Sunrest Nursing Home in Port Jefferson, NY

Pros

• The staff at Mather Hospital are described as the best, with care that's off the charts.
• Mather Hospital is regarded as one of the best on Long Island and a go?to facility.
• The hospital is credited with saving lives thanks to exceptional doctors, nurses, and staff.
• The nursing and medical teams are consistently described as caring, attentive, and compassionate.
• The ER and surgical teams are praised for speed, professionalism, and supportive bedside manner.
• The dining service and food are excellent, with staff going above and beyond.
• The facility is clean, well?equipped, and comfortable, fostering a sense of safety and reassurance.
• Reviewers would highly recommend Mather Hospital to others.

Cons

• One reviewer states that the staff is a "pathetic circus of nurses and doctors" who show little care and even tell patients to "man up."
• One reviewer notes the ER wait times were unacceptable, with patients waiting hours (up to 12 hours) to be admitted.
• One reviewer says the doctors were horrible with communication and explanations and did not listen to patients' concerns.
• One reviewer describes the nurses as rude, arrogant, and condescending, with poor attention to pain management.
• One reviewer claims there was misdiagnosis or a failure to communicate test results, leaving care unclear and delays in treatment.
• One reviewer accuses the hospital of exploitative billing practices, suggesting a "pyramid scheme" to bill insurers.
• One reviewer says the hospital's reputation has declined, calling it the worst hospital on Long Island and noting mismanagement after changes.
• One reviewer reports security/privacy concerns, including belongings being mishandled or taken.

Review

Sunrest Nursing Home in Port Jefferson is best suited for families whose priority is strong clinical oversight and reliable nursing attention. This community appears to be built around a model where medical acuity and timely therapeutic intervention drive each day, with an emphasis on skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and a disciplined care planning process. For residents who need ongoing monitoring, complex medication management, and coordinated hospital-level care in a post-acute or long-term setting, Sunrest positions itself as a practical, purpose-driven option. It is less a purely "home-like" experience and more a focused environment where the staff leadership prioritizes rapid assessments, clear care trajectories, and diligent follow-through on treatment plans.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are families seeking a consistently homogeneous frontline experience, a highly predictable dining program, or a setting with especially robust social and recreational programming that feels very "homelike" rather than clinical. If constant warmth from every shift, a uniform bedside demeanor, or a strongly cottage-style atmosphere matters more than clinical immediacy, explore other options. Similarly, if straightforward, transparent billing, fewer administrative hiccups, and a consistently proactive family-communication protocol are nonnegotiables, Sunrest should be weighed against facilities with a track record of steadier administrative operations and more transparent problem-solving processes.

The key positives that typically matter in a decision like this - nursing responsiveness, competency in acute and rehabilitative care, and a culture that treats medical needs with urgency - tend to offset several of the notable drawbacks. When a facility can deliver prompt assistance with pain management, post-operative recovery, and rehabilitation momentum, families gain confidence that their loved one will not be left waiting for help or for answers. The presence of skilled therapists, careful monitoring, and dependable routine assessments creates a stabilizing core that makes it feasible to address medical complexity without sacrificing day-to-day safety and dignity. In short, clinical strength becomes the primary risk mitigator for other operational frictions.

However, the downsides should be taken seriously. Variability in staff attitudes across shifts, occasional gaps in communication, and administrative bottlenecks can erode trust and magnify family stress. If multiple caregivers seem inconsistent, if important updates arrive late, or if meal quality and dining reliability feel uneven, those concerns will weigh against Sunrest's clinical advantages. The reality is that superb medical care loses its full value if families cannot rely on clear information, timely responses to questions, and a dependable daily rhythm that supports a resident's sense of security and routine.

With these dynamics in mind, Sunrest is a compelling choice for seniors who need steady medical supervision and a disciplined rehabilitation pathway, especially when hospital-to-home continuity matters and family members require a central point of accountability. It suits residents whose medical teams and caregiving staff demonstrate dependable responsiveness and who value rapid access to therapy and medical reviews. If these conditions align with the resident's needs and the family's expectations for proactive care, Sunrest can deliver meaningful, life-stabilizing benefits that justify the trade-offs.

Practical next steps to make a well-supported decision include scheduling a tour focused on care processes and staffing. Ask to meet the director of nursing and several frontline supervisors to gauge consistency and communication style. Request recent staffing ratios by shift and a sample care plan for a typical day, including pain management, mobility goals, and medication oversight. Inquire about rehabilitation programming - frequency, equipment variety, and how therapy goals are coordinated with physicians. Finally, seek candid feedback from current families about responsiveness to calls, meal service reliability, and how concerns are resolved. A careful on-site evaluation, reinforced by transparent, evidence-based answers, will reveal whether Sunrest aligns with the family's practical priorities and the resident's medical needs.

Physicians

• Long Island Pediatric Ophthalmology (0.1 miles)
• OCLI Vision Port Jefferson (0.1 miles)
• Long Island Laparoscopic Surgery (0.7 miles)
• Dr Steve Nenninger, NMD, ND, CDN (0.9 miles)
• Port Jefferson Speech & Hearing (1 miles)
• Pediatric Cardiology Of Long Island PC (1.1 miles)
• Long Island Limousine Association (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• John T Mather Memorial Hospital (0.1 miles)
• St Charles Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Main Lobby (3.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Echo Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (1 miles)
• The Steam Room (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Se-Port Delicatessen (2.5 miles)
• Strathmore Bagels (3 miles)
• Fratelli's Bagel Express (3.3 miles)
• Inferno the Restaurant (3.7 miles)

Parks

• Heritage Park (2.3 miles)
• Selden Dog Park (3.5 miles)
• West Meadow Beach (4.8 miles)
• Avalon Park & Preserve (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Student Activities Center (4 miles)
• Crazy Beans (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.5 miles)
• Nesconset Bagel Cafe (8.8 miles)

Transportation

• Suffolk Transportation Coram (5.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Stony Brook 17 (5.8 miles)
• Regal Ronkonkoma (7.7 miles)
• Island 16 Cinema de Lux (8.3 miles)