megan summerlin
Dec 2025
Grandma gets excellent care. Thank you!!
Southern Hills Specialty Care
444 North West View Drive
3.8(24 ratings)
1 / 5Quick Facts
- Medicare rating
- 3 of 5
- Ownership
- Non profit, Corporation
- Certified beds
- 90
- Operator
- Run by nonprofit Care Initiatives, statewide nonprofit provider
- Licensed capacity
- Licensed for up to 90 residents
- Staff size
- More than 100 staff members on site
- Rehab services
- On-site rehab therapy for short- or long-term recovery
CMS Care Compare
What Families Think
Reviews of Southern Hills Specialty Care are sharply divided: many families praise the compassionate, attentive staff and cleanliness, while several others report serious lapses in monitoring, hygiene, and communication. Overall it holds a 3.8 rating from a small pool of 24 reviews, reflecting this mix of strong personal care and troubling incidents.
The Good
- Staff described as loving and compassionate
- Facility kept clean, no 'nursing home smell'
- Regular, clear communication with families in several reviews
- Comfort-focused end-of-life care praised
- Long-term relationships with returning residents' families
The Bad
- Multiple reports of inadequate monitoring for wandering or exit-seeking residents
- One report of missed pneumonia diagnosis before hospital transfer
- One report of poor hygiene care and unexplained safety concerns
- Some families cite unclear or inconsistent answers from administration
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
About Southern Hills Specialty Care
Southern Hills Specialty Care is a skilled nursing and long-term care community located in Osceola, Iowa. It is licensed to serve up to 90 residents around the clock, drawing residents from Clarke County and surrounding areas.
The community offers both long-term and short-term care options for individuals experiencing chronic diseases or debilitating medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's or heart disease. Onsite rehabilitation therapy services are also available, using a variety of approaches tailored to each resident, whether for short-term recovery or ongoing long-term rehabilitation needs.
Southern Hills Specialty Care emphasizes an active and engaging quality of life for residents through daily programming, social and educational activities, and services designed to promote physical health, provide mental stimulation, and increase engagement in a home-like setting.
The community is staffed by more than 100 team members dedicated to providing compassionate, quality care alongside engaging activities meant to enhance residents' overall quality of life.
Southern Hills Specialty Care operates under Care Initiatives, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and recognized as Iowa's largest nonprofit provider of skilled nursing care. Care Initiatives operates 43 skilled nursing locations, two assisted living locations, seven independent living locations, and eight hospice offices across the Midwest.
Types of Care
Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care
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Help Me ChooseReviews
3.8overall · 24 ratings combined
3.8★ on Google (24)
Iliana D
Apr 2025
My grandma was placed here from Lantern Park Specialty Care in Coralville Iowa because my grandma had suffered a stroke causing dementia and to be wheelchair-bound. Compare to the Coralville location she was better taken care of here, well dressed everyday and didn’t smell of urine. She was here during Covid and weren’t able to have an in-person visit and the one time they did allow us to see her face to face we had to keep our distance. The staff were nice but didn’t interact much with them much. Because we lived in Iowa City and weren’t really able to see her in person due to Covid we decided to bring her home and take turns taking care of her. When we picked her up we noticed she had a cough but didn’t think much of it. When we were signing documents to release her she continued to cough a little more and had coughed up blood. I told them about it but the two ladies looked at each other and said they had called us about it. Our family is very close and communicative when it came to my grandmother, nobody had received report of this. She was very weak and when we got to Iowa City we decided to take her to the University of Iowa Hospital emergency department. They told us she had a few spots on her lungs, I can’t recall what else they found and no longer have access to her MyChart to pull up the medical report. It was very infuriating that they lied about contacting us, and should have had a provider check on her, especially if she was coughing up blood. When you place a family member in a facility like this you expect them to take care of them like their own. Very neglectful and would not recommend placing your loved one here.
Diana Nagel
Jan 2023
We could not ask for a better place for my son! Southern Hills Specialty Care is a down home, close knit, loving "family" staff! They are always on top of things, along with compassion and great care for our loved one! Highly recommend them and refer them to anyone looking for a Care Center that will give you peace of mind you're in good hands. Thank you so much for being our Guardian Angel over my son!
Robin Matherly
Jan 2023
The staff here are great! Super caring and hardworking.
Cristal Thomas
Jan 2023
I have had my grandma, Emma Myers and my mother -in-law, Karen Voshell both receive care at this facility at different stages in thier lives. Both received excellent care and the staff was amazing. I will continue to advocate for this facility. Without them I would have been lost. Thanks again!!!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of care does Southern Hills Specialty Care offer?
Southern Hills Specialty Care offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
Where is Southern Hills Specialty Care located?
Southern Hills Specialty Care is located at 444 North West View Drive in Osceola, Iowa.
What do families say about Southern Hills Specialty Care?
Reviews of Southern Hills Specialty Care are sharply divided: many families praise the compassionate, attentive staff and cleanliness, while several others report serious lapses in monitoring, hygiene, and communication. Overall it holds a 3.8 rating from a small pool of 24 reviews, reflecting this mix of strong personal care and troubling incidents.
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