Heartland Health Care Center Lynchburg

Michelle's cousin

Since moving my cousin from Heartland to an assisted living facility across the state, I have heard many, many people concerned that she was in Heartland to start with. Here's her story: She had a history of falls and was sent to LGH following one. They kept her a week and sent her to Heartland. They kept her in her small room, with no interaction with other patients or relatives. At the end of two weeks, they released her to go home to live alone, with no relatives to help her. They, including a male employee of Heartland, struggled to get her in a vehicle and when she got home, she could not stand, much less take care of herself. After 2 hours at home, she went back to the hospital. No one in the family was told that she was being discharged and she called a neighbor to come get her. She was returned to the hospital and back to Heartland after a week. Again, she was confined to her room. Two weeks later, she ran out of insurance money and I went to get her. She couldn't stand up, was very confused, and couldn't hear because some staff member picked up her hearing aid and threw it away! While there this time, all physical contact was suspended for two weeks and the only physical therapy given was to walk around the small room, according to her. I She spent a month there with little therapy and with no contact with anyone. She was there mainly to strengthen her legs but only got weaker, mentally and physically. They claimed that she was walking around upstairs with a walker and was fine. ( I've been in a orthopedic facility and know what can be done in a hospiital room vs a therapy room with good equipment) WRONG! They insisted she got good physical therapy but could not say what she did in the way of therapy. On the morning a went to get her,she had declined mentally and physically. No way she was up on a walker at 9AM and not able to stand up at 9:30! Her last words as we pulled out of the facility were "Please don't ever make me go there again." I took her to her new home and they welcomed her warmly and took good care of her, until her death less than two weeks later. As of yet, I have heard of no one in the Lynchburg,-Appomattox area who recommends this facility.

Provider Response

Jasmin

My mother stayed in Heartland Health Care Center Lynchburg. It's an older building, but the layout is like a hotel. It has different floors and short hallways off of the main hallway. It was clean, but it was not kept up. Their dining area was just a table and an office room. My mother's room was shared with another woman, but it was a very small room. There was less than three feet between their beds. My mother said the food was OK, but there were no social activities.

Provider Response

sunnyday4173

I work at Heartland Lynchburg nursing home and I love my job. It is a very rewarding job. The residents have the best life stories to tell. I recommend this place to everyone. I've even had my own family stay here for the rehab services they offer. The rehab team is really very good.

CCR1

My dad is a resident of the Medical Care Center of Lynchburg. Our family has had experience with three facilities in the Lynchburg area. Of the three, this one has been my least favorite. I was impressed with the attending physician and physical therapist. The nurses and CNAs did not possess the quality or professionalism I would like to have seen in this field.The building has some age on it. My grandmother was in this facility 25 years ago as well. The rooms are sparsely furnished and cramped. There is very little room for visitors to stand or sit. The facility has a looming institutional smell to it. The beds have no rails to keep the patients from falling out, however, nurses explained that this is because of state regulations. Instead, they lower the beds as close to the floor as possible and put mats beside the bed in case of accidents. It would also be nice if they had private entrances and exits for the funeral homes who come to pick up deceased patients. I passed a stretcher with a deceased patient while entering the building and shared the same elevator with them as well. It would be nice for the deceased and family of the deceased to have a little more privacy during a time like that.The center is convenient to the hospital and dialysis center. The food is exceptionally good.

jttgb5

My grandmother was a resident at this facility for 6 months until she passed away. I am a CNA and liked this facility more than the facility I trained at. It was clean and well layed out, easy to navigate. The staff were very friendly, helpful, courteous, and compassionate. The nurse was available to talk to me about my concerns and questions about my grandmother's care. I believe she was well taken care of, and the facility did not seem to me to be understaffed, as some are. They do offer rehabilitation therapy which my grandmother seemed happy with while she was participating. I would not hesitate to recommend Medical Care Center in Lynchburg to someone, if they are looking at this type of option for themselves or a loved one.