Chris Boarding Home in Miami, FL

Pros

• A family member received excellent therapy at the facility.
• The rehab department was informative and caring.
• The center makes patients feel welcomed, respected, and genuinely cared for from the first day.
• The staff are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate, tailoring treatment to individual needs.
• Therapists and nurses treat patients with patience and encouragement.
• The facility is clean, comfortable, and well-organized, with a calm, supportive environment that aids recovery.
• The programs address the whole person by combining physical therapy, education, and emotional support.
• The therapy team, including Nerlande Exantus, is praised for kindness and hard work.

Cons

• The staff are rude.
• The facility smells like urine and the floors are sticky.
• The care provided is neglectful and dismissive, at times cruel.
• Family members report lack of communication and unanswered calls.
• The building is dirty, unsanitary, and poorly maintained.
• The staff fail to provide proper medical or nursing care and ignore patients' needs.
• The environment is described as unsafe and prison-like.
• Some reviewers allege that patients died or were harmed due to neglect.
• The center is called inhumane and unprofessional.
• It is claimed the facility is not insured and should be shut down.
• There are allegations of misdocumentation and lack of accountability.

Review

This community is best suited for a rehab-focused plan where the primary goal is meaningful physical recovery and a supportive, team-driven therapy experience. Families who want to see tangible progress in mobility, strength, and independence will find value in the dedicated rehabilitation department, where therapists design personalized plans, monitor milestones, and sustain motivation. A resident who responds well to structured, education-informed therapy and who benefits from a close-knit rehab atmosphere will be well served here, provided there is active family oversight and a commitment to accountability.

Those who should seriously consider alternatives are families seeking consistent, comprehensive nursing care and reliable day-to-day oversight across all shifts. The most troubling threads in the feedback describe inconsistent nursing responsiveness, difficulty reaching staff by phone, and a sense that medical or daily-care needs, like pain management or timely medication, do not always receive prompt attention. When safety, cleanliness, and predictable communication are non-negotiables, the repeated reports of neglect, odor and sanitation concerns, and perceived staff frustration with questions point to substantial risk that may overshadow any gains from therapy alone.

On the plus side, the rehabilitation program stands out as a clear strength. Reviewers repeatedly highlight professional, compassionate therapists who craft individualized treatment plans and adjust as progress unfolds. The environment in the rehab-focused areas is described as calm, organized, and patient-centered, with a clear emphasis on whole-person care, physical rehab coupled with education and emotional support. A strong social work presence and therapy leadership are noted by several families, suggesting a level of coordination and attention that can translate into real functional improvement for residents who remain engaged in therapy.

Yet the cons carry substantial weight. A large body of reviews paints a troubling picture of overall care quality, with repeated claims of neglect, disrespect, and language barriers that impede effective communication. Families recount delayed pain management, missed calls, disorganized documentation, and in some cases accusations of abuse or life-threatening neglect. Cleanliness and sanitation are recurring concerns, with smells of urine and dirty environments cited as distressing realities. The most severe warnings, personal testimonies alleging harm leading to decline or death, appear alongside confirmations that a subset of staff genuinely care; the contrast underscores a facility with uneven care quality and uneven accountability.

These contrasting elements create a hard calculus: the strong therapy team can deliver meaningful functional gains, but those gains may be undermined if daily nursing care, safety, and facility conditions cannot be reliably trusted. For residents who can be closely supervised by families or advocates and who place a premium on rehabilitation outcomes, this center may still be a viable option, particularly if a targeted care plan with clear milestones is established and consistently monitored. However, for any family prioritizing dependable daily care, transparent communication, and sanitary, respectful surroundings, the downsides likely offset the rehab upside.

Practical next steps emerge from this evaluation. Before deciding, prospective families should interview the therapy team and the administrator in depth, demand a current, written plan of care with daily progress notes, and request direct contact with the director of nursing. Visiting at different times, speaking with current residents and their families, and asking for recent state inspection results will help distinguish today’s reality from yesterday’s impressions. It is prudent to set explicit expectations for response times, call-backs, and medication management, and to verify staffing levels across shifts. If those assurances cannot be consistently demonstrated, alternative facilities with stronger track records in daily care and sanitation become the wiser choice.

This part of Miami, Florida offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities suitable for senior living. With a variety of restaurants such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Houston's within close proximity, seniors can enjoy delicious dining options. Additionally, there are several pharmacies nearby including Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medical supplies. For relaxation and outdoor activities, there are several parks such as Founders Park and Haulover Beach Park available for leisurely walks or picnics. The area also provides easy access to healthcare facilities like Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and Mount Sinai Medical Center, ensuring quality medical care when needed. Transportation options including the North Perry Airport of Broward County and public transportation hubs like the Tri-Rail Metrorail Transfer are easily accessible. Overall, this part of Miami offers a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors considering senior living.

Restaurants

• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.8 miles)
• Houston's (1.9 miles)
• Mo's Bagels & Deli (2.7 miles)
• Serafina Miami (3.3 miles)
• Jackson Soul Food II (4.5 miles)
• Subway (6.5 miles)
• Mandolin Aegean Bistro (7.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)

Parks

• Founders Park (3.1 miles)
• Haulover Beach Park (3.2 miles)
• Scott Park (3.7 miles)
• North Shore Open Space Park (4.9 miles)
• South City Beach Park (5.6 miles)
• Poinciana Park (5.8 miles)
• Harry Berry Park (6.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Aventura 24 (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Rosetta Bakery (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (8.8 miles)
• Starbucks (8.9 miles)
• Nauti Grind Cafe (9 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)

Transportation

• North Perry Airport of Broward County (7 miles)
• Tri-Rail Metrorail Transfer (7.4 miles)
• Earlington Heights Metrorail Station (8.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital (7 miles)
• Mount Sinai Medical Center (7.5 miles)
• Memorial Hospital Pembroke (8.9 miles)
• Jackson Memorial Hospital (9.1 miles)
• Veterans Administration Hospital Miami (9.2 miles)

Physicians

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Center, P.A. (7.9 miles)
• Stark Vision Hollywood Oakwood Plaza (8.3 miles)