Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center in East Hartford, CT

Pros

• The facility is beautiful, very clean, and smells wonderful.
• The staff are friendly, helpful, and caring.
• The care team provides excellent, compassionate care to residents.
• Riverside's responsiveness, commitment, and compassion have been outstanding.
• The therapists are patient, skilled, and effective at helping residents regain mobility.
• The admissions process is clear and handled with care for families.
• Patient liaisons and social workers are proactive, knowledgeable, and supportive.
• The environment is welcoming and comfortable for residents and visitors.
• Families feel at ease knowing their loved ones are well cared for.
• The facility maintains high standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Visitors often report positive experiences with the reception and front-desk staff.
• Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center comes highly recommended by families.

Cons

• A reviewer describes the experience as horrible, citing long wait times for assistance, excruciating delays, and short staffing.
• A reviewer labeled the facility terrible after an elderly relative was injured in a fall and hospitalized, and explicitly did not recommend it.
• A reviewer notes that the elevator has been down for years, making visits difficult.
• A reviewer calls the place a giant horror show, recounting being left in bed for three weeks.
• A reviewer describes the food as disgusting, saying they wouldn't serve it to their dog.
• A reviewer reports nurses ignoring call lights and CNAs screaming at patients.
• A reviewer accuses the facility of racism, describing a racist remark about multicultural hair.
• A reviewer claims the facility is infested with rats and roaches and is poorly managed.
• A reviewer states that the admission process was terrible.

Review

Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center in East Hartford is best suited for families seeking strong post-acute rehabilitation and ongoing skilled care delivered in a clean, homey environment, with a clear emphasis on hands-on therapy and frequent family involvement. The community shines for residents who want a robust therapy program aimed at getting back to independence, and for families that value proactive communication, visible warmth from nurses, CNAs, and social services staff, plus a facility culture that many describe as welcoming and compassionate. It is particularly well-matched for short- or medium-term rehab stays where quick progress and coordinated discharge planning matter, as well as longer placements for those who appreciate a family-like staff presence and steady daily routines.

Those weighing alternatives should consider how critical flawless responsiveness and consistently high dining quality are to their loved one. A few reviews signal potentially long waits for assistance and inconsistent food experiences, which can be disruptive for residents who rely on timely help and predictable meals. Additionally, concerns raised by some families about staff attitudes or management dynamics suggest that, for a resident who requires near-perfect reliability, extensive safety oversight, or a uniformly calm atmosphere, other options may feel more secure. Families with heightened sensitivity to cultural responsiveness and equitable care should verify current practices directly, as at least one perspective flagged concerns in that arena.

The strongest positives at Riverside offset many of the rough edges. The facility's cleanliness and upkeep are repeatedly praised, delivering a reassuring baseline for safety and comfort. Staff across the board - nurses, CNAs, therapists, and patient liaisons - are frequently described as caring, attentive, and personable, with multiple accounts naming individuals who consistently go above and beyond. The rehabilitation program earns particular praise: therapists and the outpatient-style components on site are noted for helping residents gain mobility, strength, and function, often enabling a successful return home or to a less intensive level of care. The presence of involved social workers and discharge coordinators further enhances trust, helping families navigate benefits, equipment needs, and transitions with less worry.

Critically, these strengths interact with real, actionable downsides in a way that families can weigh decisively. When the tune of a patient's day hinges on timely assistance, even a well-run rehab can feel compromised if call bells aren't answered promptly or if meals fall short of expectations; Riverside has credible reports of both ends of that spectrum. Yet evaluators point to the same staff who are praised for competence and compassion as the ones who often bridge gaps - patients' families repeatedly cite meaningful communication, reliable updates, and quick problem-solving when issues arise. In practice, this means the care team's daily reliability can temper overall risk, but not erase it; families should probe current response times, food services, and how recent staffing changes have shifted day-to-day operations.

Safety and quality concerns do surface in some reviews, including remarks about safety lapses, equipment maintenance, and even systemic complaints about management or state oversight. A few accounts describe falls, concerns about responsiveness, or dissatisfaction with administrative handling; others recount experiences where the staff's professionalism and teamwork clearly mitigated risk and supported recovery. The contrast is sharp: Riverside can be a genuine lifeline for rehab and ongoing care, but the strongest reassurance comes from verifying the latest state inspection status, observing how current shifts operate during a visit, and speaking directly with frontline managers about staffing schedules, call-light protocols, and preventive measures.

In the end, Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center offers a compelling mix of strong rehab, caring staff, and a clean, well-maintained environment that many families come to rely on for meaningful recovery and daily peace of mind. For families prioritizing rapid rehabilitation progress, attentive, personable staff, and transparent family involvement, it remains a strong candidate. For those where consistent, flawless responsiveness and uniformly high dining quality are non-negotiable, it is wise to compare closely with other options and ask pointed questions about current staffing, meal programs, and safety culture. A careful, in-person assessment - talking with therapists, observing a shift, and meeting both administrators and patient liaisons - will reveal how Riverside would fare for a specific loved one's goals and temperament.

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)