Garden State Rest Home in Burlington, NJ

Pros

• The staff and doctors are attentive, professional, and down to earth.
• The Head RA is exceptional and ensures nurses and aides are on point.
• Families are reassured by a compassionate, dedicated care team that meets their needs.
• The facility is consistently described as clean, safe, and welcoming.
• The dining services provide a diverse, nutritious menu with a proactive dietitian.
• The care at Burlington Woods is phenomenal, with residents treated with dignity, respect, and kindness.

Cons

• The reviewer claimed the facility unalived a loved one and described it as dirty, lazy, smelly, and careless.
• A reviewer described the facility as a biohazard disaster with filthy floors, visible blood, alcohol swabs, and a used needle, and said a nurse verbally attacked them.
• The reviewer stated the rooms were dirty, with a dirty commode, and that weekend staff didn't care, leading to long waits for assistance.
• A reviewer reported financial billing errors, with overpayments or underpayments and a lack of receipts to prove payments.
• One reviewer said the facility needs updating and cleaning, with particularly dirty bathrooms.
• A reviewer claimed head maintenance confiscated items without explanation, describing it as theft.
• A reviewer reported admissions staff did not return calls for four days.

Review

Garden State Rest Home at Burlington Woods is best suited for families seeking the strongest possible clinical backbone in a skilled-nursing setting. The community shines for residents who need comprehensive medical oversight, robust rehabilitative services, and specialized care such as dialysis, with a team that demonstrates consistent professionalism and a genuinely caring temperament. It is particularly well-matched for seniors with complex needs - including dementia or cognitive disorders - who benefit from coordinated therapy, social work support, and a long-term care environment that emphasizes continuity of care. Those prioritizing a pristine, uniformly spotless environment or a perfectly error-free billing process may want to consider alternatives.

On the plus side, the standout strengths lie in the staff's commitment to resident well-being and the breadth of clinical services. Families repeatedly note attentive doctors, nurses, and aides who listen and respond with a down-to-earth, respectful approach. Therapies - especially physical and occupational therapy - are strongly supported, with dedicated therapy teams that integrate care plans with daily routines. The facility has invested in practical upgrades, including a newly launched dialysis unit and a Short-Term Rehab unit, signaling a concrete emphasis on keeping residents mobile, engaged, and medically supervised. Dietary services are shaped by a dedicated dietitian, and meal planning reflects resident input, which reinforces dignity and nutritional needs as central to daily life.

Yet, the narrative is not without legitimate caveats. Several reviews flag serious cleanliness and maintenance lapses: some patient rooms, bathrooms, and common areas have been described as dirty, with reports of unsanitary conditions that can undermine comfort and trust. An extreme single incident described a biohazard scene was deeply troubling and highlights the need for rigorous housekeeping and safety checks. Additional concerns surface around weekend staffing responsiveness, call-button delays, and occasional administrative friction - especially with billing, where families report surprises or mistakes that require vigilant oversight and documentation. There are also isolated accounts suggesting strained interactions or perceived inconsistencies in how issues are managed, including items being mishandled or confiscated by maintenance staff.

The strongest clinical and caregiving advantages can offset these drawbacks when the priority is hands-on medical support and therapeutic progress. A well-coordinated team approach - nurses, aides, a competent social worker, and a proactive therapy staff - tosters to the resident's needs around the clock, delivering continuity that is hard to match in facilities with lighter medical emphasis. The quality of relationships across wings and units emerges as a recurring theme: residents are treated with dignity, and families gain reassurance from staff who communicate, plan, and monitor changes in real time. When housekeeping and operational gaps are managed effectively, the overall care experience remains markedly strong for those facing ongoing rehab or chronic medical management.

This facility makes particular sense for families prioritizing rehabilitation and post-acute care, memory-care support, dialysis, and the confidence that comes from a deep pool of nursing expertise. For those who require near-perfect environmental cleanliness, consistently flawless call-response times, or absolute billing transparency without any hiccups, alternatives with stronger track records in housekeeping and administrative operations may be a safer match. Prospective residents should plan to advocate actively: verify room conditions before admission, request a clear housekeeping schedule, and obtain receipts for every financial transaction to minimize billing confusion. Tours should include conversations with both clinical leaders and front-desk staff to gauge how well the facility handles day-to-day operations.

In the end, Garden State Rest Home at Burlington Woods stands out as a practical, capable choice for families seeking serious medical care, robust therapy, and visible compassion in daily operations. The care team's warmth and competence, coupled with upgraded rehab and dialysis infrastructure, create a compelling case for those who must balance medical needs with quality of life. The caveats around cleanliness, maintenance consistency, and administrative friction are not trivial, but they are manageable with proactive oversight and clear expectations. For families weighing options, this community warrants serious consideration - especially for residents whose care plans hinge on strong clinical support and rehabilitative momentum.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Doc's Pub Irish Sports Bar (0.7 miles)
• King George II Inn (1.2 miles)
• The Golden Eagle Restaurant (1.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• Bencivengo's Tomato Pies (2.1 miles)
• Crown Fried Chicken (2.3 miles)
• New Golden Dawn Diner (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Columbus Park (0.8 miles)
• Hainesport Township Park (6.7 miles)
• Champion Park Playground (11.2 miles)
• Delaware River Canal Tow Path (11.5 miles)

Physicians

• Dr.'s Eyecare Center (2 miles)
• Cooper University Physicians (2.5 miles)
• Cooper Hematology/Oncology (2.6 miles)
• South Jersey Eye Physicians (5.4 miles)
• Capital Health Primary Care - Columbus (5.9 miles)
• Clermont Nadine N Md Virtua Memorial Hospital Mt Holly (7.1 miles)
• Wilson Dermatology & Skin Care (7.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (7.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.3 miles)
• Starbucks (11.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Jefferson Torresdale Hospital (6.7 miles)
• Frankford Hospital-Bucks County (7.3 miles)
• St Mary Rehab Hospital (9.4 miles)
• Mercer Family Health Center (11.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Neshaminy 24 (6.7 miles)

Transportation

• Trenton Transit Center (11.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Luke's Episcopal Church (11.3 miles)