First Coast Health & Rehab Ctr in Jacksonville, FL

Pros

• Nurse manager Tamara was very kind, helpful, and caring.
• My uncle is doing very well at this facility; he enjoys his stay and is kept clean.
• West Wing Unit Manager Althea Hamm was excellent; she was kind, helpful, and accommodating; Venus Ethridge is also great and responsive.
• The staff were friendly and helpful and went above and beyond to ensure satisfaction; Debra White engages residents with games and activities.
• First Coast employees care; CNAs work hard providing compassionate personal care; Deborah the activities director engages residents with games, activities, and parties.
• The admissions team and staff go the extra mile to treat patients well and respectfully.
• The facility has long-tenured staff (20+ years) who love working there and treat patients like family.
• They were awesome during rehab.

Cons

• The staff are unengaged, do not make eye contact, and fail to provide personal recognition or care beyond the basics.
• Aides are alleged to be stealing and lack compassion for their jobs.
• Residents are yelled at or spoken to disrespectfully when seeking help, including being told to "shut up."
• The facility is dirty and unsanitary, with roaches, filthy floors, and inadequate bathing; residents have been left in feces for hours.
• Medications are not given on time, and some residents are underfed or improperly fed, leading to serious health issues.
• Families report being unable to reach their loved ones by phone for weeks, with long holds and disconnected calls.
• The facility is described as unsafe and not recommended, with some reviewers hoping it would close or be avoided.
• In some cases, residents suffered harm or death without timely notification to families.

Review

First Coast Health & Rehab Ctr in Jacksonville is best suited for families that prize direct, hands-on engagement from long-tenured staff and want robust therapy and activity programs as part of a rehab or long-term plan. The strongest argument in favor is the visible commitment from certain caregivers, therapists, and social workers who treat residents with genuine warmth and familiarity. For families who can stay involved, communicate clearly, and monitor daily routines, this community can deliver meaningful, person-centered moments - especially during rehabilitation, social activities, and daily interactions with dedicated CNAs and activity staff. It is not a place to expect spotless consistency, but for those who prioritize ongoing personal attention and structured activity, these elements can still matter.

Conversely, a wide lane of caution runs through the reviews, and those seeking a pristine, reliably safe, and flawlessly executed operation should consider alternatives. The most consequential red flags are not cosmetic; they are about fundamental safety, timely care, and consistent communication with families. If the priority is a facility where medication passes arrive on schedule, where rooms and common areas are consistently clean, and where staff respond promptly to call lights and changing needs, this community has too many reports of delays, on-the-spot omissions, and rooms left in disarray to rely on without aggressive oversight. For loved ones who are medically fragile, require strict monitoring, or depend on dependable hygiene, alternative options should be pursued.

Key pros - staff warmth, long-tenured caregiving teams, and a strong therapy/activities pipeline - offer real benefits that can offset some challenges, but they do not fully compensate for the pattern of care gaps described. The facility earns praise for caregivers who stay with residents and for therapy teams that push progress, and several family members credit specific managers, social workers, and activity directors for delivering attentive, personalized support. Yet these positives exist alongside reports of neglect, poor bedside manners, and inconsistent supervision. When family engagement is high, these positives can surface as tangible improvements in daily life; without that advocacy, the risk of overlooked needs and delayed responses grows significantly.

The most troubling themes center on dignity, safety, and basic operations. Several accounts describe unsanitary conditions, infested spaces, dirty bedding, and delays in essential services such as bathing, feeding, and medication administration. There are heartbreaking anecdotes of residents left in distress, calls for help unanswered for extended periods, and staff who appear overwhelmed or indifferent. A particularly grave incident involving a mismanaged feeding plan and dehydration underscores how quickly medical risk can escalate when basic routines are not reliably executed. These experiences challenge any impression of consistent, safe care and demand careful consideration from families evaluating long-term placement.

Practical guidance for families considering this community is to conduct rigorous, objective checks before making a commitment. Schedule visits focusing on unit-by-unit conditions, ask to see recent state inspection reports and response plans, and request to observe medication passes and nurse call-response times. Have candid discussions with administration about staffing levels, CNA coverage, and how the facility handles reported concerns and family communications. If exploring this site, insist on a concrete improvement plan with measurable goals, and verify guarantees for regular family updates, prompt incident reporting, and swift escalation when problems arise. For those not locked into this specific location, directing attention to other Jacksonville options with stronger cleanliness records and more consistent safety outcomes is prudent.

Ultimately, this community is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It can serve as a workable option for families who can stay intimately involved and who place high value on therapy-driven rehab and a personal touch from caregivers. However, for anyone whose top priorities are impeccable hygiene, zero-tolerance for medication delays, and predictably safe environments, alternatives are strongly advised. The history of mixed experiences, with several residents and families reporting serious quality-of-care gaps, means a cautious, comparative approach is essential. If considering First Coast Health & Rehab Ctr, demand transparency, insist on concrete safeguards, and prepare to maintain vigilant oversight or pivot to a facility with a demonstrably steadier track record.

This part of Jacksonville, Florida, offers a wide range of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for convenience and accessibility. With multiple pharmacies, restaurants, physicians' offices, hospitals, cafes, places of worship, transportation centers, parks, and theaters within a short distance, residents can easily access essential resources and enjoy recreational activities. The area also boasts a diverse selection of dining options ranging from fast food chains to specialty cafes. Additionally, with several healthcare providers nearby, seniors can receive quality medical care without having to travel far. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and well-rounded environment for senior living.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Arby's (1.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.3 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1.3 miles)
• Wingstop (1.4 miles)
• Zaxby's (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)

Physicians

• Memorial Family Medicine - University (1.5 miles)
• Wolchok Eye Associates, PA (2.8 miles)
• Family Care Partners (3.1 miles)
• Family Allergy & Asthma Consultants (3.1 miles)
• Coastal Dermatology & MedSpa (3.5 miles)
• Coastal Spine & Pain Center (4.4 miles)
• North Florida OB/GYN-Paul Rebenack, MD (4.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Baptist Primary Care (2.4 miles)
• Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital (2.6 miles)
• Childrens Medical Services (5.3 miles)
• UF Health Jacksonville Towers (5.4 miles)
• UF Health of Jacksonville (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Southern Grounds (4.5 miles)
• European Street Cafe (5.1 miles)
• The Local - San J (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (3.1 miles)
• The River at Jacksonville (4.3 miles)

Transportation

• Craig Air Center (3.7 miles)

Parks

• Sutton Lakes Playground (4.2 miles)
• Huffman Boulevard Park (4.7 miles)
• Riverfront Park (5.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Tinseltown and XD (4.3 miles)
• Cinemark Jacksonville Atlantic North And Xd (4.8 miles)