Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center

Pros

• The staff are very helpful and courteous.
• The facility is very clean.
• Riverside is by far the best rehabilitation center, with amazing responsiveness and compassion.
• CNA Karen has done a wonderful job, showing great patience and a big heart.
• Nurse Earl is a great, capable nurse.
• Patient Liaison Susan is a blessing, always finding solutions quickly and making the stay comfortable.
• CNA Andrew consistently goes out of his way to help, with a friendly and patient demeanor.
• Nurse Belinda is top tier in her field and cares deeply for patients.
• The fifth-floor staff are welcoming to visiting families and even treat a granddaughter to ice cream.
• The admission process is clear and handled with great care.
• The staff provide excellent support and consistent communication, giving families comfort and peace of mind.
• Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center is a fabulous place with kind, respectful staff.

Cons

• The review described the experience as horrible, with excruciating waits for bathroom access and long call-bell response times (often over 20 minutes).
• The food was described as horrible and the facility was noted as short-staffed.
• A staff member was described as cruel, rude, inappropriate, and unprofessional.
• A nurse was described as apathetic, and weight-bearing orders were reportedly ignored, leading to an AMA discharge.
• The food service department rarely got it right.
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy did not meet the reviewer's expectations.

Review

Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center emerges in these notes as a place that many families rely on and appreciate for its convenient location, clean environment, and the steady, reassuring presence of its staff. A number of reviewers highlight how easy it is to access the facility from home and how the surroundings contribute to a sense of safety and comfort. The general tone across several remarks is one of gratitude for a setting that feels welcoming, well maintained, and conducive to healing and daily living.

Cleanliness and atmosphere come up repeatedly as standout positives. Multiple writers describe Riverside as exceptionally clean, with pleasant smells and an overall atmosphere that feels calm and orderly. Visitors note a great first impression, with clean rooms, tidy common areas, and a welcoming feel that extends beyond the lobby and reception to the patient rooms and therapy spaces. The sense of a well-kept and organized environment seems to reassure families that their loved ones are in a place where hygiene and care standards are taken seriously.

Staff performance and communication are central themes in the praise. Reviewers consistently commend the staff for being friendly, helpful, attentive, and compassionate. The admission process is described as clear and handled with care, and ongoing communication about a resident's needs provides comfort for families who cannot be there in person every day. The dedication of the team in coordinating care - nurses, CNAs, and therapists alike - gets particular emphasis for helping residents recover and stay engaged in their routines.

Several individual staff members are singled out for their exceptional care. CNAs like Karen and Andrew are praised for patience, warmth, and a genuine commitment to residents' well-being. Nurses such as Earl and Belinda are described as knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and deeply invested in their patients' progress and comfort. A patient liaison named Susan appears repeatedly as a crucial bridge between families and the facility, noted for timely problem-solving and for making families feel supported during stays and transitions. Other staff members, from housekeepers to maintenance, are mentioned with appreciation for their role in creating a positive daily experience. For some families, these personal connections with caregivers form the heart of Riverside's value.

Family involvement and moments of personal warmth also stand out. Several reviews mention interactions on the fifth floor where staff would engage with visiting family members, even offering small joys like ice cream for a visiting grandchild. Personal recognition of loved ones by specific staff - such as a mom who bonds with particular caregivers - adds a layer of humanity to the care experience. In some narratives, the extended family becomes part of the recovery journey, forming a sense of community within the facility that residents and their families alike come to rely on.

Yet the collection of notes does not shy away from highlighting real challenges. A strongly negative account describes a difficult, disheartening period characterized by long waits for basic needs, inconsistent meals, and a perception of being short-staffed. In that account, several named staff members were criticized for unprofessional behavior or misalignment with a patient's medical plan, while a handful of others were praised for compassion. The contrast underscores a common truth in any complex care setting: while many team members deliver exemplary care, operational pressures can create difficult experiences for some residents and families. There is a clear call for ongoing attention to staffing, communication, and adherence to medical directives to ensure safety and dignity for all.

Despite the occasional negative experience, the overall sentiment across the collection remains one of deep appreciation for Riverside's mission and the people who carry it out. Some writers reflect on a year-plus stay that metamorphosed into a sense of family - the caregivers who became like a second home team, the therapists who helped restore movement, and the administrators who kept lines of communication open. The resilience of the staff - both in professional duties and in the warmth of everyday interactions - appears to be the backbone of what many families value most. The closing sentiments are affectionate and hopeful, with expressions of gratitude for care received and wishes for continued blessings on the team.

In the end, Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center is portrayed as a place where care, cleanliness, and professional commitment meet a genuine human touch. The facility's strengths - cleanliness, strong bedside care, clear admission processes, and a culture of supportive communication - are balanced by candid reminders that no system is perfect and that responsiveness to concerns must be sustained. The breadth of roles highlighted - from CNAs and nurses to therapists, patient liaisons, receptionists, and maintenance staff - paints a portrait of a complex ecosystem working toward healing, comfort, and peace of mind for residents and their families. The overarching message is one of gratitude, with the belief that, on most days, Riverside is a place where people feel seen, cared for, and valued.

This part of East Hartford, Connecticut, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering living in the area. There are several pharmacies within close proximity, making it easy to access necessary medications. In terms of transportation, Pratt & Whitney and Union Station provide options for getting around the area. Additionally, there are various restaurants catering to different tastes, as well as cafes for socializing or enjoying a quiet coffee break. Nearby parks offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. For healthcare needs, there are reputable physicians and hospitals nearby. Places of worship are also readily accessible for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded and accommodating environment for seniors looking to settle down in East Hartford.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• Pratt & Whitney (1.2 miles)
• Union Station (1.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (1.3 miles)
• The Capital Grille (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Red Rock Tavern (2.2 miles)
• El Mercado (2.3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.4 miles)
• Max Fish (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• Blue State Coffee (1.4 miles)
• Rebel Dog Coffee Co. EAST HARTFORD (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area (1.7 miles)
• Bushnell Park (1.7 miles)
• Elizabeth Park (3.8 miles)
• Wolcott Park (5.4 miles)
• Fernridge Park (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• Orthopedic Associates of Hartford, PC (2 miles)
• Hartford Orthopedic Surgeons (2.7 miles)
• Woodland Anesthesiology Associates PC (2.8 miles)
• Woodland Women's Health Associates (2.9 miles)
• Medical Oncology and Blood Disorders (2.9 miles)
• SHE Medical (3.1 miles)
• Somerset Pediatrics (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Infectious Disease Division (2 miles)
• St Francis Hospital (2.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Jehovah's Witnesses (3.2 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (4.5 miles)
• Universalist Church of West Hartford (4.9 miles)
• Emanuel Synagogue (5.1 miles)