Horizon Care Ctr

Pros

• The administration is described as good and the assistant administrator is deeply concerned for residents.
• The activity department is very caring, with Ms. Shaida and her staff being patient with almost every resident.
• The social worker Ms. Wilkie is noted as exceptionally professional in helping residents.
• The staff are really nice and professional, and they care for all the patients.
• Horizon Care Center has long topped CMS star ratings in the Rockaways and delivers a high level of care.
• Residents find comfort there, as if they were in their own home, and enjoy quality of life.
• The assistant administrator is described as the most caring and professional person encountered.

Cons

• The facility is described as a horrible place to leave a family member, more like an insane asylum with staff having no control.
• Residents were inadequately cared for, with some patients left in rooms and given cheese sandwiches instead of receiving physical therapy.
• There is an ongoing scabies outbreak and dirty floors, with little being done to address the issue.
• The building smells of urine and rodents are said to come out near the elevator.
• There is no shift reporting or communication among nurses and aides, leading to poor coordination of care.
• The place is called trash and is not recommended for any loved one.
• Allegations include theft of a resident's Social Security funds and other mismanagement of finances and transportation.

Review

Horizon Care Center in the Rockaways area emerges in these accounts as a place that inspires fiercely opposing views. On one end of the spectrum, several reviewers condemn the facility as a dangerous, dirty, poorly managed environment where residents are mistreated, neglected, and even exploited. They describe outbreaks of illness, foul smells, pests, and a general lack of accountability or communication among staff. One reviewer goes so far as to call it a place to "leave your family" and warns that it isn't a nursing home so much as an "insane asylum," noting an outbreak of scabies on the floors, rodents by the elevator, and a facility-wide sense that shifts aren't properly reported or coordinated. There are repeated claims that residents were left unattended, that therapy was minimal or inappropriate (examples range from solitary confinement and cheese sandwiches to accusations that physical therapy never materialized), and that even basic comforts like television requirements were mishandled. The tone of these messages is urgent and fear-based, urging others to avoid placing loved ones there.

The negative commentary is also heavy on anecdotes of poor care and alleged abuse or neglect. Some reviewers accuse staff of being unresponsive to family calls, and one long, detailed account describes a relative with dementia who was allegedly left in a vulnerable state, shaved by a nurse who then left him bleeding, and a cascade of miscommunications about discharge planning and transportation. There are explicit accusations of violations of patient rights, and a broader sense that the facility operates without the transparency or accountability families need during difficult times. A particularly alarming thread centers on financial accusations - claims that a patient's Social Security funds were stolen and that a check to a funeral home went missing, with the responder alleging that a social worker dismissed urgent medical help unless the patient "codes." In short, these entries sketch a picture of a system that feels chaotic, underfunded, and unsafe to some families.

Yet the narrative here is not one-note. Intermixed with the alarmist and outraged posts are several deeply positive experiences that frame Horizon Care Center as a caring, competent environment. One patient, Norman Azeez, reflects warmly after three years as a resident, praising the administration and especially the assistant administrator, Mr. Shlomo, as a person of "deep concern for the Residents." He singles out the nursing staff, the activity department, and a social worker he calls exceptionally professional, thanking them for support during his stay and expressing that he will miss the staff and will visit. Another reviewer who initially seemed skeptical ends up describing Horizon as the best nursing home they've known for short-term rehab, praising the staff for being "really nice and professional" and noting that the assistant administrator is "the most caring and professional kind person" they've encountered. A third account highlights excellent care for a grandmother, with kind doctors and nurses, and gratitude toward the staff.

There are also accounts that emphasize consistency and a sense of home within Horizon. A family member of a stroke survivor speaks about the facility's compassionate approach to a patient who subsequently developed vascular dementia; despite the challenges, they describe the care as undeniable, with staff treating residents like their own family. Another reviewer asserts that Horizon has long enjoyed a high CMS star rating within its local region, implying a stable, reputable level of care that residents' families can rely on. Yet even within this praise, there is acknowledgment that experiences vary by individual, department, and perhaps time, with some staff described as exceptionally caring while others are criticized in separate posts.

Communication with families and care coordination also appear as a major theme across the reviews. Some entries praise specific social workers and care coordinators by name, while others recount frustration with unreturned calls, unclear discharge plans, and difficulties arranging home health services or transportation. The contrast is stark: on one end, a system that works for some families with timely updates, proactive planning, and smooth transitions; on the other end, a system that leaves others feeling forgotten, overwhelmed, and worried about the safety and dignity of their loved ones. These mixed experiences point to a facility that can be both a lifeline and a source of distress, depending on who you speak with and when.

In a few remarks, reviewers mention the facility's environment and safety in more neutral or positive terms, noting that some residents feel secure and well-cared-for, and that the building and staff present a professional, courteous front. There is also a mention of the facility being perceived as welcoming by some visitors, with many reviewers endorsing it as a good place for short-term rehab or even long-term care, provided their own experiences line up with what they expect for quality, cleanliness, and consistent staffing. Conversely, other observations focus on cleanliness and odor, safety concerns, and a sense that more robust enforcement of sanitation and resident-rights protections would be prudent.

In short, the collection of impressions paints a jagged, highly polarized portrait of Horizon Care Center. For some families, the facility represents a compassionate, capable home where staff treat patients with respect, where administrators listen, and where residents can regain independence or receive steady, supportive care. For others, Horizon is a place where systemic problems - intermittent communication, perceived neglect, cleanliness and safety concerns, and serious accusations of mismanagement and exploitation - have profoundly affected loved ones and left families with lasting trauma and distrust. Because the experiences described span years, departments, and individual staff members, any family considering Horizon should conduct thorough due diligence: verify current CMS ratings, speak directly with multiple staff and residents, request transparent discharge and transportation planning, and, if possible, visit at different times to gauge day-to-day operations. The divergent voices here underscore that outcomes at Horizon Care Center are not uniform and can depend heavily on the specific people involved, the timing, and the particular needs of the resident.

This area of Far Rockaway, New York, offers convenient access to several pharmacies, transportation options including the Delta SkyClub and John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as a variety of restaurants catering to different tastes. Places of worship are also available for spiritual support and cafes like Starbucks provide a cozy atmosphere for socializing. Additionally, there are reputable physicians and hospitals in close proximity for medical needs. The neighborhood boasts several parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation, making it an appealing choice for seniors looking for a well-rounded community with easy access to essential services.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.3 miles)
• Walgreens (6.4 miles)

Transportation

• Delta SkyClub & SkyDeck (3.3 miles)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (3.3 miles)
• Terminal 2 (3.3 miles)
• Concourse B (3.4 miles)
• JFK Apron (3.4 miles)
• JFK Runways (3.4 miles)
• Terminal 1 (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Air France Lounge (3.5 miles)
• Bobby Van's Steakhouse (3.8 miles)
• Sugar Bowl (6.8 miles)
• Jordans Lobster Farm (7.3 miles)
• White Castle (8.3 miles)
• Paul's Daughter (9.8 miles)
• L & B Spumoni Gardens (9.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Sons of Israel (5.2 miles)
• St Luke's Episcopal Church (8.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (7.3 miles)

Physicians

• Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group (7.6 miles)
• South Nassau Communities Hospital (9.5 miles)
• Prohealth Baldwin Harbour Pediatrics (10.1 miles)

Parks

• Forest Park (8.1 miles)
• Oceanside Park (9 miles)
• Cunningham Park (9.7 miles)
• Hempstead Lake State Park (9.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Kings County Hospital Center (9 miles)
• Kaur Rupinder P Do South Nassau Family Medicine Oceanside (9.4 miles)