Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center — Local services in City of Glen Cove

The Pratt Pavilion, I would describe as a Tale of Two Cities. During the week, I have few complaints. The staff was very attentive and understanding of my personal shame regarding my physical condition (Perhaps I shouldn’t have shame regarding needing help with bathing but to me it’s embarrassing and they understood that and were compassionate.) I could make requests regarding as needed medications (typically for pain) and they would be handled in a timely manner. They also administered all of my needed medication on schedule with about 95% accuracy, only once needing to be reminded regarding my antibiotic infusions. I will say, the late-night staff occasionally struggled with this as it regarded pain medication but it was typically on days when they were understaffed. The nursing staff in many regards can act as a liaison (although they do have a very attentive concierge (don’t ask)) between us as patients and the other departments of the facility.

Okay, now let’s talk weekends. I am going to be blunt. If your family is not coming to visit you every weekend, this can be a deal-breaker. The facility is staffed on weekends primarily by nurses that are working either overtime or only work weekends and it has a serious effect. My biggest complaints come from the weekends where I have occasionally been flat out forgotten in the world of medications. A patient asking for pain meds is typically going through some fairly serious pain. Yes, there are possibilities of dependency and you have to be cautious about that but you also have people dealing with serious pain and you can’t forget about that either. I for one was on oxycodone 5mg every four to six hours (really low dose – look it up) which I would typically only need at night and it would take more than two hours to get my dosage. This is an issue and a common one, especially on weekends. Last thing to note, that if there is a task that takes a lot of time to do, it will often get passed from shift to shift. I had a PICC line that had a bandage that needed to be changed every week on Friday. Getting a nurse to do this was like pulling teeth as it was passed from shift to shift. It is also a good idea to keep track of your medication schedule because there were a couple times that I had to push them to give me my antibiotic infusions. The Nurses are overall pretty good. Again, if you have a person who will be there with you during the weekends or you don’t have a lot of needs regarding nursing care than this is fine. As a side note, their response time to pages are essentially the same no matter what you page them about. You will get the same speed for pain meds, need assistance regarding the bathrooms, and asking for water. You would think these things would be prioritized but…no, not really. A few do, most do not.

During the week I would give them between 7.5 – 8.5 / 10. Weekends they come in around 5 – 6 / 1-0.

The Food: The food at this place is…edible. Occasionally good. They serve lunch and dinner Monday – Friday in a dining room downstairs and for the love of God get down there if you can. They serve soup which is legitimately always good. The salads are meh. They have two choices of main dish, which range from fairly good to barely edible. Let’s be clear, if you decide to stay in your room for a meal, the food that arrives at your bedroom will be barely edible (as sure as the sunrise). I legitimately missed hospital food living here for a month and a half. (That’s pretty bad.) Rating: 3 – 5 / 10

Rehabilitation: Another really big area of a rehab center is the REHAB. The facility is really good for an older group or for those who like myself are in a disabled position. The rehab staff is the absolute best. They come to your room if you don’t make it for a session and it is in a very understanding way. They are always understanding of that and don’t push too hard. Still I could see the difference in my strength both for the areas I was sent there to improve as well as other areas. ...

My Mother was an occupant there for rehab a year or so ago and then returned home. (at the time I did not have an opportunity to visit her there). I believe she was at the Pratt facility. I dont have any first hand knowledge of that. This is a review of the Glengarriff facility which is down the hill and marked with a dialysis sign at the entrance. THIS PLACE IS A DUMP AND IS A DARK DEPRESSING PLACE. My next communique will be to New York State over the conditions there.

Recently, she was hospitalized, and upon discharge was admitted for rehab and then long term care. This facility is horrible. Before I get to what I observed first hand, we can address some other matters: You will never get a staff member on the phone. The nurses station is always vacant with staff hiding throughout the floor. They do not respond to patients requests, and will actually remove call buttons from patients. None of the voicemail boxes are named so if you want to leave a message you have no idea who you are leaving with. The receptionist will hang up on you, or transfer you to a dead phone and you will be on hold indefinitely.

I visited there at the end of May. The first thing you see is the parking lot is a torn up mixture of dirt, mud and broken asphalt. When you look at the building, the exterior is depressing with old dirty windows with blinds askew and old peeling painted surfaces. The lobby is equally old. It is dark, damp and depressing the second you walk through the door. It is very old and poorly maintained.

Enter the elevator that smells of urine and is an antique from the 1960's. Buttons are taped over. Exit onto the old and unmaintained patient floor and you will notice that the patients are either in bed or sitting in wheelchairs in the hallway with nothing to see or do. The rooms are DIRTY, dark, poorly appointed and the floors are so sticky that they will literally pull your shoes off of your feet (this is not an exaggeration). The TV's hang haphazardly like they found a yard sale on a variety of equipment. There are at least two common areas, but there is little to no furniture and they generally appear to be unused.

The staff on the floor is non-existent. They hide. They will never answer the phone. They claim to have three staff members to cover an entire wing. Good luck finding them. If you look to speak to a Nursing Supervisor, you will not find one. As far as room phones are concerned, they will give you a standard line that maintenance has to repair the phone.

If you are there and ask a question of a staff member, you will see the disappointment in their eyes that you caught one of them.

My Mother needed to use the bathroom. She is in control of her body in this matter. She just needs assistance to get into the bathroom. I was told that her choices were for her to wait 15 minutes, or she could put her on the toilet and she could sit there for 15 minutes until she was available. No indication that she could call someone else, etc. They have since abandoned any effort as it relates to the toilet. They told her that she will wear a diaper and she should just relieve herself in the diaper and they will get to her eventually. Imagine being able to control your bowels and go to the bathroom, but being forced to urinate and defecate into a diaper and then being forced to sit/lie in it until someone gets to you. Discussions with staff if you can find them were unhelpful and solved nothing.

They treat patients like plants. They ignore them as much as possible. Recently, it was NINE days in between showers. They simply don't take you. If you ask, you will be ignored. And they definitely remove the call buttons from the room. There is no cafeteria. The patients eat, sleep, do everything in their room. Contact with other patients is minimal at best. The food is atrocious. The outdoor courtyard is as sad as the rest of the building. A concrete patio with little to no seating or shelter from the sun. They only want your family members body to use for billing.

Stay away...

Shua Greenwald (Concierge)is truly Glengariff Rehabilitation Center greatest asset. He is kind,patient, caring and understanding. Shua is extremely Professional and helpful. Every time I asked for his assistance he was more than willing to help. Thank You Shua from the Walker Family for your assistance. Unfortunately Shua is one person. So, I have an update: my mom was transferred to the long term care building Glengariff. My first impression was horrid. The security guard was not alert or paying attention. He was on the phone laughing distracted. Then I arrived on the 2nd floor the first thing is the stench. It STINKS on that floor. Then my mom had no phone for days ,until I came and spoke up, still waiting for the phone. then the alarm went off the residents know the keycode according to the nursing supervisor because she lives here and the sound of the alarm annoys the resident. Then the room was dirty housekeeping came to sweep and mop. I complained clearly I am getting on their nerves. So I will be researching other facilities in or around my house there's one I am interested in hopefully there's space. I am so disheartened. I don't like this building. It is depressing. Can't find staff. This is not the place for my mom . I am crying inside, I feel like I failed my mom. I am beginning the search for other accommodations. I spoke with the dietitian from Glengariff in reference to my mom receiving her dinner after 7p.m. while others residents received their tray of food by 5:30 p.m. I wanted to know why such a Hugh time differences she stated there are not enough resources. The facility lacks trucks that deliver the food. Another staff member said they feed the residents that can not feed themselves. So let me get this straight due to low to no staff, the ones who are there are complaining about being over work, the supplies, tools and resources are insufficient. But if the State came and did an inspection noone would provide such a tack unprofessional answer. You would use common sense an get an additional truck so there is no two hour delay when residents eat. And since my mom is capable of feeding herself ding ding give her the tray of food. The logic that is being utilized is absurd. No trucks for delivering food in a timely fashion. We all know eating to late especially after 7p.m. can cause, heart problems, acid reflux, sleep disorders, etc. This facility mission statement never indicates that your family member may get a late feeding time, it never tells how they are short staff which means services will suffer. The Glengariff building needs a make over . I did not tour that building, they show you the Pratt newer building warning ask to see both buildings. The road down to Glengariff tells you just want to expect. The road is bumpy and unkept. There are no pictures on their website about the older building Glengariff only the newer building Pratt. I understand people who cannot stay home with their love ones but family and friends please speak up write about your concerns, on reviews, the better business Bureau and to the State NY Health Department takes complaints on Nursing homes. My mom has only been here two months. Her room moved 4 times. Ridiculous. I had to ask for a room change the other 3 times the facility moved her. No stability it's like they play musical room change with who they think they can do it to. Some stay in the same room. Makes you wonder how the decision is being made. Pay attention to your love ones. My mom bed sheets as I arrived on Mother's day had bowel movement she is an amputee. Bugs are behind her bedroom door. If, I find a way to provide photos with this review. I will surely show everyone...