Shepherd of the Valley Howland
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise clean and well-maintained facility. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 48 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
While the facility is physically well-maintained, the recurring reports of severe understaffing and slow response times are a significant red flag. Families should conduct unannounced visits during weekends or evenings to observe actual staff responsiveness before making a decision.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
48 reviews on Google“Shepherd of the Valley Howland receives highly polarized feedback, with a significant number of families reporting serious concerns regarding understaffing, neglect, and poor communication. While some reviewers praise the facility's appearance and individual staff members, many others describe a lack of responsiveness to call lights and inadequate care for residents with complex medical needs.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Welcoming physical environment
- Some staff members described as compassionate
Concerns
- Significant understaffing leading to slow response times (mentioned by 8 reviewers)
- Poor communication with family members regarding patient care (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Lack of empathy or unprofessional behavior from staff (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Frequent falls or decline in physical condition during rehab (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 51 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I noticed that communication is a top priority for families; what is your standard process for keeping us updated on our loved one's daily care and any changes in their health?
- 2With staffing levels being so important to resident comfort, could you walk me through how you manage response times when a resident needs assistance?
- 3I see that you are active in responding to feedback online; how do you incorporate that family input into your day-to-day operations to improve the resident experience?
- 4Given that physical well-being is a focus, what specific protocols do you have in place to monitor residents and prevent falls, especially for those in rehab?
- 5What does the daily social calendar look like, and how do you encourage residents to participate in activities to ensure they stay engaged and active?
- 6I understand that dining is a central part of life here; could you tell me how the kitchen team handles individual dietary needs and feedback regarding meal quality?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“My mother is currently here and when she called for help it took staff almost an hour to get to her. There were several nurses who came in and out to do other things and when asked to help her they said they had to get someone else.”
“They accepted my husband when they knew they didn't have the staff to care for him they left him alone in a dirty room and he got septes and died”
“The staff are noticeably inattentive, overwhelmed, and at times outright dismissive. On two different visits I witnessed residents break into tears, and no one bothered to ask what was wrong or offer support.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 16 measures
11
measures
3
measures
2
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents needing more daily help over time
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
This facility shows a pattern of recurring deficiencies across fire safety systems, resident care quality, and resident rights over three surveys spanning 2020 to 2025. While all violations have been corrected according to state records, the persistence of fire safety issues (appearing in both 2023 and 2025) and ongoing care quality concerns suggest systemic challenges that families should discuss directly with facility leadership during visits.
Jun 5, 2025Routine5
Smoke Deficiencies
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Jan 19, 2023Routine5
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Construction Deficiencies
Meet requirements for sections of health care facilities separated by fire resistive construction.
Jan 2, 2020Routine8
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Services Deficiencies
Install properly constructed and protected linen or trash chutes.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Shepherd of the Valley Howland
nonprofit
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
48 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit shepherdofthevalley.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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