Howd Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff treat families like family.
• The staff are good people who will do their best for their friend.
• The staff show kindness to families and friends.
• They provided daily updates on their loved one's progress.
• They treated their loved one with the respect she deserved.
• They helped her daily with activities of daily living.

Cons

• The staff are totally rotten to the patients and their families.
• There is a lack of professionalism among the staff.
• The reviewer was not allowed to visit his wife in the facility.

Review

Northwoods emerges in these reflections as a place that can feel wonderfully supportive and comforting, especially to those who are watching a loved one navigate illness and recovery. For one writer, it is the setting of a best friend's current health journey, anchored in a small-town frame of mind even as the author has spent decades as a nurse in bustling city environments. The contrast between the hometown humility and the city-scale experience of care colors the sense of what this facility represents: a space where care, connection, and daily routines can provide a steadying influence during turbulent times.

The author who describes themselves as a lifelong caretaker recounts the personal challenge of watching someone they love struggle without being able to do everything they wish to do. Having dedicated more than 40 years to nursing in large urban systems, they are accustomed to being the one who organizes, shields, and advocates. Yet their own current medical issues limit their ability to be physically present with their friend at Northwoods as much as they would want. This mismatch between expectation and circumstance adds a poignant layer to the narrative: care is not just about medical procedures, but about being present, supportive, and emotionally available, which is harder when one's own health complicates travel and time.

A recurring thread through several passages is the sense that the staff at Northwoods can be kind, patient, and deeply attentive. The reviewer who emphasizes this experience notes that the staff treat families "like family," a phrase that captures the warmth and trust earned through daily interactions. There is a belief that the caregiving team will do their best for the friend, and there is comfort in knowing that a conscientious group is working to support both patient and loved ones through a difficult phase. This line of experience underscores a powerful element of care: when staff communicate clearly, show empathy, and uphold respect, families can feel reassured even during challenging moments.

Yet alongside the praise comes a stark counterpoint. Another voice among the reflections asserts a very different experience, describing staff as "totally rotten to the patients and there's families." The appeal to remove "the lack of professionalism from your staff" signals a belief that the quality of care can be substantially undermined by behavior and attitudes that fail to meet basic professional standards. This critique acknowledges that not all encounters are positive and that inconsistencies in conduct can color a family's overall impression. It serves as a reminder that a facility's reputation rests not only on the presence of caring moments but on the reliability and professionalism of the entire staff across shifts and days.

In contrast to the criticisms, another patient story about Northwoods highlights a rehabilitative period that was still marked by conscientious communication and respectful treatment. A wife spent two weeks in short-term physical rehabilitation, with a policy that restricted in-person visits but allowed window viewing. Despite these constraints, the care team kept her husband informed with daily progress updates and delivered hands-on assistance with daily living activities. The patient was described as bed-bound, yet the staff's ongoing help and the dignity with which those daily tasks were handled painted a clear picture of a facility that can meet critical needs with professionalism and kindness. The sentiment culminates in a strong recommendation, underscoring that positive experiences are possible when staff are attentive, communicative, and supportive.

Taken together, these accounts present a nuanced portrait of Northwoods. For some families and patients, the facility represents a caring community in which staff extend genuine warmth and a family-like approach to those in their care. The sense of being seen, heard, and supported - especially by professionals who are trusted to advocate effectively - appears to be a central strength. For others, there is a clear call for greater consistency and professionalism, a reminder that care quality can vary and that lapses in conduct or attitude can leave families feeling unsettled or frustrated.

Ultimately, the collection of experiences suggests that Northwoods can be a place of comfort and dependable support when the staff demonstrate empathy, clear communication, and respectful treatment at every turn. It also cautions prospective families to consider the variability of care experiences and to seek out conversations with the team about expectations, visitation policies, and how daily progress is shared. Caregivers and loved ones may find the most value in a facility that consistently embodies the small-town spirit of hospitality and the professional rigor that comes from years of nursing practice, a combination that can make a difficult journey a little lighter for everyone involved.

Pharmacies

• Kinney Drugs (0.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (13.7 miles)
• Walgreens (13.7 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (13.7 miles)
• Top's Markets (13.8 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (14 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (14.5 miles)

Physicians

• Community Medical Center (0.2 miles)
• Groton Family Practice (9.4 miles)
• Patricia Digiovanna Np (13.5 miles)
• Cortland Health Center (13.5 miles)
• Cortland Family Practice Health Center - Family Health Network of Central New York (13.7 miles)
• Cortland Family Medical Center (13.7 miles)
• Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates of Cortland MD PC (14 miles)

Parks

• Fillmore Glen State Park (1.1 miles)
• Ludlowville Falls (12.5 miles)
• Homer Green (13 miles)
• Otisco Lake (13.2 miles)
• Durkee Memorial Park (13.4 miles)
• Lansing Myers Park (13.8 miles)
• Cortland Waterworks (14.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Lake Como Inn (6.5 miles)
• Glen Haven Restaurant (8.6 miles)
• Cream At The Top (10.2 miles)
• Mandana Inn (10.5 miles)
• Dugan's Country Grill (11 miles)
• Anyela's Vineyards (12 miles)
• Super Cream Dairy Bar (12.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Auburn Community Hospital (12.4 miles)
• Cortland Memorial Hospital (14 miles)
• Cortland Regional Maternity (14 miles)
• Cortland Surgical Center (15.2 miles)

Cafes

• Origins (12.9 miles)
• Coffee Mania (13.8 miles)
• Coffee Cookies & Creamers (14.6 miles)
• Bru 64 (14.7 miles)
• Starbucks (15 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace Christian Fellowship (13.6 miles)
• Christian & Missionary Alliance Church (13.6 miles)
• Bible Baptist Church (13.6 miles)
• Church Bible Baptist (13.7 miles)
• Free Methodist Church (14.4 miles)
• Newman Hall Catholic Center (14.5 miles)
• O'Heron Newman Catholic Chapel (14.5 miles)

Transportation

• Skaneateles Aero Drome (6B9) (13.8 miles)
• Autorental America (15 miles)

Theaters

• Plaza 6 Cinemas (14.5 miles)