STELLA MARIS, INC.

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Joyce

See UPDATE to this original posting. My mother has been in Stella Maris long term nursing home for about two years, now, and there have always been problems with the care. I hesitated to write a review because of concerns of covert retaliation against her when we are not there. But things just keep getting worse and worse. We have continuously had the following problems: Failure to take her to the toilet upon request, sometimes for as long as two to three hours. Nov 28 UPDATE: There's an aid that has Mommie, and I suspect other residents, too scared to put on the call light when they have to go to the bathroom. This same aid has also questioned my mother when I've called to see why it has taken over an hour to toilet her. She challenges Mommie asking her, "You called your daughter and told that I wouldn't take you to the bathroom?" Mommie does not want me to call anymore because she says that only makes the situation worse. This is definitely a form of retaliation that is, of course, almost impossible to prove. END OF UPDATE Failure for the doctor or nurse practitioner to attend patient care meetings to discuss the side effects that the medications are causing. Failure to schedule appointments with external doctors when needed and/or requested. Failure to get her up early enough to spend the day out of bed along with not getting her to bed early enough leading to her sitting for hours when she is exhausted. Failure to provide walking up and down the hallway as is necessary to help control her lymphedema. The aids just tell her they don’t have time, or they are short staffed and cannot walk her. One night having an incompetent nurse on duty who would not even investigate her having hallucinations, even after my sister arrived at 12 midnight because Mommie had been calling her clearly in an altered state. Failure of the nurse practitioner and doctor recognizing adverse reactions to specific medications including changes in personality (aggressive and irrational behavior), wobbling head, twisting mouth, bulging eyes. Turning off her light when she calls for help and telling her someone will be back and not responding or not coming back for hours. Not taking her blood pressure daily and lying about it even though she has hypertension and takes medication for it, and her blood pressure is not controlled along with being in stage 3 kidney failure. Nursing aids that clearly do not like their jobs and have no ability to pivot themselves to address priorities and then return to their routine. They also take behavior of residents personally that they should understand comes with elderly, infirmed residents suffering from losing their independence, being humiliated because they cannot control their bodily functions, and are suffering from side effects of medication. It is fair to assume that the aids have been trained, so they, along with the nurses, should be able to recognize what they see and deal with those behaviors without retaliating. Failure of the nurse manager to train, oversee, and manage her staff. I thought Stella Maris would be a good choice because some people told me that it was a very good facility prior to the Covid pandemic. But that has not been the case. I often wonder if the Board of Trustees knows how bad things are or if they know but do not care. It costs thousands of dollars to keep someone in a nursing home. Whether the resident is paying cash or the cost is covered with Medicare or Medicaid (tax dollars), the care for the money at this facility is sadly not equitable.

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Kelly Lally

I do not recommend Stella Maris Hospice, and especially their hospice nurse Roberta. The care provided was inadequate, neglectful, and deeply distressing. When hospice care began, no nurse was available for 4 days, leaving my family member in pain, unable to be moved, and without medication. The assigned nurse, Roberta, was insensitive and unprofessional—hung up during a call for help while my family member was dying, and made an inappropriate, hostile remark to me and my family when she arrived to call the time of death. Promised support from the social worker, including a priest for last rites and a family support group, never materialized, despite repeated attempts to contact the ombudsman, social worker, and nursing line. This experience caused immense emotional distress and left my family member without the dignity and comfort expected at the end of life. I strongly CAUTION anyone considering Stella Maris Hospice.

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Peggy Williams

My mom has resided at Stella MRIS for about 3 years. The staff has been excellent to me and my family. My mom love the staff. She is very happy with the services provided. Again, thank you for your services. Peggy Anderson Williams. 11/9/25

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Jennifer Jones

Exceptional care and compassion from the Home Hospice Team was provided to my mother during her time in hospice. Staff was kind, patient, and professional. My family and I are deeply grateful for the warmth and respect you showed to her and to all of us. We will always remember the difference you made.

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Crystal Buckson

My father passed on the Inpatient Hospice in 2016. It will be 10 years next year and I am absolutely still so grateful for the care he received. I would have never chosen any other place but here. I wouldn’t choose any other place for my family. It was the CARE and How they CARED. I miss my dad sooo much but I am so thankful to Stella