Garland Rest Home

Pros

• The rehab team is described as phenomenal, with several care staff highlighted for going above and beyond for residents.
• The staff are kind, caring, and professional, and the reviewer would highly recommend the facility.
• The father receives substantial PT and OT and is walking again; the facility is reported to be very clean.
• Henry Kiddu, the wound nurse, is praised for his wound vac skills and attentive care.
• Several CNAs and staff across units (AL from Bradford, Suzie, Gerta, Meesha, Natalie, Angel, Martha) are commended for their dedication.
• Nurse Adam is noted for looking out for the resident's health and ensuring timely hospital transfer when needed.
• Maggie, the social worker, is described as wonderful.
• The occupational therapist is described as the best the reviewer has seen and deserving of a raise.

Cons

• The food is horrible and the kitchen is awful.
• The facility is described as the worst nursing home.
• The Department of Public Health was called for leaving patients in feces and urine for over two hours.
• Nurses allegedly withhold medications they don't like and threaten patients.
• The staff are described as inexperienced and untrained, with lazy management.
• There is a lot of miscommunication that causes stress and confusion for guardians.
• Patients are routed to the wrong hospital, causing delays in needed care.
• There is only one social worker for the entire building.
• Night shift CNAs are accused of sleeping on shift and not communicating properly with nurses.
• Some reviewers claim neglect or abuse of residents.

Review

Care One at Newton and the related Care One facilities present a wide spectrum of experiences for residents and their families. On one hand, there are strong endorsements of the rehabilitation programs and certain staff members who are described as genuinely caring, skilled, and dedicated. On the other hand, a sizeable portion of reviews express serious concerns about daily care, communication, staffing, and administrative integrity. Taken together, the collection paints a complicated picture: a place with real potential for excellent rehab and cleanliness, but with persistent gaps that can significantly affect a resident's comfort, safety, and peace of mind.

Several reviewers highlight the rehab services as the facility's strongest and most reliable asset. A number of accounts praise the physical therapy and occupational therapy teams for their expertise and relentless effort to restore mobility and independence. Specific staff members - whether in the wound care unit or on general rehab floors - are repeatedly named as going above and beyond. For example, one former patient credits the wound care team, and particularly a wound nurse named Henry, with making life-changing progress through wound vac therapy and meticulous repositioning. Other caregivers - CNA's, therapists, and social workers - are cited by multiple people as compassionate, professional, and listenful to patient needs. In several testimonials, family members observe tangible improvements: patients walking again, regaining function, and returning home with a better quality of life thanks to attentive rehab care.

Yet the same facilities are described as failing in many other crucial domains. A recurring theme is inadequate responsiveness and neglect, especially during night shifts. Reviews recount instances of call bells going unanswered for extended periods, patients waiting hours for assistance, and even neglect in basic tasks like hygiene or timely medication administration. Some accounts describe patients left in their own waste for extended periods, and others report staff behavior that feels unprofessional or intimidating, including talking on speakerphones, not wearing uniforms, or conducting care in a way that seems dismissive of residents' dignity. Several reviewers fault management and supervisory staff as lazy or ineffective, citing poor communication, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability across shifts and departments.

Communication and coordination problems also surface repeatedly. Guardians and family members describe feeling overwhelmed by inconsistent, hard-to-nreach administrative channels. There are stories of important medical details - such as appointments with specialists or feeding-tube needs - not being communicated clearly or in a timely fashion, resulting in misplaced appointments or delays in necessary care. Some reviewers lament not having basic information about activities, housing, or services offered, which makes navigating a rehab stay feel confusing and stressful. One family member even reports not knowing who to contact to relay urgent health information, and describes the experience as a source of ongoing stress rather than support.

The reviews contain a few standout positive narratives that emphasize patient-centered care and effective team communication. Some residents or family members report highly satisfactory experiences with specific social workers, nurses, and therapists who took the time to introduce themselves, answer questions, and coordinate care. In several instances, families express gratitude for staff who communicated clearly about progress, provided encouragement, and ensured that loved ones received appropriate rehabilitation services. A few families describe their relatives entering the facility with significant medical concerns and leaving with improved mobility and greater independence, underscoring that when the staff are aligned, the care can be exemplary.

There are also strongly critical personal testimonies that raise important red flags. One reviewer claims financial exploitation, alleging that the facility pursued legal measures to compel the sale or lean on a resident's home to recoup costs and urging readers to consider legal action or financial protections. Other comments describe a lack of patient autonomy in daily life - such as being restricted from ordering one's own meals - and pervasive misinformation from staff. A common thread among these accounts is a perception of either misrepresentation or insufficient safeguards around patient rights, finances, and medical decisions, which can overshadow any positive impressions from rehab success stories.

Another recurring element is pride in specific staff achievements amid broader frustration. For example, several long-term testimonials acknowledge individuals who were exceptionally diligent in wound care or in maintaining patient dignity during challenging recoveries. Names of caregivers - such as Henry, AL, Suzie, Gerta, Meesha, Natalie, Angel, Martha, Danny, Maggie, and others - surface repeatedly as bright spots in the facility. These personal stories of compassion, technical skill, and advocacy suggest that when the facility's teams are cohesive and well-supported, residents receive the kind of attentive, thorough care that rehabilitation environments strive to deliver.

In summary, the picture that emerges is nuanced and highly depend on whom you ask and when. Care One at Newton and related facilities can offer excellent rehabilitation with clean facilities and dedicated staff who make meaningful differences in residents' recoveries. However, systemic issues - gaps in night-time staffing, inconsistent communication, perceived neglect or disrespect, and financial or administrative concerns - pull the overall experience in troubling directions for many families. The most compelling takeaway is that outcomes in this setting appear to hinge on the specifics of the care team on duty, the level of communication among staff and families, and the facility's ability to align administrative practices with the day-to-day needs and rights of residents. Families considering placement should weigh the strong rehabilitation potential and clean environment against the documented concerns about day-to-day care, responsiveness, and transparency, and perhaps seek firsthand tours, ask pointed questions about staffing patterns, and request detailed care plans to ensure a match with their loved one's needs.

This part of Newton, Massachusetts offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for senior living. With multiple CVS Pharmacies nearby, access to healthcare and medication is easily accessible. There are also various restaurant options such as Kura Revolving Sushi Bar and Margaritas Mexican Restaurant for dining out. In terms of recreation, there are several parks within a few miles including Prospect Hill Park and Jamaica Pond. Public transportation is also readily available with MBTA stations nearby for easy travel around the area. Additionally, there are reputable hospitals and physicians in close proximity such as Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates for quality healthcare services. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant community with essential amenities at their fingertips.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Wegmans (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (2.5 miles)
• Sofra Bakery & Cafe (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• Wendy's (2.9 miles)
• Spring Shabu-Shabu (3.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cinema World Majestic 7 (2 miles)
• Showcase SuperLux (2.5 miles)
• Kendall Square Cinema (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Flour Bakery + Cafe (4 miles)
• Tatte Bakery & Cafe (4.2 miles)
• Cafe Rustica (4.6 miles)
• Forge Baking Company (4.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Parish of the Messiah (2.4 miles)
• Our Lady's Church (4.2 miles)
• St Paul Parish, Harvard Square (4.3 miles)
• St Agnes Parish-Arlington (5 miles)

Parks

• Newton Highlands Playground (2.6 miles)
• Prospect Hill Park (4.1 miles)
• Larz Anderson Park (4.2 miles)
• Olmsted Park (4.6 miles)
• Jamaica Pond (4.7 miles)
• Cutler Park (4.8 miles)
• Cat Rock Park (5 miles)

Transportation

• MBTA Reservoir Station (2.7 miles)
• MBTA Riverside Station (3.1 miles)
• Porter Square MBTA Station (4.6 miles)
• MBTA Fenway Station (4.7 miles)
• MBTA Davis Square Station (4.8 miles)
• MBTA Kenmore Station (5.1 miles)
• MBTA Union Square Station (5.4 miles)

Hospitals

• McLean Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital (3 miles)
• Mount Auburn Hospital (3.4 miles)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital (4.6 miles)
• Boston Children's Hospital (4.7 miles)
• New England Baptist Hospital (4.8 miles)
• West Roxbury VA Hospital (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• Mersi (4.3 miles)
• Bidmc Lowry Building (4.5 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (4.7 miles)
• Mass. Eye and Ear (4.7 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (4.8 miles)
• Harvard Medical School (4.8 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates – Spinal Unit/Pain Management (4.8 miles)