Overall sentiment across reviews for Ridgewood Center is highly mixed, with a clear pattern of excellent individual caregivers and therapy services contrasted sharply by systemic problems in staffing, medical oversight, cleanliness, maintenance, and safety. Many families and residents describe compassionate, attentive, and friendly staff — nurses, aides, therapists, and specific individuals (Barbara the social worker; Ashley in admissions; nurses Tim, Dee, Mike; aides Alice and Kayla) receive repeated praise. Rehabilitation services (PT/OT/Speech) are frequently cited as outstanding, producing good recovery and progress for short-term residents. Numerous reviewers also praised pleasant common areas, a welcoming courtyard and outdoor grounds, special events (pet visits, volunteer visits), and staff willingness to accommodate family celebrations. For a large subset of reviewers, these strengths produced a positive experience: residents appeared happy, families felt peace of mind, and staff communication and responsiveness were strong when staffing allowed.
However, a substantial number of reviews report serious and recurring issues that undermine overall trust. Understaffing and overloaded staff are the most commonly reported systemic problems; these conditions are linked to delayed doctor visits, lack of medical follow-up, missed or infrequent physician rounds, and communication challenges. Several reviewers describe neglectful episodes — residents left unattended for hours, trays not served, patients left in bed for days, and delays that contributed to hospitalizations, infections (UTI/sepsis), or falls. These reports indicate inconsistency in day-to-day care quality, with incidents severe enough that some families say they would not recommend the facility.
Facility condition and maintenance emerge as another clear theme of concern. Multiple reviewers note an old, outdated building with broken doors, worn or "yard-sale" furniture, damaged medical equipment, missing pieces, and filthy or sticky trays and floors in some units. Heating problems and malfunctioning resident equipment (TVs, remotes) are also reported. Conversely, other reviewers explicitly call the building clean and comfortable, so the picture again appears inconsistent — some wings or shifts may be well-maintained while others are neglected. Security and personal property loss are a notable concern: several reviews mention theft (a Kindle cited explicitly), lost laundry, and an overall sense of spotty security, which compounds family anxiety about safety.
Safety and clinical oversight are recurring worries. Reports of wandering residents, frequent falls, and even police or fire presence on site suggest gaps in supervision and environmental safety controls on occasion. Language and English proficiency barriers with some staff are flagged as affecting dignity and quality of care, with at least a few reviews describing rough handling during transfers. Medical care and physician availability are another weak point for many reviewers — frequent statements about "no doctors when needed," delayed physician visits, and administrative unresponsiveness suggest that acute medical issues are not always managed reliably. A handful of families recount rushed hospital discharges or poor care transitions following discharge, compounding clinical risk.
Dining and activities receive mixed reviews: some families praise good food with offered alternatives and second helpings, while others complain about bland meals, limited variety, and food being served cold a majority of the time. Activity programming is described positively by several reviewers who note a wide variety and engaged residents; other reviews ask for more activities, indicating variability in offerings across units or time periods. Night staff behavior and responsiveness also vary — many note compassionate night staff, but others describe less caring night shifts.
Management and communication present dual narratives. The social worker (Barbara) and admissions director (Ashley) are repeatedly commended for strong support, guidance, and advocacy. Several reviewers say specific staff "saved" a loved one or provided dignified end-of-life care. At the same time, other families report unresponsive administration, poor handling of complaints, and inconsistent follow-through. This split suggests that while individual leaders and frontline workers can be excellent, institutional systems for staffing, maintenance, security, and medical coverage may be under-resourced or unevenly enforced.
In summary, Ridgewood Center shows substantial strengths in individual staff compassion, rehabilitation services, and social support, which lead to many positive experiences. But those strengths coexist with significant and recurring weaknesses tied to staffing shortages, inconsistent clinical oversight, maintenance and cleanliness problems, safety and security concerns, and variable dining and activity quality. Prospective residents and families should weigh these mixed signals carefully: a tour focusing on the specific unit/wing, questions about physician coverage and nurse-to-resident ratios, inspection of cleanliness and maintenance, clarification of security and theft prevention measures, and conversations with therapy teams and the social worker could help assess whether the parts of the facility they would use are among the well-rated areas or are more reflective of the problematic reports.
