Kessler Cedar Grove-CLOSED

Pros

• The staff is wonderful and attentive.
• The facility is calm, clean, and welcoming.
• The grounds are beautiful and the spaces provide plenty of light.
• The rehabilitation team is outstanding and helps patients regain mobility.
• CNAs and nurses are compassionate, patient, and dedicated.
• Individual staff members like Gabriel, Schelie, Coretta, and Marybeth are compassionate and professional.
• Leadership is accessible, supportive, and responsive to concerns.
• The overall care treats residents with dignity and respect.

Cons

• The food was terrible.
• Aides were standing around on phones instead of helping residents.
• The facility is severely understaffed and staff often seem uncaring.
• There were roaches and the place was filthy and disgusting.
• The DON is evil and management is unresponsive and unprofessional.
• Staff did not return phone calls or provide requested reports.
• Residents were neglected and waited hours for basic needs.
• The rooms were old and rusted and linens were not changed promptly.
• Privacy is lacking due to two patients per room.
• The facility should be shut down and restaffed.

Review

This Cedar Grove location is best suited for families seeking aggressive rehabilitation and recovery, where a highly engaged therapy team can drive meaningful progress. It works well for residents who respond to hands-on, dedicated nursing and caregiving during short- to mid-term stays, and for families prepared to be active advocates, coordinating with staff and monitoring care closely. The environment offers welcoming touches, bright rooms, appealing outdoor spaces, and a courtyard that can lift spirits, and when therapy is the goal, the facility can deliver tangible gains. It should not be viewed as a hands-off solution for long-term custodial care, especially where consistent daily caregiving, predictable meals, and rigorous cleanliness are nonnegotiable priorities. In short, this community shines when rehab is the primary objective and families are ready to stay closely engaged.

Explicitly, those considering alternatives should weigh if long-term, reliable custodial care is the real need, or if stable, high-quality nutrition and daily living support are nonnegotiable. A recurring theme in user feedback highlights that daily staffing levels and responsiveness can swing dramatically by shift, and that nutrition and housekeeping problems persist in parts of the building. Families seeking a predictable routine with frequent, consistent assistance, and a facility that minimizes wait times for help, meal service, and showers, may find better alignment elsewhere. Similarly, if clean, odor-free rooms and pest control are paramount, this location’s inconsistencies can be a decisive red flag. For residents with complex medical needs requiring near-constant oversight, the risk-reward balance may tilt toward a more consistently staffed alternative.

On the upside, the most compelling pros center on rehabilitation outcomes and the character of frontline staff. Numerous reviews applaud the rehab department as exceptional, with therapists who tailor goals, push patients toward independence, and maintain steady progress. The nursing and CNA teams are repeatedly praised for warmth, attentiveness, and personal connections, names like Gabriel, Ahmed, Marybeth, and Raquel surface as anchors of compassionate care, capable of turning difficult sessions into moments of dignity and momentum. Leaders associated with recreation and unit coordination are cited as genuinely invested, creating a sense of purpose and routine that can anchor a resident through recovery. When the focus is recovery speed and technical skill in therapy, the positives can feel decisive and transformative.

Yet the main drawbacks are persistent and material, eroding confidence for families who need stable daily care. Widespread reports of understaffing, slow response to call bells, and aides who appear distracted by non-patient tasks undermine the basic safety net. Food quality is repeatedly criticized, with meals described as cold or lacking in appeal, and, in some accounts, nutrition management and meal delivery fell short of expectations. Cleanliness and odors are other frequent concerns, with some rooms and common areas not meeting anticipated standards and occasional infestations mentioned. Equipment in rehab areas is described as outdated, and there are troubling anecdotes about missed medications, miscommunications, and delays that culminated in hospital visits or worsened conditions. Taken together, these factors represent tangible risks that can overwhelm even the strongest rehab program if not addressed promptly and consistently.

For families weighing access to high-caliber therapy against the risk of daily-service gaps, a clear plan is essential. Before committing, insist on meeting the rehab leadership and a charge nurse to understand staffing patterns, and request a written care plan with concrete goals, timelines, and escalation steps. Seek a recent, facility-wide quality snapshot, including infection control metrics, medication management procedures, and a documented approach to nutrition and sanitation. Ask to observe a therapy session, a mealtime, and a medication pass, and request a trial stay if possible to assess whether the cadence between therapy intensity and daily caregiving matches the resident’s needs. Ensure a dedicated family liaison is in place and that there is a transparent process for reporting and resolving concerns, an open-door administrator, ideally, who will respond promptly.

Ultimately, the decision rests on whether the anticipated rehabilitation payoff justifies navigating pronounced operational risks. When rehab outcomes are the primary objective, the facility can deliver results that feel life-changing, supported by a cadre of compassionate nurses, CNAs, and therapists who show real dedication. However, for families prioritizing consistent daily care, predictable meals, and stringent cleanliness with minimal friction, the evidence suggests caution. This community can be a strong match for those who can actively oversee care, participate in daily rounds, and push for timely improvements. For others, especially where long-term stability and effortless day-to-day living are nonnegotiable, exploring alternatives that emphasize uniform staffing, nutrition, and hygiene may be the prudent route.

This part of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors. With multiple pharmacies nearby, accessing medication and health supplies is easy. The area also boasts several parks for leisurely walks or outdoor activities, as well as various dining options catering to different preferences. Additionally, there are cafes for social gatherings and transportation options for getting around the area. Medical services are readily available with physicians and hospitals within reasonable distance. There are theaters nearby for entertainment purposes, along with places of worship for spiritual needs. Overall, this part of Cedar Grove provides a well-rounded community with essential resources for senior living.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)

Parks

• Anderson Park (1.6 miles)
• Edgemont Memorial Park (1.8 miles)
• Degnan Memorial Park (3.4 miles)
• Eagle Rock Reservation (3.6 miles)
• South Mountain Reservation (3.9 miles)
• Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5.4 miles)
• Rutherford Memorial Park (6.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Mercado Cafe & Kitchen (1.6 miles)
• Applegate Farm (2.2 miles)
• Cloverleaf Tavern (2.2 miles)
• Faubourg (2.5 miles)
• Egan & Sons (2.6 miles)
• Yard House (3.1 miles)
• Mayfair Farms Banquet Facilities (3.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Paper Plane Coffee Co. (2.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• NJT - Watchung Station (2.1 miles)
• NJT - Brick Church Station (5.9 miles)
• East Orange Station (6.2 miles)
• NJT - Hawthorne Station (7.8 miles)
• NJT - Maplewood Station (8.4 miles)

Physicians

• Summit Medical Group (2.6 miles)
• Women First Health Center (3.1 miles)
• Care Station Medical Group (4.1 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (4.2 miles)
• Retina Associates of New Jersey PA (5.2 miles)
• Paterson Community Health Center (6.2 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (6.8 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (3 miles)
• AMC Clifton Commons 16 (5.3 miles)
• AMC East Hanover 12 (8.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Clifton Blue Mosque (5 miles)
• Ahavas Israel (5.6 miles)
• Bais Torah U'tefilah (5.6 miles)
• Immaculate Heart Of Mary School (6.9 miles)

Hospitals

• St Joseph's Regional Medical Center (5.2 miles)
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center (6.9 miles)