Presbyterian Homes & Svc

Pros

• The staff at Presbyterian Home rehab were very kind and helpful.
• The care for the resident was outstanding and the family felt comfortable knowing she was safe and well cared for.
• Everyone there is friendly and compassionate.
• The father is well taken care of and thriving.
• The family was very grateful for the facility and all the people who interact with the father daily.
• The staff were very helpful to the wife; the meals were very good; visitors can eat with the family.
• The grandfather was cared for by very compassionate employees; the family appreciated all that the team did.
• The resident has been very happy with the care over 4+ years; the facility is clean; there are many activities; residents are treated with respect.

Cons

• They describe Presbyterian Home as atrocious and uncaring toward its patients.
• They claim very little physical therapy occurred and that staff were rarely present.
• They recount a 96-year-old grandfather waiting seven hours for help and being left in a corner room forgotten by staff.
• They say they faced resistance and harassment when removing their relative from the facility.
• They allege they were sued for care costs and pressured to sign admission documents with coercive terms.
• They assert the facility is the most expensive nursing home in the area and claim privacy breaches during meetings by allowing unauthorized attendees.
• They report prescription glasses were stolen and the home blamed the patient.
• They describe poor personal care: mother not bathed, hair not washed, dentures not cleaned, clothes returned dirty, nails untrimmed, skin peeling.
• They claim discharge communication was inadequate and that the administration bullies, misleads, and covers up issues, with ongoing negligence contributing to death.

Review

A wide chorus of experiences surrounds Presbyterian Home and its related communities, with families describing moments of exceptional kindness and, in other cases, episodes that left them distressed and wary. Across reviews, the setting is consistently presented as a place where dedicated staff can make a meaningful difference in daily life and recovery, while at the same time revealing ongoing frustrations with gaps in care, communication, and administration. The tone shifts from praise to concern and back again, depending on the department, the specific caregiver team, and the individual's situation.

Several accounts highlight the positive impact of attentive, compassionate care. Families recount moments when staff in rehabilitation and everyday support roles went above and beyond: a mother emerging from a broken hip who benefited from prompt rehab admission and solid family communication; a father who has thrived under the care of friendly, dedicated team members; and multiple residents whose daily interactions with nurses, food service workers, and social staff left them and their families feeling reassured and respected. There are specific testimonials to kindness from named staff - an example being Alyssa, the social worker, and Betty at the front desk - paired with generic praise for the nurses, therapy teams, and volunteers who contribute to a sense of well-being and routine. In several reviews, residents are described as being treated with dignity, and the facility is praised for cleanliness and the range of activities that allow people to stay engaged and connected to others.

Yet, the same facility is also the focal point for troubling stories of neglect and mismanagement. One account from a grandchild describes a grandfather who received little physical therapy, repeatedly waited for caregivers, and was left in distress for hours, prompting the family to remove him and pursue therapy elsewhere, where the experience was described as lovely by comparison. This report stands in stark contrast to the positive comments and echoes a broader theme in several reviews: when staffing is thin or when supervision lapses occur, patients can feel ignored, unsafe, and unwell. Some families recount experiences of inadequate assistance with basic needs - baths, bathroom access, and overall responsiveness - especially in the rehab unit, while others point to disparities between different parts of the same campus, such as a sharp difference between rehab or skilled care and assisted living units.

Financial and administrative concerns also surface prominently. One family describes an adversarial legal battle that followed the death of a loved one, alleging negligence and highlighting the perception of aggressive billing and "admission packet" terms designed to shift financial responsibility. The warning is stark: "do your due diligence," obtain independent legal review, and be aware of what is being signed. Another reviewer raises alarms about privacy and HIPAA violations, claiming non-family members attended medical meetings and that sensitive information was shared inappropriately; this led to formal complaints and criticism of how meetings are conducted and how information is controlled. Several reviews target the cost structure and the administrative culture, suggesting that while some staff members are devoted and compassionate, there are systemic issues some families view as obstructive or misleading.

Hygiene, safety, and discharge practices are additional flashpoints. A number of reviewers report problems with cleanliness and grooming, noting instances where a loved one was not bathed regularly, hair care and denture hygiene were neglected, or clothes were not handled properly. Stolen glasses, misattributed blame, and concerns about quarantine during the COVID-19 era add to the impression that, for some families, preventative care and accountability did not meet expectations. Discharge processes are another area of complaint, with inadequate communication about post-discharge plans and medications contributing to a sense that families are left to fill in critical gaps on their own.

In contrast to these concerns, several reviews recount positive, consistent care and strong relationships with staff - especially in the assisted living portions or in longer-term care, where residents are described as being treated with respect and as individuals. A family member who advocates for her mother writes warmly about the support received, the ongoing effort to keep her mother happy, and the sense that the staff truly cares about her well-being. A separate account praises excellent care during more than four years of residency, highlighting a remarkably clean facility, a broad slate of activities, and staff who treat residents with the kindness and respect one would hope to see. A review of Preswick Glen - an independent living community connected to the broader Presbyterian offerings - speaks to enhanced quality of life, strong staff connections, an active, independent lifestyle, and social engagement that has helped a grandmother feel hopeful and connected again. These positive narratives underscore that, for many families, the environment can be a source of comfort, companionship, and security when the right people are in place.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced portrait: Presbyterian Home and its related communities appear to be a place where extraordinary care can occur, especially when families encounter thoughtful therapists, attentive nurses, and compassionate support staff. They are also a place where serious concerns have arisen - about neglect, inconsistent communication, financial pressures, privacy violations, and gaps between different service lines. The experiences vary not only by resident and staff team but also by unit and service type, painting a picture of a complex organization with both bright spots and critical failures.

For families evaluating care options, these stories suggest several practical takeaways. First, speak directly with staff across departments - rehab, nursing, social work, and administration - to understand the level and pace of care, the expectations for daily activities, and the specifics of discharge planning and post-acute support. Second, consider who will be present for key moments of care and decision-making, and don't hesitate to request names and roles, especially if privacy and medical information are involved. Third, request clear written plans and hold the facility accountable for regular updates on changes in medications, hygiene routines, and safety checks. Finally, balance general reputations with direct experiences: a facility can deliver superb care in some areas while falling short in others, and what matters most is the ongoing, reliable quality of daily life for a loved one.

In a landscape of personal stories, Presbyterian Home and the associated Presbyterian Residential Community present themselves as environments capable of both genuine warmth and significant concern. The testimonials reflect true human complexity - the joy of a loved one thriving with supportive caregivers on one hand, and the heartbreak of neglected needs, miscommunication, and financial or privacy anxieties on the other. Families navigating this space are reminded to listen to their own instincts, demand transparency, and seek out the most attentive, respectful, and consistent care teams available, recognizing that the right combination of staff, administration, and services can make a substantial difference in the experience and well-being of their loved ones.

This part of New Hartford, New York offers a convenient location for senior living with a variety of healthcare providers nearby, including Adirondack Community Physicians and Mohawk Valley Retina. There are several pharmacies within a short driving distance, such as Omnicare of NY and CVS Specialty, making it easy to access prescription medications. Additionally, there are numerous dining options in the area, ranging from fast food chains like Wendy's and McDonald's to sit-down restaurants like Carmella's Cafe and The Red Samurai Hibachi Steakhouse & Asian Bistro. For entertainment, Marquee Cinemas - Orchard 14 is just a short drive away, along with various cafes like Utica Coffee Of Clinton and Starbucks for socializing. Places of worship such as St John The Evangelist and hospitals like Faxton-St Luke's Healthcare offer additional support and resources for seniors in the community.

Physicians

• Adirondack Community Physicians (0.2 miles)
• Mohawk Valley Retina (0.6 miles)
• Arthiritis Specialists (0.8 miles)
• Surgical Associates of Utica (0.8 miles)
• Helen M. Sarandrea P.T. (0.9 miles)
• OMNI Pain & Precision Medicine (1.4 miles)
• Lester Lisa M DDS - Lester Lisa M PC DDS (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Omnicare of Ny (1.1 miles)
• CVS Speciality (1.7 miles)
• Hannaford Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.8 miles)
• Randall's Pharmacy (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (1.3 miles)
• Dippin Donuts (1.4 miles)
• Wendy's (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Carmella's Cafe (1.4 miles)
• The Red Samurai Hibachi Steakhouse & Asian Bistro (1.5 miles)
• Killabrew Saloon (1.7 miles)

Theaters

• Marquee Cinemas - Orchard 14 (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Utica Coffee Of Clinton (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Raspberries Cafe (2.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.6 miles)
• Daylight Donuts (2.8 miles)
• Debbie's Cafe (3.8 miles)
• Bagel Grove (4.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John The Evangelist (2.9 miles)
• Our Lady Of Lourdes Ch (3.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Faxton St Luke's Healthcare: St Luke's Campus (3.8 miles)
• St Lukes-Memorial Hospital Center - Faxton-St Lukes Healthcare (3.9 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (4 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (4.2 miles)
• Faxton-St Luke's Healthcare (4.4 miles)
• Faxton X-ray Department (4.5 miles)
• FAXTON-St LUKE'S HEALTHCARE - FAXTON CAMPUS (4.5 miles)