Universal Healthcare of N. Raleigh

Pros

• They found it to be a pleasant experience on both visits.
• They could see their brother improving.
• The staff have very good manners, and the facility is very clean.
• Roxanne was patient and supportive in helping with swallowing issues.
• The floors are spotless, trash is always emptied, and residents are dressed neatly and actively getting about.
• The rehab program and staff are great, and the building is beautiful in a great location.

Cons

• They neglected to check on the patient during the two-hour visit.
• The floors were dirty with mud.
• They wouldn’t change the patient’s diaper or assist when he was hungry or thirsty.
• The facility was not professional and seemed out of control; there was no one in charge.
• They are short-staffed and the patient-to-aide ratio is unacceptable, with long call-bell response times.
• They gave the wrong medications to a resident, causing harm.
• Residents’ belongings were lost or stolen.
• Do not send a loved one here; this place should be shut down due to mistreatment.

Review

Universal Healthcare of North Raleigh is best suited for families prioritizing a rehab-forward path within a clean, welcoming campus and who can commit to vigilant oversight. The community tends to attract relatives seeking structured physical and occupational therapy as the through-line of care, with progress that can be measurable when therapy is well led. Reviewers repeatedly praise the building’s warmth, the dining and social spaces, and caregivers who show warmth and competence on good days. This is not a place to assume flawless daily care; it rewards those who monitor therapy engagement and daily routines. The right match is families prepared to advocate, insist on accountability, and stay involved in call-bell responsiveness, room cleanliness, and medication timing. In short, the facility can deliver meaningful rehab in a pleasant setting, but only for those willing to police quality of daily care and push for consistent standards.

Parties considering alternatives should weigh the strong rehab emphasis against notable reliability and safety gaps. A large share of feedback centers on inconsistent staffing, high turnover, and uneven frontline care, including delayed call-bell responses, unfinished housekeeping, and occasional neglect. There are numerous accounts of meals arriving late, rooms not promptly tended, and medications being late or mismanaged. The risk of lost belongings and other administrative miscues also recurs, sometimes accompanied by confrontations with leadership. While some families report improvement under newer administration, the consensus remains that care quality is uneven and hard to predict from day to day. For those who cannot tolerate irregular service, looking at facilities with steadier staffing, clearer accountability, and transparent family communication is prudent.

Nevertheless, certain elements stand out. A number of families describe the rehabilitation team as dedicated, upbeat, and capable of driving meaningful gains. Therapists and aides who stay consistently present can help residents regain function and motivation. The environment can feel clean and homey on the right days, and staff who project genuine warmth, especially in therapy, nursing, and social work roles, are frequently highlighted. When leadership is steady, communication improves and concerns are addressed more promptly, creating a workable pathway for families who can stay engaged. In sum, the facility can deliver substantive rehab and a supportive atmosphere where the right staff are in place and stay in place, providing a positive offset to broader operational flaws.

Yet the downsides are systemic and recurring. Chronic understaffing and turnover undermine reliability, with many reviews describing long call-bell waits and staff overwhelmed by workload. Residents report being left unattended, rooms not cleaned, and floors not maintained, creating safety and comfort risks. There are disturbing accounts of bedsores, missed showers, and inconsistent medication administration, including allegations of misplacement or loss of personal items. Administrative communication is often cited as insufficient, with families waiting for updates for hours and feeling dismissed. Leadership turnover compounds these problems, eroding trust and accountability. The intensity of negative feedback, ranging from frustration to outraged calls for investigations, paints a clear picture: essential dignity and safety standards are not consistently upheld. There is little room for complacency when family members repeatedly describe the same avoidable faults.

Practical decision-making centers on due diligence. Prospective residents should schedule several visits at different times to assess call-bell responsiveness, room condition, and staff attentiveness. Demand direct conversations with the director of nursing or administrator to learn about current staffing levels, turnover, and how incidents are investigated. Seek a concrete routine for medication administration, laundry services, and personal belongings, with a clear policy for lost items. Request information about staff training, supervision, and how families receive regular updates. Review state inspection reports and any corrective action plans. If possible, verify performance metrics around readmission rates or rehospitalizations tied to care lapses. The goal is to determine whether the current leadership can deliver consistent quality or whether another community would offer safer, more dependable daily care.

Bottom line: Universal Healthcare of North Raleigh can be a legitimate rehab option in a pleasant setting, but its appeal rests on stable staffing and accountable leadership. For families who can commit to vigilant oversight and who prize a robust therapy program, meaningful improvement is achievable. For those who require predictable daily care, timely communication, and explicit safeguards against harm, exploring other options is warranted. The decision should hinge on current leadership stability, demonstrable staffing continuity, and a credible plan to protect residents’ safety and belongings. In practice, this means thorough on-site evaluation, frank discussions with administrators, and careful comparison against alternatives that promise consistent, respectful care every day. When the choice is between a hopeful rehab-capable environment with variable daily care and a facility that offers steadier operations, the safer, more predictable path is clear.

This area of Raleigh, North Carolina offers a variety of amenities and services that would be beneficial for seniors looking to live in a convenient and comfortable location. With multiple parks nearby such as Horseshoe Farm Park and Durant Nature Park, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and leisurely walks. There are also several dining options including McDonald's, San Jose Mexican Restaurant, and Nantucket Grill for convenient meal choices. In terms of healthcare, there are reputable physicians like Capital Family Medicine and Wake Skin Cancer Center within close proximity, as well as pharmacies such as Walgreens and Walmart Pharmacy for medication needs. Additionally, Duke Raleigh Hospital and WakeMed Health & Hospitals are easily accessible for any medical emergencies. Overall, this part of Raleigh provides a blend of recreational opportunities, dining options, healthcare facilities, and transportation services that cater to the needs of senior residents.

Parks

• Horseshoe Farm Park (1.2 miles)
• Durant Nature Park (1.6 miles)
• Buffaloe Road Athletic Park (3.7 miles)
• Marsh Creek Park (4.8 miles)
• Eastgate Park (5.2 miles)
• Williams Park (6.3 miles)
• E. Carroll Joyner Park (7.6 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (2 miles)
• San Jose Mexican Restaurant (2 miles)
• Nantucket Grill (2.2 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (2.2 miles)
• Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits (2.3 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• Goodberry's Frozen Custard (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)
• Back Alley Coffee Roasters (6.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8.6 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (2.8 miles)

Physicians

• Capital Family Medicine: Richard J Forsyth (3.7 miles)
• Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina Pa (4 miles)
• Wake Skin Cancer Cente (4.4 miles)
• Burton Family Medicine (4.4 miles)
• Wake Specialty Physicians Women's Center (4.4 miles)
• Family First Primary Care (4.5 miles)
• Duke Primary Care Heritage Pediatrics (4.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Gethsemane Lutheran Church (4.2 miles)
• Beacon Baptist Church (5.8 miles)
• St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church (6.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (4.6 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (4.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.4 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (5.8 miles)
• Walgreens (6 miles)
• Walgreens (6 miles)

Hospitals

• Duke Raleigh Hospital (5.6 miles)
• WakeMed Heart Center (7.6 miles)
• WakeMed Health & Hospitals (7.6 miles)

Theaters

• Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh (8.2 miles)
• Cinemark Raleigh NC (9.1 miles)