Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed with strong positives around rehabilitation services and the physical environment, but recurring and significant concerns about nursing responsiveness, medication administration, and sanitation. The facility receives consistent praise for its PT/OT and rehab team — multiple reviewers singled out therapists and the rehab department as excellent, proactive, and a major strength. Residents and families also frequently note caring, friendly aides and many nurses who are helpful and patient. The facility itself is described as clean and well-maintained, with pleasant outdoor spaces (courtyards, a front porch with rocking chairs), adequate private and shared room options, and useful amenities such as a party room, nail and hair services, bingo, a library, and TVs/phones at no extra charge. Dining is repeatedly described positively, with several reviewers saying residents enjoyed the meals. Medicare coverage for stays was also noted as a practical benefit by at least one reviewer.
However, these positives are tempered by multiple safety- and care-related concerns. The most frequent negative theme is inconsistent staff performance: while some staff are praised as caring and responsive, others are described as lazy, rude, or inattentive. Call-button response times are a particular problem in several reports, with long waits for bed or toileting assistance — including one specific report of a patient being left in a wheelchair for 2.5 hours. Several reviewers specifically call out that weekends tend to be worse for responsiveness. Staffing sufficiency and nurse competence are recurring worries: reviewers said there were not enough competent nurses, that family members sometimes had to perform basic care tasks, and that nurses have missed or been unaware of important clinical issues (for example, failing to monitor blood sugar in a diabetic patient).
Medication and clinical management issues also appear in multiple reviews. Examples include an allegedly omitted diuretic dose, a lidocaine patch not being changed for days, and at least one reviewer noting a poor physician. One serious incident described a patient rushed to the ER for pulmonary distress soon after discharge, with the family suspecting inactivity and a missed diuretic as contributing factors. These reports suggest gaps in medication reconciliation, monitoring, and discharge planning that in at least one case had severe consequences. On a more positive note, some reviewers did mention on-time medications and excellent monitoring (such as proactive fall calls), indicating variability in performance between different shifts or staff members.
Facility hygiene and infrastructure problems are another consistent concern. While many reviewers said the facility was very clean and well-maintained, others reported strong, unpleasant odors (sewage or excrement), plumbing backups, and toilets or showers not flushing. Occasional dirty laundry was also mentioned. These sanitation and maintenance issues, even if intermittent, contribute strongly to negative perceptions and raise legitimate concerns about infection control and resident comfort.
Interpersonal issues and policies also emerged: a few reviewers reported rude interactions or feeling ‘picked on’ by nursing staff, while others described open, helpful communication and staff who answered questions patiently. Visitation policies were noted as a restriction by at least one reviewer (locked-down policy), which can affect family satisfaction. Several reviewers praised elements of management and programming — such as allowing families to use the party room for events — but the mixed reports about staff responsiveness and clinical competence point to inconsistent oversight.
In summary, Azalea Health & Rehab Center appears to offer strong rehabilitative care and a pleasant physical environment with good food, activities, and many caring staff members. However, recurring issues with nursing staffing and competence, inconsistent responsiveness to call buttons (especially on weekends), medication and clinical-management lapses, plumbing/sanitation problems, and occasional rude or inattentive staff are significant negatives that appear in multiple reviews. The pattern suggests variability by shift, staff member, or unit: some teams and departments (notably rehab/PT/OT) perform at a high level, while others fall short. Families and prospective residents should weigh the facility’s clear strengths in therapy and environment against these systemic concerns, and consider asking targeted questions about nurse staffing levels, call-response times, medication reconciliation procedures, recent facility maintenance, and physician coverage when evaluating placement.
