Kim Parker
Jun 2026
This is by far the most unprofessional facility and leadership team I have ever encountered. My uncle was allowed to sit there and wither away while his condition continued to decline. It took my aunt removing him from the facility and taking him to the hospital for him to finally receive proper medical evaluation. Staff claimed he was “getting better.” That was completely false. He was diagnosed with lung cancer that had already metastasized to his kidneys and esophagus. When my aunt made the decision to bring him home on hospice, the facility’s attitude became hostile and unprofessional. Both my aunt and hospital staff attempted to contact the facility numerous times, yet calls went unanswered and were never returned. Families trust facilities like this to provide care, compassion, and communication. In our experience, this facility failed on all three. No family should have to watch a loved one decline while feeling ignored by the very people entrusted with their care. Shame on this facility and its leadership. I called the facility and obtained the names of the Administrator and Director of Nursing. I had every intention of sharing those names, blasting them on Facebook, and perhaps being a little unprofessional myself. I have since decided against it. The truth is, these people know who they are. The nurses who failed my uncle know who they are. I do not have to mention them by name. My uncle passed away yesterday at 5:30 PM and went home to be with Jesus. Just 72 hours earlier, he had come home on hospice. Though our hearts are broken, we find peace in knowing that he was surrounded by those who loved him when he took his last breath. He was comfortable, at peace, and cared for by an incredible hospice team with Gentiva Hospice. Our family will forever be grateful to the hospice team for the compassion, dignity, and support they provided not only to my uncle, but to all of us. In a world where our experience with healthcare was often disappointing, they reminded us that there are still truly good people doing this work for the right reasons. Despite the care my uncle received at Hillcrest Nursing Home, one thing never changed: he was deeply loved. In the end, he was surrounded by family, comfort, and grace during his transition. That is something no facility can take away. As a strong patient advocate and a hospice nurse myself, I urge every family considering placement in a nursing home to do their due diligence. Visit unannounced. Ask for multiple tours. Speak with staff. Ask who the medical providers are and how often they round on patients. Ask hard questions. No family should ever have to fight for basic care. My aunt fought for my uncle every single day for more than ten years. She left him there because she felt she had no other choice. I want everyone reading this to know: you do have a choice. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. And never stop fighting for your loved ones—regardless of how you are perceived or what it costs. At the end of my uncle’s life, love won. And that is what I will remember.
