Overall sentiment: Reviews for Ridgecrest Post Acute are sharply mixed, with a substantial number of highly positive accounts praising individual staff members, therapy services, cleanliness, and resident-focused programming, and an equally strong set of very serious negative reports alleging neglect, abuse, unsafe practices, and management failures. Many families and residents describe the facility as clean, well-equipped, and staffed by compassionate nurses, CNAs, therapists, and social workers (several social workers and CNAs are repeatedly named and lauded). Conversely, a distinct and persistent cluster of reviews details safety and quality failures that range from poor hygiene and infection concerns to medication errors, delayed emergency responses, alleged falsification of records, and accusations of elder abuse. This creates a polarized reputation: for some Ridgecrest is an excellent rehab and care environment; for others it is unsafe and poorly managed.
Staff quality and care: One of the clearest patterns is the dichotomy in staff performance. Numerous reviews single out specific caregivers, nurses, CNAs, therapists, and social workers (Jenn, AJ, multiple CNAs and therapists) as professional, compassionate, and going above and beyond. Many families credit the therapy teams (PT/OT/Speech) and activity staff with strong rehabilitation outcomes and good patient engagement. At the same time, other reviews describe disrespectful, inattentive, or unprofessional staff — including allegations of gaslighting, coercion, and rude interactions. Reports of staff watching videos while on duty, laughing at patients, or being dismissive of family advocates contribute to concerns about inconsistent staff training and oversight. Staffing levels and workload are recurring themes: multiple reviewers call the facility understaffed and overworked, linking these conditions to delayed responses, poor hygiene care, and diminished supervision.
Care quality, safety, and clinical issues: Several high-severity clinical concerns appear repeatedly. Reviews allege delayed or inadequate response to seizures (including after abrupt medication changes), long wait times for assistance (sometimes 30–45 minutes), delayed wound care, ignored bruises, and inadequate incontinence care. Medication errors and issues with medication management — both overmedication (including psych meds) and abrupt medication cessation — were reported and are tied to adverse events. There are multiple serious allegations including falsified medical records, coercion to sign documentation, and even claims of abuse and elder mistreatment. Infection control and sanitation are mixed: many reviewers praise cleanliness and infection prevention, yet others reported MRSA, blood-stained linens, dirty beards, clogged toilets left unaddressed, and exposure to COVID or stomach flu outbreaks. Reports of falls with insufficient prevention and follow-up — including at least one claim of severe injury and death after a fall — further emphasize safety concerns for some residents.
Facilities and environment: The physical facility is often described positively: many reviewers note a newer, clean, well-maintained building with outdoor patios, locked memory-care patio, recreation and TV rooms, an exercise/therapy area, and eco-friendly renovations. Memory care amenities (dining room with entrées, locked patio) are cited positively. However, construction disruption, AC failures, lack of hot water in some rooms, and strong odors in certain areas were also reported. Cleanliness is a bifurcated theme — several accounts call the facility immaculate and the grounds lovely, while others describe foul smells, poor sanitation, and inconsistent housekeeping (some mentioning no weekend cleaning crew).
Dining and activities: Activities programming is highlighted as a strength by many families — active, varied, and well-staffed with creative events (bingo, music, group games, engaging activities director). However, other reviewers say activities have been cut due to budget constraints or staffing shortages. Dining receives mixed reviews: some find the food appetizing and praise kitchen staff, while many others report meals served cold, poor quality food, inadequate diabetic meal options, poorly timed meals causing insulin issues, and lack of available water. Memory care dining is specifically mentioned as a positive feature, but overall nutrition and meal-temperature consistency appear problematic for a subset of residents.
Management, communication, and administration: Communication and management emerge as polarizing issues. Several reviews praise the director-level staff, social work, and administrative teams for responsiveness, helpful coordination, and smooth admissions/discharges. Others accuse leadership of poor oversight, lack of accountability, and even retaliatory behavior toward family advocates (claims of staff being fired for advocating for residents). Phone communication problems (calls hanging up, unreturned messages), billing/financial concerns, and allegations that advertised ratings are misleading or fabricated were also reported. Concerns about high turnover and inconsistent leadership (DON/administrator) underpin many negative clinical and operational reports.
Notable patterns and risk signals: The most serious and recurrent negative themes — delayed emergency responses, medication errors and abrupt medication changes, allegations of falsified records, reports of theft/missing belongings, and outright accusations of abuse — are risk signals families should weigh carefully. At the same time, the facility receives repeated commendations for specific staff and teams whose performance families deeply appreciate. The coexistence of very positive personal accounts and very serious safety allegations suggests uneven performance across shifts, units, or staff cohorts rather than uniform quality.
Practical implications for prospective families: Based on the reviews, Ridgecrest may offer excellent rehabilitation and compassionate care when staffed by its highly praised therapists, nurses, CNAs, and social workers; families who encountered those teams report strong outcomes and satisfaction. However, prospective residents and families should be vigilant: ask targeted questions about staffing ratios (especially night and weekend coverage), fall-prevention protocols, medication management and reconciliation procedures, handling of abrupt medication changes, infection control measures, theft-prevention and belongings tracking, diabetic meal options and meal timing, documentation and record-keeping practices, and formal complaint/incident escalation paths. During a tour, request to see the memory care unit, observe several shifts if possible, ask for recent inspection or investigation reports, and seek references from other families. Monitor initial stays closely and maintain regular communication with social services and charge nurses.
Bottom line: Ridgecrest Post Acute elicits deeply divided experiences. It has demonstrable strengths — particularly in therapy and in response-oriented, compassionate caregivers — and notable facility amenities. However, repeated, serious complaints about neglect, medication errors, sanitation lapses, theft, and poor leadership are significant and cannot be ignored. Families should balance the positive accounts with the severe negative reports, perform careful vetting, and maintain active involvement if choosing Ridgecrest for a loved one.
