The reviews for Putnam Nursing & Rehabilitation Center are highly polarized, with distinct and recurring themes of both exemplary individualized care and serious deficiencies. Many reviewers describe staff who are compassionate, dedicated, and personally engaged with residents — knowing them by name, delivering personalized attention, and treating residents with dignity and love. Those positive accounts frequently mention a home-like atmosphere, staff who go above and beyond (including off-hours visits), strong rehab services with regular updates to families, and exceptional dining experiences highlighted by holiday meals that reviewers called memorable and delicious. The kitchen staff, specifically a person named Mark in one review, received direct praise for making celebrations feel special.
Contrasting sharply with the positive reports are numerous, specific complaints about cleanliness, facility condition, and clinical care. A number of reviewers reported persistent unpleasant odors (urine and smoke), old and dilapidated rooms and beds, and comments suggesting parts of the facility are in poor repair or potentially condemned. Several reviewers described lapses in bedside care such as slow response times from nurses, staff talking about patients rather than attending to them, and overall neglect. More serious allegations include reports of infections, perceived incompetence in medical care, and claims of mistreatment. These are not isolated: multiple summaries explicitly tell others not to send loved ones there, and some reviewers would rate the facility as zero stars if possible.
Staff behavior and management culture emerge as a major middle ground for the split opinions. On one side, reviewers repeatedly praise 'dedicated' and 'loving' teams who provide peace of mind and familial attention; on the other, there are allegations of rude or disrespectful employees and bullying by upper-level staff. Several reviews express concerns about residents' rights and consent, with one reviewer advising family members to record conversations. There are also troubling reports about pressure to sign DNR orders and insinuations of a 'death-wish' attitude toward certain residents. Such reports raise red flags about communication, transparency, and ethical practices in the facility's management.
Dining and activities are a clear strength in many reviews. The facility receives repeated positive notes about food quality — not just routine meals but also holiday fare that felt special and cooked to a high standard. Reviewers who praised the facility often pointed to meals and staff kindness as major contributors to a positive experience. Rehabilitation services are another commonly cited positive: reviewers mentioned effective rehab specialists, regular updates, daily communication, and gratitude for measurable recovery and attention from therapy teams.
Several reviews highlight COVID-era concerns and tragic outcomes, with family members alleging poor care during the pandemic, resident deaths, and perceptions that financial motives may have influenced care. These are emotionally charged accusations and form part of the negative pattern of reviews alleging neglect and mistreatment. Whether or not these claims are verified, their presence in multiple summaries indicates strong family mistrust and severe dissatisfaction from a subset of those who used the facility.
Overall, the pattern is one of significant inconsistency. The facility apparently delivers outstanding, personalized care and excellent dining for some residents, often through a core of highly committed employees. Simultaneously, other residents and family members report unacceptable conditions, clinical lapses, and management issues serious enough that they advise avoiding the facility entirely. For prospective families, this mixed record suggests the importance of direct, repeated visits; asking specific questions about staffing levels, infection control, rights and consent policies, and recent state inspection reports; and checking references from current families and recent discharge outcomes. The reviews indicate there are strong, caring staff and good services to be found at Putnam, but also credible and serious concerns that need to be investigated and monitored carefully before placement.
