Plaza Nursing & Convalescent in Elizabeth, NJ

Pros

• The staff are kind, compassionate, and well trained.
• The nurses are professional, friendly, and very kind.
• The doctors and therapists are awesome, and the facility is very clean.
• The administration is amazing and runs smoothly.
• The staff are warm, welcoming, and highly helpful.
• The facility is a hidden gem with patient care as the priority.
• The rehabilitation team plays a major role in recovery.
• The staffing across CNAs, housekeeping, and reception is excellent.
• The staff treat residents like family.
• The facility is clean, safe, and comfortable.
• The front desk staff are helpful and professional.
• Plaza Nursing Home feels like a second home.
• The care is consistently excellent, with many positive experiences.
• The staff are dedicated and genuinely supportive of residents.

Cons

• The facility is horrific and an absolute dump.
• It's filthy, with dirty floors, mice, and odors throughout.
• There were times when no staff could be found to open doors, showing severe understaffing.
• The night desk nurse and a floor clerk were rude and unprofessional.
• The food was not good.
• Residents were left in soiled diapers for hours.
• Staff failed to recognize or promptly treat swelling and breathing issues, leading to hospitalization.
• The facility housed three or more patients in a room to save money rather than for proper care.

Review

Plaza Nursing & Convalescent in Elizabeth is best suited for families seeking a rehab-forward, family-style environment where the care team is repeatedly praised for competence, warmth, and accessibility. The community earns particularly strong marks for its rehabilitation program, nursing attentiveness, and the sense of continuity residents feel from the administration down to the CNAs. For families prioritizing meaningful progress in recovery, wound healing, and social engagement (therapies, activities, and a welcoming front-office culture), Plaza often delivers tangible value and a sense of "home." The place is repeatedly described as clean, well-managed, and staffed by professionals who genuinely care about residents' well-being.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are families facing elevated concerns about safety consistency, staffing reliability, or environmental problems. A nontrivial portion of reviews flag experiences that undermine confidence: reports of dirty conditions, smells, mice, or rooms that felt neglected; claims of staff shortages at critical moments; and instances where communication with families was strained or slow. Several reviewers describe abrupt, frustrating interactions with night staff or management, and there are candid warnings from families who felt their loved ones did not receive timely medical attention. For individuals whose tolerance for variability in daily operations is low, or who require a consistently flawless safety record, it is prudent to explore other options or demand detailed assurances during a tour and in post-visit references.

The strongest positives - exceptional clinical teams, compassionate caregivers, and robust rehab outcomes - often offset the more troubling gaps in other reviews. The nursing staff, therapists, and social workers are repeatedly lauded for their professionalism, kindness, and dedication. Families report that therapy drives meaningful improvement, that wounds heal under diligent care, and that administrative leadership is reachable and supportive. Cleanliness and a welcoming environment are frequently cited strengths, with praise extended to front-desk staff, housekeeping, and the overall facility ambiance. In short, the core care experience can feel cohesive and high-touch, especially for those who place a premium on rehab momentum and personal attention from clinicians.

Still, the weight of several unfavorable accounts cannot be dismissed. Specific critiques point to inconsistent staffing levels, delayed responses to calls, and occasional lapses in basic safety and cleanliness. Instances of miscommunication, rumors of administrative turnover, and particular episodes where residents or families felt neglected or improperly treated loom large in the memory of some reviewers. The most serious complaints involve patient safety, emergency responsiveness, and the perceived gap between praise for the program and real-world reliability of day-to-day operations. Prospective residents must weigh the consistently strong clinical care against these cautionary tales and verify the facility's current performance through on-site tours, recent resident references, and a candid conversation with administration about protocols and accountability.

To make a well-informed decision, focus questions should center on staffing patterns, especially night and weekend coverage; response times for calls and care requests; the current status of cleanliness and maintenance, including pest controls and room readiness; and the exact qualifications and stability of the rehabilitation team. Tour the therapy gym to observe gear availability, patient flow, and therapist interaction. Ask for recent patient outcomes, wound-healing anecdotes, and a breakdown of any safety incidents in the past six to twelve months, plus how management follows up on family concerns. Clarify meal quality and dietary accommodations, since nutrition often shapes both recovery and overall satisfaction. Finally, confirm how Medicaid and private-pay options fit within resident plans, and request direct contact with several families who recently discharged from care to gauge the accuracy of the present experience.

In the end, Plaza Nursing & Convalescent represents a compelling option for families prioritizing recovery-focused care delivered by a capable, caring team in a clean, welcoming setting. When the rehab trajectory and human connection are the driving factors, the pros frequently outweigh the cons. However, this is not a one-size-fits-all choice. For those where safety consistency, unwavering day-to-day reliability, or a flawless facility atmosphere is non-negotiable, it is essential to probe deeply during visits and weigh Plaza against alternatives with equally strong clinical reputations. Thorough due diligence will reveal whether Plaza aligns with the resident's medical needs, personality, and the family's expectations for ongoing communication and accountability.

This part of Elizabeth, New Jersey offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for convenience and comfort. With several pharmacies nearby such as CVS and Walgreens, accessing medications and healthcare supplies is easy. Additionally, there are reputable physicians in the area, including Merck and Summit Medical Group, providing quality medical care. Transportation options like Avis Rent A Car and Newark Liberty International Airport make traveling hassle-free. For leisure activities, there are theaters like AMC Jersey Garden and cafes such as Dunkin and Starbucks for socializing with friends. Nearby parks like Winfield Park and Memorial Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, while places of worship like Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church provide spiritual support. The diverse range of restaurants in the area ensures that residents have plenty of dining options to choose from. Overall, this part of Elizabeth offers a vibrant community with a mix of amenities tailored to suit the needs of seniors seeking a comfortable lifestyle.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Speciality (3.1 miles)
• ACME Markets Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Merck (2.8 miles)
• Premier Urology Group (3.2 miles)
• Kenilworth Primary Care (3.5 miles)
• Kartan Saritha Summit Medical Group Westfield (5.6 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (7 miles)

Transportation

• Avis Rent A Car (3.1 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (3.1 miles)
• Terminal A (3.2 miles)
• American Airlines Admirals Club (3.2 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (3.4 miles)
• TSA PreCheck (3.5 miles)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (3.5 miles)

Theaters

• 2198 Amc Jersey Garden (3.1 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Staten Island 11 (6.1 miles)

Cafes

• Dunkin (3.2 miles)
• The Bread Stand (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• True Salvage Cafe (5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Wegmans Food Markets (8.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Bond Street Cafe (3.6 miles)
• Vanguard Kitchen (3.8 miles)
• El Gordo (3.9 miles)
• Huck Finn Diner (4.4 miles)
• Heartland Bagels (5.6 miles)
• The Able Baker (5.7 miles)
• Millburn Delicatessen (6.2 miles)

Parks

• Winfield Park (3.6 miles)
• Milton Lake Park (4.4 miles)
• Milo S. Borden Park (5.2 miles)
• Memorial Park (5.6 miles)
• Clove Lakes Park Playground (6 miles)
• Stephen R Gregg Bayonne Park (6.2 miles)
• Mindowaskin Park (6.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church (5.8 miles)