South Haven Health and Rehab, LLC in Birmingham, AL

Pros

• The facility is described as feeling like family, with kind and thoughtful staff who go the extra mile.
• The staff are praised for warm, compassionate care that makes residents' last days comfortable and dignified.
• Families report that nurses, CNAs, housekeeping, and administration treat their loved ones with care and respect.
• Residents receive very good therapy and excellent care from the staff.
• The facility is described as clean and well-kept, even though it is older.
• The staff are friendly, helpful, and professional, with good communication.
• Specific staff members such as Actavia, Alicia, and Daniel are highlighted for exceptional service.
• Families feel supported and welcomed, treated like family by the staff.

Cons

• The facility had feces on the bathroom floor and on the sheets, with urine on the floor and other supplies left around.
• The staff lie about basic needs being taken care of.
• The staff never give residents a bath, and basic care is not provided.
• A relative developed a skin disease, and a permanent catheter became necessary because they refused to change it, causing bladder infections.
• The staff hide in corners and play on their phones instead of doing their jobs, and when asked for help they say it's not their job.
• Polypharmacy is described as the leading cause of death in nursing homes, and this facility is portrayed as having perfected it.
• The reviewer would give zero stars and says not to trust them with loved ones, calling the facility horrible and unsafe with multiple cases against them.

Review

South Haven Health and Rehab in Birmingham is best suited for families that need skilled nursing with strong rehabilitative therapy and a caregiving culture that can feel like a family unit, especially for residents dealing with dementia or post-acute recovery. The facility can work well for those who are ready to actively supervise care, advocate for daily needs, and lean on therapists and nurses who demonstrate genuine dedication. It is less ideal for families seeking near-perfect consistency in daily hygiene and safety, or for those who cannot tolerate recurring questions about staffing reliability and accountability. In short, this community rewards proactive, involved oversight and rewards it with meaningful, personal attention.

On the positive side, therapy and rehabilitation emerge as consistently strong anchors. Multiple residents' families credit therapists and the broader clinical team with substantive progress, praising the thoughtful engagement of nurses, CNAs, and aides who deliver care with warmth and willingness to go the extra mile. Several reviews describe staff as caring, patient, and respectful, often highlighting instances where caregivers treated residents with dignity and even extended affectionate support during difficult moments. The message from many families is clear: when the staff is aligned and present, care feels personal, and the environment can feel welcoming even in a skilled-nursing setting. Even in the context of an older facility, there is acknowledgement that well-directed therapy and attentive bedside care can produce meaningful, positive outcomes.

Yet, the prevailing pattern across many reviews points to significant, real safety and reliability concerns that cannot be glossed over. Reports of inadequate basic care - unmet baths, delayed or neglected daily needs, and inconsistent diapering - appear far more than once. Complaints range from call buttons and floor phones going unanswered to situations where medications or medical devices were mishandled or not promptly addressed, including alarming accounts of overdoses and bladder-management issues that led to hospitalizations. Instances of poor sanitation, odors, and dirty rooms recur in some families' accounts, creating a troubling contrast with the instances of heartfelt caregiving noted by others. The most alarming threads center on understaffing, unresponsive leadership, and a culture where prompts to assist seem met with deferment or flatly refusing tasks by staff saying "that's not my job."

These conflicting signals - exemplary personal care in some moments and dangerous lapses in others - make the pros meaningful but not sufficiently reliable to offset all the cons for every family. Where South Haven shines, it shines loudly: therapy that helps residents regain function, staff who know residents' names and histories, and a climate that can feel emotionally supportive. But where it falls short, the gaps are not cosmetic. They touch on fundamental safety, consistent responsiveness, and basic daily living needs. For families already carrying responsibility, the disparity between praise and complaint requires careful weighing: strong rehabilitative focus and compassionate personnel versus risk of neglect, poor call-response, and problematic medication and hygiene practices.

The practical decision is clear. South Haven is a viable option for those who can demand accountability, insist on transparent communication, and continually verify that basic care standards are being met. Prospective families should plan to conduct thorough, repeated site visits, request direct conversations with the administrator, and press for concrete, written assurances on staffing levels, medication management protocols, and daily hygiene routines. It is wise to talk to current residents' families about their experiences, observe nighttime and weekend coverage, and question any staff turnover or gaps in care, particularly around personal care and call-light responsiveness. When the system is supported by vigilant oversight, the therapeutic strengths and the evident warmth from many staff members can translate into meaningful quality of life.

In the end, South Haven delivers a clear value proposition for the right family: robust therapy and a caregiving ethos that, in practice, can feel like home. However, the price of admission is constant vigilance and a willingness to intervene when standards slip. For those seeking a place with near- flawless hygiene, consistent staffing, and unambiguous safety records, alternatives should be seriously considered. The decision hinges on the ability to align oversight with care: if dependable daily care and rapid, reliable responsiveness can be secured through proactive management and ongoing family involvement, South Haven can be a strong fit; if not, it is prudent to look elsewhere where both compassion and reliability are synchronized in daily practice.

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this area offers a range of convenient amenities for seniors looking to live in a vibrant community. With a variety of restaurants including fast food options like McDonald's, Arby's, and Chipotle, as well as sit-down eateries like Olive Garden and Amigo's Mexican Grill, there are plenty of choices for dining out. For those who enjoy a good cup of coffee, there are multiple Starbucks locations nearby. In terms of healthcare services, residents have access to Hoover Family Medicine, EyeCare Associates, and MedHelp for their medical needs. Additionally, there are pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy in the vicinity. The area also boasts several parks for outdoor activities and places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. For entertainment options, seniors can catch a movie at AMC DINE-IN Vestavia Hills 1 or AMC Summit 16 theaters. Overall, this part of Birmingham offers a well-rounded and convenient lifestyle for senior living.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.8 miles)
• Amigo's Mexican Grill (1.9 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.9 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1.9 miles)
• Arby's (1.9 miles)
• Moe's Southwest Grill (1.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)

Physicians

• Hoover Family Medicine (0.3 miles)
• Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0.8 miles)
• EyeCare Associates (2 miles)
• Alabama Eye Services (2.6 miles)
• VisionFirst Eye Center (3.1 miles)
• MedHelp (3.1 miles)
• DR Ronald McCoy Doctor of Medicine (3.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Medscreen (1.1 miles)
• Grandview Medical Center (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Loch Haven Dog Park (1.6 miles)
• Lakeshore Running Trail (3.1 miles)
• Oxmoor Park (3.9 miles)
• Heardmont Park (5.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Vestavia Hills Apothecary (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Glaxosmithkline (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace Covenant Baptist Church (2.7 miles)
• Christian Life Church (3.6 miles)
• Hunter Street Baptist Church (3.9 miles)
• Covenant Presbyterian Church (4.2 miles)
• The Church At Ross Bridge (4.4 miles)
• All Saints Episcopal Church (4.7 miles)
• Dawson Family of Faith (4.7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Vestavia Hills 1 (2.9 miles)
• AMC Summit 16 (5.6 miles)