Forest View Center — Local services in New York

UPDATE: the reply below states they tried calling us “several times.” This is a lie. All of our messages went unanswered, including the ones we left last week. I keep excellent phone records and left diligent messages with my correct number. Nobody called me back. They did not even return my father’s PC doctors call.

Forest View social workers were supposed to put in referrals for at home PT and visiting nurse- they did not! It took me calling his original hospital St Francis to have someone there get on their case. This has zero to do with insurance and everything to do with neglect and negligence. The social workers never put in the referrals and my dad was home for two weeks with zero help or PT. They never mentioned “private pay” to me during his discharge- and I asked a ton of questions. Btw, his insurance DOES pay for these at home after care visits- Forest View never put in for them. Shameful that it took someone from St Francis Hospital to call and get on them to do their jobs- low and behold, an hour after that call, Forest View FINALLY issued a referral to Catholic Home Care- TWO whole weeks after my father was discharged. UNACCEPTABLE!

FV never made the transition from facility to home and easy one as their website claims. They left us in a lurch, ghosted all of our calls and left me to call others for help when it was Forest View’s responsibility to coordinate after care at home. So no, Monica, I will not be calling you to discuss this privately. I’ve tried that already and nobody called me back, but you suddenly have time and know my name when a bad review is left? No. I will instead be calling NYS and filing a complaint with the state DOH on the grounds of patient abandonment.

ZERO communication between staff and families! My father was sent here in mid-July for PT / rehab for a broken hip. The staff never contacted us with a Care Plan upon his admission (as their website states) and all of our phone calls went completely unanswered.

He was finally moved to the first floor after a week- during the move the staff told him to “pack your things, you’re moving downstairs” - something he cannot do with extremely limited mobility and totally unacceptable treatment of a 80 year old man.

My husband and I placed a multitude of phone calls from July 12 to August 2 but heard NOTHING back. Finally, a social worker named Leanna called me on August 2 to say my dad “met his goals” (super vague) and is being discharged in a day and a half. We had zero updates the whole time he was there and we’re given zero time to prepare the home for him or arrange home care.

Leanna told us that he would be sent home with aftercare in the form of Visiting Nurse and at-home PT / OT- none of this ever happened. I am sitting here almost two weeks since he came home and nobody even called us regarding home care for dad. When we called the Visiting Nurse company listed in his discharge papers they not only did not have a case for my dad, they had never heard of him! Forest View also failed to send any of my dad’s file or discharge info / papers to his primary care doctor- we had his follow up yesterday with his PC and he was kept in the dark. He even placed a called to Leanna and was ghosted.

I last spoke with social worker Leanna on Monday August 8th and was assured a phone call back the following day- here we are a week later and still nothing. She just kept saying she was “so busy” and could not call us.

So far there has been no Nurse, aid or PT for my father. He has not had a shower in two weeks because there is nobody here to bathe him. He cannot function and fell in the house twice since he has been home. He should have never been released from rehab in the condition they sent him home in. He cannot perform basic daily tasks. He can barely walk and wears an adult diaper all day and night (something they also hid from us). He clearly needs a ton more help than any of us can provide - and instead of helping us we are being completely ghosted by...

Lack of empathy; unresponsive and militaristic aides resulted in a major injury (broken hip) at this facility.... I did all the research I could do. My mom counted on me and it breaks my heart. She was on the fourth floor. In the few days she was there she called me several times about not having aides respond to calls. One night I called the number for the nurse - FIVE times - and no one picked up. On the first day that she called for help with going to the bathroom the aide said" no more bed pans for you! you have to go to the bathroom!" as if my mom preferred putting someone out with cleaning a bed pan. The weekday aides were problematic. Mom said they yelled about being put out by calls. I thought she was exaggerating, but by chance I was on the phone when I heard the aide yelling at her roommate. I thought it was maybe the accent and cadence, but truly it was sad to hear what the aide was saying. The next day one aide asked another to change and straighten the beds. The aide that was asked to do this was so mad that she through the bed call button the floor. My mom called me speaking in hushed tones. In the background I heard the aide saying "I'm sorry" twice to my mom. We advised the social worker of the issues. There is a clear lack of empathy and a militaristic approach in the way the aides communicate. It scares this vulnerable elderly population. English is my mom's second language and that was pointed out to her on more than 1 occasion. Work place culture is a top-down issue. I was going to request a transfer of my mom out of that floor or out of Forestview. The weekend staff were nicer and more attentive. On day 6 - Monday - no one came to help my mom go to the bathroom. After waiting and waiting, she climbed out of the bed to go to the bathroom, fell and broke her hip. The male orderly came and gave her the cell phone and she called my sister. An aide stayed outside the room and watched as my mom cried in pain. To be clear she needed to be moved by trained EMT professionals but no one came in the room to hold her hand or reassure her. The social worker has returned our call since this happened. Noone from management has called us. They ask you what activities your loved one likes and they tell you how the activity director will be in touch. In 6 days noone came. Smoke and screens - a decent looking place that hides issues with training. Look elsewhere. If you are going to place someone here - AVOID the FOURTH FLOOR. A broken hip in someone elderly is oft referred to as a death sentence. The pain is excruciating. Do you want to take a chance here? Note that at least one of the 5* reviews here is written by an employee. Maybe they were better in the past, pre-covid? Don't know. Doesn't matter. I hope this post...

Dear Friends, It is incumbent upon me to describe my blessed, unbelievable healing, and recuperative experience at the Forest View Rehab Center in Forest Hills, Queens. Easily accessible by subway (E and F train) and LIRR with a minimal 3 block walk. Cars travel via the Van Wyck, Grand Central, or Queens Boulevard to Jewel Avenue. It is located in a safe, quiet, clean, well lit Forest Hills. Upon entering the Forest View’s spacious and serene lobby, you are greeted by the concierge who directs you to your relative’s room or activity location with courtesy, kindness, and knowledge. Most insurance plans are accepted, and assistance is available re: Medicaid, Medicare paperwork. Activities of daily living; progress in mobility, eating, dressing, activities, personal hygiene, showering, mood and motivation levels, and food consumption are documented every day. A psychologist, dietician, speech therapist, and podiatrist are on staff. One of many physicians is on site and immediately available. Special amenities and extraordinary services on site include 3 delicious homemade glatt kosher meals, courtesy meals for visitors, convenient visitor hours, Shabbos elevator, religious services, an experienced creative activities and social director, and free cable T.V. with multilingual programming. Translators are on site for many foreign languages; Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish, and Indian. On site you will find a computer lab, a beautiful and serene penthouse garden, and 2 state of the art gyms. Crucial is the super excellent PT and OT therapists who work in 2 state of the art gyms. From my vast personal experiences these highly skilled, smart, and caring therapists are the major reason to choosing the Forest View Rehab Center. Of great importance is the extreme cleanliness of the entire facility, every nook and cranny is spotless and sanitized. This has been my 2nd rehab experience at the Forest View Center. The staffs TLC, true caring and concern for my comfort and healing was again always second to none. In 2008 my 96 year old mother spent a few weeks at this amazing facility. She was treated as if she was everyone’s grandma, and was discharged feeling well and in good spirits. Mommy passed away in 2011. The 2014 U.S. News rated Forest View a top Rehab and Nursing Home in the U.S.A. You will be most fortunate to obtain an available bed here. Yours Truly, Judith Fishman Kew...