Susquehanna Nursing Home in Johnson City, NY

Pros

• The social worker Mark is very attentive to complaints.
• Three aides on the fourth floor have been outstanding in their level of care for the residents.
• Shannon, Bethany, and Alicia are outstanding, personable aides who take very good care of residents.
• The rehab team is the best around.
• Jamie, the physical therapist, and Rhonda, the occupational therapist, went above and beyond in their duties.
• The facility is clean and well kept.
• The nurses treated my grandmother with great care and were attentive.
• There is genuine care in the patient-employee relationship.

Cons

• The facility is filthy and dirty, with rooms and floors that are not properly cleaned.
• Care is described as nonexistent or neglectful, with residents left in their waste for long periods.
• The staff are rude, unprofessional, and frequently unresponsive to call bells.
• Residents suffer dehydration, infections, and even pneumonia due to poor care.
• The administration lacks accountability and fails to address complaints or concerns.
• Food is cold, unappetizing, and nutritional needs are not adequately met.
• Short-staffing leads to delays, mistakes, and overall substandard care.
• There are reports of elder abuse and neglect; many say the place should be closed.
• Personal belongings and laundry often go missing or are mishandled.
• Financial practices are problematic, with families pressured for upfront payments and billing issues.
• Families report having to intervene or relocate their loved ones to get better care.
• Some reviews mention unprofessional behavior by staff and poor communication about medications and therapies.

Review

Susquehanna Nursing Home in Johnson City is best suited for families that can act as diligent, on-site advocates and prioritize rehabilitation potential over consistent daily comfort. The facility can deliver meaningful gains for residents entering rehab when therapists are empowered to drive therapy and when family members stay actively involved in coordinating care, monitoring meds, and ensuring timely hygiene and safety checks. It is not a hands-off option; it demands active oversight to compensate for variable day-to-day care and staffing realities.

For those weighing alternatives, this community may not fit anyone requiring steady, predictable, high-touch care. Families with loved ones who have advanced dementia, significant safety risks, complex medical regimens, or frequent need for attentive supervision should consider other facilities. Long-term placements that hinge on reliable responsiveness, rigorous infection control, and consistently clean environments are unlikely to meet expectations here. The financial and logistical burden - coupled with noted variability in service - renders this a risky choice for those unable to monitor care closely.

The strongest asset appears in the rehab domain. Several patients and families highlight the rehabilitation team as a real bright spot - physical and occupational therapy staff who push for progress, help patients regain mobility, and keep rehabilitation goals on track. When the therapy team is engaged, residents can make tangible gains, and some shifts in function are attributed to dedicated therapists like Jamie and Rhonda, along with attentive aides who support therapy goals. In practice, this means Susquehanna can be a viable stop for short-term rehab if a plan emphasizes aggressive therapy and if family members insist on continuing oversight through discharge planning.

Yet the weight of the downsides cannot be ignored. Widespread concerns about cleanliness, food quality, and overall responsiveness loom large. Multiple accounts describe rooms that are dirty, beds not promptly changed, waste not addressed in a timely manner, and inconsistencies in basic caregiving - delayed help after call bells, neglectful behavior, and a lack of accountability across staff and administration. The administration itself is repeatedly portrayed as unresponsive, with some reports indicating mismanagement and billing pressures that leave families feeling unheard. These issues disproportionately affect safety and dignity, undermining any gains made in therapy.

In weighing the pros against the cons, the conclusion is decisive: the rehab potential does not reliably compensate for the frequent, entrenched care shortcomings when long-term, daily safety and quality of life are the baseline expectation. For residents whose primary objective is rehabilitation with a strong family partner actively overseeing care, Susquehanna can deliver value through committed therapists and intermittent moments of competent bedside care. For anyone needing consistent clinical oversight, dignified daily living, and dependable staff-to-resident ratios, the negatives overwhelm the positives.

The practical course is clear. If choosing Susquehanna, organize a thorough pre-admission evaluation that probes staffing levels, med-management processes, discharge planning, and the facility's approach to cleanliness and meal service. Demand to review the current staffing schedule, the qualifications of caregivers on the floor, and direct contact with the director of nursing and medical director. Insist on explicit, written assurances about response times to call bells, routine hygiene care, and consistent administration of medications. And, crucially, compare with nearby facilities whose reputations emphasize reliable staffing, responsive care, and clean, well-maintained environments. For families unable to maintain daily oversight, pursuing alternatives with stronger safety and care consistency is a prudent safeguard.

Johnson City, New York, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple restaurants nearby such as Sugar Lips, CoreLife Eatery, and Denny's, residents can enjoy a variety of dining options. Additionally, there are several healthcare facilities within close proximity including UHS Rheumatology and Lourdes Hospital, ensuring easy access to medical care. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are also conveniently located for medication needs. Places of worship such as St Vincent De Paul Church and Grace Point Church cater to spiritual needs. For leisure activities, parks like Cfj Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation while theaters like AMC Vestal Town Square 9 offer entertainment options. Overall, Johnson City presents a well-rounded community with essential services readily available for seniors looking to retire in the area.

Restaurants

• Sugar Lips (0.4 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.6 miles)
• CoreLife Eatery (0.6 miles)
• Buffet Star (0.9 miles)
• Denny's (0.9 miles)
• Chuck E. Cheese's (1 miles)
• Wendy's (1.1 miles)

Physicians

• UHS Rheumatology (0.4 miles)
• Lourdes Hospital (0.5 miles)
• UHS Breast Center (0.5 miles)
• Vestal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (0.5 miles)
• Tier ENT Associates (0.5 miles)
• Southern Tier Dermatology & Aesthetics (0.6 miles)
• Audiology Associates (0.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• UHS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• The Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Wegmans (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (0.7 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Church (0.9 miles)
• St Thomas Aquinas Church (1.1 miles)
• Grace Point Church (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• K & K's The Old Teahouse (0.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Park Avenue Associates in Radiology (1 miles)
• Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital (1.3 miles)
• Greater Binghamton Health Center (1.4 miles)
• Robert M. Best Cardiac Care Unit - UHS Wilson Regional Medical Center (1.4 miles)
• Lourdes Planning (2.4 miles)
• Lourdes Hospital (2.4 miles)
• UHS Binghamton General Hospital (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Cfj Park (1.3 miles)
• Mac Arthur Park (2.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Vestal Town Square 9 (2.6 miles)