Friedwald Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in New City, NY

Pros

• The staff are very caring.
• The staff and service are good and attentive.
• The food is amazing.
• The staff have been very professional and helpful.
• The facility is fabulous and the business office provides great help.
• The recreation staff are supportive and create a great experience.
• The OT and PT teams are excellent and help patients recover quickly.
• The nursing team is among the best in the area.
• The accommodations are comfortable and CNAs treat residents like gold.
• The staff are friendly, warm, and welcoming.
• The facility is clean and well-maintained.
• The administration is responsive and cares about residents' progress.

Cons

• DO NOT SEND YOUR LOVED ONES HERE.
• This facility is not a supportive environment for anyone going through a low point in their health.
• The building is dirty, often smells like urine, and is clearly understaffed.
• The rehab department often conducts group therapy sessions while billing insurance for individual sessions, and they even bill for the time it takes to transport patients on the elevator.
• Rather than focusing on helping patients recover and return to their prior level of independence, the care approach feels geared more toward long-term dependency than actual rehabilitation.
• The nurses and aides are dismissive and unprofessional they treat patients like a burden.
• This place is a complete mess, with uncaring staff, incompetent leadership, and disorganized operations that directly harm patients.
• This is by far the worst experience my family has ever had at any medical facility ever.

Review

Friedwald Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is best suited for seniors entering a short-term rehabilitation stay where the primary goal is to restore function and return home. The program centers on aggressive OT and PT with daily sessions and a care culture that emphasizes progress without sacrificing dignity. Families will encounter a facility that feels welcoming: clean, well-kept spaces, a flexible menu that includes kosher options, and an active calendar of activities designed to keep residents socially engaged. When the recovery plan is clear and the patient is ready to push toward independence, Friedwald can deliver meaningful gains and a sense of security through attentive staff.

That said, not every experience at Friedwald lands the same way. Alternatives should be considered for those who require consistently high staffing levels, transparent leadership, and unwavering reliability in daily care. Several reviews flag significant concerns about understaffing, delayed responses to calls, and inconsistent medication administration. For families whose priorities include near-constant oversight, or for residents with complex, long-term care needs rather than a focused rehab trajectory, other facilities with steadier nurse coverage and more uniform accountability may be a safer fit.

The strongest justification for Friedwald lies in its rehabilitation strength and the related outcomes. Across many accounts, the therapists are described as highly capable and motivating, driving patients to progress - sometimes to the point of walking out of rehab stronger than before. The same care extends to nursing staff who are praised for empathy, responsiveness, and a willingness to collaborate with families. When concerns do surface, several administrators and social workers are lauded for taking action, coordinating plans, and keeping families informed. In practice, these positives often shift a stay from ordinary to genuinely productive recovery.

Pros offset cons most convincingly when operation and communication run smoothly. The best experiences feature proactive care conferences, timely updates from social workers, and seamless coordination between admissions, nursing, and therapy teams. Families frequently highlight individualized attention from aides and nurses who treat residents with respect and warmth. The dining experience, the cleanliness of rooms, and the availability of enrichment activities contribute to a home-like atmosphere that helps patients feel secure while they regain strength. However, when staffing gaps widen or leadership signals unclear priorities, gaps in care become palpable and can undermine progress.

To navigate Friedwald effectively, families should insist on a clear, written rehab plan with measurable milestones and a detailed daily schedule. Proactive oversight is essential: demand daily nurse check-ins, verify medication administration accuracy, and request regular progress notes from the therapy team. Engage the social worker early to map insurance and discharge planning, confirm room assignments that fit medical needs, and establish a single point of contact for updates. If an issue arises, escalate promptly through the administrator or the director of nursing; the strongest reviews credit timely, constructive responses and concrete steps to rectify problems.

Ultimately, Friedwald is a compelling option for rehabilitation-focused care, provided that the family remains engaged and the facility operates with strong clinical leadership. The program's proven ability to restore function and its generally warm staffing culture offer a powerful package for short-term recovery. Yet the variability in experiences - ranging from outstanding, attentive care to severe concerns about staffing, cleanliness, and documentation - means careful due diligence is non-negotiable. Prospective families should visit, speak with multiple staff members, review current care plans, and assess whether the facility's current trajectory aligns with the loved one's recovery goals and the family's capacity to supervise care. If the response and coordination are consistently strong, Friedwald stands out as a top-tier rehab partner; if not, brisk consideration of alternatives will be prudent.

This part of New City, New York offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With several physicians, including specialists in dermatology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and digestive diseases, residents have access to quality healthcare services nearby. There are also pharmacies within close proximity for easy access to medications and prescriptions. For spiritual needs, there are places of worship such as Congregation Tzemach Tzedek Lubavitch and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In terms of entertainment and dining options, seniors can enjoy a variety of restaurants like The Burger Loft and The Cheesecake Factory, as well as cafes such as Starbucks and Boxer Donut & Espresso Bar. Additionally, the area boasts several parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this part of New City provides a well-rounded community with essential services for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant neighborhood.

Physicians

• Digestive Disease Associates (1.5 miles)
• Palisades Pediatrics (2.4 miles)
• Scott Sanders, MD Dermatology (2.5 miles)
• Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (2.7 miles)
• Bardonia Pediatric Associates PC (3.1 miles)
• ENT and Allergy Associates (4.7 miles)
• G M Krebs Pediatric Associates (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Tzemach Tzedek Lubavitch of Monsey (2.1 miles)
• Bais Hamedrash (2.7 miles)
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (5.9 miles)
• St Pauls Parish (9.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (5 miles)

Restaurants

• The Burger Loft (2.3 miles)
• White Castle (3.5 miles)
• Wendy's (3.8 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (5.3 miles)
• McDonald's (6.2 miles)
• Bagel Train (6.8 miles)
• Mahwah Bar & Grill (7.1 miles)

Transportation

• Bus Stop (3.2 miles)
• Metro North / NJT - Suffern Station (6.8 miles)
• Croton-Harmon Amtrak Station (8.3 miles)
• Metro North - Ossining Train Station (8.5 miles)
• Metro North / NJT - Tuxedo Station (8.6 miles)
• Cortlandt Metro North Train Station (8.8 miles)
• Metro North - Tarrytown Train Station (10 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Boxer Donut & Espresso Bar (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6.9 miles)
• Art Cafe Of Nyack (7.2 miles)
• Starbucks (7.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.7 miles)
• Dottie Audrey's Bakery Kitchen (9.2 miles)

Theaters

• Nanuet STM 12 & RPX (3.8 miles)
• AMC Palisades 21 (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Helen Hayes Hospital (5.1 miles)
• VA Hospital at Montrose (8.2 miles)

Parks

• Rockland Lake State Park (5.4 miles)
• Nyack Beach State Park (6.5 miles)
• Senasqua Park (8.2 miles)
• Croton Landing Park (8.3 miles)
• Croton Point Park (8.3 miles)
• Louis Engel Park (8.4 miles)
• Piermont Pier (9.7 miles)