Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed but leans positive with strong, repeated praise for direct-care staff, dining and therapy services, and the facility’s social/activity programming. Many reviewers emphasize that the majority of caregivers are kind, attentive, and go above and beyond—several staff members are named and singled out for exceptional service (Danielle Pasonault, Deb, Chelsea, Meghan Robinson). Multiple comments describe residents being treated like family, thorough caregivers, a pleasant receptionist, and visible management involvement (including managers helping in the dining room). The facility receives frequent compliments for cleanliness, a quaint memory-care unit with a favorable resident-to-staff ratio, a wide variety of activities, and effective physical therapy—one reviewer even called the physical therapy the best in Columbus. Pandemic response also earned praise from several reviewers for clear communication, proper PPE use, and safety procedures that kept residents healthy.
However, there are recurring and serious negative themes that temper the positive feedback. Several reviewers report neglect-related issues: residents found soaked and not changed, unbathed for multiple days or even weeks, and instances of brown/discolored urine. There is one specifically named upsetting incident involving a nurse (referred to as Darlynn) that caused tears and raised concerns about care quality; management responses noting "two sides to the story" suggest some disputes around that event. Chronic short-staffing and overworked nurses are frequently mentioned, and a number of reviewers say traveling/agency nurses can be less reliable—sometimes not reading patient files or being late. These staffing problems are linked to other issues: poor responsiveness to phone calls and messages, slow reaction times, and reports that some staff are unprofessional or do not provide required care. A few reviewers also reported safety lapses such as beds not lowered, which they associated with patient falls, and at least one reviewer described the facility as dirty.
Management and organizational themes are mixed as well. Several reviews praise strong leadership, engaged management, and teamwork—management helping at meals and good internal communication were noted. Conversely, other reviews accuse management of selective treatment of staff, allowing unauthorized schedule changes, and generally poor management practices that contribute to understaffing and staff dissatisfaction. There are comments that some staff are well vetted and long-standing while others—often agency staff—are inconsistent, creating variability in care quality depending on who is on duty.
Dining, activities, and therapy receive consistently positive marks. Meals are described as delicious, and many reviews highlight successful therapy outcomes and helpful recovery sessions. The activity schedule and socialization opportunities are praised for keeping residents engaged and happy. Memory care is specifically mentioned as a strength: described as quaint and well-staffed with a good ratio of caregivers to residents.
In summary, Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus appears to offer high-quality experiences for many residents: compassionate regular staff, good cleanliness and amenities, strong therapy and dining programs, and attentive activity programming. These strengths frequently lead reviewers and families to recommend the facility. At the same time, several reviewers raise significant concerns about inconsistency in care—largely tied to staffing levels, agency/travel nurse performance, and some management shortcomings. The most serious allegations involve neglect (soaked/unbathed residents, discolored urine) and safety lapses; though contested in at least one management response, they are recurring enough to be notable. Prospective residents and families should weigh the generally positive environment and praised services against reported variability in staff performance and documented staffing/communication issues when making a placement decision.
