Pine Acres Nursing Home in Madison, NJ

Pros

• The Pine Acres staff are compassionate, professional, and attentive to residents and their families.
• The facility is clean, inviting, and well-maintained, with a home-like atmosphere.
• The medical and rehab teams provide thorough, personalized care that supports recovery and long-term health.
• Administration and front-line staff are responsive and dedicated to addressing questions and concerns.
• Residents are treated with dignity and respect, and feel like part of a caring community.
• Meaningful activities and recreation engage and uplift residents.
• Families report peace of mind knowing their loved ones are in capable hands.
• The overall care is described as top-notch, with staff going above and beyond.

Cons

• One reviewer described Pine Acres as a horrible facility, noting the nursing staff failed to recognize a suspected UTI, which led to sepsis and weeks of hospitalization.
• Another reviewer said the call button was ignored and a resident sat in a wet diaper for hours.
• A critic claimed office staff held a resident's cash in a safe and lost belongings after an envelope returned to them was empty.
• There were complaints that there wasn't enough staff, especially at night, causing long delays in assistance with bathroom needs and medications.
• Several reviews described management and staff as aloof, unresponsive, and lacking empathy toward residents.
• Multiple accounts cited poor communication with families, including not being informed when a relative was hospitalized.
• Food service concerns were raised, with meals served cold or not suited to dietary needs, and at least one case where unsafe feeding led to aspiration.

Review

Pine Acres Nursing Home in Madison, NJ is best suited for families prioritizing skilled rehabilitation and genuine, hands-on care in a warm, home-like environment. The evidence across reviews points to a facility that can deliver excellent subacute and long-term care when the team is at its best: highly attentive nurses and aides, a cohesive therapy program, and a culture of compassion that residents and families repeatedly describe as "like family." Clean, well-kept common spaces and a responsive admissions and front-desk team further support a sense of welcome and reliability. For families navigating recovery from surgery, stroke, or a period of frail health, Pine Acres often provides the intensity and continuity of care that short stays require, with therapists who push progress and staff who celebrate small wins.

Alternatives should be considered by families whose priorities lean toward flawless consistency across all shifts, especially at night, or toward a more modernized, less idiosyncratic facility. Several reviews highlight gaps that some families experience, including delayed responses to call bells, uneven attention from aides, and times when critical needs - pain medication, assistance to the bathroom, or timely medical updates - were not met promptly. There are also a handful of highly negative accounts focusing on neglectful behaviors, communication breakdowns, and care lapses. For those who cannot tolerate even intermittent lapses, or who want a newer building with a uniformly uniform experience on every floor, shopping other options may be wise.

The strongest pros align with Pine Acres' core strengths. Across multiple departments, the staff is repeatedly described as compassionate, professional, and engaged. The rehab team - primarily physical and occupational therapy - receives repeated praise for its knowledge, energy, and individualized programs that drive meaningful recovery. Families report that nurses and aides are caring, patient, and responsive when at their best, and that administrative leaders - especially the admissions team and nursing leadership - are accessible and proactive in addressing concerns. The facility's cleanliness and upkeep are consistently noted as high, while the recreation and social-work teams keep residents engaged and supported, contributing to a sense of dignity and belonging that many facilities struggle to maintain.

Yet the main cons deserve blunt acknowledgment. Several reviews recount nights and weekends when staffing appeared thin, with delayed assistance and sporadic pain management issues. A few families describe the experience as inconsistent, with some shifts delivering excellent care and others falling short. There are disturbing anecdotes of patients not receiving necessary medical attention or being inadequately monitored, along with accusations about miscommunication with families during urgent events. Instances of theft concerns and the perception of a profit-driven environment also surface in a minority of accounts. Such reports, even if not universal, create real anxiety for families evaluating risk versus reward.

Nevertheless, the pros often offset the cons where it matters most: for rehab and long-term care, Pine Acres can deliver highly capable clinical oversight, attentive bedside care, and a supportive, family-focused atmosphere that reassures loved ones. When administration steps in - Carla, Justin, and other leaders are repeatedly cited as responsive - the system can repair gaps, improve communication, and restore confidence. The contrast between the best and the rest in Pine Acres is stark, but the best is genuinely strong: a facility that can drive progress, preserve dignity, and create a sense of community even during challenging health episodes.

In the end, the decision hinges on risk tolerance and care priorities. For families seeking robust rehabilitation, steady daily engagement, and a caregiving environment that often feels like a close-knit community, Pine Acres is a compelling option worth pursuing with careful due diligence. For those who cannot tolerate night-time staffing variability, or who demand a uniformly upscale, newer setting with consistently flawless execution across all floors, exploring alternatives is prudent. Prospective residents should visit multiple times, speak with current residents and families, probe night shift responsiveness, review incident histories, and verify that the floor they'll use aligns with their expectations. A well-timed, detailed tour will reveal whether Pine Acres truly matches the trajectory desired for a loved one's next chapter.

Located in Madison, New Jersey, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living needs. With multiple restaurants ranging from casual dining options like McCool's Ice Cream Parlour to more upscale choices like Legal Sea Foods and The Cheesecake Factory, residents have plenty of dining options to enjoy. There are also several pharmacies nearby such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medications. For healthcare needs, there are reputable physicians like Summit Medical Group and specialty clinics like New Jersey Spine Center within a short distance. Additionally, the area features cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for social outings or quiet relaxation. Parks such as Florham Park Recreation Department and Ginty Field provide opportunities for outdoor activities and leisurely walks. Transportation options including nearby train stations make it convenient for seniors to travel around the area. Finally, places of worship like Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offer spiritual support along with hospitals like Morristown Memorial Hospital Atlantic Health for any medical emergencies. Overall, this part of Madison provides a comfortable and convenient environment for senior living with a range of amenities and services within easy reach.

Restaurants

• McCool's Ice Cream Parlour (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Twin Elephant Brewing Company (3.3 miles)
• Legal Sea Foods (3.4 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (3.5 miles)
• Town bar + kitchen (3.5 miles)
• La Provence (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Summit Medical Group (1.2 miles)
• Madison Pediatrics (2.6 miles)
• New Jersey Spine Center (3.1 miles)
• EHE International (3.2 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (4 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (5.4 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (5.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Lokl Cafe (3.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Parks

• Florham Park Recreation Department (1.8 miles)
• Loantaka Brook Reservation Recreation Area (2.4 miles)
• Ginty Field (2.7 miles)
• The Morristown Green (3.8 miles)
• Volunteers Park (8.1 miles)
• Memorial Park (8.2 miles)
• Forest Road Park (8.3 miles)

Transportation

• Signature Flight Support (2.2 miles)
• NJT - Summit Station (4.7 miles)
• NJT - Short Hills Station (5.8 miles)
• NJT - Millburn Station (6.8 miles)
• NJT - Maplewood Station (8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (3.3 miles)
• Church of the Little Flower (6 miles)
• Liquid Church (6.3 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Rc Church (7.2 miles)
• Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church (7.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Morristown Memorial Hospital Atlantic Health (3.3 miles)
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center (6.2 miles)
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (6.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC East Hanover 12 (3.7 miles)