Park Bridge Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff were caring and competent.
• The efficient and caring staff discovered the aneurysm and acted quickly.
• Most residents really enjoy the food, which features American favorites like burgers, meatloaf, fish, and pork chops.
• The one row of bedrooms with patios on the water is a nice feature.
• One of the clients is treated very well.
• Every nurse knows each resident by name and is active in keeping their needs tended to.

Cons

• The administration suggested that they should just close the door and let her die.
• There was no hot water pretty much ever.
• The staff were incompetent and did not pay attention to nurse call lights.
• The facility was loud and patients never saw a doctor.
• Prescriptions were not kept up, leading to missed medication doses.
• Showers were allowed only 1-2 times a week and were disgustingly dirty.
• The food was mostly gross.
• Rooms housed 2-3 people with only one TV, forcing residents to share.
• The facility was run down and smelled bad.
• Transportation wasn't arranged, causing missed doctors' appointments.
• Most staff did not speak English well.
• They lied, didn't care, and should go out of business.

Review

There is a striking clash in the stories told about this Oakland-area nursing home, reflecting a facility that some families describe as dangerously neglectful, while others hail as a place where caring staff make a difference. One family's experience involves Kaiser Oakland sending their mother to this location and then facing seemingly shocking and uncompromising assertions from the administration. The family says that after repeated ER visits, they were told by the administration to "close the door and let her die," a claim they say Kaiser ultimately used to pull her out of Park Bridge and move her to safety. That extreme accusation hangs over the place as a stark memory for some and a reason to pull away for others, even as other residents and visitors report far more positive moments.

The negative accounts paint a troubling picture of basic care and day-to-day management. Several reviewers describe almost no hot water and persistently loud, chaotic conditions. They accuse the staff of being incompetent or inattentive, with nurse call lights routinely ignored or unanswered. Medication management is another sore point, with multiple mentions of missed doses because prescriptions were not being filled promptly. Showers are scarce - limited to one or two per week - and when they do occur, they are often described as dirty or unsanitary. The facility is depicted as overcrowded, with two to three residents sharing a room, and amenities such as televisions are limited to one per room, forcing residents to watch the same thing as their roommates. The reviews also mention ongoing odors, a sense of busyness without regard for individual patients, and frequent difficulties arranging timely transportation to appointments, which led to missed visits with doctors.

Communication and administrative responsiveness are repeatedly singled out as areas of serious concern. Several families say calls to the facility are routinely unanswered, the phone rings endlessly or gets disconnected, and staff fail to return messages. They describe being sidelined in important decisions, with caseworkers slow to respond and little clarity about who is handling a loved one's welfare. One family accuses the organization of misogyny, stating that only a different relative - the estranged brother - seems to receive recognition of guardianship despite 50/50 co-successorship. The sense conveyed is that family members outside the door are not treated as valued partners in care, especially during times when a patient could use a steady line of communication or a timely update on health status.

Against the backdrop of these severe complaints, other voices offer a more nuanced or even contrasting view. One reviewer acknowledges the building is not modern or pristine, noting a somewhat broken bed in their room and the overall need for upgrades. Yet that same person credits the staff with being caring and competent, praising the nursing assistants, RNs, and doctors who attended to them. In a life-and-death moment, they say the staff discovered an aneurysm at a critical time and acted quickly, saving their life. They describe the staff as efficient and caring, turning a scary situation into a life-saving intervention and expressing lasting gratitude. This thread of appreciation hints at what the facility can be capable of when focused on urgent medical needs.

There are also memories of a more positive day-to-day atmosphere for some residents, where the human touch of the staff shines through despite the facility's rough edges. Several accounts speak of friendly and familiar faces - nurses who know each resident by name and remain actively engaged in meeting their needs. Reviewers describe ongoing social events and programming that bring residents together, such as live music, games like indoor bowling, and a sense that the staff genuinely cares about residents' enjoyment and well-being. Food, while not uniformly praised, is sometimes described as reasonably good within the constraints of a health facility, and there are mentions of staff who pay attention to personal preferences and dietary restrictions.

Taken together, the reviews present a divergent portrait of the same place. On one hand, families recount terrifying lapses in basic care, dangerous delays, and frustrating barriers to communication that feel dehumanizing and unsafe. On the other, there are stories of dedicated staff members who treat residents with compassion, quick thinking in medical emergencies, and a culture of activity and engagement that helps residents enjoy meaningful moments despite the institution's flaws. The facility is depicted as physically aging and sometimes poorly maintained, with crowded rooms and limited private spaces, but not devoid of moments when excellence in care made a real difference.

For anyone considering this nursing home, the message from these accounts is clear: experiences vary dramatically from one moment to the next and from one staff member to another. Some families feel overwhelmed by neglect and systemic issues, while others highlight the courage, competence, and humanity of the people working there. The contrast is strong enough that prospective visitors or guardians would do well to seek a broad range of updated opinions, tour the facility in person, ask pointed questions about staffing, coordination with medical teams, and how family communications are handled, and weigh the facility's current practices against their own expectations for safety, dignity, and timely medical attention.

This part of Alameda, California, offers convenient access to a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians in close proximity, residents can easily access healthcare facilities when needed. Additionally, the presence of public transportation options like the Fruitvale BART Station and bus stops make it easy for seniors to get around the area without having to rely on driving. The abundance of parks nearby provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation, while an array of restaurants and cafes offer diverse dining options for those looking to enjoy a meal out. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and well-rounded living environment for seniors looking to settle in Alameda.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Harborside Health Center (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)

Transportation

• Fruitvale BART Station (0.7 miles)
• 20/21 Bus Stop (2.1 miles)
• Lake Merritt BART Station (2.4 miles)
• JSX (3.5 miles)
• West Oakland BART Station (4 miles)
• Escape Lounge (4.3 miles)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) (4.3 miles)

Parks

• Lincoln Park (0.9 miles)
• Alameda Dog Park (1.9 miles)
• Shoreline Park (2.5 miles)
• Alco Park (2.6 miles)
• Dimond Park (2.6 miles)
• Snow Park (2.9 miles)
• Avenue Terrace Playground (3.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Highland Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center: Summit Camps (3.8 miles)
• Kaiser OB-GYN (3.8 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center (3.9 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Labor & Delivery (5.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Nido’s Backyard (2.3 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.4 miles)
• Original Pattern Brewing Company (2.6 miles)
• Seawolf (2.7 miles)
• Jack London Square (2.8 miles)
• Drake's Dealership (3.3 miles)
• Almanac Beer Co. Barrel House & Taproom (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Bicycle Coffee (2.7 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (4.3 miles)
• Highwire Coffee Roasters (5.1 miles)
• Caffe Strada (6.9 miles)
• Si Si Caffe (7.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Bay Area Chinese Bible Church (3 miles)
• Bethel Presbyterian Church Of San Leandro (6.8 miles)

Physicians

• One Medical (3.3 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Medical Center - Mosswood Building (3.8 miles)
• Sutter Urgent Care: Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation (6.7 miles)
• Berkeley Pediatrics (7.5 miles)
• Urology: Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation (7.9 miles)
• Kiwi Pediatrics Medical Group (8.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Bay Street 16 (5.3 miles)