Candlewood Valley Hlth & Rehab

Pros

• The entire staff - from admissions to the cleaning crew - were kind, caring, loving and professional.
• The staff and administration were outstanding.
• The staff, including Raul, were wonderful and caring.
• The front desk staff and nurses promptly responded, calming residents almost immediately and guiding them back.
• There were many enjoyable days as residents acclimated to their surroundings.
• The two beautiful women in the reviewer's life were showered, fed, and given the attention their conditions required.
• The staff would calm and comfort residents during difficult moments.

Cons

• The facility is negligent and careless, with staff appearing miserable, disengaged, and only there for a paycheck.
• Patient belongings go missing, the environment is not clean, and compassion is absent.
• Residents are left unattended and not assisted with meals, leading to a decline in health.
• The facility is an embarrassment, with understaffing and disgraceful management that fires employees who care about residents.
• Some staff are rude, unqualified, and completely unempathetic, and communication with families is poor.
• The building is dilapidated and unsanitary.
• There are serious allegations of fraud and notary misconduct, and of hidden Covid-19 outbreaks.
• Veterans and their families report being ignored or treated badly for simple requests.

Review

The collection of reviews paints Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation as a place that provokes deeply divided reactions. Some families describe it as an embarrassment, where understaffing and disengaged management sap the dignity and safety that residents deserve. They portray a climate in which patient belongings go missing, the environment isn't kept clean, and compassion feels in short supply. In these accounts, residents often appear unattended, and meals - an essential daily need - are not consistently assisted or prioritized. The most jarring refrain is the sense that, for many staff, care has become more about process than people, with patients left to navigate day-to-day needs on their own or with minimal intervention.

Alongside the accounts of neglect, there is a persistent thread about poor leadership and accountability. Critics argue that management either doesn't recognize or doesn't adequately respond to the concerns raised by families, with several reviewers explicitly stating that the facility is "understaffed" and that those who do care are sometimes pushed out or discouraged. One recurring accusation is that the organization prefers "the bare minimum" over the sustained attention each resident requires, framing a system that rewards compliance and expediency over genuine, individualized caregiving. This sentiment feeds a larger worry about a culture where compassionate practice is optional rather than standard.

Amid the troubling narratives, there is a prominent, high-stakes claim surfaced in a YELP post by Penny Alesi, who writes about the facility in the most severe terms. She recounts the death of her mother and alleges neglect and fraudulent activity surrounding paperwork, including accusations of a crooked notary and an outbreak of Covid in 2022 that was allegedly not disclosed. The post emphasizes a commitment to pursuing accountability and warns other families to be vigilant about the facility's practices. Although this is one person's account, it intensifies the sense that, for some families, there are serious and unresolved questions about how decisions are made and how information is shared.

Yet, the picture is not uniformly negative. Several reviewers praise Candlewood Valley for moments of genuine care and for specific staff members who appear to have made meaningful differences in residents' lives. One reviewer called it "the best place for rehab," praising the dedication of the team and highlighting individuals who stood out, such as a social worker named Raul who has been "helping" and a team dynamic that seemed especially attentive to the patient's needs. Another entry lauds Christie the Concierge for keeping residents engaged in activities, suggesting that, in the hands of certain staff members, the facility can deliver not only medical attention but also meaningful quality-of-life experiences. These remarks help illustrate that the care experience can be highly variable, depending on who is on shift and how closely families or advocates are able to participate.

There are also mixed-to-positive personal narratives about the everyday interactions that shape a resident's experience. Some reviewers describe staff as kind, caring, and professional across the spectrum - Admissions, Nursing, Therapy, Aides, and Cleaning teams - envisioning a collaborative environment where families feel heard and involved. In these stories, responsive communication is framed as a key strength when families are able to participate in care planning and to join care plan/assessment meetings. Others acknowledge that, while there are caring individuals, there are still moments when questions go unanswered or procedures feel opaque, leaving families feeling out of the loop, especially when they are managing care from a distance.

Within the praise, there are also heartfelt testimonials that center on the human connections between residents, their families, and the care staff. A reviewer recounts two grandmothers who were "showered with attention," fed, and cared for with the dignity that families hope to see, crediting the medical professionals and caregivers who filled in the gaps when family could not. Another long personal note tells of a loved one who transitioned slowly through Alzheimer's with staff providing comfort, continuity, and a sense of normalcy in the days before passing. That account emphasizes compassionate bedside care, patient comfort, and respect, even as it acknowledges the challenging realities of long-term care. It serves as a counterpoint to the harsher portrayals, reminding readers that excellence can coexist with strain.

The reviews also reveal tensions that arise when families are apart or when expectations clash with the realities of care. Some families describe poor communications or procedural roadblocks that impede a smooth, transparent exchange of information. There are complaints about late or unclear forms, questions about medications, and concerns about whether aides are available to assist with routine tasks like mobility or toileting. In one instance, a family member recounts a shift away from strict rules when a loved one needed immediate help, pointing to the frustratingly brittle balance between following procedures and meeting urgent care needs. This tension underscores the challenge of providing consistent, high-quality care within the constraints that long-term facilities often face.

The spectrum of experiences also touches on the care environment for veterans and the role of insurance or VA benefits. One reviewer describes a veteran who was placed there due to VA coverage but reports being treated badly in response to simple asks, and a family member who felt the staff were rude, unqualified, and unsympathetic. That account contrasts with the more favorable stories about staff engagement and care, illustrating how experiences can diverge widely even within the same facility. In another narrative, the family found the environment dilapidated and unsanitary, prompting a move to Bethel Healthcare for the veteran's care. These entries contribute to the overall impression that the facility's physical condition and its ability to meet the needs of diverse residents can vary significantly from one instance to another.

Sitting alongside the more critical voices are those who emphasize the human capacity for care to shine even in tough circumstances. A few reviews speak to the emotional and practical impact of attentive staff, noting that when families participate in care planning and when staff demonstrate patience and empathy, residents experience a markedly better quality of life. These voices acknowledge that Candlewood Valley is not uniformly failing but contains pockets of excellence that shine through the broader challenges. They remind readers that the experience at this facility can be profoundly influenced by leadership, staffing levels, and the particular individuals who show up to do the work each day.

In sum, the collective voice about Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation is not one-note. It ranges from accusations of neglect, mismanagement, and secrecy to praise for specific caregivers and moments of sincere compassion. The reviews suggest a facility struggling with systemic issues - understaffing, communication gaps, and questions about accountability - that can cast a shadow over otherwise commendable acts of care. For families considering this facility, the message is to approach with a careful blend of optimism and due diligence: seek out conversations with multiple staff members, request transparent care plans and timelines, and observe the daily operations firsthand. The stories together offer a complex portrait: a place where care can be deeply meaningful under the right circumstances, yet where failures and shortcomings can have serious consequences if not addressed with sustained attention and accountability.

Physicians

• New Milford Family Practice (0.2 miles)
• New Milford Medical Gr (0.2 miles)
• Danbury Eye Physicians & Surgeons (0.6 miles)
• Women's Healthcare of New Milford (0.6 miles)
• Candlewood Valley Pediatrics (0.6 miles)
• Physician Care (0.7 miles)
• Kent Med Peds (9.7 miles)

Hospitals

• New Milford Hospital, part of Nuvance Health (1.2 miles)
• Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (8.9 miles)
• The Wellspring Foundation (9.3 miles)
• Danbury Hospital Business Office (12.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Big Y Foods (1.5 miles)
• Kent Apothecary (9.7 miles)
• Kent Station Pharmacy (9.7 miles)
• Towne Apothecary (10.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (10.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (10.7 miles)

Parks

• Youngs Field Park (1.6 miles)
• Creative Playground (2.5 miles)
• Sega Meadows Park (2.7 miles)
• Lynn Deming Park (3.3 miles)
• Lovers Leap State Park (3.8 miles)
• Harrybrooke Park (4.2 miles)
• Lake Waramaug State Park (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe (9.6 miles)
• Kent Coffee & Chocolate Co. (9.6 miles)
• Warren General (10.6 miles)
• Arethusa A Mano (12.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (12.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Three Brothers Family Restaurant (2.5 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (3.3 miles)
• 202 Tavern (4.4 miles)
• The White Horse Country Pub (4.8 miles)
• Bridgewater Village Store (4.8 miles)
• Gaylordsville Diner & Restaurant (5 miles)
• The Old Oak Tavern (5.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ Church On Quaker Hill (8.2 miles)
• St Joseph's Church (9.2 miles)
• Sacred Heart Rectory (9.5 miles)
• Greater Washington Coalition (11.9 miles)

Transportation

• Harlem Valley Metro North Station (9.2 miles)