust and a strength for residents seeking social engagement and rehabilitation opportunities.
Administration, policy and cost: Several reviews raise concerns about administrative practices. Positive accounts mention management that communicates immediately and responsively when issues arise. Negative accounts describe perceived money-focused behavior, requests for tax statements, questioning of finances, and an overall sense that some administrative interactions were intrusive or unfeeling. COVID-era visitation restrictions and policies separating spouses across facilities were particularly upsetting for some families; reviewers noted an inconsistency that permitted staff to hug their own spouses while residents were prevented from seeing or hugging theirs. Cost is another mixed topic: some find the facility reasonably priced or worth the cost, others describe it as expensive and advise Medicaid/insurance planning. A long waiting list mentioned by multiple reviewers suggests demand but also indicates limited availability for couples or preferred units.
Patterns and takeaways: The most consistent positives are the staff who are caring and engaging, good therapy services, an active resident community, attractive grounds, and generally good meals and living-space quality for independent units. The most important cautions are inconsistent clinical care and safety practices (with a few serious incidents reported), occasional understaffing and maintenance problems, and administrative/policy issues that have caused distress for families. Experiences appear to vary considerably between units, staff shifts, and over time — some families report exemplary, responsive care while others experienced neglect or unprofessional behavior.
Recommendation for prospective residents/families: Given the mixed but detailed reports, prospective residents should: (1) ask for specifics about clinical staffing ratios and on-call physician response times; (2) tour the exact unit they would occupy (independent vs assisted) to confirm room size and layout; (3) discuss couple accommodations and visitation policies in writing; (4) inquire about infection control protocols and recent incident responses; (5) meet therapy staff if rehabilitation services are important; and (6) review contract/financial request policies and clarify what documentation will be required. Overall, Topeka Presbyterian Manor offers many strong features — caring staff, active programming, therapy strength, and pleasant grounds — but families should perform due diligence on clinical safety, staffing consistency, maintenance status, and administrative policies before committing.
