Snyder Rest Home

Pros

• The staff at Quality Life Services - Mercer PA is very good and caring.
• The facility is kept clean and offers many opportunities for gatherings, games, outdoor walks, and sitting areas.
• It is not crowded.
• Almost every resident is friendly and nice, and they get along.
• The reviewer believes the resident (Mom, age 92) is in a good place and in good hands.
• The care for Mickey R is excellent, with phenomenal expertise and caring, and cheerful staff aiding in healing.
• The facility is a wonderful nursing home - very clean, with great meals and the best nursing staff who go the extra mile when a resident is in need.
• The staff calls family to inform them about matters of concern.
• The staff performed well to keep COVID under control during the pandemic.
• The staff keeps families informed and ensures they can talk to their loved ones as needed.
• The facility has gone out of its way to accommodate families.
• There are two wonderful nurses at the facility.
• They care for the residents; the staff is great.

Cons

• They felt as though they were in a war zone due to the conditions in the skilled nursing area.
• The facility allowed a toilet to run continuously and could not be flushed, indicating poor maintenance.
• Fecal matter was left on the toilet seat and surrounding areas, with cleaning described as inadequate.
• A head-to-toe exam never occurred, and necessary medications and blood sugar checks were not performed.
• Staff claimed medications were logged as given but were missing from blister packs, suggesting mishandling.
• The room was cramped with a broken TV and insufficient lighting, and staff turned off overhead lights while residents were awake or sleeping.
• Administration and nursing staff were unresponsive, offering excuses and failing to contact management.
• The facility was described as understaffed with inadequate cleanliness, and management seemed to tolerate only the bare minimum of care for profit.
• They would not recommend sending a loved one there due to dangerous conditions and poor care.
• It was called the dirtiest nursing home, with black mold, ants, and lazy, short-staffed staff.
• Upper management was criticized for not ensuring wheelchair safety.

Review

Quality Life Services in Mercer, PA presents itself in the reviews as a facility with a mix of strengths and serious concerns, reflecting a broad spectrum of resident and family experiences. On one hand, several readers speak warmly of the staff's compassion and the facility's overall look and feel. They describe a clean environment with opportunities for social interaction, games, walks, and comfortable seating areas. One reviewer notes a strong belief that their 92-year-old mother is in good hands and in a place that cares, pointing to friendly residents and a welcoming atmosphere that feels not crowded and supportive. In another set of comments, families praise the responsiveness of caregivers and the ability to stay in touch with the staff, framing the place as family-oriented and attentive in certain moments.

But alongside these positive notes, there are repeated and detailed accounts of troubling experiences, particularly within the skilled nursing unit. One personal account depicts an 18-hour stay that felt like a war zone: rampant movement by staff, an environment perceived as dirty, and a room that was poorly maintained. The reviewer describes a constantly running toilet, unflushed waste, and an inadequate cleaning response from an aide when asked to address the mess. The head-to-toe exam that was promised never occurred, and crucial diabetes management steps - dinner-time meds, blood sugar checks, and bedtime medications - were overlooked. The staff allegedly logged that meds had been given, but the blister packs showed they were missing, raising questions about accountability and medication safety. The room itself is painted as cramped and poorly equipped, with broken TV, minimal lighting, and controls that were hard to locate, while the reviewer observed an elderly neighbor who could not communicate effectively and was left in a dimmed environment late at night.

Several reviewers echo broader themes of under-staffing, inconsistent cleanliness, and administrative gaps. The consensus among many is that the care level can be variable, with some residents receiving attentive and compassionate care and others experiencing what they characterize as bare-minimum care or even neglect. Complaints span from cleanliness problems (including a vivid mention of mold in showers and ants, depending on who is writing) to more systemic issues like unclear or unfulfilled commitments from management, poor communication across departments, and medical staff that seem unavailable when needed. A particularly harsh critique accuses management of saying one thing and doing another, and describes a climate where important concerns aren't followed through or properly escalated.

Despite the chorus of criticism, there are strong counterpoints that highlight committed caregivers and positive patient outcomes. A recurring thread celebrates two particular nurses who provided excellent care - the kind of dedication that someone believes warrants recognition in a review. There are also voices praising clinical support in certain cases, with some families reporting the ability to contact staff at any hour and feeling that nurses went "the extra mile" for loved ones. Some testimonials mention strong communication with families, timely updates on a resident's needs, and a sense that the staff tried to balance safety and well-being, especially during the pandemic when one reviewer notes effective control of COVID-19 within the facility.

Other remarks touch on the broader cultural and staffing dynamics of the home. A few accounts describe a positive, family-oriented approach from some members of the staff who actively call and inform families about concerns or changes in conditions. There are also references to gratitude from families who feel their relatives are well-cared-for in certain departments or during particular shifts, and some reviewers frame earlier negative perceptions as outdated and not reflective of current care. Conversely, there are strong statements that paint the place as dirty, poorly maintained, or unsafe, with vivid images of mold, pests, cold drafts, and aging infrastructure that undermine residents' comfort and dignity.

Viewed together, the collection of reviews presents a facility with significant variability in care quality and day-to-day experience. Some families and residents report compassionate, competent care, good meals, and effective family communication that helps them feel connected and reassured. Others describe troubling lapses in basic care, safety concerns, inconsistencies in medication administration, and administrative shortcomings that erode trust. The strongest recurring themes center on staffing levels and consistency, cleanliness in the skilled nursing areas, timely medical attention, and the reliability of management to follow through on promises. The divergent experiences underscore the importance for potential families to visit, ask pointed questions about current staffing, maintenance, and medication protocols, and observe how the facility handles urgent needs and family communication in real time.

Mercer, Pennsylvania offers a variety of amenities and services that make it an appealing choice for senior living. With numerous places of worship nearby such as Shenango Valley Baptist Church and Our Lady of Fatima Church, residents have access to spiritual support and community engagement. In terms of healthcare, there are several pharmacies conveniently located within a few miles, as well as physicians' offices like Crago Family Medicine and Sharon Pulmonology Specialists for medical needs. The area also boasts a range of dining options including Murcko Restaurant and Bob Evans, providing diverse culinary choices for residents. Additionally, parks like Brandy Springs Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. With hospitals such as Sharon Regional Health System in close proximity, seniors can feel confident in their healthcare options. Overall, Mercer provides a welcoming environment with essential services to support a comfortable and fulfilling retirement lifestyle.

Places of Worship

• Shenango Valley Baptist Church (2.6 miles)
• New Virginia United Methodist Church (3.3 miles)
• Zion's Hill (7 miles)
• Sharpsville Church of the Nazarene (7.3 miles)
• Our Lady of Fatima Church (7.5 miles)
• Mercer Baptist Church (7.6 miles)
• Calvary Fellowship Chapel (8 miles)

Pharmacies

• PharMerica (4.7 miles)
• Walgreens (5 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (6.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Murcko Restaurant (4.7 miles)
• Red Lobster (4.8 miles)
• Yumberries (4.9 miles)
• Applebee's (4.9 miles)
• Bob Evans (4.9 miles)
• Long John Silver's (5 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (5 miles)

Physicians

• Francisco Cano MD (4.9 miles)
• Crago Family Medicine (5.2 miles)
• Estafanous Marc MD (5.2 miles)
• Dr Porter (5.2 miles)
• Lucich, Adam Horizon Community Family Medicine Upmc (5.2 miles)
• Vitreo-Retinal Consultants (5.3 miles)
• Sharon Pulmonology Specialists (5.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• The Perfect Bite (5.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.8 miles)
• FIREBEAN Espresso (7.8 miles)

Parks

• HMS Playground (5.2 miles)
• Brandy Springs Park (5.8 miles)
• Marti Park (8.5 miles)

Hospitals

• University of Pittsburgh Physicians (5.7 miles)
• Sharon Regional Health System (5.8 miles)
• Wound Center (5.8 miles)
• UPMC Horizon - Shenango Valley (5.9 miles)
• New Wilmington Family Medicine (6.6 miles)
• Brookfield Family Medicine Center (10.4 miles)