Gardens Health & Rehab Ctr

Pros

• Laura (PA) and the floor nurses were wonderful, for the most part.
• The day shift activity crew works very hard.
• A reviewer described the rehab as great.

Cons

• The reviewers describe the facility as disgusting and dirty with residents left unattended.
• The staff are described as horribly rude and often on their cellphones.
• Care is described as neglectful, with missed dressing changes and infrequent physician visits.
• Residents are found on the floor without supervision, indicating unsafe conditions.
• The center has been fined many times.
• Personal belongings and packages disappear or are delayed, and theft is reported.
• Food is described as poor with tiny portions and late meals.
• Internet access is heavily restricted, blocking most content.
• Communication between aides, nurses, and management is poor, with messages not relayed.

Review

The collection of accounts from Buffalo Center Rehabilitation on Delaware Avenue paints a consistently troubling picture. Across multiple reviews, the facility is depicted as disorganized, understaffed, and frequently uncaring toward residents' basic needs. The overall mood is one of frustration and distrust, with families and patients describing a place where meals are unappealing and insufficient, where safety and dignity seem to take a back seat to paperwork and cellphone distractions, and where the line between routine care and neglect sometimes feels perilously thin.

Food and dining emerge as a baseline disappointment in many reviews. According to several residents, meals are not only tasteless and unimaginative but served in portions that seem designed to hold a person over only until morning. One resident describes a typical dinner as "a cup of soup, a slice of bread with one slice of turkey and a spoonful of gravy," followed by breakfast that could feel hours away in both time and nourishment. Pasta is even criticized as being served straight from unsalted water, which underscores concerns about nutrition and attention to residents' dietary needs. The repeated tone is that the dining experience fails to meet even modest expectations for routine, nourishing meals.

Staff dynamics contribute heavily to the sense of an unreliable and sometimes hostile environment. Reviewers report a mix of toxic attitudes and unprofessional behavior, with some aides described as having "the way or no way" attitudes and a prevalent sense that residents' needs can be dismissed or forgotten. The problem is not limited to the aides; several accounts highlight a disconnect between aides and nurses, with messages allegedly getting lost or ignored in the shuffle. Compounding these issues is a culture of distraction, as staff members are described as spending shifts on their cellphones or engaged in other tasks rather than focusing on patient care. Language is described as harsh or disrespectful, and the general atmosphere toward residents who cannot advocate for themselves is cited as a significant problem.

Safety, dignity, and medical care appear to be major points of concern. Multiple accounts describe neglectful or insufficient care, including dressing changes that were supposed to occur on specific days but did not when the regular nurse was absent. One reviewer explicitly calls this neglect and notes that the state has agreed with those concerns. There are particularly alarming anecdotes about residents found on the floor after falls, a lack of timely responses to needs like call bells, and a troubling pattern of patients not receiving prescribed treatments or rehabilitation services. There are vivid reports of serious incidents involving family members - such as a mother found lying on the floor on multiple occasions and a lack of incident reporting - along with allegations that staff avoided answering questions or cooperating during emergencies. The perception that physical therapy and rehabilitation could be hampered by staff negligence is voiced repeatedly, fueling deep concerns about patient safety.

The facility's handling of logistics, privacy, and day-to-day operations also draws heavy criticism. Theft is described as a problem, with family members reporting lost or altered personal clothing and clothes that vanish or are damaged in laundry. Laundry pickup and return processes are described as painfully slow or unreliable, sometimes resulting in clothes being lost or ruined, despite receipts. Package deliveries, while a visible attempt to bring comfort and connection to home, are treated with suspicion and delay - packages arrive at the front desk, are checked for contraband, and can sit for days or a full week before being delivered to residents. Internet access exists, but with a restrictive firewall that blocks almost everything except what some reviewers consider inappropriate content, adding a peculiar layer of frustration to residents and families trying to stay connected.

Activities and engagement form a secondary axis of dissatisfaction, even as some staff are praised for their efforts. Reviewers acknowledge that the activity crew works hard, but they feel the programs are limited and repetitive, with bingo and similar activities occurring frequently enough to feel monotonous. The cadence of care and recreation leaves some residents with a sense that life in the facility is largely about existing rather than thriving, which compounds the stress and dissatisfaction expressed elsewhere. There is also a noted discrepancy in how care is delivered depending on which aide and nurse are assigned, reinforcing a perception of inconsistency and uneven quality of care.

Despite the gravity of many complaints, there are pockets of praise within the reviews. A few staff members - specifically Laura, a PA, and the floor nurses - are described as wonderful and responsive most of the time, offering moments of relief amid the broader concerns. The presence of capable and caring professionals is acknowledged as a redeeming factor in an otherwise difficult environment. Some reviewers emphasize that not all experiences at the facility are uniformly negative and that there are individuals who do their best under challenging circumstances. Still, even these positives are framed within a context of systemic issues that many families find troubling.

The most visceral and personal accounts revolve around loved ones who experienced serious neglect or harm. Stories of mothers and fathers suffering from unattended medical needs, infections, or injuries while in the facility, and of EMTs and family members confronting uncooperative staff, are common. One reviewer recounts a harrowing sequence involving a fall, a hesitating nurse, and a discharge form that could alter liability, culminating in a perception that patient safety and accountability were not adequately prioritized. The recurring impression is that, for too many residents, the care environment fails to meet basic expectations of safety, respect, and timely medical attention.

Taken together, these experiences create a strongly negative overall impression of Buffalo Center Rehabilitation. The themes converge around a core concern: residents deserve reliable, respectful, and accountable care, and many reviewers feel that this facility falls short across crucial dimensions - nutrition, safety, dignity, and timely medical attention. While a few staff members are credited with positive impact, the majority of feedback centers on systemic issues that left families deciding against bringing loved ones there or actively seeking alternative placements. For anyone evaluating options, these accounts emphasize the importance of closely inspecting care quality, staff professionalism, and the facility's responsiveness to emergencies and everyday needs before making a decision.

Located just a short distance from the heart of Buffalo, New York, this area offers a wide range of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With several top-rated hospitals nearby such as Erie County Medical Center and Roswell Park Cancer Institute, residents can feel at ease knowing that quality healthcare is easily accessible. Additionally, there are numerous pharmacies, physicians' offices, and cafes within close proximity for convenience. For leisure activities, residents can enjoy dining at local restaurants like Sinatra's and The Foundry Lounge or catch a movie at theaters such as AMC Maple Ridge 8. Parks like South Long Park and Island Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation as well. Transportation options are also readily available with the Buffalo Niagara International Airport just a short drive away. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and convenient living environment for seniors in Buffalo.

Hospitals

• Erie County Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• John R Oishei Children's Hospital (3.4 miles)
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute (3.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
• CVS Speciality (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Sinatra's Restaurant (1.6 miles)
• The Foundry Lounge (2.5 miles)
• McDonald's (2.6 miles)
• Jack Rabbit (2.7 miles)
• Siena Restaurant (2.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.9 miles)
• Anchor Bar (3.4 miles)

Physicians

• 50 Gate Circle (2.3 miles)
• Primary Care Of WNY Primary Care Of Western New York Kenmore (2.4 miles)
• Ross Eye Institute (3.2 miles)
• Excelsior Orthopaedics (3.2 miles)
• Northtowns Medical Group PC (3.3 miles)
• University Orthopaedics (3.4 miles)
• Dent Neurologic Institute (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Wegmans Food Markets (2.7 miles)
• Tim Hortons (2.9 miles)
• Tim Hortons (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint John Gualbert Catholic Church & Diocesan Shrine (2.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Maple Ridge 8 (3.8 miles)
• Regal Walden Galleria 4Dx & RPX (3.8 miles)

Parks

• South Long Park (4 miles)
• Island Park (4.5 miles)
• Glen Park (4.5 miles)
• Delaware Park Marcy Casino (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• TSA Pre-️Lane (4.9 miles)
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) (5 miles)