Amsterdam Nursing Home — Local services in New York

All of the 5 star reviews left on this horrible place are either paid for or left by people who are completely naive to what actually goes on here. I should have sued and fought to have this location shut down for all the horrific things they did to my mother.

When she came here, she was in bad condition already after being in Langone for well over a month from multiple issues. She was in the early stages of dementia, so communicating and memory issues were already becoming a problem, and that was on top of diabetes, heart issues, and more.

The staff here was both verbally and physically abusive. Not just to my mom but to other patients on the floor as well. I stayed with her every day and only left when absolutely required to, and the things I witnessed were horrific.

They would come in and violently grab her up off the bed and throw her back down without even saying what they were doing. When pressed, they would say it was to clean and change her. She was already confused as it was, and when she tried to communicate (again, dealing with early dementia) it would make the nurses mad.

Several of them would scream right in her ear and repeatedly shout that they didn’t understand her. They ALSO neglected to clean her properly. Despite coming in multiple times a day to supposedly clean and change her, they never did a proper job in the first place.

Then, they would try to force her up to go to the bathroom when they already knew she couldn’t leave the bed. I fought with them repeatedly to get her a catheter, which her doctor at Langone had already put in her medical notes, and they kept saying they would, but never did. When they got her up, of course they were aggressive then as well. They would yank her arms and demand that she walk when she literally couldn’t, and then they would shout at her for “not trying hard enough.”

Eventually, I got them to agree to come and do something where they could drain her urine at bedside, which they did, but never often enough. They would come by the room and say they were “about to do it”, only to come back three hours later each time or not at all. On a related note, which I will return to shortly, when she died, the hospital staff told me she had so much buildup that her urine was THICK. I didn’t even know that was possible, but they said it was from not going frequently enough and becoming severely dehydrated.

They also continued to bring regular trays of food every single day despite it AGAIN being in her charts that she couldn’t have that, and when I pointed out EVERY DAY that the charts from her doctor said she could only drink ensure, they would say they’d bring it right back, and of course, the majority of the time, it wouldn’t come for hours if at all.

They also threatened to throw her out of the facility multiple times for “not participating in physical therapy” despite the fact that her legs were so swollen she could not even get out of bed. She tried her best, I KNOW she did because I was right beside her, but they demanded things that were not even possible, like getting up and walking all the way down the hall. And just like the nurses, the physical therapists were also aggressive, hateful, and worst of all, extremely rough with her. They would pull her out of bed and practically SLAM her into the wheelchair every time they came to work with her. I had to complain about one of them at one point and even said that she didn’t want to work with that therapist again.

She was in Langone for over a month and was not doing well, but was stable. She was at Amsterdam for 3 weeks, and died only 2 days after being released. Everything that appeared in her autopsy strongly suggested that she had been neglected and not given the care she needed when there.

If there was even the slightest chance of it making a difference, I would fight til my dying day to shut this location down, but I know how the system works. I can’t change things here, but I can hopefully warn others about sending their loved ones to this...

Update: I increased my rating because the majority of the staff are hardworking and caring. It wouldn't be fair not to mention that. My issue is not with the staff, but with administration and the "policies" and practices. I have called and emailed admin and no response. I was told to email and I did. Nothing has happened.

Original Post: My grandfather was admitted here in March 2022. We were repeatedly told by the social workers that my grandfather, who is a long term dementia patient cannot stay long term because Amsterdam decided in early 2022 that they will no longer accept long term patients (short term patients pay more).They also told me that the nursing home does not have the services that a dementia patient like my grandfather needs. We chose Amsterdam because of the proximity. Grandma lives 5 minutes away.

My grandfather has dementia with behaviors. He is combative with nurses and visitors. I 1000% understand the liability and safety concern surrounding a patient that can be danger to himself and others. I stand by being transparent and fair. But at the same time, these behaviors are a symptom of his condition. We as the family do not (and are not medically trained) to handle these behaviors which is why we placed my grandfather in a nursing home (additionally we do not have the means or space to safely take care of him at home. We would if we could).

Amsterdam is responsible for providing the services and trained staff to cater to the needs of their residents and they have not done that to full extent for my grandfather.

My grandfather is sent to Bellevue hospital to be psych treated every time he has any sort of behavior. This time he's been in the hospital for a little over 3 weeks now. In the last 11 months, he was sent to the hospital twice. One of those times he spent 2 months there. Every time his health takes a huge turn for the worse. Hospitals are not long term solutions. Amsterdam is requesting 2 full weeks of no behaviors to readmit him, which they are aware he cannot do. The doctors tell us that it's not fair for Amsterdam to request this and expect for my grandfather to be sedated 24/7 because essentially that is what they want. For my grandfather to be considered stable and display no behaviors he needs to be sedated like a lifeless zombie.

The nursing home claims to not have dementia services, they only do short-term rehab (their website and DOH say otherwise), they can’t manage when grandpa has an outburst. His behavior is too challenging for them. His dementia has made him paranoid, agitated and physically combative, non-compliant. They send him to the hospital every time, with short notice. And, every time we see how being forcibly removed from his room and strapped to a stretcher and hauled away to the psychiatric hospital has traumatized him.

It’s like punishing him for something he can’t control and can’t understand. He doesn’t understand that he shouldn’t refuse his meds, that he can’t hit others; that the nurses and CNAs need to bring his meals, check on him, and take his vitals. The truth is, nursing homes prefer short-term patients, insurance pays more. We were counting on that the nursing home would be the best option for the level of care that he needed. And instead of being a support for his care, Amsterdam has made this experience even harder. It has left us questioning where to turn. If this nursing home can’t take care of my grandfather with dementia, who can? It doesn’t make sense.

We have called the DOH, the Ombudsmen office, the regional office. Next will be lawyers and the news. Sending my grandfather to the hospital is killing him. Amsterdam's refusal to take him long term and equipping the facility with the needed staff and services that my grandfather and all the current residents at Amsterdam rightfully need is a crime. If my grandfather is placed back in Amsterdam its for the better not more of the same. We want change and we are currently exploring our options on escalating...

To understand the whole picture I feel is important. First, I acknowledge reality, these facilities like hospitals is a business. It is always about the money and most staff are there to get a salary to survive. Understand many are govt subsided and it is not well decorated or equipped. It is not a hotel; private teaching hospitals are nicer. The food are not great, they are all standard; I knowing a director assistant myself at another nursing facility, and am told food are usually purchased from the same vendors in NYC. Don’t expect anyone will follow through or check in after being discharge, bed for next. They want easy cases; they want a patient in for profit and out once no money stops; this not a charity. Then there is an issue of short staffing. But this review is about the most important issue, how is the care. Most patients or guardians understand the more money the chance of better care and admit some patients are difficult. Highly note there are some staff at any place who genuinely cares and no matter how difficult the job, they like what they signed up for and their work. They are compassionate understanding, helpful, and professional. And yes they have their bad days and personal issues too but like a lawyer, one doesn’t take personal issues to court hearing; the lawyer just step way. I find a huge problem are the aids, nurses, doctors and case workers who are non-empathy, unhelpful, bothersome, abusive even, unhappy, rude, complaints to care givers/family/friends (complaining to colleagues is needed and therapeutic at times). Seems to me those feel like they are being forced into some factory line and then takes it off on others. To them I like to remind them perhaps, that job or position is not for them; and they need to find a different career. It is okay. we understand, it is not a fun and easy job dealing with difficult people. If an elderly is well and sane then they will not be in a nursing facility and the caregivers will feel less frustrated and more carefree. That also means some aids, nurses and case workers will be out of job too and facilities not needed. *I recommend not judging staff by its cover, you will be surprised who are not easy going; yes, some from day one reads ‘unreliable and out of touched’. I hope those who don’t like their job understands that one day it can be themselves or their friends/family members in these types of facilities or situations. It is not easy to for the patient or the caregiver either and you are their breakers. No doubt frustrating. One do not know what someone went through in life to make assumption why they behave they way they do. How would they feel if they were being yelled at or dragged or constantly bother like they could do anything when their minds confused? I think when hiring, if it is about ultimate caring facility then only hire those who really like social work and up for the challenge or maybe even those who has been through dealing with elder family members with issues; it’s not a bad idea to rotate staff annually throughout the system for their sanity. Understand elder and health care in America is negative. We do appreciate the staff members even security who are kind and patience I know Heaven notices them and to them...