Glenwood Care and Rehabilitation Center

Pros

• Northwood's team is one of the best and feels like family to visitors.
• Kimmy, Martha, Shelby, and Edilma provide wonderful personal care and extra attention.
• Nadia, the resident ambassador, is very professional, makes everybody smile, and ensures everyone has what they need.
• The staff on B wing brighten the resident's day and make her smile.
• Northwood was described as amazing during the pandemic, with staff keeping patients active and treated like family.
• The Mother's Day Brunch with a Care Bears theme was delicious.

Cons

• Call lights take almost an hour to be answered and medications arrive after another hour.
• The facility has mice and cockroaches.
• The food is inedible.
• Most staff have awful attitudes and are in the wrong field.
• A nurse displayed a terrible attitude and told a visitor they couldn't stay all day.
• There was a nauseating smell of urine upon arrival.
• Drawers contained other residents' belongings.
• An aide rolled her eyes and the nurse did not address the patient promptly.
• Staff displayed an "it's not my job" attitude.
• The ambulance service does not go to Winchester, causing care delays.
• The bell was ignored for nearly an hour with no assistance.
• The reviewer would not recommend the facility and believes it should shut down.

Review

Northwood Rehabilitation & Health Care Center surfaces in a chorus of intense, often conflicting experiences. For every story praising the care and warmth of certain staff, there are multiple accounts of delays, odor, disorganization, and moments that left families feeling overwhelmed and frightened for their loved ones. The reviews paint a facility that can feel like two very different places depending on who is on duty, which wing you're in, and what you happen to encounter during a visit. Taken together, they reveal a complex picture of a center that has both genuinely caring staff and serious gaps in responsiveness, safety, and day-to-day operations.

Several reviews focus on the day-to-day realities of caregiving and the rough edges of hospital-to-home transitions. Families describe call lights taking long periods to be answered - sometimes nearly an hour - and then additional delays to receive medications. There are vivid reports of dangerous moments: drawers in rooms filled with other people's belongings, a nauseating smell of urine on arrival, and repeated assurances that "one-on-one care" would be provided that never materialized. In one account, a patient was left without a walker and with no timely PT evaluation, raising concerns about mobility and safety. Other families recount being told that certain levels of care aren't offered ("it's not my job" attitudes), and bells that go unanswered for extended stretches, forcing relatives to intervene or step in to help with basic needs. These stories collectively suggest a fragile safety net that can fail at critical moments, with family members feeling compelled to advocate fiercely for their loved ones.

There are also repeated concerns about the facility's environment and infection control. A nauseating odor upon entry and the presence of pests like mice and cockroaches appear as recurring motifs in some experiences, while others describe medications and blood sugar management as being mishandled or delayed. One family member recounts finding medication scattered by the bed and questions about whether a patient missed doses, highlighting a perceived lack of consistent oversight. In one alarming example, a grandmother's dangerously low blood sugar was only noticed after the family member repeatedly asked for checks, underscoring fears about whether medical monitoring is timely and reliable. These elements together create a perception of inconsistent quality control and variable attentiveness to acute needs.

Billing, payroll, and logistical hiccups also color the overall impression of Northwood. A reviewer who worked as an entertainer at the facility notes a protracted payment problem, with nine months elapsing before payment in 2023 and ongoing delays through early 2025 despite multiple invoices and calls. This kind of administrative friction compounds the stress families feel when navigating the already challenging terrain of a loved one's care, leaving some to wonder about the institution's financial and operational stability.

Amid the negative experiences, there are bright spots and strong praise for particular staff members. Several testimonials highlight compassionate, patient-centered care from specific nurses, aides, and ambassadors. In particular, Nadia, described as an ambassador, appears repeatedly as a source of warmth, professionalism, and steady support. Multiple residents and family members commend Nadia for going above and beyond - bathing, helping with hair, translating, ensuring needs are met, and spreading positivity that brightens the day. Phrases like "Nadia ambassador very good," "she's always upbeat," and "she always makes sure everybody has what they need" recur, painting a portrait of a staff member who becomes a stabilizing, humanizing force within the facility. Outside of Nadia, other praised staff include Kimmy, Martha, Shelby on first shift, Edilma on second shift, Rebecca, and a broader sense from families that "the team is one of the best" in some contexts. The range of opinions within these reviews - from "Northwood's team is one of the best" to "you should stay away" - reflects a workforce capable of exceptional, attentive care, yet uneven delivery that can swing dramatically from one day to the next.

Another layer of the story is the emotional and interpersonal dynamic within the facility. Some families describe encounters with staff who communicate with empathy, responsiveness, and a sense of personal investment in a resident's well-being. In contrast, other recollections describe dismissive attitudes, delayed responses to urgent needs, and experiences where relatives felt ignored or misunderstood. One account mentions a staff member telling a relative who requested assistance that they could not stay all day, an interaction that understandably damaged trust and underscored how important it is for caregivers to balance professional boundaries with compassionate support. In a few instances, families even recount hearing threats or experiencing fear, which adds another dimension to concerns about safety and respect within the care environment.

Looking at the broader arc of the testimonials, it's clear that Northwood elicits a mixed bag of experiences. For some families, the facility serves as a place of consistent, compassionate care, where ambassadors and nurses alike bring energy, respect, and genuine attention to residents. For others, the same facility feels chaotic, slow to respond, and insufficiently equipped to handle the vulnerabilities of elderly or medically fragile individuals. The convergence of positive anecdotes about dedicated staff with negative reports about delays, odors, and perceived neglect suggests that the center's culture and performance may vary by shift, wing, and situation, making the overall experience unpredictable for families depending on their specific circumstances.

If there's a through-line across these narratives, it's that Northwood contains pockets of excellence - staff members who truly engage with residents, demonstrate patience, and build trust with families - while also confronting serious criticisms about consistency, safety, and administrative efficiency. The call for accountability - whether through improved response times, better infection control, clearer communication, or more reliable implementation of care plans - rings through the more critical voices. At the same time, the voices praising Nadia and other standout staff remind readers that meaningful, person-centered care can and does occur within Northwood, even as others describe deeply troubling episodes that demand attention and corrective action.

In sum, the reviews present a facility at a crossroads. There are compelling, heartfelt endorsements of particular caregivers whose kindness and competence make a real difference in residents' lives. There are equally forceful, detailed complaints about delays, safety concerns, and experiences that feel unsafe or disrespectful. This duality highlights the need for focused improvements in operations, communication, and patient safety, alongside continued support and recognition for the staff who provide exceptional, compassionate care. For families evaluating Northwood, the message is nuanced: potential residents and relatives may encounter a spectrum of experiences, and outcomes may hinge on which caregivers are on shift, how well shifts are coordinated, and how proactively the facility responds to concerns as they arise.

Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors. With several physicians' offices nearby, including Global Care Group MD and Chelmsford Family Practice, residents have easy access to medical care. Pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS are conveniently located within a short distance for medication needs. For dining options, there are familiar chains like McDonald's and Burger King, as well as local favorites like China Star and Sully's Ice Cream Stand. Nearby cafes like Starbucks provide a nice spot to relax and socialize. Friendship Park is also close by for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, there are places of worship like the First Baptist Church for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area offers a range of amenities that would make it a convenient and comfortable choice for senior living in Lowell.

Physicians

• Global Care Group MD (0.4 miles)
• Chelmsford Family Practice (1.8 miles)
• Mark Gilchrist, MD (2.9 miles)
• Allergy & Asthma Specialists, PC (3.2 miles)
• Chelmsford Dermatology (3.2 miles)
• Massachusetts Eye Associates (3.2 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• China Star (0.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Burger King (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Sully's Ice Cream Stand (2.3 miles)
• Tavern in the Square (2.4 miles)
• Lo Kai Restaurant (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Alexander's Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.6 miles)
• Triangle Store And Deli (2.5 miles)
• Heav'nly Donuts (4.5 miles)
• Aroma Joe's (5.5 miles)
• Whole Foods Market (6.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.6 miles)
• Pressed Cafe (7 miles)

Parks

• Friendship Park (3.4 miles)
• Benson's Park (9 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church (5.3 miles)
• La Iglesia De Jesucristo De Los Santos De Los Últimos Días (8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Tyngsboro 12 (5.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Tewksbury Hospital (7.2 miles)