St. Francis Care Home

Pros

• The St Francis facility and staff are amazing.
• The team at St Francis makes the experience easy for families.
• The facility offers easy parking with a large back lot.
• The staff-to-resident ratio seems great and the building is properly staffed.
• There is always someone available to help when necessary.
• Meals are complete and offer a good variety.
• Caretaking is on schedule and the staff are friendly.
• Residents participate in group activities such as bingo, karaoke, and movie watching.
• Cynthia, the case manager, is supportive and responsive.
• The nurses provide around-the-clock care and attentiveness.

Cons

• The staff have zero follow-through and failed to help after a fall, taking five hours to summon an ambulance.
• Patients were placed in crowded rooms with little privacy, and nurses checked on them only once a day.
• Rehabilitation services were grossly inadequate, offering only about 10 minutes of physical therapy per day.
• The facility felt more like hospice care than a rehabilitation center.
• Families felt misled about the kind of care, with bed turnover prioritized over patient needs.
• Staff could not answer basic questions about certain medical conditions.
• The facility was described as horrible, with employees yelling at elderly patients and ignoring them while smiling.
• Phone lines were often unanswered and voicemail full.

Review

St. Francis is a facility that inspires a wide spectrum of opinions, with many families singing its praises for warmth, attentiveness, and a supportive environment, while a smaller number report alarmingly different experiences. In one set of accounts, the complex is described as a bright, clean, and well-kept place that is easy to navigate physically. There is ample parking in the back, and the lobby and hallways feel inviting. Reviewers repeatedly point to a high level of staffing relative to residents, which translates into ready access to help, timely meals, and a schedule that keeps caretaking on track. The atmosphere is often described as calm and organized, with residents participating in a variety of group activities - from bingo and karaoke to movie screenings - demonstrating a strong commitment to keeping patients engaged, even when their cognitive or physical state is diminished.

Several reviews highlight individuals who go above and beyond in the eyes of families. Cynthia, the case manager, is repeatedly singled out for being supportive and quick to respond to questions, helping families navigate the process. Dominic, the physical therapist, earns praise for his friendly demeanor, patient and understanding tone, and a determination to work toward the patient's baseline. The nursing staff is described as attentive, with families noting that they receive proactive updates, including phone calls whenever a patient experiences a fall. The combination of engaged activity programming, responsive case management, and consistent nursing care contributes to a strong sense of security for many families.

Positive testimonials also emphasize the overall quality of care and the facility's environment. Some reviews describe the staff as highly skilled and devoted, suggesting that the place operates with a level of professionalism that makes it a reliable option for skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The smaller, nearly "family feel" of the facility is praised for enabling closer relationships with nurses and CNAs, which many families interpret as a meaningful factor in the patient's comfort and recovery. Guests frequently mention that the food is good and that dietary needs - such as gluten- and lactose-free requirements - are accommodated with care. The general tone in these accounts is one of appreciation for a welcoming atmosphere, strong management, and a sense that the facility has resources and a compassionate culture.

The narrative is not uniformly positive, however. A number of reviewers report significant concerns about the quality and consistency of care, sometimes within the same facility. One individual describes a very troubling experience after a hospital discharge for heart failure, stating that the patient was placed in a crowded room with little privacy, nurses checked on the patient only once a day, and medications were not observed being administered during visits. Rehabilitation services in that account were described as grossly inadequate - about 10 minutes of therapy per day before the patient was returned to bed - and the reviewer felt the setting resembled a hospice more than a rehabilitation center. The call for transparency and better care is presented as a clear expectation for improvement.

Another set of criticisms focuses on problems such as delays in medication administration, infrequent nurse rounding, and periods when a patient seemed left alone for extended times. Some reviewers note that despite polite staff, the overall conditions did not live up to expectations for comfort or rehabilitation intensity. There are pointed accusations about a lack of follow-through, and claims that certain staff members - while well-intentioned - failed to provide timely, consistent, or adequate care. A particularly harsh indictment cites a specific incident in which a loved one fell and waited hours for an ambulance, a situation described as emblematic of broader issues around care quality and accountability.

Amid these diametrically opposed experiences, the community of reviewers sometimes reflects on ownership and management changes, suggesting that recent transitions have both improved and, in other voices, failed to address long-standing gaps. Some praise the new ownership and management for turning the facility into a "fantastic healthcare facility," emphasizing improved productivity and stronger patient stays. Others allude to ongoing concerns about how the facility is run, including remarks about consistency of service with other locations owned by the same company. The mixed feedback underscores that potential patients and families may encounter a range of experiences dependent on which day they are there, who is supervising care, and how well staff are able to respond to crises or evolving needs.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a complex portrait: St. Francis is lauded for its clean, welcoming environment; proactive, personable staff; and a strong emphasis on engagement and personalized care. The facility appears to offer a robust set of services, from skilled nursing and rehabilitation to meaningful activities that help maintain dignity and connection for residents. At the same time, several accounts raise red flags about med administration, the frequency of nursing checks, the intensity of rehabilitation, and the immediacy of response to urgent issues. Families considering St. Francis should prepare to ask direct questions about medication timing, therapy duration and goals, nurse-to-patient ratios on particular shifts, privacy for patients, and the facility's protocols for fall management and urgent transfers. For some, the experience will align closely with their expectations and values; for others, it may reveal a need for more transparent communication and more consistent, hands-on care.

This part of Fremont, California offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering the area for living. With multiple pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart within close proximity, access to medication and healthcare services is easily accessible. The neighborhood also features a variety of restaurants offering both fast food options like McDonald's and Sonic Drive-In, as well as sit-down dining options like Jack's Restaurant & Bar. Additionally, there are several parks nearby for outdoor recreation and relaxation, including Meyer Park, Lake Elizabeth, and Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. For those seeking medical care, there are hospitals like Washington Hospital Heliport and Reproductive Medicine Associates of Northern California in the vicinity. Transportation options are also readily available with BART stations in Fremont and nearby cities like Union City and Milpitas. Overall, this area provides a convenient and well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle down in Fremont.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Jack's Restaurant & Bar (1.2 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (5.9 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (8.8 miles)
• Sports Page (9.9 miles)

Parks

• Meyer Park (0.6 miles)
• Lake Elizabeth (1.4 miles)
• Fremont Central Park (1.7 miles)
• Irvington Park (2 miles)
• Rancho Arroyo Park (2.2 miles)
• Niles Community Park (2.3 miles)
• Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Philz Coffee (1 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.1 miles)
• Daily Bagel Cafe (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.7 miles)
• Inklings Coffee & Tea (10.4 miles)
• Bill's Cafe (10.7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC NewPark 12 (1.1 miles)
• Century 20 Great Mall and XD (9.9 miles)
• AMC Mercado 20 (10.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Washington Hospital Heliport (1.2 miles)
• Reproductive Medicine Associates of Northern California | RMANORCAL (10.1 miles)
• VA Medical Center-Menlo Park (10.6 miles)

Transportation

• Fremont BART Station (1.4 miles)
• Union City BART Station (3.7 miles)
• South Hayward BART Station (7.4 miles)
• Milpitas BART Station (10.6 miles)
• Mountain View Caltrain Station (11.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Wat Buddhanusorn (2.8 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser Medical Offices (8.4 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Pediatrics (8.4 miles)
• Dr Mark Mandel M.D. - Optima Medical Assoc (10.4 miles)
• Abbott Vascular (10.7 miles)
• Vaughn, Sarah Spring Fertility Management (10.8 miles)
• Ceizler Harold B DDS (11 miles)
• Golden State Dermatology (11.3 miles)