Essex Center Rehab in Elizabethtown, NY

Pros

• The PT department has been exceptional.
• The nursing team is kind and ensures residents are comfortable and well cared for.
• The administrative staff handle concerns promptly and efficiently.
• The facility is awesome, with friendly staff and a clean environment.
• The security and staff make visitors and residents feel welcome; the place is nice and clean.
• The staff are incredible and take great care of every resident's needs; highly recommended for loved ones.
• The facility is well run and staff go above and beyond to help residents recover and return home.

Cons

• The staff discriminates based on skin color and disciplinary actions go unaddressed.
• The reviewer describes the facility as nasty, dirty, neglected, and abusive.
• They warn others not to go to this place.
• The place is unsanitary, with foul smells, horrible food, and claims online are not truthful.
• The facility allegedly neglected residents, contributing to a father's ICU admission.
• Nursing home abuse and neglect are alleged, with delays and possible alteration of medical records.
• Bathrooms and rooms are filthy, with threadbare sheets, no climate control, and soiled linens.
• There is chronic understaffing and management focused on the bottom line, leading to dehydration and malnutrition.
• Racist staff and harassing behavior toward patients and coworkers are reported.

Review

Essex Center Rehab in Elizabethtown is best suited for families prioritizing tangible rehabilitation progress and hands-on care from a dedicated therapy and nursing staff when operations are running smoothly. The facility shows real potential for short-term post-acute rehab, with accounts of residents regaining mobility and responsive therapists delivering meaningful gains within weeks. For families who can vet staffing stability and trust that frontline caregivers will stay engaged, this center can be worth pursuing as a path back to home life. The caveat is that these benefits hinge on consistent, well-supported operations and attentive leadership.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are clear: facilities with a proven track record of stable staffing, reliable communication, and spotless accountability across administration, nursing, and housekeeping. If a loved one requires unwavering daily oversight, predictable medication management, and transparent, timely discharge planning, exploration of other options is prudent. Persistent concerns about understaffing, unanswered calls, and inconsistent service that show up in multiple reviews signal a risk that outweighs potential gains for long-term custodial or frail-care needs. Families should approach Essex Center with a readiness to verify systems and follow up aggressively.

The strongest positives center on rehabilitative care and the quality of frontline personnel. Several reviewers highlight the PT department as exceptional and the nursing team as compassionate when they are fully staffed and attentive. Administrative staff have, in numerous instances, responded promptly to concerns and helped smooth transitions during discharge planning. Descriptions of genuine kindness, practical problem solving, and moments of noticeable improvement - such as mobility gains after short rehab courses - underscore that the facility can deliver meaningful care when conditions allow for it. For families able to observe and engage with the care partners, the human element remains a meaningful strength.

The persistent, pervasive drawbacks temper the upbeat picture. A recurrent thread points to sanitation and environmental quality concerns in some areas, with reports of dirty conditions, maintenance gaps, and inconsistent housekeeping. Communication gaps - long or unanswered calls, confusing information during transitions, and disjointed coordination among therapists, social workers, and administration - muddle the experience and erode confidence in overall management. Allegations of neglect, delays in specialist referrals, and in some cases perceived misuse of beds, inventories, and medication scheduling create a backdrop of mistrust. These issues are not isolated anecdotes; they echo across multiple families and linger beyond any single shift or department.

Prospective families must weigh whether the reported strengths in rehab and staff warmth can realistically offset the substantial, ongoing concerns around staffing adequacy and organizational reliability. When therapy wins occur and administrative concerns are resolved, Essex Center can feel like a place that genuinely aids recovery. In contrast, when staffing is thin, calls go unanswered, or daily routines falter - meals, hygiene, and timely medication - families face a troubling reality that undermines quality of life and safety. The decision hinges on tolerance for variability and a willingness to stay actively involved to safeguard day-to-day needs while pursuing the best possible rehabilitation outcome.

Practical next steps are essential for anyone seriously considering this community. Tour with a focused checklist: ask about staffing ratios on each shift, especially on weekends; request recent state survey results and any corrective action plans; verify how discharge planning is actually executed, including connections to home health or local services; and observe how staff respond to a busy floor, including how quickly calls are answered and how medications are administered. Review cleanliness of rooms and bathrooms, and request a tour of multiple units to assess consistency. Finally, probe leadership and accountability: who is the DON, how are complaints tracked, and what clear consequences exist for recurrent issues? Essex Center Rehab can be a viable option for rehabilitation-focused families, but only if due diligence confirms that the positives outweigh the serious systemic risks.

Located in Elizabethtown, New York, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With nearby places of worship such as the Life Church Of Elizabethtown and the Southern Baptist Convention, residents have easy access to spiritual support. The Elizabethtown Community Hospital is conveniently located for any medical needs, while parks like The Footbridge Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Dining options like Deer's Head Inn and Wooden Nickel offer delicious meals, and pharmacies such as Kinney Drugs are close by for prescription needs. Transportation options include the Amtrak Westport Station and rental car services for easy travel. Additionally, cafes like Old Mountain Coffee provide a cozy atmosphere for socializing with friends. Overall, this part of Elizabethtown offers a well-rounded community for seniors seeking a comfortable and convenient place to call home.

Places of Worship

• Life Church Of Elizabethtown (0.1 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (0.1 miles)
• Westport Federated Church (8.3 miles)
• Jay Baptist Church (9.9 miles)
• Mount Moriah Presbyterian Church (13.5 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (13.5 miles)
• Roman Catholic Diocese-HRRSBRG (13.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Elizabethtown Community Hospital (0.2 miles)
• Adirondack Medical Center (19.5 miles)
• Lake Placid Health Center (19.5 miles)

Parks

• The Footbridge Park (0.2 miles)
• Lee Park (8.3 miles)
• Beggs Park (13.7 miles)
• Dar State Park (14.4 miles)
• Mount Van Hoevenberg (15.8 miles)
• Kingsland Bay State Park (17.2 miles)
• Horse Show Grounds (18.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Deer's Head Inn (0.2 miles)
• The Halfway House (2 miles)
• Wooden Nickel (2.7 miles)
• Dogwood Bread Company (6.7 miles)
• Baxter Mountain Tavern (7.5 miles)
• Galley Restaurant & Bar (8.4 miles)
• The Galley (8.4 miles)

Physicians

• Elizabethtown Community Health Center (0.3 miles)
• Smith House Health Care Center (14.5 miles)
• Little City Family Practice (17.3 miles)
• Peak View Eye Care (17.5 miles)
• Charlotte Family Health Center (17.8 miles)
• Lake Placid Sports Medicine (19.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Kinney Drugs (0.3 miles)
• Hometown Pharmacy Co. (9.8 miles)
• Willsboro Pharmacy (14.4 miles)
• Chemis DrugStore (17.3 miles)
• Marble Works Pharmacy (17.3 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (17.8 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak Westport Station (7.3 miles)
• Amtrak-Port Henry (13.8 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (17.3 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (17.5 miles)
• Lake Placid Airport (LKP) (18.7 miles)
• Rent-A-Wreck (18.9 miles)
• Rent-A-Wreck (19.6 miles)

Cafes

• Old Mountain Coffee (9.8 miles)
• Cedar Run Cafe and Bakery (10.3 miles)
• Ferrisburgh Bake Shop & Deli (17.1 miles)
• Adirondack Corner Store (19.5 miles)
• Farmhouse Cafe (19.7 miles)
• Coffee Bar (19.9 miles)
• Starbucks (20 miles)

Theaters

• Adirondack Theater (20 miles)