Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility — Local services in New York

My mom was transferred to this facility from New York Hospital on October 20th , 2020. We made this arrangement because Mom couldn’t walk or stand at that time. I had some trepidation about allowing for her to be transferred. Since we live six blocks away from Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility, we gave it a try.

Mom told us that the rehab personnel were nice. The nurses were unfriendly. On one occasion, Mom was looking out a window. She asked her nurse “What street is that?” Since the window did not look out onto Queens Boulevard, the only correct answer would have been 61st Street or 63rd Street. The nurse, who had been employed for seven years at the facility, said “ I don’t know.” When mom needed someone to help her to the toilet, they would leave her waiting for hours. They dropped her medication on the floor on one occasion. Mom could see the pill on the floor. She indicated this to the nurse. The angry nurse refused to replace the medication or pick up the pill.

I innocently presumed we could easily visit Mom regularly. Visits necessitated making an appointment one week in advance. The visits lasted fifteen minutes. I was only allowed to see my mother through a glass partition. She spoke to me on telephone while sitting in her wheelchair with an attendant waiting impatiently and uncomfortably nearby. Generally speaking, the staff are stupid.

I paid a $100.00 fee for Mom’s TV service at Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility. They told me that the balance would be mailed to me on Mom’s release. They kept the money.

On Monday, October 26th, while still at Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility, Mom was having major difficulty breathing. I arrived the next day to take Mom home. Lindsay suggested that we should we keep Mom at the facility a bit longer for pain management. Mom’s breathing got worse. Arrangements were made for her discharge on October 28th. Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility didn’t have a wheelchair available for Mom on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020. We had to wait an extra day because of their negligence. They treated the entire event as of it were a joke.

Mom was rushed to the New York Hospital emergency on Thursday, October 29th. She could not breathe on her own.

They kept her alive in the ER. Mom was transferred to the ICU. When I visited Mom the next day, she didn’t recognize me. On November 6th, Mom died at the hospital. It was a complete tragedy.

Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility is a disgrace...a...

Overall, it’s okay, but having a loved one staying there for any extended period can be stressful—both for the loved one and yourself.

A lot of the nurses [we’ve dealt with] are really wonderful and know what they’re doing, while others…not so much. Don’t be afraid to speak up! Some of the nurses just follow the orders to the letter and there were a few times there could have been dire consequences especially in the case of insulin doses.

If there’s something medical they’re not equipped to handle such as a blood transfusion, the knee jerk reaction is to ship the patient off to the ER as opposed to double checking the numbers and/or making an appointment for a transfusion so there’s no risk of losing the bed.

Communication is a problem here. Phone calls, for the most part, are not returned in a timely manner (if at all) or if you’re calling the phone can ring for as long as 30 minutes before they pick up—if they pick up.

If your loved one goes to the ER and is gone for more than 24 hours, the facility just packs up their stuff and puts it in storage. They do not call you make sure they have everything or to give you a heads up.

For the most part, polite requests are fulfilled, but there were a few times where polite didn’t cut it and it was necessary to show some teeth.

The doctors I have dealt with there can be very rude and self-important—Jawaid, Shapiro, and Mawere come to mind. Each of these have their own own special place on my fecal scroll. My loved one’s blood pressure has been sky high for the last six months and despite repeated requests nothing was really done about it until he was recently switched to a different doctor. That’s another thing: if you or your loved one aren’t satisfied with the doctor—request a different one. Insist upon it.

There is an in-house dialysis center on the first floor. It’s a separate entity but it’s convenient for the patients who need it.

Finally, food. The kitchen has a variety of food and the patients’ selections are input daily. Sometimes the choices are weird like tuna salad platter for dinner (ew), but overall the food is pretty good.

Like I said, it’s pretty good overall, but there are some things to watch out for. I’m sure my experience is different than most, but I hope it helps. I had to take off stars for the lack of communication, the doctors’ demeanor, and possible, but totally avoidable,...

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the exceptional care provided by Miss Miranda Dyer, CNA, and the entire team during my recent visit to your facility. Spending Christmas at the rehab center with my sick mother was challenging, but the kindness and professionalism displayed by your staff made it a much more comforting experience.

Miss Miranda stood out as an incredible caregiver. She was not only attentive but also went above and beyond in assisting my mother with tasks like going to the bathroom. Her cheerful demeanor, positive encouragement, and genuine care were so uplifting for my mother. Seeing her cheer my mom on and provide such compassionate support brought me great peace of mind.

It’s never easy to leave a loved one in someone else’s care, but Miss Miranda’s dedication and warmth made me feel confident that my mom was in excellent hands. Her efforts, along with the support of CNA Mabu and the rest of your team, truly made a stressful holiday more bearable.

Please extend my deepest thanks to Miss Miranda Dyer, CNA Mabu, and the entire staff who assisted us during this time. Their hard work and

compassion do not go unnoticed, and I am incredibly grateful for everything they’ve...