News

Bluestem Communities among best nationally in long-term care

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Bluestem Communities’ long-term care campuses – Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton and Schowalter Villa in Hesston – have both been recognized as a Best Nursing Home for Long-Term Care for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual Best Nursing Homes rating, now in their 14th year, assist prospective residents and their families in making informed decisions in consultation with their medical professionals about where to receive short-term or long-term care. Only 16 percent of U.S. skilled nursing communities earned the “Best Nursing Home” designation this year.

Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa both earned the “High Performing” rating, the highest possible achievement.

“I am so proud of the teams at Kidron Bethel Village, led by Executive Director Jennifer Traglia, and Schowalter Villa, led by Executive Director Jeff Ritcha, who provide exemplary care and compassion to every resident,” said James Krehbiel, Bluestem Communities President and CEO. “Bluestem Communities staff understand what it means to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve, and these honors reflect that.” 

For the 2025 rankings, U.S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes on care, safety, infection rates, staffing and health inspections. For the first time, the Best Nursing Homes ratings feature a new measure on weekend staffing and another new measure on infection rates that led to hospitalizations. To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each organization’s performance using a variety of data obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa are both part of Bluestem Communities, a non-profit organization of life plan communities offering several living and care options for seniors, including independent living, assisted living, health care and PACE (Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in south central Kansas.

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About Bluestem Communities

Bluestem Communities is a nonprofit organization in south central Kansas that serves seniors through various living options, care settings and care-centered services. Visit bluestemks.org.