712 Harrison Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Harrison House
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.
54 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Respite Care
Activities on-site
Air-conditioning
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Computer center
Devotional services off-site
Dining room
Fitness room
Fully furnished
Gaming room
Garden
Housekeeping services
Indoor common areas
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Private bathrooms
Restaurant-style dining
Small library
Telephone
Wellness center
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Wilkes-Barre Scranton International (6 miles away)
Community operated transportation
12-16 hour nursing
24-hour call system
Ambulatory care
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Diabetic care
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Concierge services
Planned day trips
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