University Post Acute in Sacramento, CA

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Pros

• The staff are caring and considerate, treating patients as if they were family members.
• The staff and therapy team are professional, attentive, and compassionate.
• From day one, the facility makes guests feel like family and supports their recovery.
• The facility is clean, well-maintained, and offers excellent therapy and care.
• Families express gratitude for the care, information, and personal connections made by the staff.
• The therapy and nursing teams work together to help patients regain strength and independence.
• The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and go above and beyond to meet residents' needs.
• The environment is uplifting, with attentive caregivers and a focus on patient well-being.

Cons

• The staff left residents waiting for help for hours after pressing the call button, sometimes for more than three hours, leaving them cold.
• Food was discarded if patients slept through meals, and meals were held and reheated.
• The meals were described as disgraceful and nutritionally inadequate, contributing to malnutrition.
• Complaints about care reportedly fell on deaf ears, with management not addressing concerns.
• There were concerns about inadequate nursing staff, with a class-action suit over staffing levels.
• There was a lack of overnight staff, with no one responding to calls during the night.
• Some night CNAs did not empty urine containers.
• One reviewer advised others not to use the facility.
• A patient was reportedly neglected by staff, leading to unresponsiveness and a prolonged hospitalization.
• The staff were described as very task-oriented and efficient but not very friendly.

Review

University Post Acute Rehab is best suited for seniors who need skilled nursing and intensive rehabilitation after surgery, stroke, or serious illness. It rewards residents who pursue recovery through strong physical and occupational therapy, supported by attentive nurses, social workers, and a cohesive care team. Reviewers consistently praise the staff for professionalism and genuine warmth, and they note a clean, calm environment that supports healing. Families value the hands-on involvement: regular updates, help navigating discharge, and even weekend pet visits that sustain a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. For those ready to commit to a rehab-focused stay, UPAR provides a sturdy platform for mobility gains, independence, and re-engagement with daily life. This isn’t a casual care setting; it’s a recovery-focused community that earns trust through tangible progress and real human connection.

However, this community isn’t the right fit for every family. For those who cannot tolerate occasional delays in assistance, alternatives may be worth exploring, since a handful of reviews describe slow call-bell responses and overnight staffing gaps. The most serious concerns touch safety and communication: one account details a welfare check and a lack of timely follow-up, underscoring the importance of asking about night staffing and escalation procedures. Nutrition matters also; at least one patient describes malnutrition linked to medically ordered diets, and others note meals being discarded or unfit for dietary needs. Those who prioritize a quiet, hotel-like ambiance or near-perfect dining and water service may find other facilities better aligned with those expectations. These points aren’t universal, but they merit careful verification during tours and candid conversations with leadership.

On the positive side, the strongest magnet is the rehab-forward culture. Therapy teams are repeatedly described as excellent, with a persistent focus on getting residents moving and back toward independence. Nursing care is praised for kindness and attentiveness, and social workers help families stay informed and plan for discharge. The facility itself tends to be impeccably clean, well maintained, and free of odors, creating an environment conducive to recovery. Dietary services are capable of accommodating restrictions, and in many cases meals are well received. Taken together, these strengths create a trajectory of improvement that makes the cons feel manageable, provided there is reliable ongoing communication and consistent staffing. When gaps appear, they clash with the otherwise cohesive care momentum, but they are not the defining feature of the UPAR experience.

Still, the anecdotes matter. A few reviews describe night-time delays or inadequate responsiveness that leave family members anxious, and there are isolated reports of broken trust around care coordination. The class-action flavor of one account about staffing culture underscores a broader truth: any post-acute facility’s failure to maintain adequate staffing can ripple through safety, nutrition, and patient experience. Yet for every tough report, there are numerous stories of personal connections, proactive care, and genuine gratitude from families. The odds are that a given day will unfold smoothly if the care team is engaged and proactive about communicating. Prospective families should bring questions about night coverage, meal service, and how concerns are escalated, and insist on a clear care plan that is revisited at regular intervals.

Decision-ready families should approach UPAR with a practical checklist. Tour during predictable routines; observe how therapists prescribe intensity, how nurses respond to calls, and how often residents are assisted with daily needs. Ask about discharge timelines, post-acute goals, and how progress is communicated to loved ones. Confirm nutrition protocols, including the ability to honor medical diets and any flexibility if appetite changes. Clarify policies on family involvement, pet visits, and transport for appointments. Finally, request candid references from the therapy and nursing teams, and verify the consistency of messages across staff shifts. The right facility will feel both professional and personal, translating clinical care into a pathway back to daily life.

Bottom line: University Post Acute Rehab is a practical, effective option for seniors focused on rehabilitation and recovery. It excels for residents who want strong therapy, attentive nursing, and a supportive, family-like environment. It is less suitable for those who cannot tolerate episodic delays in care, inconsistent night coverage, or demanding expectations about dining and nutrition. The facility carries a solid 4.5 rating from 73 reviews, with many five-star testimonials backing a track record of meaningful recoveries. For families ready to engage with care teams and verify day-to-day operations, UPAR offers a credible route back to independence, with the caveat that diligence during tours and upfront conversations will determine whether the fit is ideal.

This part of Sacramento, California, offers a diverse range of amenities suitable for senior living. With several cafes and restaurants within easy reach, including popular chains like Starbucks and Chipotle Mexican Grill, residents can enjoy a variety of dining options. The presence of multiple parks, such as McKinley Park and Sutter's Landing Dog Park, provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, access to healthcare services is convenient with nearby physicians' offices and pharmacies. For those seeking spiritual fulfillment, St Francis of Assisi church is located in the vicinity. Overall, this neighborhood offers a blend of convenience and leisure activities that would be appealing to seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community in Sacramento.

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.1 miles)
• Temple Coffee (0.7 miles)
• Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters (0.9 miles)
• Temple Coffee (1.1 miles)
• Temple Coffee Roasters (1.4 miles)
• Tupelo Coffee House (1.6 miles)
• Milka Coffee Roasters (2.1 miles)

Parks

• Kobe’s Bark Path (0.3 miles)
• McKinley Park (1.2 miles)
• Curtis Park (1.4 miles)
• Sutter's Landing Dog Park (1.8 miles)
• Sutter's Landing Park (2 miles)
• Capitol Park (2 miles)
• Roosevelt Park (2.2 miles)

Restaurants

• SacYard Community Tap House (0.5 miles)
• OBO' Italian Table & Bar (0.8 miles)
• Del Taco (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1.3 miles)
• Midtown Spirits (1.4 miles)
• Mercantile Saloon (1.5 miles)

Physicians

• Lenaerts Marc Mercy Medical Group Md (0.6 miles)
• UC Davis Medical Group- Sacramento- Family Medicine & Pediatrics (0.7 miles)
• Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California (0.9 miles)
• Sacramento County Primary Care Center (1 miles)
• McIlraith Thomas B MD Mercy General Hospital (1 miles)
• Sacramento Center For Hematology & Medical Oncology (1 miles)
• California Sleep Solutions (1.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Save Mart Supermarkets (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Francis of Assisi (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Sutter Center for Psychiatry (2.6 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak Sacramento Valley Station (2.8 miles)