Bartell's Personal Care Home in Pittsburgh, PA

Pros

• The facility is a beautiful personal care home with wonderful staff who treat everyone equally.
• Management is stellar.
• The staff provide compassionate care and go above and beyond to ensure residents pass peacefully and comfortably.
• The place feels like home, and staff treat residents like family; the environment is clean and warm.
• The staff take excellent care of residents and treat them like family.
• The management and staff are kind, considerate, and capable; the owner is committed to excellence.
• The facility is beautiful, clean, and nurturing.
• The staff show love, respect, and attentiveness to residents and their families.
• The facility is very clean and takes proactive steps to keep residents safe (social distancing, in-room meals, vaccinations).
• The staff are caring, warm, and responsive; the activities are well planned; the administrators strive for excellence.
• The staff are professional and treat families with dignity and respect; the facility offers great care at an affordable price.
• The environment fosters a family-like atmosphere and a comfortable space for residents.

Cons

• One reviewer described it as the worst place ever and advised others not to send their loved ones.
• Another reviewer said it is not a place for loved ones.
• They alleged neglect, noting residents in soiled clothing and linens despite paying around $4,200 a month.
• They criticized the owner for refund disputes and alleged breach of resident contracts.
• Pam was described as the absolute worst, with claims of poor care.
• A grandmother reportedly suffered neglect, bed sores not properly cleaned or treated, and hospital admission.
• Staff were accused of belittling patients, saying they should be grateful to have a hot meal.
• The dining experience and response to requests were described as subpar, with buzzers ignored.

Review

Bartell's Personal Care Home in Pittsburgh is best suited for families seeking a small, home-like setting where staff form meaningful, ongoing relationships with residents. The strongest fits are seniors who prize warmth, steady personal attention, and a neighborhood feel over clinical formality. Across multiple accounts, the staff are described as caring and the management as dedicated, with residents treated as individuals rather than as cases. The facility is repeatedly cited as clean, welcoming, and nurturing, and several families recount how the environment helped their loved ones feel secure and valued.

That said, alternatives should be considered by families evaluating higher medical needs or demanding unwavering reliability in care. A subset of reviewers flag serious concerns, claims of neglect, slow medication administration, and inconsistent dining service, suggesting that, at times, day-to-day performance does not meet expectations. While many families report deeply positive experiences and peaceful transitions, the negative comments cannot be dismissed. Prospective residents should weigh the possibility of variability in daily care against the strong, personal connections that many staff members cultivate.

Pros offset the main cons when the priority is emotional security and a sense of belonging. The strongest match is for residents who thrive on routine, personalized attention, and visible staff engagement. Numerous comments praise caregivers who know residents by name, offer encouragement, and go beyond basic tasks to ensure comfort. The administrator and leadership are portrayed as genuinely involved and committed to excellence, and the overall environment is described as clean, warm, and conducive to social connection and meaningful activities. For families seeking a loving, family-like setting, these strengths can be decisive.

The primary drawbacks center on consistency and responsiveness. Some reviews recount delays in routine needs such as pain medication administration, bathroom assistance, and meal service, which can undermine comfort and trust. A few accounts describe staff conversations that convey frustration or a sense that expectations aren’t always met. If these patterns reflect reality and recur, they threaten the very atmosphere that draws families to Bartell’s and may be unacceptable for residents who require prompt, reliable support. Financial and management concerns surface in some comments as well, signaling the need for careful due diligence before committing to a long-term residency.

For decision-making, Bartell's makes sense for families who value warmth, close caregiver relationships, and a homey setting, and who are willing to tolerate some variability in service. It is less suitable for residents needing aggressive wound care, high medical acuity, or fast, round-the-clock assistance. Prospective residents should request recent references, tour the facility at different times of day, and specifically ask about med pass timing, response times, meal quality, and how staffing levels are managed on weekends. It also pays to review licensing history and to speak candidly with current residents about day-to-day experiences before making a commitment.

In the end, Bartell's Personal Care Home offers a compelling, human-centered option in Pittsburgh for families prioritizing devotion, presence, and a home atmosphere, provided the trade-offs around occasional lapses in timely care are acceptable. The decision hinges on balancing the comfort of known caregivers and a nurturing environment against the risk of inconsistent service and less robust medical oversight. When alignment is clear, low to moderate medical needs, an emphasis on daily relationships, and a preference for a personable, engaged team, Bartell's can be the right match. If not, exploring additional options with stronger medical support and steadier operations remains a prudent course.

This particular area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the neighborhood. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians' offices within a short distance, residents have easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, the abundance of cafes, restaurants, and parks provide opportunities for social engagement and leisure activities. The presence of public transportation options like bus stations and Amtrak make it convenient for seniors to get around the city. Furthermore, with theaters nearby for entertainment options, this area offers a well-rounded living experience for seniors seeking a vibrant community with essential services within reach.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• Fat Head's Saloon (2.4 miles)
• Hitchhiker Brewing (2.5 miles)
• Scoops On Beverly (2.6 miles)
• Page Dairy Mart (2.6 miles)
• Gateway Clipper Fleet (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.3 miles)
• Shop 'n Save (2.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs Witnesses (1.2 miles)
• St Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church (2.9 miles)
• St Simon & Jude Church (3.1 miles)
• St Philip Church (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Mt Washington Observation Deck (2.4 miles)
• The Duquesne Incline (3 miles)
• Point State Park Fountain (3.1 miles)
• Point State Park (3.1 miles)
• Mt. Lebanon Park (3.2 miles)
• Schenley Park (4 miles)
• Village Green Park (4.2 miles)

Cafes

• Mediterra Cafe (2.6 miles)
• Big Dog Coffee (2.7 miles)
• Creative Coffee and Supply (2.8 miles)
• Bistro Marketplace (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.5 miles)
• De Fer Coffee (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• UPMC Mercy (2.8 miles)
• Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC (3.5 miles)
• Sleep Laboratory at UPMC Montefiore (3.6 miles)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (3.7 miles)
• UPMC Presbyterian (3.7 miles)
• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (4 miles)
• Allegheny General Hospital (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Allergy & Asthma Associates (3.1 miles)
• Chang Eye Group (3.5 miles)
• Kaufmann Medical Building (3.7 miles)
• St. Clair Hospital (3.7 miles)
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (3.7 miles)
• Vujevich Dermatology Associates (3.8 miles)
• Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC (3.8 miles)

Transportation

• Bus Station (3.2 miles)
• Amtrak - Pittsburgh Station (3.2 miles)
• North Side Station (3.4 miles)
• Port Authority Allegheny Station (3.5 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage of Pleasant Hills (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Waterfront 22 (4.5 miles)