SunBridge Care & Rehabilitation for Playa Del Rey

Pros

• The staff provides absolutely great care and shows love and patience.
• An emergency doctor was excellent.
• The nursing staff was awesome, the physical therapist was great, and the recreation staff was amazing.
• The care and professionalism of the staff were evident.
• There are some great staff members working there.
• The reviewer expressed thanks and blessings to the staff.
• The reviewer was very pleased with the help they received.

Cons

• The facility is horrible and disorganized from day one.
• The staff were inattentive, often on their phones, with no consistent accountability.
• There was a strong odor of urine and an unclean environment.
• Residents' basic needs - toileting, meals, mobility, and wound care - were neglected.
• Medications were often late or not ordered promptly.
• A patient with Alzheimer's was overmedicated on an antipsychotic.
• Transfers to the hospital were delayed and timely emergency care was not provided.
• Safety and communication were lacking - faulty equipment, no call lights, and unclear staff roles.

Review

There is a complicated, often harrowing portrait painted by the families who have watched loved ones move through this facility. On one hand, there are stories of genuine care - nurses and aides who connect with residents, a sense of compassion, and moments when staff members go the extra mile to make a patient feel seen. On the other hand, a chorus of experiences describes a facility overwhelmed by disorganization, inconsistent communication, and lapses in basic care that leave families anxious and patients at risk. Taken together, these accounts sketch a place where kindness can shine through, even as larger systemic problems undermine it.

A recurrent thread begins with a deep appreciation for individual staff who demonstrate warmth, patience, and professional skill. Several names come up repeatedly in praise - nurses, aides, therapists, and recreation staff who are described as patient and attentive, who treat residents with dignity, and who communicate with families in meaningful ways. When the care team is functioning at its best, these caregivers are remembered as the bright spots in what can otherwise feel like a chaotic system. In one set of memories, the nursing staff, physical therapy team, and recreation staff are singled out for their professionalism and kindness, with many patients and families expressing heartfelt thanks. Those affirmations matter, and they highlight the capacity for compassionate care to exist within these walls.

But alongside those positive notes, the reviews convey a stark pattern of dysfunction that frequently undermines the patient experience. Several families describe a disorganized intake and admission process from day one, with little clarity about who is responsible for what, irregular administrator presence, and social workers who seem hard to locate. Information about meals, clothing to bring, or daily routines is not consistently available, leaving families to chase answers and rely on staff who are often stretched too thin. The lack of a reliable "source of truth" about who is working or where staff members are located creates a distrustful atmosphere and makes coordinated care much harder for residents who already rely on others for basic needs.

Environment and cleanliness emerge as another major concern. A strong odor of urine is reported upon entry, and cleanliness appears inconsistent. Visitors describe a sense that the facility is not kept up to the standard one would expect for vulnerable residents, with cleaning and maintenance seemingly reactive rather than proactive. The combination of cleanliness issues and crowded or confusing hallways can contribute to a feeling that safety and dignity are at risk, especially for patients who may not be able to advocate for themselves.

Medication management and medical responsiveness are cited repeatedly as critical failures. Families recount delays in administering medications, missing doses, or medications not being ordered in a timely fashion. In some cases, residents are under newer regimens that have not been properly reviewed or explained to families. There are also more alarming claims of overmedication, including antipsychotics used inappropriately for residents with Alzheimer's disease. When medical concerns arise - such as a rattling cough or a potential infection - some families feel that the facility does not push hard enough to pursue diagnostic testing or effective treatment, instead accepting arguments that symptoms are "normal" or that a test was unnecessary.

Safety and responsiveness further complicate the picture. Reports of residents who scream for hours without timely intervention, calls to the police in the middle of the night, and broken equipment test the resilience of families who must stand in as advocates. In at least one case, a resident who could not walk or move without assistance did not have a call light available, and the staff delayed in arranging for a move to a chair or a more supportive arrangement. Falls occur, and when they do, concerns about witnessing and timely reporting persist. Families argue that such incidents could be mitigated with more attentive monitoring, better equipment, and clearer protocols for urgent responses.

Communication - with residents, with families, and within the staff structure - remains a persistent weak point. Several accounts describe staff who are inattentive or engaged with personal devices rather than resident needs, and caregivers often have to repeat themselves multiple times to secure basic actions like repositioning a patient, changing a bed, or bringing in a meal suited to a resident's diet. When families ask questions, the answers are not always forthcoming, and the absence of consistent, reliable updates leaves them anxious about the status of their loved ones. The frustration is compounded by stories of admissions nurses who are described as rude or dismissive, and social workers who seem hard to reach during critical moments.

Despite the frustrations, there are also moments of interaction that show what the facility can be when functioning well. One narrative emphasizes that the care team's ability to mobilize, communicate, and deliver personalized attention can deliver meaningful progress for a resident's recovery. The individuals who are praised for their care point to a hopeful possibility - that with improved coordination, staffing consistency, and genuinely responsive leadership, the facility could provide the level of care families hope to see when entrusting loved ones to a rehabilitation or long-term care environment.

The emotional weight of these experiences cannot be overstated. Families describe sleepless nights, the fear of missed medications, and the sense that much of what happens hinges on whether a family member is physically present to advocate. The heartbreak of watching a parent decline, sometimes after an emergency transfer to another hospital, is a common thread. In instances where caregivers took decisive action - contacting an ombudsman or health department inspectors - there is a sense that accountability prompts the facility to pause, reassess, and correct course. Still, the relief from those interventions is tempered by the knowledge that earlier lapses may have caused harm or delayed necessary care.

In sum, this facility appears to be a place where human decency and professional care can coexist with serious organizational shortcomings. Families report moments of genuine compassion and professional excellence, but they also recount a pattern of disorganization, inconsistent communication, neglected basic needs, and safety concerns that undermine trust and safety for residents. The range of experiences - from tearful gratitude for a nurse's careful attention to frustration and anger at delayed care - suggests that meaningful improvements are possible but require sustained commitment: reliable staffing, clearer leadership presence, rigorous adherence to medication and safety protocols, and a culture that prioritizes timely, respectful, and proactive care for every resident. Until then, families continue to balance the hope of compassionate care against the fear of recurring gaps that could impact the health and dignity of their loved ones.

Located in the peaceful neighborhood of Playa Del Rey, California, this area offers an array of amenities ideal for senior living. With several parks nearby such as Burton Chace Park and Kenneth Hahn State Recreational Area, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and relaxation. Additionally, there are numerous pharmacies within a short distance, ensuring easy access to medical supplies and services. Transportation options are convenient with proximity to Los Angeles International Airport and various terminals. A variety of dining options including In-N-Out Burger and Gjelina cater to different tastes, while cafes like Intelligentsia Coffee provide cozy spots for socializing. For spiritual fulfillment, King Fahad Mosque offers a place of worship in the community. This diverse neighborhood provides a comfortable and vibrant environment for seniors looking for a welcoming place to call home.

Parks

• Burton Chace Park (1.5 miles)
• Bluff Creek Fields Dog Park (1.5 miles)
• Penmar Recreation Center (3.6 miles)
• South Beach Park (3.9 miles)
• Ocean View Park (4.1 miles)
• Kenneth Hahn State Recreational Area (4.2 miles)
• Santa Monica State Beach (5.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Tom Bradley International Terminal (1.7 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (1.8 miles)
• Terminal 2 (1.8 miles)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (1.8 miles)
• American Airlines Admirals Club (1.9 miles)
• TSA Passenger Screening (1.9 miles)
• Terminal 5 (1.9 miles)

Restaurants

• In-N-Out Burger (2 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.6 miles)
• The Brig (2.9 miles)
• Gjelina (2.9 miles)
• Superba Food + Bread (2.9 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark 18 and XD (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser Permanente Culver Marina Medical Offices (2.7 miles)
• UCLA Health Manhattan Beach Pediatrics (5.4 miles)

Cafes

• Intelligentsia Coffee (3 miles)
• Great White (3 miles)
• Gjusta (3.5 miles)
• The Rose Cafe & Market (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Corner Bakery Cafe (4.7 miles)
• Go Get Em Tiger (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• King Fahad Mosque (3.8 miles)