Rocky Hill Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Pros

• There are activities in the facility.
• There are caring, good people among the staff.
• The managers are doing their best to present a positive front.
• There are positive exceptions among the staff, including Lisa, Gail, Britney, Claudia, Val, Cindy, and Marcia.
• The kitchen lead tries his best, despite being new.

Cons

• The staff tune out the call bell, resulting in 30?40 minute waits to use the bathroom.
• The CNA staff are often reluctant to help, adding insult to injury for handicapped residents.
• The care ratio is terrible (about 1 good to 6 not-so-good), suggesting poor work ethic or pay issues.
• The facility crams three people into a room designed for two.
• The rooms' bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible, making mobility and hygiene hard for residents.
• Some cooks do not follow diet plans and there are complaints of withholding food, leading to hunger.
• There is high turnover among the few caring staff, who do not stay long.
• A resident died, and the agonal breathing woke the narrator; delays in staff response worsened the distress.

Review

A resident at 60west shares a candid, oft-frustrated picture of daily life in a facility that seems to pin most of its hopes on a small cadre of genuinely caring staff. The writer makes clear that the overall impression isn't that of a place run with abandon, but rather one where the operations side - costs, staffing decisions, and turnover - heavily color the caregiving reality. They acknowledge that some workers clearly care and do their best, but they worry that too many colleagues are either underpaid, unhappy, or simply unmotivated, which in turn affects how residents are tended to day to day.

A central grievance concerns the call bells and response times. The reviewer notes that many staff seem to have learned to tune out the bell, leading to painfully long waits - often 30 to 40 minutes - to use the bathroom, a delay that is especially troubling for someone who is handicap. The sense of indignity is palpable: the combination of limited staffing, the constant need to rely on others, and the feeling that help will only arrive after a prolonged stretch of discomfort adds insult to injury. The writer stresses that the problem isn't isolated to a single shift or moment but appears to be a systemic issue at the CNA level, even though managers are doing their best to maintain a positive facade.

In terms of staffing quality, the resident describes a troubling ratio problem. They estimate a typical workplace vibe of about 1 good worker for every 3 not-so-good ones, but at 60west the ratio feels more like 1 to 6. The writer is careful to separate the problem from a personal vendetta, explaining it could stem from pay, screening, or general work ethic. The impression is that the deeper issue is not malice but a combination of systemic constraints and inconsistent day-to-day performance at the CNA level, which can undermine the overall standard of care despite the managers' efforts to project a good front.

The physical and logistical environment compounds the frustrations. Rooms are crowded - "3 deep in a room meant for 2" - and the bathrooms are described as not wheelchair-friendly, even inside the patient rooms. Being confined to a wheelchair and facing a bathroom that isn't accessible or comfortable adds another layer of difficulty to daily living and increases dependence on staff for basic needs. The writer frames these conditions as not only inconvenient but dehumanizing in a care setting, where dignity and basic functionality should be readily available to residents who need it most.

There are efforts to provide activities and dietary options, but the reviewer questions their sincerity and effectiveness. Activities exist, but they suspect much of it is mandated rather than genuinely pursued by residents' interest. As for meals, the critic argues there is potential for great food, but it is undermined by inconsistent adherence to diet plans and by what they perceive as "bad actors" among the kitchen staff. They even suggest, somewhat provocatively, that certain cooks withhold food for the benefit of the kitchen team, a pattern that worsens the perception of care. Nonetheless, there is some acknowledgment that the kitchen leader - new to the role but doing his best - deserves time to steer changes and "weed things out."

Despite the overall critique, the writer does not abandon hope entirely and makes a point of naming several positive exceptions. Lisa, Gail, Britney, Claudia, Val, Cindy, and Marcia are singled out as staff who show care and competence, serving as bright spots in an otherwise challenging environment. These individuals are credited with providing the kind of support and attention that makes a real difference in day-to-day life, even if they aren't always able to counterbalance the broader systemic issues that the reviewer highlights.

The later portion of the account turns to a profoundly personal and traumatic event: a resident's death and the circumstances surrounding it. The writer recounts that a man died, and it was his agonal breathing that woke them despite wearing noise-canceling headphones. The sounds were loud enough to be heard by people standing outside the door and near the nurses' station, within a few feet. The writer reflects on the feel of being awakened by such a distressing sound, the possibility that those outside the door might have heard something but not fully understood what was happening, and the painful retrospection that perhaps if they had been more alert or had pressed the call button sooner, the outcome might have been different. The memory lingers as a difficult reminder of the stakes involved in timely care and attentive listening in a place where the line between routine care and crisis is razor-thin.

Taken together, the account paints a portrait of 60west as a facility with pockets of genuine care and notable staff who make a real difference, set against a backdrop of systemic challenges. Staffing constraints, the perception that call bells are routinely ignored, crowded living spaces, and less-than-ideal accessibility combine to create daily friction for residents. The writer's experience is not all negative: there are named staff who stand out for their empathy and professionalism, and there is a sense of optimism that new leadership in the kitchen might gradually improve processes. Yet the memory of the emergency, the death, and the loud agonal breathing underscores how far the institution has to go to ensure safety, dignity, and reliable care for every resident.

This part of Rocky Hill, Connecticut offers a convenient and bustling location with easy access to essential amenities. There are multiple CVS Pharmacies located within a few miles, as well as a Walgreens for prescription needs. The area also features a variety of dining options ranging from fast food at McDonald's to upscale dining at Carbone's Prime. For medical care, there are several reputable physicians and hospitals nearby, including Newington Veterans Hospital and Connecticut Valley Hospital. Additionally, there are parks for outdoor recreation and places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area provides a mix of convenience and comfort for seniors looking to settle in Rocky Hill.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina (1.8 miles)
• Carbone's Prime (1.9 miles)
• Tavern on 3 (1.9 miles)
• Salute (1.9 miles)
• Wood-n-Tap Bar & Grill-Rocky Hill (2.1 miles)
• D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Bhawani S Ojha (1.8 miles)
• Starling Physicians: Dermatology (2.1 miles)
• LasikPlus Vision Center (2.4 miles)
• Ct Hair & Transplant Group (2.5 miles)
• Medical Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Center (4.2 miles)
• Valley Sports Physicians (4.6 miles)
• Somerset Pediatrics (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Perkatory Coffee Roasters (6.1 miles)

Parks

• Maxwell Park (2.5 miles)
• Mill Pond Park (5.2 miles)
• Sage Park (6.1 miles)
• Wolcott Park (7.3 miles)
• Stanley Quarter Park (7.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Jehovah's Witnesses (3.3 miles)

Theaters

• Picture Show at Berlin (5.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Newington Veterans Hospital (5.8 miles)
• Connecticut Valley Hospital (6.7 miles)
• Riverview Children's Hospital (6.8 miles)
• Infectious Disease Division (7.2 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (6.4 miles)
• Pratt & Whitney (6.7 miles)