St Camillus Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff really cared about the residents.
• They loved her and she loved them.
• It was described as a lovely place to work, with staff who truly cared about residents.
• The lead finance person made financing easy and knew what she was doing.
• The Saint Camillus staff was caring and inspirational to student nurses.
• The environment was peaceful and the units were very clean.

Cons

• The facility put the mother on Cymbalta without talking to the medical proxy, supposedly to keep residents quiet.
• The facility allegedly went to court to force the family into a nasty custody battle.
• A guardian ad litem found neglect that left the mother unresponsive, with severe malnutrition and dehydration.
• The reviewer blames the facility for neglect that led to the mother's death.
• The Saint Camillus Debilitation Center is described as short-staffed and very depressing, a place to heighten a patient's decline.
• A family member was left in far worse condition after a rehabilitation stay at the center.
• There is suspicion that residents were overly medicated to prevent them from pressing their buzzers.

Review

The collection of reviews about this facility paints a picture of extremes, ranging from heartfelt praise and gratitude to accusations of neglect and mistreatment. Taken together, they tell a complex story about care, culture, and the people who staff and manage the place. Some commenters speak of a warm, caring environment where residents are treated with kindness, while others recount painful experiences that left lasting harm and distrust. The contrast between these viewpoints is striking and suggests that outcomes may vary widely within the same institution.

One of the most disturbing and emotionally charged accounts comes from a daughter who shared a deeply painful history with her mother's care. In 2015, she placed her mother in the facility's dementia unit, noting that she already had experience working with elders in various stages of dementia. As her mother's medical proxy, she describes a troubling sequence in which new medications - specifically Cymbalta - were started without any conversation with her. She contends that Cymbalta was given broadly across the patient population, with many residents described as being in wheelchairs. Her complaint led to a courtroom confrontation in which she says the facility and court proceedings culminated in a harsh custody battle. A guardian ad litem eventually had her mother examined at a hospital, diagnosing severe malnutrition and dehydration. The mother was transferred to another facility, but the reviewer believes the damage had already been done, and she died a month later in May 2016. This reviewer ends with a stark warning: she blames the neglect for her mother's death and urges others to beware.

Against this highly negative account, other voices offer a very different experience. Several snippets speak to affection for longtime staff and a sense that the people who worked there cared deeply about residents. One person mentions, "I miss my old hood," and adds that they once dated someone who worked there, followed by a positive remark about Shannon Smardell, describing the staff as loving and the place as lovely. This thread emphasizes personal connections and the impression that employees were genuinely devoted to those in their care, suggesting a culture where good relationships with residents and their families were valued.

Another reviewer expands on this warmth with a detailed positive portrait of a relative who stayed at the facility. They describe their aunt as having loved her time there, praising the staff for their kindness and respect toward residents and visitors. The reviewer highlights practical strengths like the facility's financing process, noting that the lead finance person was skilled at making the financial side clear and manageable. The location is described as somewhat remote, but the overall assessment is that it was a very nice facility with great people, and that Camillus stood out as one of the best care centers they'd experienced among various nursing homes and independent living facilities.

Educational and professional experiences with the facility appear in another optimistic note. A reviewer who conducted their first nursing clinical rotation there recalls a staff that was caring and inspirational, with a clear resident-first philosophy. They describe a peaceful, clean environment, good teamwork, and management that was oriented toward care. The patient-centered approach left a positive impact on this student, who felt supported and watched their growth as a future nurse. This account reinforces the perception that the facility can be a strong learning environment and a place where residents' welfare is prioritized.

Yet the collection would be incomplete without addressing a harsh, cautionary perspective. A reviewer who signs as "The Saint Camillus ?Debilitation' Center" paints a typically bleak picture: the center is described as short-staffed and depressing, a place that could hasten a decline rather than support recovery. This account alleges that a family member sent for rehabilitation arrived in worse condition, implying neglect or mistreatment. The reviewer even suggests that residents are medicated to keep them from pressing their buzzers, a charge that touches on concerns about overmedication and the potential suppression of residents' needs.

Taken together, these reviews reveal a facility with a remarkably mixed reputation. Some families and staff members recount experiences of compassion, attentiveness, and effective management, praising particular individuals and describing environments that feel respectful and supportive. Others recount serious, life-altering harm, alleging neglect, coercive medical decisions, and disheartening outcomes. The divergence in experiences suggests that factors such as staff availability, leadership, unit culture, and perhaps changes over time can profoundly affect what a resident's day-to-day reality looks like.

For readers evaluating this facility, the overarching takeaway is clear: there are powerful, emotional narratives on both sides. The stories of devoted staff, thankful families, and positive clinical experiences stand alongside warnings about neglect and distressing medical decisions. Anyone considering care at this facility - or researching it for a loved one - would do well to seek out current, on-the-ground observations, speak with multiple caregivers and residents, review recent inspection reports, and carefully weigh both the compassionate examples and the grave concerns that have been shared by former residents and their families.

This part of Whitinsville, Massachusetts offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to those considering senior living. There are multiple restaurants within a short driving distance, including options for ice cream and comfort food. Nearby physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals provide convenient access to healthcare services. Places of worship offer spiritual support, while cafes provide a place to socialize over coffee or a meal. For entertainment, there is a movie theater nearby and several parks for outdoor recreation. Transportation options like Ryder Truck Rental are available for convenience. Overall, this area offers a mix of conveniences and leisure activities that could make it a comfortable and enjoyable place to consider for senior living.

Restaurants

• West End Creamery (1.5 miles)
• The Ice Cream Lady (5.3 miles)
• Brickstone Kitchen (5.8 miles)
• Christopher's Homemade Ice Cream (6.9 miles)
• 110 Grill (7.5 miles)
• McDonald's (7.6 miles)
• Rocco's Doughnut Company (7.9 miles)

Physicians

• Tri River Family Health Center (3 miles)
• The Foot Specialist: Dr Robert Kelemen (6.5 miles)
• Reliant Medical Group (6.9 miles)
• UMass Memorial Orthopedics at Milford (7.2 miles)
• Edward M Kennedy Center (7.8 miles)
• Milford-Franklin Eye Center (8 miles)
• Reliant Medical GRP/07 (8.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church Of The Nazarene (3.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Market 32 (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.5 miles)
• Walgreens (6.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.9 miles)
• Walgreens (7.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (7.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (7.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Muffin House Cafe (5.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.5 miles)
• Starbucks (10.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.8 miles)
• Starbucks (11.3 miles)

Theaters

• Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux (7.7 miles)

Parks

• Minuteman Park (9 miles)
• Whitehall State Park (9.7 miles)
• Lake Park (10.5 miles)
• Hauser Field & Playground (11.1 miles)
• Dunn Memorial Park (11.2 miles)

Transportation

• Ryder Truck Rental (9.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Eleanor Slater Hospital (9.8 miles)
• Hubbard Regional Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation (10.2 miles)
• Hubbard Regional Hospital (11.2 miles)
• Harrington HealthCare at Webster (11.3 miles)