The Ensign Group, Inc

Pros

• This has been the best company ever.
• They care about every person that works for them.
• This is an organization built upon the principles of humility, servant leadership, teamwork, transparency, and ownership.
• Ensign is a place where innovators, entrepreneurs, care-givers, and clinicians come together to care for the most vulnerable, lift each other up, serve each community, and strive to be GREAT each and every day.
• Amazing organization to work for.
• A culture that values work and family balance.
• Ensign has created an environment that allows for personal and professional growth, recognition, and appreciation and allows everyone to feel heard and acknowledged.

Cons

• The West Columbia facility smells terrible and is dirty, with filthy linens and laundry delays.
• Staff members are verbally abusive toward patients and display nasty attitudes.
• A CNA named Savannah allegedly did not properly wash a patient and had a nasty attitude.
• Residents feel they are treated like trash and are disrespected by staff.
• Management is described as disregarding patients, disorganized, and money-focused.
• There is frequent staff turnover, with workers quitting regularly, indicating instability.
• Unit manager Gina is described as the worst and verbally abusive toward patients.
• Seacliff is described as horrible and not recommended for loved ones, with concerns about ENSIGN SERVICE.
• A former employee reports not being paid for over 60 days.
• The facility has strong odors and dirty conditions that compromise care.

Review

A resident at a Millennium Post-Acute Care facility in West Columbia, South Carolina paints a bleak picture of daily life there. The individual is trying to arrange a transfer to a Charleston, SC hospital facility to receive intensive dental work and urgent medical attention, but the situation at the current place feels unsafe and unmanageable. They describe overpowering odors and a facility that feels dirty and poorly maintained, with linen that is consistently dirty and a laundry room that operates with almost no staff - "about four workers coming to work smelling," which compounds the sense of neglect. The person is clear that the environment is not just uncomfortable; it feels unsanitary and unsafe, contributing to a belief that their health needs will be ignored or poorly treated if they stay.

The care provided by some aides is a central source of distress. The reviewer recounts a specific incident with a CNA named Savannah, who allegedly wiped them "three times" but did not actually wash properly, leaving the patient feeling unclean and disrespected. The account emphasizes a broader pattern of verbal abuse and a nasty attitude from certain staff members. The patient also hints at a toxic cultural atmosphere, with rumors circulating about male staff and the way female patients are treated, adding to a pervasive sense of disrespect and fear. The patient points out that such behavior contributes to an overall environment of disregard for residents' dignity and safety.

Medical needs, especially acute ones, are reported as being inadequately addressed. The reviewer highlights a jaw disorder that needs immediate attention, noting that this issue has not been properly looked at while they are confined to the facility. They describe ongoing neglect - poor food quality (with complaints about taste) and limited channel options on the television - but stress that these issues pale in importance next to the lack of proper medical assessment and treatment for their jaw problem. The combination of physical discomfort, allergic sensitivities to perfumes worn by staff, and a stench-filled atmosphere creates a sense of ongoing distress and a fear that essential care will be missed or delayed.

A strong theme throughout is the longing to relocate for safety and better care. The patient indicates a clear preference to be near family in Charleston and to receive care in a setting they believe will treat them with respect and competence. They express a wish to be treated with basic humanity - "not like this place" - and to have access to hospital-level care when needed. The closing sentiment - "I put this place in God's hands" with a sense of desperation - reflects a deep yearning for relief and a transition to a better environment where their health concerns, including dental work and other medical needs, can be appropriately addressed.

Interwoven with these on-site experiences are the broader, widely varying reviews about Ensign Services, the parent organization. The text contains numerous glowing endorsements of Ensign as a company: "This has been the best company ever. They care about every person that works for them," and similar statements about a culture that values employees, supports growth, and demonstrates a commitment to dignifying long-term care. Several other entries emphasis a positive workplace environment, praising leadership, culture, resources, and the opportunity to grow within the organization. These testimonials present Ensign as an employer that genuinely invests in people and emphasizes family-friendly policies and personal development.

Yet the same compilation also includes sharply critical notes about Ensign. Some reviewers describe the company as a horrible organization that mistreats the elderly in its care, calling out practices they believe are negligent or exploitative. There are specific anecdotes about payment issues, such as a former employee alleging they had not been paid for services rendered, and references to facilities like Brookfield Healthcare under Ensign ownership that supposedly presented poor conditions or failed to address outstanding payments. The contradictions are stark: while many entries celebrate Ensign's culture and care for employees, others condemn the company for how it treats residents and staff and for allegations of neglect or financial improprieties.

Taken together, the collection of impressions presents a complex landscape. On the ground, a resident's account focuses on immediate, day-to-day failures - dirty conditions, poor cleanliness, disrespectful or abusive behavior from some staff, insufficient medical attention, and a palpable fear for personal safety and dignity. Offsite, the same overarching organization elicits a broad spectrum of opinions: from fervent, repeated praise of Ensign's corporate culture and commitment to employees, to vehement, specific accusations of mistreatment and financial or operational mismanagement in other facilities. The juxtaposition suggests a disconnect between corporate messaging and some frontline experiences, or at least a variability in experiences across different facilities and units within the same organization.

For readers trying to understand what's happening, the narratives underscore the importance of looking beyond glossy corporate statements and listening to residents and frontline workers. They highlight how quickly a facility can slide from being seen as a caring place to a place where fear, neglect, and disrespect become the lived reality for some residents. They also illustrate the challenge of navigating a large care network where good intentions at the corporate level may not always translate into consistently positive experiences on the front lines. If you or a loved one find yourself in a situation like this, it can be worth pursuing external reviews, contacting state health inspectors, and seeking transfers to facilities with stronger, verifiable records of dignity, cleanliness, and prompt medical attention. And if possible, direct outreach to corporate leadership, as the author of these notes has attempted, may help surface concerns that otherwise go unaddressed.

The Mission Viejo area boasts a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a peaceful and convenient location. With several parks nearby such as Cabot Park and Laguna Niguel Regional Park, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and leisurely walks. There are also numerous medical facilities including Mission Hospital Mission Viejo and Community Orthopedic Medical Group, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are plenty of dining options ranging from casual eateries like Chick-Fil-A and In-N-Out Burger to more upscale restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory. For those looking to relax over a cup of coffee, Starbucks is conveniently located within a short distance. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of entertainment options, medical services, and green spaces making it an ideal choice for seniors seeking a comfortable and vibrant community to call home.

Parks

• Cabot Park (0.4 miles)
• Founders Park (2.4 miles)
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park (2.4 miles)
• Sheep Hills Park (2.7 miles)
• Chapparosa Park (4 miles)
• Los Rios Park (4.9 miles)
• Vintage Park (5.9 miles)

Physicians

• Leon Joseph Baginski (0.5 miles)
• Advanced Eye Medical Group (0.5 miles)
• Mission Hospital Mission Viejo (0.6 miles)
• Teacher Theodore M MD (0.7 miles)
• Community Orthopedic Medical Group (0.8 miles)
• Mission Pain & Spine (1.2 miles)
• Lucas Bingham Dermatology (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Head & Neck Associates Of Oc (0.5 miles)
• CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital (0.6 miles)
• Palm Terrace (2.6 miles)
• South Coast Medical Center For New Medecine (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• The Cheesecake Factory (0.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.3 miles)
• Del Taco (1.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.6 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Kona Loa Coffe (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Edwards Aliso Viejo & IMAX (3.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Corpus Christi Catholic Church (3.4 miles)
• Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano Parish (4.4 miles)
• Harvest Community Church of Irvine (6 miles)
• Saddleback Church (6.7 miles)