Excel Care at Manalapan in Englishtown, NJ

Pros

• The staff are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and caring.
• The facility is very clean and well maintained.
• The therapy team is outstanding and dedicated to patient recovery.
• The administrators explain insurance, physical therapy, and diet in great depth.
• The nurses and aides go above and beyond to make residents comfortable.
• The social worker is fantastic and answers all questions.
• The care and compassion shown by clinicians are remarkable.
• The front desk staff are welcoming and helpful.
• The activities staff and maintenance team go out of their way to support residents.
• The facility is highly recommended for quality care and a nurturing environment.
• The doctors and nurses are highly knowledgeable, professional, and caring.
• The memory/dementia care area is secure for safety and well-regarded.
• The environment feels warm and inviting, with features like a beautiful garden room that residents enjoy.

Cons

• They can change their name as many times as they like; this place is absolutely horrible.
• This place has had numerous name changes and they do a quick paint job and act like they are better than the last one.
• My mother was neglected during her entire stay.
• This place is the show if you want your loved one to suffer; they treat the patients worse than any animal; they are understaffed and under-educated.
• The aides don't understand English and don't know about patients' rights.
• Your belongings are being stolen by staff.
• Dirty facility that is severely understaffed.
• My father was treated like he wasn't a human.
• There is no humanity towards the individuals in the memory wing.
• The nurse Fatima bragged to another nurse about getting me DNR from this facility.

Review

Excel Care at Manalapan is best suited for families seeking post-acute rehabilitation and short- to mid-term recovery after surgery, stroke, or a serious illness. The program is rehab-forward, with a solid team of physical and occupational therapists who can move a resident from hospital bed to walking with a cane, and caregivers who quickly translate hospital routines into practical daily life. The community is also appealing for households that value multilingual supports, including a dementia-secured unit and language-friendly communication options for Ukrainian and Russian-speaking families. For families chasing a high-quality, outcome-focused rehab track, this facility stands out. Those needing long-term, highly predictable supervision with minimal variability may want to explore other options.

On the rehab and clinical front, the strongest argument in favor is the therapy leadership and execution. The therapy team is repeatedly described as professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in progress. Residents who respond to structured progression see tangible benefits, and the staff's ability to tailor plans - alongside attentive nursing and supportive CNAs - helps set realistic milestones. When care teams align, families receive clear explanations about treatment plans, insurance details, and dietary considerations, reducing the stress of transition. That said, therapy availability and pace can hinge on current staffing, so outcomes may vary with shifts and census.

Environmentally, the facility presents a mix of strengths and caveats. Many reviews laud cleanliness, bright common areas, and attractive d?cor, with features such as a well-kept garden room that supports socialization and activity. The building atmosphere often feels welcoming and orderly, underscoring a professional tone that supports both residents and visitors. Yet mixed experiences persist: some voices describe conditions as pristine and well-maintained, while others recount dirt, odors, or neglect during periods of higher demand. In short, Excel Care can feel polished and uplifting at times, but cleanliness and upkeep are not guaranteed on every shift.

Staffing and safety concerns emerge as a swing factor in decision-making. A recurring thread is that understaffing and busy floors can lead to delays in response and gaps in monitoring, which understandably unsettles families. Several families credit ownership changes with improved morale, more attentive leadership, and a refreshed sense of teamwork. The memory-care experience remains a focal point of contention for some: while there are reassuring accounts of secured units and compassionate staff, other families report less humane handling and slower responsiveness. Prospective residents should verify current staffing patterns, inspect call-light responsiveness, and seek up-to-date information about the memory wing's safety and staffing standards.

Communication with families is clearly variable. Numerous accounts praise administrators who explain coverage, therapy plans, and insurance in depth, and call-out staff who go the extra mile to reassure and inform. Conversely, other families describe difficulty leaving messages, inconsistent follow-up, or a sense of disconnection during crucial moments. Given the ownership changes reflected in the reviews, leadership continuity appears influential; therefore, due diligence should include queries about current management structure, recent quality initiatives, and a clear family communication protocol that ensures timely updates and predictable points of contact.

Bottom line: Excel Care at Manalapan delivers a rehab-centric option with real upside for recovery and activity, anchored by a capable therapy corps, a willingness to tailor care, and a community-minded atmosphere. The strongest positives - effective rehab outcomes, caring staff, and a setting that supports engagement - can outweigh drawbacks when the care goal centers on rehabilitation and short-term stays. However, the more troubling voices about understaffing, inconsistent cleanliness, and contentious memory-wing experiences cannot be ignored. Due diligence should include a careful tour, conversations with the DON and therapy manager, review of current staffing schedules, and a clear plan for ongoing family updates. If those checkpoints align with current practice, the facility represents a solid, recovery-oriented choice; if not, exploring nearby alternatives with steadier staffing and transparent quality metrics is prudent.

This part of Englishtown, New Jersey offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors. With several pharmacies within a short distance, accessing necessary medications and healthcare supplies is easy. There are also various restaurants and cafes nearby, providing options for dining out or grabbing a cup of coffee. In terms of medical care, there are multiple physician offices and hospitals in the vicinity, ensuring quality healthcare services are readily available. Transportation options such as park & ride facilities and bus stops make getting around the area simple. Additionally, parks offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this part of Englishtown provides a well-rounded environment with essential services and recreational activities for seniors to enjoy their retirement years.

Pharmacies

• Franklin Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• CVS Speciality (1.5 miles)
• Wegmans (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1 miles)
• Trattoria Ravello (2.7 miles)
• FroYoWay (4.3 miles)
• Jersey Freeze (5 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (5.1 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (5.1 miles)
• Crown Palace (5.3 miles)

Physicians

• Hackensack Meridian Health Rehabilitation (2.5 miles)
• Arthritis and Osteoporosis Associates (4 miles)
• Monroe Family Medicine (4.8 miles)
• Professional Orthopaedic Associates (5.6 miles)
• Millennium Eye Care (5.8 miles)
• University Radiology Group PC (5.8 miles)
• Freehold Ophthalmology (5.9 miles)

Transportation

• Union Hill Rd Park & Ride (2.8 miles)
• Bus Stop Twin Rivers Loop (7.8 miles)
• Old Bridge P&R Bus Stop (9.3 miles)
• NJT - Aberdeen-Matawan Station (9.8 miles)
• Avis Rent A Car (11.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8 miles)
• Starbucks (8.6 miles)
• Deli Plus (9.9 miles)
• Starbucks (10.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Monroe Township Jewish Center Congregation Etz Chaim (4.2 miles)

Parks

• Thompson Park (4.6 miles)
• Monroe Twp. Veteran's Park (5.1 miles)
• Mundy Ave Park (5.4 miles)
• East Freehold Park & Showgrounds (6.4 miles)
• Half-Acre Park (6.8 miles)
• Welsh Park (7.2 miles)
• East Brunswick Dog Park (7.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Raritan Bay (4.8 miles)
• Bright Horizons At Centrastate Medical Center (5.7 miles)
• NJ Spine and Wellness (8.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Freehold 14 (5.4 miles)