Harrison House in Scranton, PA

Pros

• Harrison House seemed clean and well cared for.
• The clientele is what one would expect in a nursing home associated with a counseling center.
• The tour guide was wonderful and very helpful.
• The facility provides three meals a day and snacks, with drinks available anytime.
• Residents can bring their own furniture and have a television if they wish.
• The facility offers activities for residents.
• Getting a placement in Scranton is viewed as a valuable outcome.

Cons

• The place is very dirty.
• The staff are not well trained.
• The food is despicable.
• The reviewer would not allow their dog to stay there.
• Harrison House was not good, and the reviewer would not recommend it to others; they called for new employees and better parking.

Review

Harrison House in Scranton is best suited for seniors who are comfortable with a very small, home-like assisted-living environment and who prioritize proximity to the city over apartment-style independence. The community presents as a dorm-like setting with shared space, a basic room setup that accepts personal furniture, and straightforward meals. It works for residents who don’t require expansive amenities or private apartments but still want routine meals, activities, and a place to stay within Scranton’s orbit. For a family prioritizing privacy, luxury dining, or a more clinical level of care, this is not the ideal match.

Alternatives should be considered for anyone who demands consistently high hygiene standards, professional staff with steady training, and superior dining. Several reviewers flag dirtiness and insufficient training, paired with subpar food, and parking challenges, red flags for families with higher expectations around cleanliness, reliability, and convenient access. The facility’s small, intimate footprint will not satisfy those seeking substantial on-site services, memory-care specialization, or a campus with a broader menu of amenities. In short, if privacy, robust staffing, and dining quality are non-negotiables, broader options deserve scrutiny.

Pros in this setting are tangible but unevenly distributed, and they must be weighed against the downsides. On the plus side, the community is clearly small and manageable, which can foster closer staff-resident interaction when turnover is low and employees are attentive. A tour experience described as helpful points to potential for good customer service and a responsive front line. Residents can bring personal furniture and customize a dorm-like space, and three meals a day plus snacks and drinks create a predictable daily rhythm. An outdoor yard with casual gathering space adds a domestic, “backyard” feel, an appealing feature for residents who value a homelike atmosphere.

Yet the cons loom large enough to tilt the decision for many families. The strongest red flags are concerns about cleanliness and staff reliability, with several accounts labeling the facility dirty and understaffed or poorly trained. Food quality is repeatedly called into question, undermining daily comfort and overall satisfaction. Parking is noted as a problem, which can complicate visits or family logistics. The room-on-room dynamic, being assigned a roommate in a small, dorm-like environment, can also conflict with personal preferences for privacy, making this a less attractive option for residents who value quiet, personal space, or independence.

For families weighing a move, the practical takeaway is clear: visit with a critical eye, and test the promises against real conditions. Insist on seeing current resident rooms during ordinary hours, not just tour spaces, to gauge cleanliness and upkeep. Ask for menus and dining routines to assess whether meals meet expectations, and request details on housekeeping frequency and service quality. Probe staff stability, turnover, and training protocols to gauge whether the current level of care is sustainable. Confirm parking logistics and accessibility, especially if frequent visits are expected. If memory, behavioral, or higher-level medical needs are present, clarify what is truly available on-site and whether the setting can scale to those requirements.

Ultimately, Harrison House may be a workable fit for families prioritizing proximity to Scranton, a small, supervised environment, and a straightforward routine at a lower cost. The key decision hinge is cleanliness and staffing quality: if these can be trusted to meet a family’s standards, the small, home-like atmosphere can offset the lack of private apartments and high-end dining. If not, the search should broaden to communities with larger footprints, stronger culinary reputations, and consistently reliable staff, where privacy, superior meals, and a more predictable care model are non-negotiable.

This area of Scranton, Pennsylvania offers a variety of amenities that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. Within close proximity, there are several cafes and restaurants where one can enjoy a meal or socialize with friends. Additionally, the presence of multiple pharmacies and medical facilities, including hospitals and physicians' offices, ensures easy access to healthcare services. For those who appreciate nature and outdoor activities, there are parks nearby such as Steamtown National Historic Site and Sherwood Park. Places of worship are also within reach for individuals seeking spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area provides a mix of conveniences and recreational opportunities that may cater to the needs and interests of seniors considering relocation to Scranton.

Cafes

• Mansour's Grocery & Coffee (0.3 miles)
• Carmen's At The Radisson Lackawanna Station (0.9 miles)
• Northern Light Espresso Bar (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Zummo's Cafe (1.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)

Physicians

• Mulberry Medical Center (0.4 miles)
• W David Fitzpatrick, MD, FACC (0.7 miles)
• Cognetti & Conaboy Family Practice (0.7 miles)
• Great Valley Cardiology (0.7 miles)
• Joseph Patrick Bannon (0.7 miles)
• Scranton Neurological Associates PC (0.7 miles)
• Thomas Dzwonczyk M.D., FACC (0.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Geisinger Community Medical Center (0.4 miles)
• Moses Taylor Hospital (0.5 miles)
• Regional Hospital of Scranton (0.7 miles)
• Spirit of Mercy Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation (0.7 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Wound Care (0.7 miles)
• Scranton Hospital Company (0.7 miles)
• Linwood Nursing Rehab Center (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Omnicare Pharmacy (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.8 miles)
• The Medicine Shoppe Scranton (1.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Manning Farm Dairy (0.8 miles)
• Cooper's Seafood House (0.9 miles)
• Osaka Restaurant (0.9 miles)
• Trax (0.9 miles)
• Bartari (1 miles)
• Bar Pazzo (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Steamtown National Historic Site (1.1 miles)
• Sherwood Park (1.8 miles)
• McDade Park (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Stanislaus Pncc-Church (1.6 miles)
• St Ann's Monastery Parish (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (3.7 miles)