Center For Optimum Care At SVC

Pros

• The center has a warm, friendly atmosphere with caring staff who go above and beyond to meet residents' and families' needs.
• The Rehab and Recreation programs are highly recommended.
• The staff are amazing, nursing is very helpful, and the facility is always clean.
• Erin, a social worker, helped a sister receive better care by relocating to a room with a working phone and call bell, and she checked on her frequently.
• The concierge Matthew is outstanding and highly valued for his helpfulness and personal attention.
• The facility is well maintained, clean, and the staff are friendly and compassionate, with admissions staff noted as generous and kind.

Cons

• The center is described as a porta-potty?like facility where residents are rushed through care by nurses.
• The facility is described as irresponsible, with residents smelling of urine and infrequent showers.
• The food is described as very bad.
• There is alleged negligence, including a fall with no family notification and no timely medical evaluation.
• The place is said to stink and staff never return calls.
• The staff are described as extremely unprofessional and motivated by paychecks rather than care.
• Some reviews are accused of being fraudulent.
• A resident reportedly developed sepsis and nearly died after a short stay, with a warning not to send anyone there.

Review

The collection of reviews about this center paints a picture of a place that can feel like two different worlds at once. On one hand, several residents and their families describe a warm, welcoming atmosphere where compassionate staff, thoughtful rehab programs, and a clean, pleasant environment help people feel cared for and hopeful. They point to nurses, aides, and social workers who go the extra mile, and they especially highlight moments when individuals made a meaningful difference in a resident's day. In particular, a number of reviewers praise Erin, a social worker who was instrumental in moving a sister to a room with a working call bell and phone, checking on care repeatedly, and advocating for better treatment. The presence of friendly faces and a generally tidy facility - the kind of setting that feels calm and organized - emerges repeatedly in these positive accounts. There's also appreciation for administrative kindness and for staff who communicate well with families during tours and ongoing conversations, with several reviewers calling out the admissions team or specific staff members for their generosity and attentiveness.

Erin's case, mentioned by name, stands out as a standout example of how a proactive social worker can transform a resident's experience. Other stories note the value of a conscientious receptionist or a cordial concierge who makes an effort to engage with visitors and patients, noting that someone like Matthew (the concierge) adds a human touch that many feel is essential to a better rehab or recovery experience. A recurring thread in the favorable comments is that the facility can feel well-maintained, with a sense of pride in its appearance, decor, and the overall atmosphere. For families seeking personalized, attentive care during a difficult period, these voices describe a center that can deliver both clinical support and emotional reassurance when it matters most.

Yet these glowing notes sit beside a much larger chorus of concern. A sizable portion of reviewers report consistent problems with staff responsiveness, communication gaps, and a lack of timely care. Several readers mention dismissive or disrespectful behavior from reception staff, describing encounters that left them feeling undervalued or ignored. One reviewer even urges readers to "pray about" if a staff member dislikes their job, illustrating how frustrations with frontline workers can color the entire impression of the facility. Others recount a persistent sense of being left in the lurch when it comes to basic needs: bells that don't work, rooms that lack working phones, and delays in receiving help to use the bathroom or change a resident who is in need. The repeated concern about call bells and timely assistance underscores a pattern of perceived under-resourcing and misalignment between resident needs and the pace of care.

There are also serious, specific allegations about basic safety and quality of care. Some reviewers describe harsh environments where odors, improper hygiene, and inadequate showering become daily realities for residents. One account details not receiving timely showers or assistance, with a caregiver ultimately needing to tend to a family member themselves. Another reviewer asserts that a resident fell, did not receive timely medical attention, and returned home with new injuries, prompting a police report for negligence and a feeling that crucial orders and medications were not properly coordinated. Accounts of mismanagement around medications, missed calls about med changes, and disorganization surrounding discharge planning illustrate how lapses in communication and workflow can have real, frightening consequences for patients and their families.

The negative feedback also sometimes centers on broader concerns about the facility's operations. A number of reviewers describe a sense of staff burnout, with overworked caregivers doing their best but stretched too thin, and some even calling for leadership changes, a "house cleaning," and fresh staff to replace those who are perceived as unengaged or unprofessional. Several critics lament that, while some employees are clearly compassionate and effective, others appear indifferent, slow, or inattentive, leading to an uneven experience that can leave families unsure about the level of care their loved ones are receiving. The thread of concern about staffing shortages and outdated facilities also recurs, with some reviewers suggesting that the physical environment and infrastructure have fallen behind best-practice expectations, which compounds the challenge of delivering consistently high-quality care.

Amid the mixed reviews, there are a few standout anecdotes of positive personal experiences that give a sense of why some families continue to trust this center. A few residents recount moments when staff demonstrated genuine warmth, thoroughness, and professional competence, and one reviewer notes that the overall care for a parent was "great" and the staff "treated my mother with care." Positive comments also reflect gratitude for the center's ability to keep a patient engaged with rehab and recreation programming, the sense that the facility has potential, and a belief that certain leadership changes may be moving things in a better direction. Even among those who were deeply dissatisfied, there are occasional mentions of particular staff members who exceeded expectations, offering a glimmer of hope that improvements can be built on the existing foundation.

A recurring theme across the more favorable end of the spectrum is the observation that the center has good intentions and capable clinicians, even if systemic issues hinder consistency. Some reviewers acknowledge that the center "has potential to be a 5-star" facility, citing supportive staff and a welcoming environment as signs of what could be achieved with adequate staffing, better communication protocols, and timely responsiveness. Others who have had brief, positive interactions insist that they would recommend the place if not for a few persistent problems - an indication that the facility's core strengths are recognized, but that fundamental reliability and execution need strengthening.

In the end, this collection of perspectives presents a nuanced portrait of a center that can be both lifesaving and deeply frustrating, depending on who you ask and when you ask. There are stories of kindness, effective advocacy, and meaningful improvements that have turned difficult circumstances around for individuals and families. You also encounter cautionary tales - about delays, neglectful practices, and the emotional toll of feeling unheard or unsafe. Together, they suggest a facility with real strengths in warmth, care, and dedication, but one that also contends with systemic challenges that affect every resident's daily life. For families evaluating this center, the takeaway is clear: the care experience can be highly variable, hinging on the quality of specific staff members, the level of administrative support, and how responsive the leadership is to ongoing concerns and feedback.

Hospitals

• Veterans Affairs CT Healthcare System: West Haven Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• Hill Health Center Grant Street Partnership (1.2 miles)
• Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus (1.9 miles)
• Milford Hospital Walk In (6.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• Yale New Haven Ambulatory (1 miles)
• Cornell Scott - Hill Health Center (1.3 miles)
• Lima David MD (1.9 miles)
• St Raphael Healthcare System (1.9 miles)
• Yale Dermatology Associates PC (1.9 miles)
• New Haven Implant and Oral Care (2 miles)
• A Place To Nourish Your Health (2 miles)

Transportation

• Metro North West Haven Train Station (1 miles)
• New Haven Union Station (NHV) - Metro North/Amtrak/Shore Line East (1.9 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage of Orange (2 miles)
• New Haven State Street Station (2.4 miles)
• Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (3.8 miles)
• Robinson Aviation (4.2 miles)
• Metro North - Milford Train Station (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church Of The Holy Spirit (1.2 miles)
• St Barbara Greek Orthodox Church (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Kaiydens Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.1 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• Wendy's (1.3 miles)
• Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill (1.6 miles)
• Book Trader Cafe (2.1 miles)
• Mamoun's Falafel (2.1 miles)
• Arethusa Farm Dairy (2.2 miles)
• Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar (2.2 miles)

Parks

• Edgewood Park (2.1 miles)
• Wooster Square Park (2.5 miles)
• East Rock Park (3.7 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark North Haven (6.7 miles)