Friendship Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in National City, CA

Pros

• The staff are very polite and greet visitors warmly.
• The facility is clean, well lit, and welcoming.
• The staff and doctors are friendly, helpful, and dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for loved ones.
• Friendship Manor cares about its patients and their families.
• The admission and check-in processes are seamless and efficient, with modern technology.
• The CNAs are attentive, professional, and work well as a team.
• The therapy department is outstanding and crucial to recovery.
• Families feel comfortable and confident leaving their loved ones in the care of Friendship Manor.
• The facility is consistently described as safe, clean, and well maintained.
• The staff are kind, patient, and respectful to residents.

Cons

• One reviewer described the facility as horrible, alleging neglect that nearly caused a death and calling the staff sloppy and lazy.
• Another reviewer labeled the place awful, reporting delays in showers, a strong smell, and subpar upkeep.
• A commenter warned readers not to bring family members, accusing staff of faking five-star reviews to mask serious problems.
• An account criticized the interior as outdated and poorly maintained, with damaged flooring, baseboards in bad shape, and peeling paint.
• A reviewer noted significant delays in receiving assistance, describing a lack of prompt care.
• A long-time family member claimed a resident died due to neglect and inadequate medical intervention.
• A post described rooms as unhygienic, meals as small and unappealing, and poor communication about discharge and therapy referrals.

Review

Friendship Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in National City, California is best suited for families seeking a rehabilitation-focused skilled-nursing environment where a large, engaged staff delivers frequent hands-on care, strong therapy, and a consistently clean, welcoming setting. It works especially well for short- or extended-term post-acute rehab after surgeries, strokes, or hospital stays, and for seniors who benefit from the combination of daily nursing support, physical and occupational therapy, and an active activity calendar. When recovery hinges on responsive aides, attentive nurses, and clear family communication, this community often rises to the occasion.

Those who should consider alternatives include families prioritizing privacy and tightly controlled staffing consistency. Several reviews flag experiences with older or occasionally dated interiors and limits on private room space, which can matter for residents who want more seclusion or a calmer social environment. A few accounts describe intrusive visitor check-in procedures and, in rare cases, troubling claims about delays in care or communication gaps. For highly frail patients with complex medical needs or for families that demand near-perfect consistency across all shifts, it is prudent to compare other options known for private accommodations, quieter wards, or more standardized escalation protocols.

The core strengths here are hard to miss and they tend to offset many drawbacks. Across numerous reports, the nursing and CNA teams are praised for attentiveness, warmth, and teamwork, with caregivers who anticipate needs, respond quickly, and maintain professional, compassionate interactions. Therapy services - especially physical and occupational therapy - receive frequent accolades for effectiveness and patient engagement, a crucial factor for successful rehabilitation. The facility itself is repeatedly described as clean, bright, and well-kept, with a modern check-in and check-out process that adds a practical layer of security and efficiency for families. In short, residents often arrive as strangers and leave feeling well supported, with families appreciating the transparency and ongoing communication from staff and leadership.

Yet the reviews do present meaningful cautions. A minority of accounts describe delays in assistance, inconsistent attention across shifts, or encounters with staff who did not meet expectations. Some families raise concerns about the overall care experience tied to menu variety, room size, and interior upkeep, signaling that a handful of residents may be better suited elsewhere if these factors weigh heavily in quality of life. Occasionally, accounts surface questions about safety and oversight - ranging from visitor privacy to the intensity of monitoring and the immediacy of medical decision-making. While these voices are not the majority, they are the ones that should prompt careful, proactive due diligence before settling in.

From a practical decision standpoint, prospective clients should structure their evaluation around two hinge questions: first, will the resident's rehabilitation trajectory benefit from the facility's well-regarded therapy teams and the high-engagement nursing staff? second, how important is privacy, room configuration, and the steadiness of staffing across all shifts? The facility's leadership is accessible, with admissions and clinical coordination described as organized and communicative in multiple reviews; talking with the admission staff, touring the wards, and meeting direct care teams can provide clearer visibility into the day-to-day experience. Prospective families should also verify current dietary offerings, activity programming, and the facility's plan for private-room availability or accommodations when those are priorities.

In summary, Friendship Manor stands out as a practical, capable choice for seniors who need skilled nursing and robust rehabilitation services delivered by a motivated, friendly team in a clean, welcoming environment. It is less ideal for families who must have uninterrupted privacy, perfectly uniform staffing across all shifts, or a facility that consistently eliminates every negative review before admission. For most families, the decisional sweet spot lies in leveraging the strong clinical foundation and compassionate care while conducting targeted inquiries on private-room options, current staffing stability, and the specific aspects of care most critical to their loved one's recovery and daily comfort.

This area of National City, California offers a convenient location with easy access to essential services such as pharmacies, cafes, transportation options, restaurants, physicians, parks, hospitals, places of worship, and a theater. With several pharmacies nearby including Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy within a short distance, seniors can easily access their medications and healthcare needs. The proximity to various cafes like Kung Fu Tea and Starbucks provides opportunities for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. Transportation options such as the 24th Street Trolley Station are close by for easy travel around the city. There are also plenty of dining options like In-N-Out Burger and Tacos El Gordo for delicious meals. Additionally, there are parks like Quartyard Dog Park and Embarcadero Marina Park South for leisurely walks or outdoor activities. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians nearby like California Retina Associates and hospitals such as Naval Medical Center San Diego in close vicinity. The presence of places of worship like Corpus Christi Church caters to spiritual needs. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment with convenient amenities for senior living in National City.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• NEX Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Kung Fu Tea (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Copa Vida (4.7 miles)
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream And Chocolate Shop (5 miles)
• Tabac Specialty Coffee & Cigars (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)
• Communal Coffee (5.7 miles)

Transportation

• 24th Street Trolley Station (1.9 miles)
• Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station (4.8 miles)
• San Diego Santa Fe Depot (5.6 miles)
• Firefly Car Rental (6.9 miles)

Restaurants

• In-N-Out Burger (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Tacos El Gordo (3.6 miles)
• Half Door Brewing Company (4.7 miles)
• Bub's at the Ballpark (4.8 miles)
• Tin Fish Gaslamp (4.8 miles)
• Sevilla Nightclub of San Diego (4.9 miles)

Physicians

• California Retina Associates (4.1 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates (6.1 miles)
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Otay Ranch (6.4 miles)
• NBHC Eastlake (7 miles)

Parks

• Quartyard Dog Park (4.7 miles)
• Embarcadero Marina Park South (5 miles)
• Balboa Park (5.2 miles)
• Centennial Park (5.4 miles)
• Balboa Park South Loop (5.4 miles)
• Pantoja Park (5.4 miles)
• Spreckels Park (5.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Naval Medical Center San Diego (4.9 miles)
• Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation (5.5 miles)
• UC San Diego Medical Center (7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Corpus Christi Church (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Mission Valley 2 (7.1 miles)