Willoughby Nursing Home in Brooklyn, NY

Pros

• The staff are resourceful, kind, and courteous, and residents are well taken care of.
• The facility’s staff take great care of loved ones, and families would highly recommend it.
• The staff are extremely friendly, and there is always a smile during visits.
• The clinical team is respectful, responsive, and attentive.
• The staff show compassion and treat residents like family.
• The therapy team is excellent and helps patients return to baseline and go home.
• The nursing staff are wonderful and professional.
• The facility is clean and operated by a dedicated team that ensures high standards of care.

Cons

• The care was terrible, and bed sores developed into sepsis leading to death.
• The staff were rude, the food was inedible, and they took forever to serve their patients.
• The facility is severely understaffed, leaving residents without basic care, including baths.
• Therapies were delayed for days, with nurses and therapists often unavailable.
• They pressured families to sign up for Medicaid to keep patients longer and charged ridiculous transport fees.
• Billing practices and Medicaid handling were described as deceptive, with claims lost or never filed.
• Belongings were lost or not returned after discharge.
• Some reviewers claim elder abuse or neglect and say the owners should be charged.
• There were incidents where a resident was misplaced for hours and family communication was poor.

Review

Willoughby Nursing Home in Brooklyn is best suited for seniors who need substantial rehabilitation and are counting on a dedicated, responsive therapy and clinical team to drive recovery goals. The facility can be a strong choice for families that are able to stay actively involved in care planning, monitor day-to-day progress, and push for clear communication and timely handling of logistics and billing. It is less appropriate for residents whose primary need is long-term custodial care with zero tolerance for variability in daily nursing attention, or for families that require a consistently tight, safety-focused operation without the possibility of hands-on oversight.

Given the breadth of experiences shared, one clear caveat is that alternative options should be considered for anyone prioritizing reliable daily care and rock-solid administration. Several reviews describe missed medications, delayed or absent therapy, and periods of inadequate supervision, situations that escalate quickly in long-term stays. Families seeking a facility with predictable routines, rigorous safety protocols, and consistently attentive staff may find better alignment elsewhere. Additionally, those who cannot tolerate ongoing concerns about billing practices, documentation gaps, or lost belongings would be wise to explore other reputable skilled-nursing environments before committing.

The strongest, consistently favorable note across the archives is the rehab energy: when therapy departments operate at full tilt, outcomes can be impressive. Numerous accounts speak to compassionate aides, attentive nurses, and therapists who help patients regain strength and return home. That core strength can offset a great deal for someone with a clear rehabilitation trajectory and a family that can advocate for a thorough, tailored therapy plan. Yet the contrast is jarring: other residents experience days without therapy, slow response to calls, and a sense that the clinical momentum is uneven. In short, Willoughby can deliver excellent rehab when leadership and staffing align; it falters when staffing gaps or administrative bottlenecks creep in, undermining daily safety and the overall care experience.

From a practical decision-making perspective, prospective families should interrogate operations before placement. Tour schedules should be scrutinized for clarity and consistency, with emphasis on staffing ratios during evenings and weekends when reports repeatedly describe limited nursing presence. Ask for recent state survey outcomes, incident logs, and any open corrective-action plans. Request a candid discussion about how therapy plans are constructed and tracked, and insist on a written, itemized billing outline that details what is charged, what insurance or Medicaid covers, and what triggers additional costs. Demand a tour of the incident-response process: how rapid is escalated attention to falls, wounds, or discharge planning, and how are belongings safeguarded and tracked to prevent loss.

The facility’s earned praise rests on staff warmth, professional demeanor, and the genuine care visible in many interactions. Families sing highly of the kindness shown by aides and clinicians, and several testimonials highlight therapy teams that genuinely restore function and improve quality of life. Those positives are not abstractions; they are real strengths when present, and they create the strongest rationale for considering Willoughby for rehabilitation-focused stays where family oversight can reinforce accountability. However, those same strengths are not guaranteed across shifts or units, which means expectations must be carefully managed and contingency plans prepared.

Ultimately, Willoughby will reward families who enter with a clear rehab objective, persistent engagement, and a framework for rapid escalation if care quality dips. For anyone prioritizing robust medical oversight, predictable daily care, and a seamless, issue-free financial experience, alternatives merit serious consideration. If choosing Willoughby, secure a trial or short stay first, insist on transparent therapy scheduling, and appoint a dedicated family liaison who can coordinate with admissions, therapy, and billing to maintain a steady, responsive feedback loop. In the end, the decision hinges on balancing the strong rehab potential with the imperative for unwavering daily safety and administrative integrity; when those elements align, Willoughby offers a credible path back to independence, but when they do not, the edges become too sharp to overlook.

This neighborhood in Brooklyn offers a convenient location with easy access to multiple pharmacies, transportation options, parks, cafes, restaurants, theaters, and hospitals. With several pharmacies nearby, it provides convenience for obtaining necessary medications. The proximity to various subway stations allows for easy travel around the city. The numerous parks in the area offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, there are plenty of dining options ranging from casual cafes to upscale restaurants. For entertainment, there are theaters within a short distance. In terms of healthcare facilities, there are several hospitals nearby providing access to medical services when needed. Overall, this neighborhood provides a range of amenities and services that would make it a suitable option for senior living in Brooklyn.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Duane Reade (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)

Transportation

• MTA Subway - Jefferson St (0.7 miles)
• MTA Subway - Myrtle/Wyckoff Ave (1 miles)
• MTA Subway - Metropolitan Ave (1.5 miles)
• MTA - Broadway Junction Subway Station (2 miles)
• MTA Subway - Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College (2.4 miles)
• MTA Subway - 7th Ave (2.6 miles)
• MTA Subway - Grand Army Plaza (2.6 miles)

Parks

• Herbert Von King Park (1 miles)
• McCarren Park (1.8 miles)
• Domino Park (2.2 miles)
• East River State Park (2.2 miles)
• Bushwick Inlet Park (2.3 miles)
• Fort Greene Park (2.4 miles)
• East River Park (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• The West (1.4 miles)
• East One Coffee Roasters (3.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Kimbap Lab (2 miles)
• Subway - 334 Grand St (3.4 miles)
• Katz's Deli (3.4 miles)
• Pier 17 (3.7 miles)
• Daily Provisions (4 miles)
• Dominique Ansel Bakery (4.2 miles)

Theaters

• Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn (2.8 miles)
• AMC Kips Bay 15 (3.9 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Kings County Hospital Center (2.9 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (3.3 miles)
• VA Medical Center (3.6 miles)
• Bellevue Hospital Center (3.7 miles)