Overall sentiment across reviews for Autumn Lake Healthcare at Cherry Lane is highly mixed, with strong, repeated praise for therapy/rehab services, certain administrative leaders, and many non-nursing caregivers, alongside serious and recurring concerns about nursing care, hygiene, communication, and episodic clinical lapses. Multiple families report excellent outcomes from short-term rehabilitation: attentive therapists, individualized PT/OT, measurable functional gains, and a rehabilitative culture that helped residents return home. The Director of Nursing and several administrators and social workers are frequently singled out as responsive, accessible, and effective at coordinating care or resolving problems when they are engaged. Many reviewers describe the facility as clean, welcoming, and well-maintained, with engaging activities, outings, and a hospitable admissions process. Front desk and housekeeping staff are often mentioned positively, and there are regular comments about a family-like atmosphere for residents who thrive there.
However, juxtaposed with these positives are multiple and concerning negative themes that cannot be overlooked. A substantial number of reviewers recount inconsistent nursing competency and compassion: missed or delayed medications, near-medication errors, call lights unanswered, and residents left in soiled diapers or not aided to the bathroom in a timely fashion. There are specific allegations of rough handling by some nurses, delayed pain medication, and even elder-abuse allegations. These issues appear unevenly distributed by floor or shift in many accounts: some wings or specific nurses are praised while others are criticized harshly, producing a high variability of experience. Several reviewers explicitly state they or their family members had to step in to provide basic hygiene and care because staff did not. Reports of clinical concerns also include infections, UTIs, delayed IV administration, and poor attention for residents with complex needs such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
Communication and operational problems are another consistent pattern. Families describe poor coordination across nursing shifts, scheduling problems for plan-of-care meetings, inconsistent information from accounting or administrative staff, and difficulties accessing or using call systems. Some reviewers felt dismissed or gaslit when raising complaints, and a few described being accused wrongly or threatened with removal. Language barriers or perceived refusal to communicate in English were raised in a few severe accounts, as was alleged differential treatment by race. While some administrators and the DON resolved complaints satisfactorily for certain families, other reviewers reported unresolved or recurring problems even after escalation.
Facility and amenities receive mixed but largely positive feedback overall: many reviewers praise cleanliness, stocked restrooms, maintenance, and organized activities (music therapy, trivia, outings, movie nights). Dining is described favorably by a number of families — "above average" meals, helpful dietitians, and menu variety — though some reviewers point to problems with special-diet implementation (e.g., gluten-free food served incorrectly) and occasional lack of menu communication. The building was described as needing cosmetic updates by more than one reviewer: functional and clean but somewhat institutional in places and with semi-private rooms that some find small or crowded.
A clear pattern emerges around staff variability: several individual staff members and small teams are repeatedly praised as compassionate, professional, and lifesaving, while other staff members are criticized for negligence, rudeness, or incompetence. This creates a polarized reputation — some families would strongly recommend the facility, especially for short-term rehab under certain therapists and administrative leaders, while others advise avoiding it entirely after traumatic experiences. Because of this inconsistency, families repeatedly advise prospective residents to meet care staff, ask direct questions about nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing on specific wings, confirm special-diet procedures, and establish clear communication protocols (including escalation paths to the DON or administration).
Recommendations for families considering Autumn Lake at Cherry Lane: (1) Ask to meet the Director of Nursing and the rehab team during the tour or admission, and request written care plans and medication administration procedures. (2) Inquire about staffing levels and which nursing teams will be assigned to your loved one’s floor or room to assess variability. (3) Confirm protocols for special diets, call-button access, toileting assistance schedules, and infection control. (4) Arrange regular family participation or check-ins early in the stay to identify any hygiene or medication issues quickly. (5) If problems arise, escalate promptly to the DON and documented administrative contacts, and consider contacting state long-term care ombudsman resources if clinical neglect or abuse is suspected.
In short, Autumn Lake Healthcare at Cherry Lane provides excellent rehabilitative care and has many committed, caring staff and supportive administrators, but it also exhibits intermittent but serious shortcomings in nursing consistency, hygiene, communication, and clinical oversight. Experiences appear to vary widely by unit, shift, and individual staff members; therefore careful vetting, active family involvement, and clear escalation expectations are essential for families considering placement here.
