Madison York Assisted Living - Rego Park

Pros

• The staff at Madison York are incredibly compassionate, attentive, and dedicated to the well-being of their residents.
• The facility itself is modern, clean, and inviting, creating a warm and welcoming environment for residents to call home.
• The administrator is a warm, loving and very professional leader.
• Very nice, clean rooms with friendly staff and amenities.
• The facility is administered skillfully under the leadership of Ms Deana Sollitto.
• The amenities and activities offered are diverse and engaging, providing residents with opportunities to socialize, stay active, and pursue their interests.
• The staff and director Deanna S were always professional, quick, and very detailed in their response.

Cons

• The place was dank and depressive.
• The customer service was terrible, often putting callers on hold and hanging up before returning calls.
• The treatment of workers was atrocious.
• The facility was described as a drain stop for society's troubled outcasts before they hit rock bottom.
• The resident population was described as overbearing, difficult, and demanding, including substance abusers, former convicts, emotionally disturbed, and homeless individuals.
• Hallways were dirty, with open garbage and a breeding ground for flies and roaches.
• Food was undercooked and residents went hungry or became ill; milk was sour.
• Staff treated residents as subhuman and exploited those without friends or family; after-hours medical staff were unavailable.

Review

Madison York Assisted Living in Rego Park inspires a wide range of memories and opinions from residents, families, and former staff. The impressions span decades, with echoes of a time when a relative described a 2001 stay as "danky and depressive," and when another reviewer recalls frustrating experiences with customer service that felt cold and unresponsive. Taken together, the comments sketch a picture of a large, active community where care and leadership can feel transformative on one day and deeply disappointing on another.

A number of testimonies foreground strong, positive leadership and compassionate care. One reviewer who accompanied a loved one through years at Madison York spoke of an administrator, Deana Sollitto, whose presence during the pandemic was described as adroit and resilient. This account paints a picture of a facility governed by clear rules and a steady commitment to the residents' well-being, even as the environment housed a wide spectrum of residents, including some with complex needs. The reviewer emphasizes that, over five years, Deana's adherence to the "rule of law" and her empathetic stance helped the narrator feel supported, especially after the onset of serious health challenges. In this telling, the staff are not just caregivers but part of a family network, and the institution is presented as a place where independence and personal growth are possible even amid serious disability.

Other families and residents share equally glowing appraisals. A separate account describes Madison York Rego Park as a facility "thoroughly impressive" in its care and support from the moment of the tour. The staff are praised for compassion, attentiveness, and dedication to residents' dignity, with many describing a warm, respectful atmosphere. This voice highlights a modern, clean facility with a variety of amenities and activities designed to keep residents engaged, socially connected, and physically active. The overall message from these accounts is that Madison York can feel like a well-run home where staff go "above and beyond" to ensure comfort and happiness.

But not every experience aligns with those positive voices. Several reviews present a far bleaker picture. One person reports dirty hallways, open garbage, and pests such as flies and roaches; they describe meals that are inconsistently cooked, leaving residents hungry or unwell, and even complain about spoiled milk and other lapses in daily care. This reviewer also accuses the staff of treating residents as subhuman and suggests that family members without close oversight may be at particular risk of being overlooked. The sentiment is a stark warning: for some, the day-to-day reality included neglect, and the facility was not a safe or reliable place for their loved ones.

Other long-tenured residents offer more nuanced takes, balancing praise with critique. One seven-year resident emphasizes that the staff - Aides, medical personnel, and receptionists alike - were generally wonderful and supportive, helping them maintain independence during complex health journeys. This account also notes demonstrable improvements in the facility's physical spaces and amenities and acknowledges the administrator's visible leadership and a culture of openness. Yet even within this positive frame, the reviewer concedes room for improvement, including ongoing questions about funding, timely communication, and the overall experience of living in a facility that is continually evolving.

A separate perspective centers on the COVID-19 period, with a testimonial from a resident who described the facility as a sanctuary in a time of crisis. This individual highlights robust safety measures: staff wearing protective gear, constant sanitization of high-touch surfaces, mandatory masks, and social distancing. The narrative credits Deana Sollitto with guiding the staff through these extraordinary times and ensuring that residents remained guarded against the threat of the pandemic. The sense conveyed is that, in the face of extraordinary challenges, the team's cohesion and dedication mattered greatly, and the leadership helped the community endure.

Not all voices converge around the same conclusion about leadership. One review characterizes the director in starkly negative terms, claiming the individual was the worst person they had met and that staff did not support or respect her. This highly critical stance contrasts sharply with the endorsements of Deana Sollitto found elsewhere in the same set of narratives. It is a reminder that experiences at Madison York can be deeply personal and volatile, shaped by individual relationships, daily interactions, and the diverse needs of residents at different times.

In summary, the spectrum of reviews about Madison York Assisted Living in Rego Park reveals a community capable of extraordinary care and leadership, as well as significant challenges that can undermine confidence. Positive voices emphasize compassionate staff, effective administration, a supportive environment for independence, and strong responses to public health crises. Negative voices point to concerns about cleanliness, food quality, timely responsiveness, and, in some cases, perceived neglect or mistreatment. Taken together, these accounts suggest a facility that is actively evolving, with a leadership team that inspires loyalty in some residents and frustration in others, underscoring the importance of tours, direct conversations with staff, and careful, case-by-case assessment when considering its suitability for a loved one.

This part of Rego Park, New York, offers a range of amenities that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. With several pharmacies located within a few miles, accessing necessary medications and healthcare supplies is easily achievable. Additionally, there are various transportation options nearby, including subway stations and train stops, providing easy access to the city and beyond. The proximity to places of worship, parks, restaurants, cafes, and theaters offers opportunities for social engagement and leisure activities. For medical needs, there are renowned cancer care centers and hospitals in the vicinity. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded community with convenient resources for senior residents to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Transportation

• Forest Hills – 71st Avenue (1.5 miles)
• MTA Subway - 74th St/Roosevelt Ave/Jackson Hts (1.7 miles)
• LIRR Woodside Station (2.1 miles)
• LIRR - Mets-Willets Point Station (2.2 miles)
• MTA - Mets-Willets Point Subway Station (2.3 miles)
• MTA Subway - Myrtle/Wyckoff Ave (2.9 miles)
• MTA Subway - Briarwood (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Luke's Episcopal Church (1.6 miles)

Parks

• Flushing Meadows Corona Park (1.9 miles)
• Forest Park (2.1 miles)
• Astoria Park (3.9 miles)
• McCarren Park (4.2 miles)
• Rainey Park (4.4 miles)
• Gantry Plaza State Park (4.7 miles)
• Newtown Barge Park (4.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Ikraveit Foods (3.8 miles)
• Taco Bell (4.6 miles)
• Kimbap Lab (4.7 miles)
• McDonald's (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• The West (4.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Fresh Meadows 7 (4.7 miles)
• AMC Kips Bay 15 (5.6 miles)

Physicians

• David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (5 miles)
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Manhattan Psychiatric Center (5.3 miles)
• Bellevue Hospital Center (5.5 miles)
• Metropolitan Hospital Center (5.6 miles)
• VA Medical Center (5.6 miles)