Garden View Manor Home-Adults

Pros

• Tammera and Sarah are the best there.
• The staff are described as warm and friendly, and they treat residents well.
• Valley View is a caring home with warm and friendly staff and is considered a good choice.
• The staff are professional and caring, keeping residents safe and healthy.
• There is hope and improvement under the current management and staff.
• The facility offers a safe, restful environment with a green garden and natural surroundings.
• A creek nearby provides residents with the opportunity to witness nature's beauty.
• Valley View is noted for high marks in professionalism and attentiveness, above the state average.

Cons

• The staff are described as listless and bickering, completely oblivious to visitors needing assistance.
• Residents wander aimlessly because the staff fail to provide adequate attention or care.
• There are allegations that staff tried to pressure a patient to sign over his home and left him unattended, resulting in an ER visit.
• The facility is described as severely understaffed, with slow call bells and poor communication among staff.
• The food is described as pet-food-like and not adequate to meet dietary needs.
• Patients are left in dirty conditions, including being in dirty diapers for hours.
• The administration and HR are described as useless, with claims of poor oversight and communication.
• The place is labeled a disgrace, with calls for investigation or shutdown.
• The Director of Nursing is described as nasty and lacking in compassion toward families and patients.

Review

Valley View Manor Nursing Home sits at a crossroads of perception, with a trademarkly mixed set of voices that span gratitude, anger, disappointment, and guarded hope. On one end of the spectrum, there are glowing memories of staff who were kind, attentive, and able to provide dignified care during difficult times. On the opposite end, there are blistering accounts of neglect, under-staffing, and management practices that left residents and their families feeling unheard and unsettled. Taken together, the collection of notes paints a place that some families trusted during vulnerable moments, while others left with deeply troubling memories of the care and the culture within its walls.

Many reviews center on the problem of staffing and the immediate consequences of being short-handed. Several writers describe a constant under-staffing problem - too few aides, insufficient nurses, and a care staff stretched thin across dozens of residents. The practical fallout is clear: call bells that go unanswered for long stretches; slow responses to basic needs; rooms left unclean; meals served in cold or inedible conditions; and a general sense that residents' dignity can be sacrificed when staff are overwhelmed. In some accounts, this translates into concrete scares: a resident left unattended in a doorway, a patient who collapses and is sent to the ER, and other episodes that fuel fears about patient safety and the quality of ongoing care. There are even phrases from families about holding staff to account and about legal or regulatory scrutiny being necessary to address systemic shortfalls.

Alongside these concerns about staffing, there are equally pointed accusations about the behavior and priorities of the administration and nursing leadership. Several posts describe interactions with supervisors or directors of nursing that felt brusque, impersonal, or unhelpful, with at least one mention of a staff member being accusatory or unsympathetic in high-stress moments. One particularly troubling thread involves reports that residents were pressured or left in precarious situations, or that families were kept in the dark about a loved one's condition. There are harsher notes about attempts to "hold someone for ransom" over unpaid bills or about the hospital-like escalation that can occur when families push back against what they see as miscommunication or lack of transparency. The overarching sentiment here is that administrative structure and communication lagged behind the compassionate impulses of many frontline caregivers.

Yet the picture is not solely monochrome. A number of reviews attest to moments of real warmth, skill, and professional care that clearly made a difference in residents' lives. Several family members recount hands-on care that was timely, compassionate, and respectful, with staff who called to update them on changes in their loved one's condition and who provided antibiotic treatments or other medications with attentiveness. Some reviews highlight a positive experience during Covid restrictions, where staff went above and beyond to keep families informed and to ensure their relatives felt safe and seen. There are also explicit expressions of gratitude for particular staff members or managers who made an impact - an acknowledgement that care quality can vary by individual and shift, even within the same facility.

Where the sentiment becomes especially nuanced is in the realm of daily living and quality of life. Food, a fundamental daily concern, appears in contradictory fashion: some reviewers claim that meals were unpalatable - descriptions range from "pet food" quality to meals served cold or uncooked - while others praise the meals as appetizing, nutritious, and well-troomed for dining with others. The dining experience emerges as a microcosm of the broader care challenges: when staff are overextended, even well-intentioned chefs and servers can falter, whereas in a well-supported environment the dining experience can be a bright, social part of the day. A recurring theme is the need for consistency and reliability - consistent meal quality, consistent assistance with feeding, and consistent opportunities for residents to participate in meals with dignity.

There is also a strong thread about culture change and perceived improvement under new leadership. A substantial portion of the feedback points to a highly refreshing change of management, staffing, and caregiving philosophy in recent years. One long, hopeful narrative centers on an aunt who arrived at Valley View feeling supported by a thoughtful, individualized approach to recovery and autonomy. This story speaks of wall-to-wall windows, accessible green spaces, and personalized meal planning that respects dietary preferences, all of which contributed to a sense of belonging and encouragement. The author portrays a living environment where residents regain a measure of independence, even stepping into volunteer roles and returning to life with renewed energy. While these accounts are in the minority compared to the more negative posts, they carry a powerful message about the potential for care homes to transform through leadership and a patient-centered approach.

Finally, the broader context within these reviews suggests a site of ongoing tension between "the place" itself and the people who work there. Some readers describe the physical environment - an aesthetically pleasing facility with opportunities for outdoor appeals and peaceful surroundings - as a foundation that could support excellent care if paired with steadfast staff and accountable governance. Others argue that the facility's success hinges on robust oversight, transparent communication, and a culture that consistently places residents' needs first, rather than allowing episodic kindness to be offset by systemic failures. A recurring appeal across several posts is for formal complaint channels, stronger oversight by state departments, and a willingness to confront and remedy issues head-on rather than allowing them to fester beneath the surface.

In the end, Valley View Manor emerges as a place of sharp contrasts. For some families, it has provided safe harbor and compassionate care at pivotal moments, offering moments of grace amid the challenges of aging and illness. For others, it has represented the opposite: a setting where staffing gaps, inconsistent communication, and governance concerns created a sense of danger or neglect. The most compelling takeaway is that the experience at Valley View Manor is not monolithic; it is shaped by dynamics of staffing, leadership, and individual caregiver commitment. It is a place where stories of care and stories of concern coexist, each illustrating a different facet of what it takes to support vulnerable residents with dignity, respect, and reliable, compassionate attention.

This part of Otego, New York offers a range of amenities and services that could be attractive to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient place to live. There are several dining options nearby, including Rubera's Restaurant for Italian cuisine and Sprinkles 'n Cream for sweet treats. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple physician offices in the area such as New York Skin and Vein Center and Bassett Healthcare Network–Oneonta Specialty Services, ensuring easy access to medical care. Pharmacies like Rite Aid and Walgreens are also within a short distance for prescription needs. For transportation, Alamo car rental is available nearby. Places of worship such as Oneonta Church and Temple Beth El cater to spiritual needs. Additionally, parks like Fortin Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this area provides a diverse range of services that could support a comfortable and fulfilling senior living experience.

Restaurants

• Rubera's Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• Sprinkles 'n Cream (1.1 miles)
• Pizza Land (5.6 miles)
• Dante's (5.8 miles)
• All Star Tavern (5.8 miles)
• McDonald's (5.9 miles)
• Sloan's New York Grill (6 miles)

Physicians

• New York Skin and Vein Center (5.4 miles)
• Emerson Testing (5.5 miles)
• Bassett Healthcare Network–Oneonta Specialty Services (5.7 miles)
• UHS Pediatrics (5.8 miles)
• Bassett Health Center Oneonta Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (6.9 miles)
• Oneonta Optical (7 miles)
• Planned Parenthood (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (5.9 miles)
• Walgreens (6.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.8 miles)
• Pharmassist (14.3 miles)
• Service Pharmacy (17.8 miles)

Transportation

• Alamo (6.1 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (14.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Oneonta Church (6.4 miles)
• Temple Beth El (6.8 miles)
• Community Gospel Church (6.8 miles)
• Christian Science Reading Room & Church (6.9 miles)
• Unitarian Church (7.1 miles)
• Big House (7.3 miles)
• Holy Cross Rectory (11.2 miles)

Cafes

• Table Rocks (6.9 miles)
• Yellow Deli (6.9 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (6.9 miles)
• Capresso Coffee Bar (7 miles)
• Argo Tea (7.6 miles)

Hospitals

• A.O. Fox Hospital (7.6 miles)
• Lincare (7.7 miles)

Parks

• Fortin Park (9.1 miles)
• Gilbert Lake State Park (12.6 miles)
• General Clinton Park (15.4 miles)
• South Broad Street Park (19.9 miles)
• Peacock Park Manor (20 miles)