Overall sentiment across the reviews is predominantly positive but clearly mixed with recurring concerns. The Friedwald Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is frequently praised for its rehabilitation and therapy services — many reviewers singled out physical and occupational therapy as excellent, describing therapists as effective, aggressive in pursuit of progress, encouraging mobility, and focused on maximizing function. Therapy leadership is often highlighted as a strength. Aides and many nurses are described as compassionate, attentive, and dedicated, contributing to a warm, home-like atmosphere. Several reviewers reported daily housekeeping and linen changes, a clean and odor-free environment, and staff members (including social workers and care managers) who communicate clearly and are helpful. Multiple accounts mention administration and specific staff members as exceptional, and families commonly note positive engagement in activities and a helpful business office.
Despite those strengths, there are consistent, meaningful concerns about unevenness in care. Nursing and aide performance appear variable: while many staff receive praise, a significant number of reviews describe nurses who are slow to respond, lack patience, or fail to provide routine updates. Slow call bell responses, inconsistent attention to patient needs, and intermittent lack of feeding assistance were specifically called out. Several reviewers advised that family members need to stay vigilant and "stay on top" of care matters because attention can lapse. There are also reports of medication errors and at least one report alleging theft of belongings and non-working security cameras, which raise safety and quality-of-care issues that merit attention.
Communication is another recurrent theme with mixed reports. Social workers and some care managers receive strong positive comments for clear communication, while other reviewers report trouble reaching staff by phone, poor handoffs (especially at night or in the morning), and inconsistent information sharing. Management received both praise and criticism: some reviewers called administration exceptional and responsive, while others described a lack of clear leadership, buck-passing, and unresolved issues. These mixed reviews suggest variability in leadership performance or inconsistency in how different shifts or teams operate.
Dining and nutrition are polarizing. Several reviewers enjoyed the meals, noted healthy options, large portions, and specific favorites (e.g., soup). At the same time, multiple other reviewers described the food as poor, "horrid," not tasteful, or served cold (eggs mentioned). Feeding assistance and monitoring during meals were also reported as insufficient in some cases, exacerbating concerns for residents who need help. Facility upkeep is generally described as very clean by many reviewers (frequent mopping, spotless areas), but others noted specific cleanliness lapses such as contaminated surfaces or bathrooms needing extra attention.
Other operational issues appear intermittently: transportation support for getting patients to appointments is described as insufficient in several reviews; therapy equipment was called outdated by a few; there were occasional missed physician visits or delayed doctor rounds; and physical plant limitations like limited elevators were noted. Language barriers with some staff and reports of rude or bullying behavior by certain employees further underscore the inconsistency in resident and family experiences.
In summary, Friedwald Center shows strong capabilities in rehabilitation and has many committed, compassionate staff and effective social work/care management in numerous cases. Families frequently appreciate the warm environment, engaged therapists, and cleanliness. However, the facility also exhibits variation in nursing responsiveness, communication reliability, dining quality, and operational consistency. These mixed signals suggest that the resident experience depends considerably on which staff and shifts are involved. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong therapy and social work strengths against the reported variability in nursing care, food service, communication, and occasional safety concerns. For current families, active involvement, clear communication with social work, and documentation of incidents (medication concerns, security issues, missed appointments) are advisable to help ensure consistent care. Management attention to staffing levels, call response times, dining quality, security systems, and standardized communication practices would likely address the most common negative themes raised by reviewers.
