The reviews of Bayside of Poquoson Health and Rehab present a strongly mixed and often polarized picture. A substantial number of reviewers praise individual caregivers, nursing and CNA teams, and especially a recurring staff member identified as Ms. Wanda (also spelled Wonda), who is described as compassionate, hands-on, and personally invested in residents. Many families describe a warm, family-like atmosphere, frequent in-room visits by staff, meaningful conversations with residents, and hospice transitions handled with dignity. Multiple reviewers also highlight an effective rehab department, evidence of resident progress, clean rooms and common areas, and activities such as outdoor gardening that enhance quality of life. Several comments specifically call out hardworking kitchen and maintenance teams and supportive social work or patient advocacy that helped families manage discharge planning, hospice, or safe returns home.
At the same time, there are repeated and serious negative reports that cannot be overlooked. Several reviews allege neglectful care that ranges from failure to change diapers for long periods to poor response to injuries (one report notes PT was unable to perform therapy after a broken hip, leaving a patient immobile). Medication management appears to be a recurrent issue: reviewers cite pharmacy/order errors that led to missed medications and at least one report of incorrect dosages. Billing and administrative problems are also raised — including claims of being billed for services not provided and invoice contacts that were not associated with the facility. Safety and ethical concerns surface in multiple reviews as well, with allegations that include unsafe DNR processes, reports of staff drug use, patient falls, and attempts at legal action related to past management. Food quality is another recurring complaint, with reports ranging from unappetizing meals to a serious allegation of raw chicken being served.
Management and organizational themes are a central fracture point in these reviews. Many reviewers note frequent executive director changes, high turnover in leadership, and periods of short-staffing and poor communication. Some accounts say administrative staff were unresponsive or rude (including being hung up on during admissions calls). At least one review alleges a corporate takeover or takeover by an entity named Trio and criticizes an administrator for prioritizing cosmetic improvements over clinical quality. Conversely, other reviewers describe a recent ‘‘new management’’ and a complete rebuild that produced noticeable improvements; these accounts suggest the facility has undergone change over time and that experiences may differ depending on when the stay occurred and which management team was in place.
A pattern in the reviews is the coexistence of highly positive individual caregiving experiences alongside system-level failures. Many families single out exceptional employees who go above and beyond and who materially improved residents' experiences. Simultaneously, systemic problems — inconsistent leadership, short staffing, administrative errors, and safety/ethics allegations — have led other families to report poor outcomes, legal threats, or moves to other facilities. Several reviews reference incidents from several years ago and also reference more recent improvements, so there is evidence that the facility's performance has varied over time rather than being uniformly good or bad.
For prospective residents and families, the clustered feedback suggests a few practical takeaways. Meet frontline staff you would interact with (nurses, CNAs, key social workers) and ask for specific examples of staffing ratios, medication management procedures, and how the facility handles admissions and billing. Inquire about leadership stability, recent ownership or management changes, and any regulatory citations or complaints. If dementia care, wound/orthopedic rehabilitation, or strict dietary management are important, ask for documented protocols and references from recent families with those needs. Finally, pay attention to whether the facility can connect you directly with long-tenured caregivers (names like Ms. Wanda recur as stabilizing positives) and whether the admissions team answers billing and safety questions directly and transparently.
In sum, Bayside of Poquoson appears to provide excellent, compassionate care for many residents through committed staff and particular champions, while also experiencing serious and sometimes dangerous system-level issues reported by other families. The overall sentiment is therefore highly mixed: strong, individualized caregiving and notable improvements reported by some versus repeated allegations of neglect, medication and billing errors, leadership instability, and safety concerns reported by others. Prospective families should perform thorough, up-to-date due diligence and evaluate both the people working on the floor and the current management practices before making placement decisions.
