Talmadge Park Health Care

Pros

• Whispering Pines is described as a hidden gem with fantastic staff, PT, aides, and administrators.
• The PT and OT staff and the administrator are praised for tirelessly helping families transition a loved one home.
• The nursing staff is wonderful, as are the aides and the physical therapy team.
• The staff are courteous and professional, giving families peace of mind about their loved one's care.
• The facility is described as beautiful and clean, with a welcoming environment for patients and visitors.
• Recreation and music programs are highlighted as engaging and enjoyable for residents.
• The dining program is described as restaurant-quality with a wide menu and timely service.
• Staff members such as Sasha, Latoya, and Siniya are praised for compassion and kindness.
• Reviewers consistently recommend Whispering Pines for the care of a loved one.

Cons

• One reviewer would not send a loved one to Whispering Pines due to neglect and poor care for someone who can't speak, eat, or move on their own.
• In one case, no one came to change or reposition a resident for hours, despite family requests for basic needs like water.
• A resident was told they were not eating, yet it was noted she would eat only if family fed her, and she arrived home highly dehydrated.
• Personal belongings were missing after visits, and a lunch tray was left on the table without anyone feeding the resident.
• The facility is described as poorly managed and supervised, with elderly residents left in soiled clothing and without access to a call button or hydration.
• There are serious accusations of elderly abuse and neglect, including a patient left sitting for hours on break, and a Christmas incident where a resident was left unconscious and half-naked.
• At least one reviewer would give zero stars and says the facility is not responsible, recounting a two-hour delay in picking up a patient.
• Several reviews label the facility atrocious or state that staff do not care about patients.

Review

The set of experiences people shared about Whispering Pines reveals a facility that inspires strong feelings on both ends of the spectrum. On one hand, several families describe a warm, attentive environment where staff take time to listen, rehabilitation services are robust, and life at the center includes engaging activities and a sense of community. On the other hand, a substantial number of reviews recount troubling lapses in basic care - issues with feeding, hydration, hygiene, pacing of service, and supervision - that have left some families deeply concerned about safety and dignity. Taken together, the narratives suggest that outcomes at Whispering Pines can vary dramatically from one resident to the next, and from one shift to another.

One of the most alarming accounts centers on a respite stay that began in April 2024. A family described their mom as having gone without timely repositioning, assistance with drinking, or even routine care during a one-week visit. They reported that the staff claimed their mother wasn't eating, even though the family observed that she would eat when they fed her themselves. The situation escalated to a perception of neglect, with belongings moved, a lunch left untouched on a table, and photographs taken of the scene to document the incident. The reviewer later reported that their mom returned home dehydrated, a outcome they attributed to the facility's care, and concluded they would not return. This account highlights serious concerns about basic daily care, communication, and accountability when families are not present.

Contrasting sharply with that grim narrative are several glowing testimonials. A common thread among these reviews is praise for attentive and compassionate staff across roles, from nursing to physical and occupational therapy to administration. One reviewer described Whispering Pines as a "hidden gem" despite being an older facility, praising the teamwork between therapists, aides, and administrators and noting that they listened to families and implemented effective strategies to improve patients' lives. Another family observed that their father received extensive services, showed meaningful progress with physical therapy and occupational therapy, and benefited from coordinated resources for transitioning home. In their view, the nursing staff and even the infectious disease administrator were attentive and careful in delivering individualized care. Names that appear in these accounts - Sasha, Latoya, Siniya, and a dedicated aide - underscore a sense of personal connection that families valued.

Longer-term residents also provided largely favorable portrayals. One family spoke of a father who had been at Whispering Pines for a couple of years and described the facility as clean, with friendly staff who genuinely cared about their loved one's well-being. Another writer praised the same environment for offering a range of activities - musicians, cookouts, bingo, and a vibrant outdoor courtyard - that contributed to a sense of normalcy and enjoyment for their loved one. A parent lauded the facility's recreation options and the positive atmosphere, emphasizing peace of mind and gratitude for a place they felt comfortable recommending to others. A separate review highlighted compassionate aides and a staff that treated a feisty patient with kindness and humor, reinforcing the impression that staff often go the extra mile to connect with residents.

Yet not all experiences align with those positive sentiments. A number of reviews focused on negative episodes, ranging from brief irritations to serious allegations. One reviewer described a patient left unseen for hours, leading to frustration and a warning not to rely on the facility. Another expressed concern about elder care being poorly managed and supervised, with reports of residents sitting in soiled clothing, lacking access to call buttons or bed remotes, and receiving unsanitary food trays; the reviewer urged state level scrutiny. A particularly troubling post claimed elder abuse and criminal negligence, recounting a Christmas Day scene in which a bedridden patient was left covered in meals and unattended for extended periods, with staff allegedly dismissing family concerns by claiming all staff were on break. These accounts depict situations where basic dignity, responsiveness, and safety were called into question.

Beyond these care quality concerns, several families touched on financial and access issues. One reviewer noted that a loved one had to pay 40% out of pocket despite insurance and Medicare, suggesting that financial barriers could complicate admissions or ongoing stays at Whispering Pines. Another account, while praising the facility's beauty and the quality of aides, also hinted at inconsistent experiences that may reflect underlying staffing fluctuations. The recurring themes across these financial and access-oriented reviews point to a need for transparency and clearer communication around coverage, costs, and patient rights, particularly when transitions between hospital, respite, and long-term care are involved.

In sum, Whispering Pines appears to be a place of two very different realities. For some families, the facility offers a warm environment, strong rehabilitation services, reliable staffing, and a variety of enriching activities that contribute to meaningful improvement and a sense of security for both residents and their families. For others, the same setting has fallen short in fundamental areas, with allegations of neglect, dehydration, inadequate feeding, unsanitary conditions, and insufficient supervision that have driven families to seek alternatives and even contemplate reporting or complaints. Prospective families or patients considering Whispering Pines should approach with due diligence: schedule a tour, speak with multiple staff across departments, review recent inspections or regulatory findings, ask detailed questions about staffing levels on each shift, and closely assess whether the facility's strengths align with the specific needs and goals of their loved one.

Located in East Haven, Connecticut, this area offers convenient access to various amenities essential for senior living. With multiple pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, and Rite Aid within a short distance, obtaining necessary medications and healthcare supplies is easily accessible. Additionally, there are several physicians' offices nearby, including Mondovi Dental and East Haven Pediatrics PC, ensuring quality medical care is within reach. For transportation needs, Robinson Aviation and Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport provide options for traveling near and far. In terms of dining options, The Lobster Shack and Lenny's Indian Head Inn offer delicious meals close by. Furthermore, parks like Foote Memorial Park and Wooster Square Park provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Overall, this part of East Haven offers a range of services and conveniences that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and well-equipped living environment.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Mondovi Dental (1 miles)
• Family Practice And Internal Medicine Of New Haven County (1 miles)
• East Haven Pediatrics PC (1.2 miles)
• General Practitioners of Hamden & Branford PC (2.4 miles)
• St Raphael's Occupational Health (2.7 miles)
• Connecticut Orthopaedics (2.7 miles)
• FUZION Medical Aesthetic Boutique (3.2 miles)

Transportation

• Robinson Aviation (1 miles)
• Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (1.4 miles)
• New Haven Union Station (NHV) - Metro North/Amtrak/Shore Line East (4 miles)
• New Haven State Street Station (4.2 miles)
• Metro North West Haven Train Station (5.2 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage of Orange (6.8 miles)

Restaurants

• The Lobster Shack (1.1 miles)
• Stony Creek Brewery (2.8 miles)
• Lenny's Indian Head Inn (3.3 miles)
• Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill (3.6 miles)
• Zeneli Pizzeria (3.8 miles)
• McDonald's (4.1 miles)
• Hornets Nest Deli (4.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Kaiydens Coffee (4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8 miles)

Hospitals

• Hospital of Saint Raphael (2.7 miles)
• Harbor House (2.9 miles)
• Yale New Haven Hospital Blood Drawing Station (3 miles)
• Hill Health Center Grant Street Partnership (4.2 miles)
• Veterans Affairs CT Healthcare System: West Haven Medical Center (5.2 miles)
• Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Foote Memorial Park (2.9 miles)
• Wooster Square Park (4 miles)
• East Rock Park (4.8 miles)
• Edgewood Park (5.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church Of The Holy Spirit (4.5 miles)
• St Barbara Greek Orthodox Church (7.6 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark North Haven (6.6 miles)