The Sands at South Beach Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Miami Beach, FL

Pros

• The staff are very kind and professional.
• Therapists are professional and friendly and help residents regain independence; the nursing staff and CNAs are caring.
• The environment feels peaceful and attentive, with staff readily available to help.
• The facility provides excellent care and services.
• The front desk staff are welcoming and cooperative.
• The Sands has warm, welcoming staff and is clean, with meals that are fresh and delicious.
• The facility is very clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful.
• The welcome is amazing; the nurses and other staff are wonderful and accommodating.
• The staff are friendly, patient, and clearly passionate about taking care of residents.
• The care team is attentive, with social workers consistently available and responsive.
• The place feels loving and compassionate, fostering a sense of community for residents.
• The Sands is among the top facilities in the region and is highly regarded by professionals.

Cons

• The staff is unresponsive and clearly indifferent.
• This place looks like a prison.
• The smell of urine is nauseating and pervasive.
• The nurse on duty coldly responded, "I don't speak Spanish," and left her in a soiled diaper for hours.
• Do not send your loved ones here.
• This facility is the worst place to have a loved one.
• There are roaches alive and dead everywhere and the facility smells like a sewer.
• The management is frighteningly focused on keeping the facility full rather than providing care.
• Old people should never be treated like this.

Review

The Sands at South Beach Rehabilitation & Nursing Center is best suited for families pursuing a rehabilitation-forward stay for a loved one who wants a beachfront Miami setting and values hands-on therapy, responsive nursing care, and a generally warm, welcoming staff culture. The property's location near South Beach adds appeal for those who want easy access to family by day trips or outings, and the facility earns praise for its therapy teams and front-line staff who are described as friendly, professional, and attentive on many days.

Those most likely to want alternatives are families prioritizing ironclad safety and spotless, consistently well-maintained environments. The reviews contain repeated warnings about odor and cleanliness problems, dated or "prison-like" interiors, and serious concerns about staff responsiveness and patient dignity. Multiple accounts describe neglectful moments, delayed care, and situations where residents' basic needs were not met promptly. For families whose peace of mind hinges on unwavering cleanliness, transparent administration, and predictable, immediate response to crises, exploring other nearby options is prudent.

On the upside, the strongest, most repeatable positives center on therapy quality and the overall warmth of care on many shifts. Therapists are described as professional and effective, with residents often regaining independence through focused rehabilitation. Nursing staff and CNAs receive frequent praise for kindness and dedication, and the social worker and case-management teams are noted for attentiveness. The dining experience and general facility upkeep surface as standout positives in many visits, with reports of fresh, hot meals and a clean, organized environment contributing to a sense of well-being during a stay.

The most troubling, recurring cons must be weighed carefully. A substantial thread of reviews alleges neglect or unresponsiveness, occasionally paired with language barriers that impede timely communication. Complaints about persistent odors, inconsistent housekeeping, and rooms that feel overcrowded or poorly maintained surface repeatedly, along with accusations that management prioritizes occupancy over resident care. A few families report critical failures in medication handling and timely assistance, and some reviewers question long-term safety and the staff's ability to respond to emergencies with confidence. Taken together, these themes create a serious caution for families who require near-perfect operational reliability.

How the positives stack up against the negatives depends on the family's priorities. For those whose primary objective is intensive rehabilitation and a positive therapeutic trajectory, Sands can deliver meaningful gains when therapy access is consistent and a trusted care team is in place. The visible friendliness of staff and the emphasis on patient engagement can offset some daily irritants, but only if supervision remains tight and concerns are promptly addressed. For families seeking a facility with absolute consistency in safety, odor-free cleanliness, and unambiguous accountability, this may not be the strongest match, even if the rehab services hold real value.

Practical steps for a well-informed decision are clear. Tour the Sands at multiple times of day, including evenings and weekends, to observe care depth and staffing patterns. Ask pointed questions about nurse-to-patient ratios, response times, and the process for medication reconciliation. Review state inspection reports and any recent corrective-action plans, and speak directly with current residents and their families to gauge day-to-day reality beyond promotional materials. If a move is imminent, consider nearby facilities with stronger, verifiable records of clean, safe environments and consistently responsive care. If the beachfront location and rehab-focused approach are non-negotiable, The Sands can work - but only with rigorous oversight, transparent communication, and a clear plan to address the operation-wide concerns that many families say persist.

This part of Miami Beach, Florida offers a convenient and vibrant location for senior living, with a variety of amenities nearby. Within walking distance, there are several reputable restaurants such as Nikki Beach and Smith & Wollensky, as well as pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS for easy access to medications. Parks like South Pointe Park provide beautiful outdoor spaces for leisurely strolls or picnics. In terms of healthcare, Mount Sinai Medical Center is located just 3.1 miles away for any medical needs. Additionally, there are various transportation options available including the MDT Metrorail and Brightline stations for easy travel around the city. Overall, this area provides a mix of dining options, recreational activities, healthcare facilities, and convenient transportation making it an ideal location for seniors looking to enjoy retirement in a bustling city setting.

Restaurants

• Nikki Beach (0.1 miles)
• Smith & Wollensky (0.2 miles)
• The Local House (0.3 miles)
• Babylon Turkish Restaurant (0.4 miles)
• Mango's Tropical Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Twist (0.9 miles)
• La Sandwicherie (1.1 miles)

Parks

• South Pointe Park (0.2 miles)
• Bayfront Park (3.3 miles)
• Margaret Pace Park (3.6 miles)
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (6.4 miles)
• North Shore Open Space Park (6.7 miles)
• Regatta Park (6.9 miles)
• Peacock Park (7.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• CVS Speciality (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Nauti Grind Cafe (1.8 miles)
• La Estacion Cafe (3.7 miles)
• Casa Tua Cucina (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Mount Sinai Medical Center (3.1 miles)
• Jackson Memorial Hospital (5.1 miles)
• University Of Miami Hospital (5.2 miles)
• Veterans Administration Hospital Miami (5.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Gesu Catholic Church (3.6 miles)

Transportation

• MDT Metrorail - Government Center Station (3.9 miles)
• Brightline MiamiCentral (3.9 miles)
• Brightline Miami (3.9 miles)
• Earlington Heights Metrorail Station (6.7 miles)

Physicians

• University Of Miami Doctors Office (5.3 miles)