Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursi in Binghamton, NY

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Pros

• The staff are very friendly and seem to truly care.
• The receptionist and front desk team are kind, helpful, and welcoming.
• The Bridgewater Center team is praised for professionalism and support.
• The Activity Director, Melinda, is compassionate and goes above and beyond.
• The rehabilitation team provides personalized care and daily encouragement.
• The facility is clean, well-maintained, and has a warm, home-like atmosphere.
• Bridgewater Center is seen as an exceptional place for rehab and patient care.
• Families appreciate the attentive nurses, CNAs, and overall responsive care.
• Residents receive excellent physical therapy and individualized treatment plans.
• The overall environment is described as safe, caring, and supportive.

Cons

• The facility is poorly run and lacks accountability for routine patient checks.
• Nursing and food were horrendous, and care was non-existent.
• The facility smells horrible and staff were lazy and unaccountable.
• The resident room bathrooms are not ADA compliant and inaccessible to wheelchair users.
• There were reports of neglect and inadequate hygiene and missed medical care.
• Nurses were accused of unprofessional behavior, including hanging up on calls and withholding medications.
• Nurses were reportedly smoking marijuana during shifts.
• The facility was described as a horror show and urged to be shut down.

Review

Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing in Binghamton is best suited for seniors who need intensive rehabilitation and values a staff that can deliver personalized therapy and a warm, engaging environment. The facility earns strong marks for its therapy programs, with patients and families noting that PT and OT teams are dedicated, responsive, and capable of tailoring plans to individual recovery goals. The reception and front-desk experience is frequently described as welcoming, and the overall atmosphere in many wings feels caring and projective, making it a reasonable choice for post-hospital rehab, gait training, amputee recovery, or TBIs where progress hinges on daily therapy and sustained encouragement. For families who can participate actively, visiting often, communicating clearly with therapists, and staying engaged in care planning, Bridgewater offers a practical path to meaningful improvement and a sense of security during a challenging transition.

That said, certain families should consider alternatives. The most salient red flags reported across a broad swath of reviews center on consistency and reliability in daily nursing care, cleanliness, and communication with families. When a loved one requires steady oversight, 24/7 responsiveness, and antiseptic, well-maintained surroundings, the facility’s mixed track record can create anxiety. Several accounts describe medication delays, lapses in wound care, and instances of staff not answering calls or failing to follow through on physicians’ orders. For residents who rely on predictable hygiene, prompt pain management, and a consistently clean environment, other local options with stronger state inspection histories and clearer accountability structures may be a safer bet. Also, facilities with ADA-compliant design in every room and consistently updated accommodations may be more suitable for wheelchair-dependent residents who value independence and easier access.

The strongest offset to the facility’s more troubling reports lies in Bridgewater’s robust rehabilitation culture and the genuine warmth of many caregivers. Families consistently praise therapists who push for progress, celebrate milestones, and coordinate closely with families on discharge goals. The presence of a proactive activity director and engaging daily programs helps keep residents mentally and socially active, a factor that significantly enhances quality of life during rehab. Cleanliness and hospitality at the front door improve the initial experience, and several reviews highlight staff who go above and beyond, even when the facility is busy. In practice, this means residents who need structured daily routines and a rehab-forward approach may see substantial benefits when paired with attentive therapy teams and integrated care planning.

However, the cons described by many families cannot be dismissed. Recurrent themes include inconsistent nursing attention, poor room and bathroom accessibility, odors, and reports of delayed or missed medications and wound care. Some reviewers describe serious neglect and unsafe conditions, raising questions about staffing levels, supervision, and accountability. A subset of accounts highlights poor communication with families, with social workers or unit managers unreachable or slow to respond. These contrasts, exceptional kindness and high-quality therapy vs. abrupt gaps in routine nursing care, create a bifurcated reality: Bridgewater can deliver excellent rehab results when care teams are aligned and accountable, but it can fall short when oversight slips.

For families weighing pros and cons, Bridgewater’s rehab strengths can be decisive for a specific trajectory: a patient who needs aggressive therapy and has the flexibility for regular visits and close collaboration with clinicians. The overwhelmingly positive experiences from many residents and their families regarding therapy quality, atmosphere, and immediate staff responsiveness offer a credible signal of potential success. Yet the facility’s most troubling reports, claims of neglect, inconsistent care, and cleanliness problems, underscore why this choice should be anchored by due diligence. If a resident’s care plan depends on uninterrupted nursing vigilance and pristine hygiene, alternatives deserve serious consideration, and a plan B should be identified before admission.

Practical steps to maximize the odds of a favorable experience are straightforward. Schedule a thorough tour and request candid conversations with the rehabilitation leadership, the director of nursing, and the social worker responsible for the case management of long-term residents. Review current staffing ratios, ask to see recent state inspection findings, and request examples of individualized care plans and weekly progress reports. Inspect the room and common areas for ADA accessibility, cleanliness, and general upkeep; verify that call bells, personal phones, and room amenities are functioning. Establish a clear escalation path for concerns, and insist on prompt follow-up after any incident or change in medical orders. If these controls cannot be confidently assured, it is prudent to explore other facilities with more consistent day-to-day reliability.

In the end, Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing stands as a compelling option for families prioritizing strong, therapy-driven rehabilitation and a compassionate, engaging milieu. It can deliver outstanding outcomes when governance and staffing align, and families commit to active involvement in care decisions. Yet for residents whose safety, cleanliness, and uninterrupted nursing oversight are nonnegotiable, the questions to answer are stark: will core care routines be consistently reliable, and will the environment remain free from the issues that have surfaced in some reviews? If the answer leans toward yes after careful inspection and frank conversations, Bridgewater may prove to be an excellent match. If not, explore alternatives that foreground unwavering daily care and transparent accountability, before a placement becomes irreversible.

This area of Binghamton, New York, offers a mix of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant community. With a variety of restaurants within walking distance such as Peterson's Tavern, Lost Dog Cafe, and Little Venice Restaurant, there are plenty of dining options to enjoy. In terms of healthcare services, there are several hospitals nearby including Lourdes Hospital and UHS Binghamton General Hospital, as well as physician offices like Primary Care Associates and Cardiology Associates. Additionally, pharmacies such as Medicine Shoppe and Walgreens are easily accessible for medication needs. For recreational activities, parks like Mac Arthur Park and Otsiningo Park provide opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. Places of worship such as St Thomas Aquinas Church and St Vincent De Paul Church offer spiritual support within the community. Overall, this area provides a range of services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and engaging living environment.

Restaurants

• Peterson's Tavern (0.2 miles)
• Binghamton Club (0.2 miles)
• Lost Dog Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Garage Taco Bar (0.3 miles)
• 205 Dry (0.3 miles)
• Belmar Pub (0.4 miles)
• Little Venice Restaurant (0.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Lourdes Planning (0.3 miles)
• Lourdes Hospital (0.3 miles)
• Lourdes Hospital (0.9 miles)
• UHS Binghamton General Hospital (1 miles)
• Greater Binghamton Health Center (1.1 miles)
• Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital (1.1 miles)
• Lourdes Hospital (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Mehta Kinner Binghamton Va Clinic Binghamton (0.7 miles)
• Primary Care Associates (0.8 miles)
• Twin Tiers Eye Care Associates PC (0.9 miles)
• Cardiology Associates, PC (0.9 miles)
• Speech Pathology United Health (0.9 miles)
• Foot Care Associates (0.9 miles)
• Cardiac Rehab Gym-United Health Services Hospitals (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medicine Shoppe (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• BGH Pharm (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Mac Arthur Park (1 miles)
• Otsiningo Park (1.5 miles)
• Cfj Park (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Thomas Aquinas Church (1 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Church (1.8 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• K & K's The Old Teahouse (3 miles)