"MANSFIELD -- Dick Reynolds wasn't surprised to learn two Mansfield nursing homes were rated among the worst in the nation, in a list released Tuesday.

Mansfield Memorial Homes, 50 Blymyer Ave., and Woodlawn Health Care and Rehabilitation, 535 Lexington Ave., were among 131 nursing homes nationwide with poor inspection records, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency. There are more than 16,400 nursing homes in the nation.

Reynolds, 69, said his mother, now deceased, was in the care of Woodlawn a number of years ago.

"Some of the aides dropped my mother once while she was in Woodlawn," Reynolds said. "She couldn't talk, and they just put her back into bed. When my sister went to visit her, she said she could tell that something was wrong with her because my mother was just moaning and moaning."

After taking his mother to the hospital, Reynolds said doctors diagnosed the problem.

"Her hip was broken, and they had just put her back into bed," Reynolds said.

Reynolds relayed his own experience at Mansfield Memorial Homes in the late 1990s.

"When I had my hip replaced, I had to go in there," he said. "I was told that they had rehabilitation facilities. That was a total scam. They didn't have those kind of facilities at all. When I figured that out, they didn't want to let me out."

Mansfield Memorial Homes Director of Nursing Linda Phizenmayer declined comment Wednesday. She referred the News Journal to Executive Director Ray Loughman, who could not be reached for comment.

A Woodlawn employee directed questions to administrator Richard Stewart, who also could not be reached.

The latest news comes on the heels of a report released last year by the Ohio Department of Health, which listed the two facilities among the five most troubled in the state. The other three were White Oak Manor, in Warren, Oak Hills Pavilion, in Cheviot, and Briarfield at the Ridge, in Mineral Ridge. All five again appeared in the federal listing.

The two Mansfield operations were among 52 facilities nationwide that haven't improved after spending 11 months with a "Special Focus Facility" rating issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The most recent survey was completed at Mansfield Memorial Homes on Nov. 29. The most recent survey was completed at Woodlawn Health Care and Rehabilitation on Dec. 13.

The News Journal also talked to clients who reported positive experiences with each facility.

Deb Patterson, of Mansfield, said her brother is a Woodlawn resident. She also has had three other relatives stay there.

"We've never really had any major problems with them," said Patterson, 54. "I know a lot of the nurses aides, and the ones I've talked to seem to care."

Patterson said when her mother-in-law was a resident, the nurses called if there was a problem, no matter how minor.

"I know they get busy in there, but I've had quite a bit of experience with them, and they seem to be caring people," she said.

News Journal employee Kay Butts, of Mansfield, reported two smooth stays with Mansfield Memorial Homes.

"I was there a month both times in 2004 and 2006 when I had knee implant surgery," said Butts, 66. "The food was excellent and the aides and everyone were very attentive. My medications came on time and the rehabilitation went well. I know their reputation comes across otherwise, but my care was excellent.'"

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