Newtown Rehabilitation & Health Care Center

Dale Nordling

2021-06-09

https://www.yelp.com/biz/newtown-rehabilitation-and-health-care-center-newtown

Dale N.

2021-06-08

I found Newtown Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Connecticut to be understaffed, poor communicators, difficult to reach via phone, and prone to over-prescribing anti-psychotics.  I DO NOT RECOMMEND NEWTOWN and suggest that you choose a different facility for anyone you care about.After shoulder surgery and a hip replacement, my 67yo Brother was sent to Newtown for physical therapy on both shoulder and hip.  His time there was a nightmare.He arrived on Monday & I spoke with him (long-distance) on Tuesday.  After Tuesday he was always "asleep" or so drugged that normal conversation was not possible, no matter what time of day it was.  A nurse told me that he was being given pain-killers, and also an anti-psychotic (which seemed to be different each time I asked).  I asked to speak with the doctor about this, but instead received a call-back from an APRN who was not helpful.On Saturday a Newtown nurse called to say that my brother had been given Oxycontin & Haldol, newly prescribed that day by a doctor who had never seen him before.  The combination had caused him to become confused, uncomprehending, and incoherent.  Also, while in this state he attempted to get up and walk, and he fell.  (Was no one with him?)  He was sent via ambulance to the hospital.I told the hospital that he was NOT to be returned to Newtown and he was sent to a different facility for physical therapy upon discharge from the hospital.Throughout his entire 6 day stay, I was unable to reach Newtown via phone most times when I tried to call.  I would get either a busy signal or no answer.  I finally figured out that the main number is the only one which works and/or is answered consistently, and that the nurses' stations & patient rooms seem to be on a separate system which is not working properly.  Also, at one point I was told by reception that there were only TWO NURSES COVERING THREE FLOORS of patients in the wing where my brother was staying (which may explain why he was apparently unattended at the time he fell).Newtown was taken over by the Athena Healthcare system sometime in the last few years, so they should have had adequate time to fix any problems inherited from the previous owners, but there obviously still are problems.  Athena has been buying up many local nursing homes to create a for-profit network.  Avoid this facility!!

Sophie B.

2020-08-12

Our family was very disappointed with the care and living conditions at Newtown Rehabilitation Center (NRC).  When we visited our loved one, we noticed the following:1.  Our dad and many of the other patients were moved each day to a central space, where they were required to sit for hours in their wheelchairs in a drug-induced states.  The patients looked half asleep with their heads cocked to the side. We had to constantly ask that our dad not be drugged so much. 2.  Our dad fell twice while at NRC; one time requiring an ambulance to be called.3. The hallways reeked of soiled diapers every time we visited.4.  When we visited, our dad was often left dirty--clothing soiled, hair not washed, face not shaved, nails not trimmed, etc.  We even paid extra for these services.  5.  We also requested that our dad receive physical therapy, as his legs were atrophying and he was no longer able to walk.  He received the PT when he first arrived at the facility, but the treatments stopped for no reason.6.  When we attended a meeting with many of the other patients' families there were several complaints of lost hearing aids, dentures, glasses and clothing.  Our dad's clothing and linens often went missing. During these meetings two families complained that their loved one barely left his/her bed because the center's patient hoists were inoperable. 7.  There had been a change in management, and several of the staff either left, or were furloughed.  The staff that remained did not seem to enjoy any aspect of their jobs.  Many complained audibly.8.  The food at the facility was awful. This assessment was not from me, but from the private certified aides we were requested to engage at our own additional expense.  One aide suggested we move our dad out of the facility because of the lack of care and unacceptable conditions.  We moved our dad as quickly as we could.9.  After we moved our dad to a new facility, he began to thrive--he was able to talk and walk (with assistance) again.  He seems so much happier now.10.  We were also grateful that we moved our dad before the Covid crisis (see State of CT report).

Christian A.

2019-12-14

Excellent staff very compassionate great therapy department very warm feeling experience from the moment I walked in the door this is the kind of place I would put my mother if she needed to be here.

Christina M.

2019-11-14

I posted a rather scathing review a couple of weeks ago, but I removed it after I was advised that I should not have done so without viewing this place myself.  I have now seen the place, as my Mother was removed to go to Watermark in Southbury.  When she was moved, her asthma inhaler was lost, so I went to look for it later in the day, after she was moved.  Never did find the inhaler.  There was no one at the nurse's station when we arrived on the 3rd floor, and no one was there when we left a few minutes later. This place is depressing. The color are dark, it suffers from deferred maintenance, the food was disgusting to even look at (see the blob of Mac n cheese, with broccoli that clearly has no nutrition left in it after being over boiled for, oh maybe a half hour, or more???), and, quite frankly, the people who work here are not friendly.The place is not terribly clean, as I observed what appeared to be food stains on some of the walls.  I do not expect this type of facility to be spotless; however, I do expect it to be properly cleaned - which it was not. Some fresh paint, better food, a more uplifting ambiance, and administrative changes are desperately needed.  This place reeks of an attitude of "profit, profit and profit," the patients be damned. My Mother and our whole family are very happy that she has now been moved to a facility that, at least gives the appearance, of caring.  US News and World Reports gave this facility a rating of average minus.

Colleen P.

2019-11-14

this used to be Ashlar.  I visited someone in the nursing home and left in tears.  The Room had big spackled looking circles on the wall next to my neighbors bed.  Maybe they were going to paint but it really looked awful.  Also the room was so small with a Board for pictures at the patients foot of the bed.  My neighbor couldn't even see the board laying in the bed.  My neighbor had dried food on her sweatshirt and she looked drugged.  I am sorry but this place from what I saw was not bright and airy like I would want my Mom in.  My neighbor was moved shortly after this to another facility.  I am sorry to write this review but this with what I saw.

Rita Adams

2021-12-25

Just brought my mom home. After 5 days we discovered two huge bed sores. In between the interior of the buttocks. Didn't even look like they treated it. Terrible.

tyler davis

2021-12-11

DO NOT send a loved one here or even apply for a position. This place is disgusting. Horrible treatment of their employees. No wonder why people are constantly quitting. I feel bad for the few good employees who are still there. Management is terrible. Place is a mess. Residents are neglected. If you have a loved one there, I highly recommend moving them to a different home. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

Mark Smolen

2021-09-01

I have stayed all over the NE for speech and physical therapy! I’ve been to some very good places and unfortunately I consider this establishment far below my expectations. I’ve also listened to some of the patients get very upset at the service their being offered. I even heard several patients get very upset that their property has been stolen! Some staff members are above my expectations while the rest which happens to be the majority fall very short of meeting my expectations!One patient has been a complaint that his phone is missing! Another patient just complained about his wallet being taken. He said now he will have to call all of his CC companies to put hold on the cards! Both people told a person at the desk area and they just responded that they were busy! This place is extremely understaffed. A woman who acted as a supervisor told me they are hiring less than desireable people due to employees making the same money being unemployed due to Covid. While I was just writing this a man asked the woman behind the desk if he could have 2 aspirin because of his pain. Not sure if he ever got his aspirin! The man who lost his phone just asked the woman behind the desk if he left his phone up by the desk. The woman told him rudely she already told him “NO” it's not up here!

Emma Hinds

2021-08-01

The staff are rude, and neglect patients. Many times they have left my grandmother alone in her room for over 4 hours and ignore her when she rings the call bell. They act like it’s a burden to do their job, and get mad at her for asking for things like adjusting her pillow. They also make extremely rude and Insensitive comments. Elder abuse. Absolutely horrible.