3 Independent Living Communities in Broome County, New York

Mike O\'Connell

My mother had some health issues in 2021 and was no longer able to live at home. We checked out a few assisted living centers and thought that Elderwood at Vestal would be a good fit. As a matter of fact it has been even better that I had imagined. The staff is very thoughtful and caring, and has helped my mom through a few difficult transitions, including one (temporary) hospital stay. My mom likes that it\'s pet friendly (she has a cat!), and I really do sleep soundly at night knowing she has such excellent care. I cannot endorse Elderwood at Vestal enough.

ReviewerFC120920A

My cousin stayed at Bridgewater Center for Rehab & Nursing. What I saw there was a lot of hanging out at the nurses' station, not paying attention to the patients. There was stuff that came up missing out of my cousin's drawers, like a card from Red Lobster. There were nurses tapping into him and then things would come up missing. They kind of used his mental capacity. There was an expensive recliner that came up missing and it was never found. They said it was in the maintenance room and they couldn't find it. There were expensive items missing. I saw the skilled activity room and I was OK with that. That's about the only thing I could say good about it. The place wasn't clean. I went past one patient's room and they were fully exposed sitting on a bathroom toilet on a commode. There was a really bad stench of urine, which I understand happens because of the capacity of the patients' minds, but I even worked in worse conditions that were better in appearance than Bridgewater. I wasn't too impressed with the facility.

ReviewerFC120920A

I was at Absolut Ctr For Nursing & Rehab Endicott taking care of my cousin with Parkinson's. It was atrocious and understaffed. I went in to feed him one day, and he was at the table, and the girls were on cell phones. One gentleman could not feed himself, and the girl went to reach forward, and the gentleman leaned forward like she was gonna feed him and she picked up her cell phone. The gentleman looked at me, and I felt terrible. He was thinking she was gonna give him something to eat. The staff was not experienced. There were some very good staff there, but they were understaffed. I had to ask for my cousin's food tray because it wasn't on the table. I'm not an employee, and I had to go looking for a food tray. My cousin was a choke hazard and they left me with him. They were not paying attention to the menus, and there was food on his tray he wasn't supposed to have. He had fallen several times. They'd done away with bed rails, and she didn't have a mat by his bed. He fell in the bathroom several times. He was not shaved, he was drooling, and there was fresh food down his face. His hair was greasy, and he wasn't clean like he should be. The bedroom smelled like urine, which I understand with Parkinson's and people who live in these facilities. I don't think the people hired are being hired for the right reasons as far as being compassionate. I think they're there for paycheck. When I went into the utility rooms, the cupboard doors were hanging off the cupboard. I would not put my dog there. There were good people there, but the majority was not there for the patients. The food was not correct. He was getting food that he could choke on. They need a lot of improvement.

Bonnie, caring for Uncle

I have been visiting our Uncle 3-4 times a week at this Vestal “Elderwood” facility for almost 2 years now. It feels like home ( warm and inviting) from the minute you get to the front door then walk in to the double large living rooms with a cozy fireplace. They schedule activities to appeal to all personalities, and go above and beyond to make visitors feel right at home also. I was especially happy to see chair Yoga classes in the calendar of activities!! Some elderly are not as mobile as others- so this class lets them participate, do what they can and still get the wonderful benefits that Yoga provides to our bodies. I was there for a few classes and noticed a difference on the residents faces by the end of the class , it was wonderful !! My thought or suggestion Is hopeful that they could offer this class more than once a month. I highly recommend this facility, it’s home away from home for our Uncle !!

Mike

Elderwood Village at Vestal is convenient, nice and clean, and the people and the staff are nice. The food has been good. They have Bingo seven days a week and activities that my mother likes. They have an activity area, a sitting area, and a little library. They take them gambling if they want to go, and they've got a bus that can take them and let them shop around. It's pretty good for the money they're paying.