Overall sentiment in these reviews is mixed but centers on two consistent themes: a small, personal facility with many reviewers praising the staff and atmosphere, and a set of serious operational and quality concerns reported by other reviewers. Multiple families emphasize that Althea Woodland feels like a smaller, home-like nursing/rehab facility (noted as roughly a 50-bed operation) with park-like grounds, shady trees, and neat outdoor maintenance. Several reviewers specifically praise an approachable administrator, hands-on interdisciplinary rehab teams, staff who treat residents like family, and instances of successful physical therapy outcomes. For many reviewers the environment is quiet, calm, and individualized, and some explicitly call out excellent food, cleanliness, and an active activities department.
However, these positive impressions are counterbalanced by a number of significant negative reports that prospective families should note. Communication was a repeated problem during lockdown situations: reviewers reported missed messages, inability to connect with residents by phone, and no phone access for a parent. Multiple commenters described limited, inconsistent, or very basic activities (one reviewer said “no activities,” while others said activities were limited to occasional events like pizza). Amenities and dining arrangements are mixed in the feedback: some reviewers praised the food, but others described subpar food quality, lack of dining options, and a single combined dining/activities room that may feel cramped or multi-purpose.
Facility condition and cleanliness show starkly inconsistent reports. Several reviewers report the facility is very clean and well cared for, but equally serious allegations appear elsewhere: reports of a persistent bad or “fishy” odor, dark and dingy rooms, and an explicit mice infestation and pest-control failure. These contradictory accounts suggest variability over time, in particular units, or between reviewer experiences, and they point to a need for direct verification during a tour and via inspection records.
Safety and clinical care concerns are among the most serious complaints. At least one reviewer described repeated falls from bed for a resident, and another reported not enough oxygen in an oxygen tank and that a resident was not ready for transport—both of which are red flags for clinical oversight, fall prevention protocols, and safe care transitions. While others describe excellent, hands-on care and staff that are attentive to needs, the presence of these safety incidents suggests inconsistency in clinical practices and staffing levels or training.
Front desk and management concerns recur as well. Several reviewers called out unprofessional customer service at the front desk and questioned competence in leadership (one reviewer insulted the Director of Nursing). There are also mentions of perceived profit-driven motives affecting care, and restrictive policies such as limitations on snacks, which some families found unacceptable. At the same time, other reviewers highlight a personable administrator and caring leadership, again reinforcing an inconsistent experience across reviewers.
Rehab services receive generally positive mentions from multiple reviewers who report a hands-on interdisciplinary team and successful rehabilitation. That said, lack of a dedicated rehab gym or limited rehab facilities was raised as a potential limitation by others worried it could hinder progress for certain patients. This suggests that while therapy staff may be skilled and attentive, space or equipment constraints could limit the intensity or scope of some programs.
In summary, Althea Woodland appears to offer a small, quiet, home-like setting with many staff members who are praised for being caring and attentive, successful rehab outcomes in individual cases, and attractive grounds. However, there are serious and recurring concerns in other reviews around communication (especially during lockdowns), inconsistent food and cleanliness reports, pest control issues, safety lapses (falls and oxygen/transport readiness), limited amenities and activities, and uneven front-desk/customer-service and leadership performance. These mixed reviews indicate variability in experience that could depend on unit, timeframe, staffing, or particular administrators.
If you are evaluating Althea Woodland for a loved one, focus on verifying the specific points raised by reviewers: ask about current pest-control records and recent inspection results, fall-prevention and oxygen-supply protocols, staffing ratios and staff training, how they handled communication during past lockdowns and what changes are in place, the activities schedule and how individualized activities are provided, dining menus and options, and the availability of rehab equipment or gym space. Arrange an in-person tour (or a virtual one) that includes time in resident rooms, the dining/activity area, the therapy space, and conversations with nursing leadership and the activities director to reconcile these mixed reports before making a placement decision.
