Bartell's Personal Care Home

Pros

• The facility is a beautiful personal care home with wonderful staff who treat everyone equally, and management is stellar.
• The staff provide compassionate care and go above and beyond to ensure residents pass peacefully and comfortably.
• The environment is clean and warm, with staff treating residents like family.
• Management and staff are kind, considerate, and capable, with an owner committed to excellence in a beautiful, clean facility.
• Staff show love, respect, and attentiveness toward residents, as if they were their own family.
• The facility is very clean and implements safety measures such as social distancing, in-room dining, and vaccinations.
• The staff are caring, warm, and helpful, with well-planned activities; administrators are described as wonderful and striving for excellence.
• The care team acts professionally and treats families with dignity and respect.
• Judy and the staff create a welcoming, family-like atmosphere with festive decorations and a comfortable space.

Cons

• The amount of neglect that goes on in this building is insane.
• The owner declined the security deposit refund and later claimed funds could be retained to repair damage.
• Pam is the absolute worst.
• The grandmother's stay was marked by extreme neglect, including bed sores that were not properly cleaned or treated.
• Bed sores were not properly cleaned and treated, leading to hospitalization after discharge.
• Staff in the dining area were overheard saying patients are ingrates and that they should be grateful to have a hot meal.
• Pain medication requests were not delivered promptly, sometimes taking hours.
• This place needs to be shut down because of Pam.

Review

Norbert's Personal Care is a facility that draws a wide spectrum of opinions, yet many families describe it as a place that truly feels like home. Across numerous reviews, the staff and management are repeatedly highlighted as its strongest assets. Residents are said to be treated with genuine care and respect, and the atmosphere is often described as warm, clean, and welcoming. Families speak of people who communicate with kindness and consistency, and of a leadership team that strives for excellence in every aspect of care.

Many accounts center on the stories of loved ones who received attentive, compassionate care. One reviewer recalls a mother who lived there for several years, with staff who went above and beyond to ensure comfort and a peaceful passing. The sentiment is echoed in other testimonials that call the home a place where residents are treated like family, where rooms are kept clean and inviting, and where activities and daily routines are organized with thoughtfulness. In several reviews, the overall tone is one of gratitude for the care and the sense of community that families felt during difficult times.

However, the testimonials are not one-sided. A particularly stark review describes the place as the worst possible option for a loved one, recounting a frightening experience where a family member's last breath occurred after a very short stay. That account stands in sharp contrast to the many glowing endorsements and serves as a reminder that experiences at long-term care facilities can vary dramatically from one individual to another.

On the positive side, multiple reviewers express confidence in the facility's leadership and day-to-day operations. Phrases like "PERFECT" and notes about convenient pick-up and drop-off indicate a level of convenience and reliability that some families value highly. Others specifically commend the management and staff as kind, considerate, and capable, with an owner who is described as committed to excellence. The facility is repeatedly praised for its beauty, cleanliness, and nurturing environment, reinforcing the image of a well-maintained and well-run home.

A heartfelt, lengthy testimonial from a family connected to Norbert's emphasizes how the staff treated their mother as if she were their own. The family describes frequent, thoughtful interactions - whether staff members were assigned to care for her or simply stopping by for a quick check-in or a friendly high-five. They express deep gratitude for the love, kindness, and attentiveness shown to their mother and family, and they declare their decision to choose Norbert's over other facilities without hesitation. This narrative highlights the sense of family and personal attention that many residents and relatives report experiencing.

Financial and administrative concerns surface in another set of reviews. One reviewer alleges a pattern of neglect and questions the value of the monthly cost, accusing the facility of leaving residents in soiled clothing and linens. Another account focuses on a dispute over a security deposit and a nonrefundable "Community Fee." The owner's handling of refunds and contracts is questioned, with a licensing agency later stepping in to address the dispute and requiring bi-annual audits of resident contracts. A separate commenter warns prospective families to beware of the owner, pointing to personal experiences that shaped a cautious view of the business practices involved.

Among the more pointed critiques is a claim about a staff member nicknamed Pam, who allegedly failed to provide appropriate care and even contributed to a health issue by serving unsuitable food. The reviewer states that the experience caused lasting distress and PTSD, urging that the facility be shut down due to this individual's treatment of their mother. Other negative notes include a grandmother who reportedly developed bed sores, did not receive timely medical attention, and suffered a hospital admission after a period of neglect in the facility. These anecdotes underscore the message that, for some families, the care did not meet expectations or needs.

On a more positive note, several reviews emphasize the facility's cleanliness and safety practices in the context of the COVID era. Staff are described as proactive and dedicated to protecting residents, with measures such as social distancing, in-room dining, and vaccination efforts noted. The administrator, Janet, and her assistant, Lorraine, are singled out as exemplary leaders who pursue excellence and work to create a supportive environment. Families who were considering options are reassured by these accounts, and the overall sentiment suggests that Norbert's has meaningful strengths in safety, programming, and staff engagement.

Other testimonies add a human touch to the picture: volunteers who visit and sing during the holidays describe a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with Judy - a figure seen as an organizer who helps create a festive and comfortable space for residents. The sense of community extends beyond immediate family, reaching out to volunteers and guests who contribute to the home's positive energy. In several reviews, people express that their experiences with the staff and the living environment left them feeling secure in their decision to place a loved one at Norbert's, and many say they would recommend the facility to others.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced portrait of Norbert's Personal Care. For many families, it is a place of genuine warmth, compassionate care, and a clean, well-run setting where staff treat residents with respect and families feel valued. For others, it is a warning about inconsistent experiences and serious concerns about safety, medical attention, and financial practices. The common thread is that Norbert's is a facility capable of extraordinary kindness and dedication, while also posing the risk of negative experiences depending on individual interactions, staff assignments, and administrative handling. Prospective families are advised to weigh the strong, heartfelt testimonials of care and community against the warnings and concrete incidents described by dissenting reviewers.

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)