Overall sentiment in the reviews for Elba Nursing and Rehab is highly polarized, with a mix of strongly positive testimonials praising staff compassion and facility cleanliness on one hand, and very serious allegations of neglect, poor hygiene, and safety concerns on the other. Multiple reviews describe the staff as caring, professional, and family-like, with accessible nurses, good communication, and a responsive admissions and administrative team. Visitors and families report smooth transitions for some residents, availability of FaceTime/window visits and immediate visitation with masks, and a generally clean facility without offensive odors. Several employees also describe the workplace positively, calling it an "awesome place to work," and many reviews emphasize loyal, dedicated staff who go the extra mile and provide high-quality care.
Contrasting sharply with those positive accounts are numerous and specific negative reports alleging neglect and safety failures. These include claims that allergies were ignored and residents were repeatedly given allergenic foods; that call buttons were unreachable; and that feeding assistance was inadequate (trays left in front of residents, not helped to eat, food tops not removed). There are disturbing reports of soiled linens and fecal material on bed rails and sheets, residents left in waste, lack of basic items such as blankets, and patients described as cold to the touch. Some families reported that residents were not bathed, had long unkempt hair and nails, and that a bed was taken away leaving a grandmother in markedly worse condition. Night terrors and episodes of residents screaming for water were also noted, as were claims that residents were locked up during COVID and prevented from receiving care by certain staff.
Several reviews raise concerns about staff behavior and professionalism. Specific incidents cited include a CNA exhibiting attitude (sighing), staff laughing at a family caller and derisively referring to them as the "dental hygienist," and receptionists or admission staff being rude or hanging up on callers. One reviewer explicitly stated that state investigations found the reported concerns to be true, which, if accurate, escalates these complaints from isolated experiences to systemic issues requiring oversight. Families also reported progress being misrepresented, privacy concerns during video calls, and that promised admissions callbacks never occurred, leaving prospects with a negative impression of the admissions process.
The pattern emerging is one of uneven quality and highly variable family experiences. On many occasions reviewers describe the same strengths—compassionate nursing staff, helpful administration, and a clean environment—while other reviewers describe severe lapses in basic care, safety, and professionalism. This suggests that care and management practices may be inconsistent across shifts, units, or individual staff members. For prospective families this inconsistency is important: some residents appear to thrive and receive excellent, family-like care, while others reportedly suffer neglect and inadequate attention.
Given the gravity of some complaints (ignored allergies, fecal contamination of bedding, lack of bathing, unreachable call buttons, and reported confirmation by state investigations), these issues are significant and should be probed further by families and authorities. For those considering the facility, it would be prudent to ask for current inspection and investigation reports, meet with nursing leadership to discuss care plans and staffing ratios, verify how allergy and feeding protocols are enforced, and regularly monitor hygiene and responsiveness after admission. Families already with loved ones at the facility who observe problems should document incidents in detail, escalate to administration, and if necessary contact state licensing or ombudsman services.
In summary, Elba Nursing and Rehab receives both strong praise and very serious criticism. The positive reviews highlight compassionate staff, good communication, helpful visitation options, and a pleasant facility. The negative reviews, however, include detailed allegations of neglect, hygiene failures, poor feeding practices, unprofessional staff behavior, and claims corroborated by state investigations. Those contrasting reports point to variability in care quality; families should exercise caution, verify current regulatory status, and seek direct, recent observations before making placement decisions.
