Mcdowell Healthcare Center

McDowell Healthcare Center has 120 certified beds and cares for about 91 residents on an average day. That means it is mid-sized and usually has some open beds, but availability changes week to week, so call to check on a specific opening.

The building's programs page lists physical, occupational, and speech therapy, dementia and Alzheimer's care, respite (short caregiver-relief) stays, and a hospice and palliative-care partnership. It also names a specialty track with wound care handled by dedicated physicians, cardiac management, pulmonary management, and complex medical and post-surgical care. It does not list an on-site dialysis or a locked memory unit, so ask directly if you need either.

It is part of the CommuniCare family of companies, a for-profit network of about 121 nursing homes across several states. Nearby homes in the same network include Mercer Healthcare Center in Bluefield and Glenwood Healthcare Center in Princeton. The building is organized as a for-profit corporation.

Government reviewers rate it 5 out of 5 stars overall. Health inspections earned 5 stars, quality-of-care measures earned 4 stars, and staffing earned 3 stars. Inspections reflect what state surveyors found on site, quality measures track resident health outcomes, and staffing counts nurse and aide hours per resident. The most recent cycle listed only 4 findings and no fines. These ratings come from official government health inspections and reporting — a regulatory measure, not family reviews.

Staffing is the middle score at 3 stars, so ask how many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, and how often agency staff fill in. Government data shows about a third of registered nurses and roughly 46% of all nursing staff turned over in a year, so ask about staff consistency too. The rest of the record is strong: only 4 findings in the latest cycle and no fines on file.

The admissions page says the home offers around-the-clock admissions, is a VA-contracted center for veterans, is certified for both major government health-coverage programs, accepts most major managed-care plans, and takes private pay. The page notes that plans change, so call 304-448-2121 to confirm your specific coverage before you commit.

Call the building directly at 304-448-2121 to reach the admissions coordinator, ask about openings, and arrange a tour. The home is at 150 Venus Road in Gary. The team says a coordinator can walk you through the forms and payment questions.