Overall sentiment across the reviews is highly mixed, with strong praise for the facility’s physical environment, certain clinical teams, and the rehabilitation program, counterbalanced by serious and repeated allegations of neglect, mismanagement, and abusive or dishonest behavior by some staff. Many reviewers emphasize the facility’s cleanliness, pleasant smell, private and spacious suites with large bathrooms, and a welcoming atmosphere. Multiple reviews highlight excellent nursing care, compassionate physicians and nurse practitioners, and an exceptional hospice team (JHC). Rehabilitation and physical therapy receive consistent positive mentions, with several former residents regaining strength and returning home. The activities program is frequently praised for keeping residents engaged, with weekly manicures and a broad schedule of events that facilitate socializing and adjustment for newcomers. In several accounts management and staff communicated openly with families and responded to concerns, and particular aides and nurses (several named) were singled out for exemplary, attentive care.
However, these positive accounts exist alongside numerous and serious negative reports. A recurring theme is inconsistent staffing and performance: while some nurses and aides are described as kind and attentive, others are reported as rude, uncaring, or even abusive. Several reviews document neglectful incidents — residents left in soiled conditions for hours, ignored call lights, and long waits for bathroom assistance. There are multiple allegations of staff sleeping or being distracted while on duty, and at least one claim of a PCA abandoning a patient and going home. Reviewers report medical lapses as well — repeated urinary tract infections leading to ER transfers, medications being administered without checking on how the resident felt, and family concerns that cardiac or other symptoms were dismissed. Serious safety concerns include reports of equipment theft (a suction machine), threats and dishonesty by staff, and at least one report of a resident dying and allegedly being left alone. Such claims raise questions about quality control, staff supervision, and incident reporting.
Operational and service issues are also evident in the reviews. Dining problems appear in multiple accounts: late or missing dinners, limited menu options, and items like salads not being served. Laundry problems are reported, including lost or misplaced clothing (brand-new pajamas mentioned). Communication variability is notable — some families were kept well-informed and appreciated transparent communication, while others experienced miscommunication about hospital transfers and incorrect information, contributing to severe outcomes and family distress. Management receives mixed appraisals: some reviewers say concerns were addressed appropriately, while others report mismanagement, inadequate corrective action, or a culture that allowed problematic behaviors to persist. The dichotomy between glowing and damning experiences suggests significant inconsistency in day-to-day performance and oversight.
Taken together, the reviews paint a polarized picture of Holden Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center. Its physical plant, rehabilitation services, hospice partnerships, and many individual staff members earn high marks and genuine gratitude from families and residents. At the same time, repeated and serious allegations of neglect, inattentive or abusive staff behavior, safety lapses, lost property, and poor meal service create substantial red flags. The most frequent pattern is variability: excellent care in some units or shifts and concerning lapses in others. For prospective residents and families this means the facility may offer high-quality clinical and rehabilitative care but also presents documented risks tied to staffing reliability, supervision, and consistency.
Recommendations based on these patterns: visit in person at different times and on multiple days/shifts; ask for staffing ratios and turnover information; inquire about incident reporting, infection control, and recent inspection results; meet the rehab and hospice teams and ask for references; ask management how they address reported neglect or theft, and whether any corrective actions or staff terminations were made in response to the serious allegations found in reviews. Families should be prepared to advocate actively for loved ones, monitor care closely, and maintain open communication with management. The facility appears capable of providing very good care in many instances, but the documented variability and serious complaints mean due diligence is essential before making placement decisions.
