Heartland of Zephyrhills

There is enough staff to take care of your loved one in a reasonable time frame. Clean rooms. Mom has only been in here for 5 days. So far so good on this end The rooms are smaller and because of this she has to sit her wheelchair facing the opposite wall from where a patient normally would. This is also because her TV is tiny and sits on an arm rather than on a wall. Not very good for her mental status personally.They will not let me take her outside the front doors for a walk and say she will be considered discharged if I take her out. My legs are now her legs and we would walk outside at her other facility. It was the most enjoyable activity for her. I notice it is already effecting her mentally that she cannot do this, so this is a deal breaker more than likely. They do have a courtyard where u can sit but it is not the same to her.There are no bed rails. Did not realize when doing the tour. My mom has lost some of her independence since she can no longer turn from side to side in her bed since she needs rails to help her turn. I asked if I could purchase some and was told no and that they are an unrestricted facility. There are cons and pros to bed rails and neither is a one size fits all way of thinking. Mom fell and broke her hip a while back, which is what brought her in here. Also a stroke patient from 13 years ago and already had a mental deficit as it was because of the stroke. She's scared to death of falling off the bed when she is turned by the CNA to get cleaned and screams loudly each time.The person in occupational therapy took the time out to talk to me. The person in physical therapy I had to push hard to get information. She seemed to be rushed that day, was not clear on her answers and I wish she would have left an open door for me to talk to her again when it was a better time.The activities could be better but could also be worse I left the 4 stars due enough staffing on hand to take care of my mom, nurses talking to me when I have questions and a really good admissions department.I give less stars due to the fact that in other areas, as mentioned on a personal level, more than likely this will not be a good fit for my mom mentally.I may come back and add to this review at a later date.------------------Editing to add on Nov 13, 2019:I am now able to take my mom outside. She still cannot have bed rails and I'm disappointed about this still. They placed one of those grab bars that hang from the ceiling over her bed. Mom does not use it because she doesn't like it. Nonetheless, I appreciate zephyrhills putting it there. Hopefully she will use it one day. It is still weird having her wheelchair sitting in the opposite direction, wish it was different since it is more difficult to sit down in there with her to socialize, especially with more than one visitor but mom herself has gotten used to it. The most important thing to me is in the level of care she has received. They take very good care of her. I have no complaints in this department. I can leave from visiting with her knowing she is in good hands.I still rate the facility as a 4.-----------Editing to add on June 13th, 2020:They over medicated my mom so bad. They do not take the time out to c what a patient needs. They want easy residents. Most everyone in there is out of it. Changed her meds all the time like within 2 days not giving the time to c if the first med change works. Messed up and removed her from her blood thinner...horrible. I recommend to check out assisted livings. You would be surprised to c who qualifies..much more one on one, much less waiting. Most of the CNAs were great. The social workers need to go back to school. Most of the nurses need a personality miracle. The admin says shell do something but she does not.

This is the reality of elder care...my mom is 85. I am her daughter.I am a STRONG ADVOCATE for her!!! My mom has lived with me for the past 5 years. She has vascular dementia and osteoarthritis. She was pretty self sufficient and the type of dementia she had affected her memory of details. She used a walker and did everything for herself with little help. On June 23 she was out for lunch and fell. I got the call from the family member she was with that she was going to the emergency room at advent wesley chapel. She was diagnosed with 3 fractures in her pelvis. No surgery was necessary. Now the horror begins! They shipped her out to Zephyr Haven rehab...which was a horror!! The very next day while I was there with her she had an Acute stroke in front of me in which I took action to have an ambulance come immediately. Then she was taken to Advent Zephyrhills...another HORROR. There she got a UTI...and also from the stroke she lost her sense of balance. She became combative and had to be restrained. She thought she was falling all the time which terrified her. (this is within 3 days of her initial fall all this happened) My daughter came and spent the nights with her grandma but she kept tearing everything off of herself and trying to get up. She would wake up..think she was falling and was terrified so she was trying to save herself. Three nurses were helping my daughter. We were afraid she would fall during this time. Advent told us they would put sitters with my mom at all times when family wasn't there to give us a break. The very next night we got a call saying she fell. There were NO sitters and she fell on her head out of the bed. They found her ON THE FLOOR. We immediately went there and we were very angry they did not have a sitter...all of this could have been avoided. her whole head was completely black and purple from taking a direct hit to her head. This is when we met Adam from Heartland. THANK GOD! He was there as a representative for Heartland. He talked with us and he was so kind yet professional. We went to Heartland the very next day and talked to Cliffton the director. He was also very kind and he took us for a tour through the facility. I was very impressed. Since there can be no restraints at rehab Heartland told us my mom would have to have 24 hours without restraint at the hospital to come there. They even went as far as to make sure they had a private room right beside the nurses station waiting for her. two days later we completed the 24 hours with only family members staying with mom. Then she was transported to Heartland. I say this with all sincerity as a strong advocate for mom...I was so impressed with Heartland! The entire staff was so supportive from the doctors down to the CNA's. The Physical therapists, Michelle and Jessica were so kind and caring with my mom. CNA Blanca sat with my mom and made sure she ate and talked with her. Speech therapy was there one hour after she arrived to see how she swallowed to determine what she could eat...then they brought her food. They called us with any changes and were exceptional to her and the family. They treated my mom with DIGNITY and kindness. She got showers on time, therapy mental and physical. I could leave my mom and come home feeling 100% confident she was being well taken care of. If you are looking for EXCELLENT rehab care for your loved one I give Heartland 1000 stars. I hope this helps families of loved ones in need of quality care to check out Heartland Rehab!!!! It's such a difficult time when all we saw was incompetence from the hospitals. Don't let the hospital send your loved one to THEIR rehabs. Please go to Heartland...talk with them...tour the facility, meet the staff. May God Bless this Facility and all those who work there tirelessly to take care of the patients in their care. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

My friend is here and the staff are very good but the place is filthy! How can people get better in a dirty facility? I really think its time the big wigs take a walk thru here and ask themselves would i want a member of my family here.

The only good thing I can say about this place is the physical therapist and occupational therapist are very good. The place reeks of urine. They dont wet clean the floors very often and should be done every day. When you push the button for help they may or may not come and if they do, it won't be for a very long time. I would never put a loved one in there unless you can be there every day watching what's going on and advocating for them. I had to speak with the administration daily. It's very sad for the residents that don't have anyone watching over them. The food is some of the worst I've seen. Sad

A very nice & clean facility with caring staff and nurses! If my mom ever has to go back for rehab, this is where I would want her to be!