ProMedica Mountainside

Pros

• The Mountainside Team is absolutely amazing, delivering 1:1 care and exceptional communication.
• The staff are caring, compassionate, and professional, making residents feel safe and respected.
• The rehab therapists are outstanding, helping patients regain independence and mobility.
• Families express immense gratitude for the staff’s kindness, dedication, and attentive care.
• Mountainside is described as one of the best medical facilities in New Jersey, with a welcoming, clean environment.
• Diana Wong (Rehab Director) and other clinicians are repeatedly praised for their leadership and expertise.
• The facility’s dining and accommodations are praised as warm and restaurant-like.
• The nurses and aides are consistently noted for being friendly, patient, and supportive.
• Patients and families say they would choose Mountainside again and would recommend it to others.
• The 1:1 care, clear communication, and comprehensive rehab program are highlighted as outstanding.

Cons

• They recount neglect and distress when a dying relative was moved to a private room and taken off oxygen.
• They describe the aide pushing the wheelchair at a snail’s pace while the patient gasped for air and cried, with staff not responding quickly.
• They felt totally unsafe and regret trusting Mountainside with their loved one’s care.
• They cannot recommend the facility for anyone needing serious care.
• They characterize the care as the absolute worst, with unresponsive administration, aides who don’t want to work, and call lights often ignored.
• They allege abuse, including a nurse dropping and slapping their relative in the bathroom.
• They describe the facility as dirty and in disrepair, with broken ceilings, unsafe water, and poor food.
• They claim many five-star reviews are fake and accuse predatory financial practices.

Review

ProMedica Mountainside is best suited for families chasing aggressive, outcomes-focused rehabilitation and post-acute care. The facility’s strongest asset is the therapy program: highly regarded physical and occupational therapy teams, clear progress toward regain of independence, and staff members who actively coordinate with families and medical staff. For a loved one recovering from surgery, a stroke, or a serious fall, Mountainside can deliver measurable gains and a path back home when rehab is the priority. Veterans, in particular, and others who trust a hands-on rehab approach often report meaningful improvements, making Mountainside a compelling choice in short-term, goal-driven care.

Those weighing alternatives should be wary if long-term, consistent custodial care and predictable daily operations are the main objective. Several reviews describe a spectrum of experiences, from exceptionally caring, capable staff to situations where care felt inconsistent or neglected. For families needing steady, around-the-clock supervision for dementia, frailty, or complex chronic conditions, Mountainside may not consistently meet those needs. The same holds for families prioritizing a uniformly modern facility, consistently high food quality, and an environment that feels uniformly safe and pristine across all units, some reviews suggest these elements vary by shift and unit.

The core positives, 1:1 attention in therapy, accessible administrators, and a culture of compassion, often offset the drawbacks for rehab-focused decisions. Multiple testimonials praise named leaders in the rehab department and social work teams for their hands-on involvement, timely communication, and willingness to address concerns. Families frequently highlight therapists who motivate and tailor plans, aides who provide steady support, and a dining/activities staff that makes daily life engaging. When outcomes matter most, these strengths translate into functional gains, faster discharge to home, and a sense that professional care is genuinely present.

Yet the cons cannot be ignored. A substantial thread of reviews recounts serious safety and quality concerns: instances of neglect or delayed responses, reports of uncomfortable or unsafe conditions, and complaints about cleanliness or deteriorating infrastructure. Some families describe episodes where patient needs were not promptly met, call systems or alarms did not function reliably, and medical or nursing oversight fell short in stressful moments. Food quality and cafeteria-like considerations surface repeatedly as a disappointment in the patient experience, undermining comfort during extended stays. While a number of positive voices remain, the negatives create a meaningful risk signal for families evaluating long-term placement or high-acuity needs.

The practical takeaway is that the strong rehab orientation can justify Mountainside for families who want to reclaim independence quickly and safely after injury or surgery, provided they actively vet and monitor care. The facility’s ability to mobilize therapists, coordinate with physicians, and support discharge planning has produced consistently favorable narratives in many cases. However, the troubling stories, some alleging neglect, safety lapses, or outdated surroundings, heighten the importance of due diligence. Prospective residents should seek current, on-site reassurances: speak with the DON and the rehab director, request a shift-by-shift tour, and arrange conversations with front-line staff and family members of current residents. Confirm the exact staffing levels, response times, and daily routines across the units.

For families navigating this choice, a clear plan matters. If the goal is robust rehabilitation with a credible chance of returning home, Mountainside deserves careful consideration and a structured, hands-on vetting process: tour multiple times, meet the rehab team (especially the Director of Rehab), review recent discharge outcomes, and ask about aftercare coordination. If a loved one requires stable long-term supervision, consistent nutrition, and a consistently clean, modern environment, alternatives may be more comfortable and predictable. Mountainside presents a realistic mix of exceptional rehab potential and real, experience-based cautions; the decision should hinge on which drive, rehab recovery or long-term stability, dominates the family’s priorities, and on whether risks can be mitigated through a proactive care plan and vigilant oversight.

This part of Mountainside, New Jersey offers convenient access to a variety of amenities that may be of interest to seniors looking for a comfortable and well-connected community. With several physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals within a few miles radius, residents can easily access healthcare services. Additionally, there are numerous parks in the area where seniors can enjoy outdoor activities and relaxation. The presence of cafes and restaurants provides opportunities for socializing and dining out, while nearby transportation options such as NJ Transit stations make it easy to travel around the area or beyond. Places of worship are also close by for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of convenience and community that may appeal to seniors looking for a vibrant yet accessible place to call home.

Physicians

• Kartan Saritha Summit Medical Group Westfield (0.8 miles)
• Kenilworth Primary Care (2.9 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (3.3 miles)
• Premier Urology Group (3.4 miles)
• Merck (3.7 miles)
• New Jersey Spine Center (4.4 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (6.6 miles)

Parks

• Mindowaskin Park (1.7 miles)
• Forest Road Park (3.2 miles)
• Ponderosa Farm Park (3.9 miles)
• Winfield Park (4.3 miles)
• Memorial Park (5.2 miles)
• Milton Lake Park (6 miles)
• Milo S. Borden Park (6.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• The Bread Stand (5.4 miles)
• True Salvage Cafe (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8 miles)
• Starbucks (8.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• ACME Markets Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• NJT - Summit Station (2.6 miles)
• NJT - Short Hills Station (3.4 miles)
• NJT - Millburn Station (3.8 miles)
• NJT - Maplewood Station (5.1 miles)
• NJT - Rahway Station (6.2 miles)
• New Jersey Transit - Metropark Station (7.8 miles)
• Newark Liberty International Airport Station (8.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Bagels 4 U of Short Hills (2.9 miles)
• Huck Finn Diner (3.4 miles)
• Scotchwood Diner (3.4 miles)
• Stage House Tavern (3.4 miles)
• Magic Fountain (3.5 miles)
• Millburn Delicatessen (3.7 miles)
• El Gordo (3.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church (4.8 miles)
• Church of the Little Flower (4.9 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Rc Church (7.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Saint Barnabas Medical Center (6.2 miles)