Essex Center Rehab

Pros

• The PT department has been exceptional and the best part of the stay.
• The nursing team is kind and consistently ensures residents are comfortable and well cared for.
• The administrative staff handle concerns promptly and efficiently.
• The Essex Center is an awesome facility with friendly staff.
• The security and staff make residents feel welcome in a very nice and clean facility.
• The Essex Center provides good and excellent service.
• Staff are accessible and easy to reach; calling the operator directs callers to the right place quickly.
• Most of the staff were amazing, and the SLP and PT were very helpful.
• The staff were amazing and addressed concerns when raised.
• The facility is very good, and the reviewer enjoyed their stay.

Cons

• The staff are alleged to discriminate based on skin color and discipline people differently depending on their race.
• The facility is described as nasty, dirty, neglected, and abusive.
• A resident reportedly fell out of bed and lay there for about 45 minutes, with claims of bugs on her.
• Residents are not bathed properly, leading to recurrent UTIs, and requests for specialist appointments have been ignored for years.
• The place is unsanitary with a strong odor, and the food is described as horrible; pictures online are not accurate.
• The facility has been accused of nursing home abuse and neglect that contributed to a death, with concerns that medical records could be altered.
• It is difficult to reach anyone by phone, and administrators do not return calls.
• Discharge planning is poorly handled, with services not arranged and belongings sometimes missing, leaving residents unsafe.

Review

A wide range of residents and family members describe the Essex Center as a place where experiences vary dramatically - from moments of genuine praise for compassionate care to troubling reports of neglect, mismanagement, and unsafe conditions. On one end of the spectrum, several reviews celebrate dedicated nurses, therapists, and administrative staff who made an immediate, positive impression and helped patients regain or maintain their independence. On the other end, a substantial share of accounts allege serious problems that affected safety, dignity, and health, prompting investigations, complaints to state inspectors, and legal counsel.

Several reviewers recount alarming safety and medical concerns. One family describes a resident who fell out of bed and lay unattended for nearly an hour, raising questions about monitoring and responsiveness on the floor. Others report skin infestations and inadequate hygiene - claims of scabies, poor bathing, and unsanitary conditions in bathrooms and showers. The same themes recur with chronic medical oversight gaps: UTIs that persisted for years, a resident who could not advocate for herself due to full assist status, and repeated requests for specialist evaluations that never materialized in a timely fashion. These narratives portray a facility struggling to meet basic standards of medical attention and preventive care.

Hygiene and facility conditions are a recurring source of concern. Several reviews describe persistent odors, dirty or ill-kept spaces, soiled linens left on the floor, and general neglect in rooms and common areas. The physical environment is sometimes depicted as threadbare and uncomfortable, with inadequate climate control and insufficient staffing to maintain cleanliness. Complaints extend beyond resident rooms to the overall atmosphere of care, including reports of patients not being offered showers or regular hygiene care and staff who seemed overwhelmed or inattentive to cleanliness and comfort.

Communication and responsiveness emerge as another major thread. Families report long wait times when seeking information or updates, difficulty reaching administrators, and inconsistent information from staff about discharge plans or ongoing care. Some reviews recount delays in receiving medical records after a loved one's death, with concerns about mishandling or misplacing paperwork that could have aided families in finalizing affairs. The difficulty in obtaining timely calls or clear answers from the facility appears to amplify distress for families already navigating challenging circumstances, sometimes intensifying fears about whether loved ones are being adequately monitored.

Within the same set of experiences, there are notable contrasts in how staff are perceived. A number of reviewers praise the PT and SLP teams, the kindness of nurses, and the responsiveness of certain departments. Some patients or families credit specific staff members with making a difference during a difficult stay and highlight episodes of effective communication and problem-solving. Conversely, other accounts tell of front-desk friction, language barriers, or staff who appeared unable or unwilling to share information, sometimes citing vaccination policies or other procedures as flashpoints for conflict rather than avenues for cooperative care. This juxtaposition underscores a broader impression of inconsistency in the quality of day-to-day interactions.

Discharge planning and transitions emerge as a particular source of frustration and risk. Several reviews describe promises of coordinated services that never come to fruition, leaving families to assume responsibility for arranging post-acute care, transportation, or home supports. One family describes discovering that critical services were not set up for discharge, forcing other relatives to step in and arrange care from out of state - a situation described as dangerous and disorienting for the patient. In some cases, the failure to align services with a resident's needs appears tied to miscommunication and organizational gaps, with the social work and discharge teams blamed for breakdowns that affected safety and living arrangements after leaving the facility.

Despite the criticisms, some voices offer a more favorable assessment, noting that aspects of care have been positive and that certain departments or individuals performed admirably under challenging circumstances. There are mentions of compassionate staff, effective care from therapy teams, and administrative personnel who addressed concerns promptly. These affirmations acknowledge that, even amid broader complaints, there can be meaningful, person-centered care experiences that leave families feeling grateful for what was done well.

Taken together, the collection of experiences paints a complex portrait of the Essex Center. The themes of safety, hygiene, and medical responsiveness sit alongside testimonies of dedicated caregivers and moments of high-quality service. The divergence in these accounts - from extreme praise to severe accusations of neglect - suggests a facility that struggles with consistency in operations, communication, and oversight. For families and residents, the most urgent takeaways are clear: the need for rigorous attention to basic daily care, timely medical evaluation, transparent and responsive communication, and robust discharge planning to ensure safety, dignity, and continuity of care.

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)