Brooklyn Center for Rehab & Res. Health

Pros

• The facility is beautiful and clean.
• It is described as an A++ facility that strives to help people.
• The reviews convey that staff love what they do and aim to make people better.
• One reviewer described the facility as good.

Cons

• They describe the facility as overcrowded and the staff not friendly at all.
• They label the place a dump, filthy and deplorable.
• They report mice traps everywhere.
• They note there are five patients in one room.
• They warn not to send loved ones there.
• They claim neglect and lack of attention, including a relative dying there.
• They say oxygen was not working and the room was hot.
• They describe the call button being behind the bed and no security to screen visitors.
• They state the nurses and staff are rude and provide deplorable care.
• They say the pictures are deceiving and the actual place looks nothing like the advertisement.

Review

The reviews surrounding the facility at 170 Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn paint a stark contrast between early impressions and ongoing, troubling experiences. While a few remarks open with praise - describing the place as beautiful, clean, and a facility that supposedly strives to help people - many voices quickly push back, painting a very different picture. The sentiment across most accounts is that the initial appearance or promises do not align with daily realities once someone becomes a patient there. Several reviewers emphasize that the building, its management, and its day-to-day operations feel misaligned with the care standards one would expect for dependents and loved ones.

A recurring theme is overcrowding and aging infrastructure. Several comments describe rooms packed with multiple residents (one reviewer notes four people in a single small room with a single TV and a remote that hardly works), old furniture, and beds in disrepair. The environment is described as dirty and dilapidated, with reports of broken beds and a general sense that the facility is not equipped to provide comfortable or dignified accommodations for its residents. The overcrowding contributes to a chaotic atmosphere, making navigation and attention to individual needs difficult, and some reviewers express concern that the sheer number of residents overwhelms staff, limiting the ability to provide timely care.

Care quality and staff responsiveness emerge as central concerns. Across multiple accounts, the staff are labeled as unfriendly, rude, or inattentive. Reviewers recount delays in answering call bells, neglect of patient needs, and a perception that the care emphasis is more on routine tasks or even on other priorities than on patient well-being. One harrowing account describes a relative who died after being overlooked or not attended to promptly, which is attributed to a broader pattern of neglect rather than a single incident. Recurrent claims include oxygen equipment that fails to function properly, uncomfortable room conditions (including heat), and physical barriers that hamper patient safety - such as call buttons placed out of reach behind beds. The cumulative effect, according to these stories, is a setting where patients often feel ignored or undervalued, and where basic comfort and safety measures seem inconsistently applied.

There are also serious concerns about safety, security, and the overall environment. Several reviewers mention the absence of adequate security measures to screen visitors and the potential for theft or intrusion, contributing to a sense of vulnerability for residents and their families. Complaints about poor maintenance extend to fire safety and the general physical state of the space, with descriptions of old, deteriorating surroundings that feel more like a warehouse than a medical or rehabilitative facility. The overall impression conveyed is that the environment itself may pose risks to patients, beyond the interpersonal issues with staff.

Discrimination and intercultural friction surface in some of the narratives, complicating the care experience further. One reviewer describes a negative encounter involving language and a feeling of being uncomfortable, and another references tensions involving staff and residents of a certain ethnicity. These remarks reflect perceived cultural and communication barriers within the facility and contribute to an impression of a less welcoming, more stressful atmosphere for families and patients who may already be vulnerable. While these statements represent a subset of the reviews, they underscore that experiences at the facility can be shaped by interpersonal dynamics and cultural sensitivities, not solely by physical conditions or equipment.

Personal losses and negative outcomes color many of the stories most starkly. There are mentions of relatives who passed away shortly after admission, with reviewers attributing these tragedies to neglect or lack of proper attention. While such claims are serious and deeply painful, they are part of a pattern described by several individuals who felt that the facility did not provide the level of care required for seriously ill or elderly patients. These narratives consistently reinforce a warning tone: do not take for granted the appearance of order or cleanliness, and do not assume that the care environment will meet critical needs in a timely or compassionate manner.

Despite the breadth of negative experiences, a small portion of reviewers offer a milder, tepid endorsement or a note of disagreement with the majority. Some descriptions simply say "good" or brush past concrete concerns without elaboration. However, these positive or neutral notes are in the clear minority when weighed against the explicit warnings, horror stories, and explicit cautions found throughout the rest of the feedback. The collective impression is that, for many families, this facility has serious, possibly systemic issues that warrant careful scrutiny before choosing it for a loved one.

Overall, the prevailing takeaway is one of considerable caution and skepticism. Reviewers repeatedly urge other families to approach with due diligence: visit in person, tour the facility, observe how staff interact with residents, verify the condition of rooms, assess safety features, and consider whether the care model aligns with the needs of a loved one. The consensus across the narratives is a request for transparency, accountability, and meaningful improvements - particularly around staffing adequacy, patient safety, and the integrity of the living and care environment. Given the severity of some allegations, multiple voices suggest that the facility should be examined by external evaluators or regulators to determine whether change is possible or if alternative arrangements would be safer for vulnerable individuals.

This part of Brooklyn, New York, offers a convenient and vibrant urban environment with easy access to public transportation, pharmacies, restaurants, hospitals, parks, cafes, and theaters. The MTA subway system provides efficient travel options to various destinations within the city. There are several reputable healthcare facilities nearby such as Maimonides Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. The neighborhood also boasts a variety of dining options ranging from iconic establishments like Nathan's Famous to trendy cafes like Judy's. With scenic parks like Sunset Park and cultural attractions like the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn theater, this area provides a diverse range of activities for seniors looking to enjoy city living in a bustling community.

Transportation

• MTA Subway - Bay Parkway (1.1 miles)
• MTA Subway - Church Ave (2 miles)
• MTA Subway - Sheepshead Bay (2.4 miles)
• MTA Subway - Prospect Park (2.7 miles)
• MTA Subway - 36th St (3.1 miles)
• MTA Subway - 59th St (3.1 miles)
• MTA Subway - Coney Island/Stillwell Ave (3.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Duane Reade (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Pathmark (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Duane Reade (2.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• L & B Spumoni Gardens (2.1 miles)
• Nathan's Famous (3.3 miles)
• Coney Island Brewing Co (3.4 miles)
• Paul's Daughter (3.4 miles)
• Ruby's Bar & Grill (3.4 miles)
• """"""Nathan's Famous"""""" (3.5 miles)
• Brooklyn Crab (4.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Maimonides Medical Center (2.2 miles)
• Kings County Hospital Center (2.6 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (3.3 miles)
• NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Sunset Park (2.7 miles)
• Louis Valentino Jr Park & Pier (4.8 miles)
• Herbert Von King Park (4.8 miles)
• Fort Greene Park (4.9 miles)
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 (5.2 miles)
• Brooklyn Heights Promenade (5.5 miles)
• Brooklyn Bridge Park (5.8 miles)

Cafes

• Judy's (2.9 miles)
• East One Coffee Roasters (4.5 miles)
• The West (6.3 miles)

Physicians

• Costco Optical (3.3 miles)
• Leading Lasik Center (3.4 miles)

Theaters

• Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn (4.9 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan (6.4 miles)