Hebron Elderly Care

Pros

• The staff are very organized and work well with patients.
• The interaction with staff has been very good.
• A family member is doing extremely well in this facility.
• The food served appears to be of good quality.
• The sibling has been the most stable they have been in any facility, indicating high-quality care.
• The reviewer is really grateful for this safe space.

Cons

• The facility smells of urine and feces, creating a nauseating environment.
• There are no activities for patients; it functions mainly as a drop-off point for placement elsewhere.
• The staff are rude and inexperienced, and they often yell at patients.
• Patients are locked in rooms for hours, sometimes without access to water or food.
• A nurse pushed a patient to the wall, illustrating unsafe treatment.
• The place is described as prison-like, with a room that has only one bed.
• The hospital should be shut down due to mistreatment.
• Outdoor access is severely limited; what passes for outdoors is a cage with no real nature access.

Review

The collection of voices about this psychiatric care environment paints a complex and contradictory portrait. On the one hand, there are hopeful notes from families who see real stability and safety for their loved ones. A sister and family member who has been in the facility describe highly organized staff, careful routines, and interactions that feel respectful and constructive. They point to a strong sense of safety and gratitude for a "safe space" where, despite limitations, the care seems steady and the patient appears to be doing well. The quality of the meals is mentioned as good, and the overall environment is framed as orderly and well-run. Even though visits have been paused by COVID-19, the tone is ultimately one of cautious optimism and appreciation for what the facility is delivering in terms of daily care and structure.

Yet, this same story thread is interwoven with sharp critiques about how care is delivered. Several reviewers recall that the facility uses isolation techniques and keeps people in locked rooms, and that the outside world is effectively constrained by security measures. The presence of a long-standing hearing by the LTCO (Long-Term Care Ombudsman) and ongoing concerns about patient rights suggest a tension between safety and autonomy. One account notes that the outdoors is literally an enclosed space, a "caged enclosure," underscoring a lack of natural access and a sense that the outside world is heavily restricted. The fear and tension around confinement exist alongside gratitude for the stability and the apparent improvements in the patient's condition.

The narrative broadens with memories of much older experiences and a broader historical critique. A firsthand account from 1975 at Woodview Calabasas Psychiatric Hospital describes a very different era of treatment, including the fear and anger many felt toward what they experienced at Penmar. The writer cites a longstanding skepticism about how patients are treated and invokes generations of deinstitutionalization debates, even suggesting that some people worry about resurgent practices such as ECT or lobotomies being revived. This voice emphasizes concerns about patients being locked down for extended periods, the potential for mistreatment, and the chilling possibility of a return to more coercive psychiatric practices. Although the writer's perspective is colored by a long personal history, it anchors present complaints in a historical continuum of concern about patient rights and humane treatment.

A recurring thread across multiple testimonies is the presence of odor, neglect, and a perceived lack of meaningful activity. Several reviewers describe the environment as smelling strongly of urine and feces, even in common areas like dining rooms, and they contrast this with reports of slowly improving conditions during later visits. They also point to a dearth of activities for patients, a sense that the facility serves more as a staging area for placement elsewhere rather than a place where patients grow or engage meaningfully. The social work staff are criticized for not offering adequate assistance, and nurses are described - by more than one reviewer - as inexperienced or even rude. In one intensely negative account, a nurse named Alfonso allegedly pushed a patient, and another reviewer describes a "prison-like" room with a single bed and a routine of yelling at patients, with basic needs like water or food not being promptly attended to.

The reviews also recount emotionally charged episodes that echo the long-standing debates about treatment choices. Some voices worry about the overreliance on sedating medications, referencing the "thorazine shuffle" as a daily routine and describing a climate where patients feel controlled rather than aided. There are explicit concerns about coercive practices, including discussions of being locked down, of being removed from family visits, and of the potential for rights violations. A visitor who has been sober for many years mentions a wall of resistance to outside voices and outside voices' attempts to contribute, hinting at a culture that can feel closed and punitive toward the very people most invested in the patient's recovery.

Amid these powerful critiques, there are still reports of individual compassion and moments of improvement. Some reviewers acknowledge that staff can be organized and responsive, and that when care aligns with the patient's needs and safety, the facility can function as a stabilizing space. One parent notes that the first few months were distressing due to odors and disorganization, but that things began to improve in the most recent visit, suggesting a potential trajectory of reform or better management. Even in the midst of harsh words, there is a thread of gratitude and recognition that for some loved ones, the environment offers a refuge from instability elsewhere.

Taken together, the portrait is undeniably mixed and emotionally charged. For some families, the facility represents a rare combination of safety, routine, and professional care that anchors a loved one during a difficult period. For others, it evokes memories of past abuses, ongoing fears about coercive practices, inadequate activities, and insufficient attention to the day-to-day humanity of people living with mental health challenges. The repeated appeals - calling for more patient-centered activities, better cleanliness, more compassionate and trained staff, and stronger oversight - underscore a common longing: that safety should never come at the expense of dignity, autonomy, and meaningful engagement with life outside the walls.

If you are navigating decisions about this facility for yourself or a loved one, the spectrum of experiences here serves as a reminder to gather a broad range of perspectives. Speak with current staff, request recent oversight findings from the LTCO, and ask for concrete plans around activities, outdoor access, and how patient input is incorporated into daily care. While some patients thrive in this environment, others report experiences that warrant careful attention and ongoing improvement. The overarching takeaway is a call for balance: to maintain safety and stability while preserving respect, rights, and opportunities for growth and connection beyond locked doors and institutional routines.

This part of El Monte, California, is a convenient and vibrant area with a variety of amenities and services nearby. There are several cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal with friends, as well as pharmacies for any medication needs. The area also has multiple hospitals and healthcare facilities, providing easy access to medical care. In addition, there are parks for outdoor activities and places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. Public transportation options are available, such as the Metro station, making it easy to get around the area. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of essential services and recreational opportunities that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and well-connected community to call home.

Cafes

• Flo's Coffee Shop (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Porto's Bakery & Cafe (4.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.5 miles)
• Bopomofo Cafe (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center (1.6 miles)
• Hope (4.4 miles)
• City Of Hope (4.4 miles)
• Methodist Hospital of Southern California (4.5 miles)
• Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley (5.4 miles)
• Beverly Hospital (6.6 miles)
• Rowland Convalescent Hospital (6.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• In-N-Out Burger (2 miles)
• McDonald's (4.1 miles)
• KIYO Arcadia (4.4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.6 miles)
• Capital Seafood Restaurant (4.6 miles)
• Johnny Rockets Santa Anita Mall (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Live Oak Park (2.9 miles)
• Rosemead Park (3.3 miles)
• Arcadia County Park (4.6 miles)
• Almansor Park (6.1 miles)
• Barnes Memorial Park (6.7 miles)
• Lacy Park (7 miles)
• George E. Elder Memorial Park (7.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Arcadia Chinese Baptist Church (4 miles)
• First Evangelical Church Arcadia (5.3 miles)
• San Marino Community Church Nursery School (6.7 miles)
• Saint Rita's Catholic Church (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• Metro - Monrovia Station (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Doheny Eye Center (4.2 miles)
• Healthcare Partners Medical Group (4.5 miles)
• Santa Anita Medical Plaza (4.6 miles)

Theaters

• 0206 Amc Bar Santa Ani (4.7 miles)
• AMC Puente Hills 20 (7.3 miles)