Van Duyn Home & Hospital in Syracuse, NY

Pros

• Staff was very pleasant and helpful.
• Very nice group of nurses and aids!
• Under the direct supervision of ADON Michelle Wells, he received the best care.
• Michelle's attention to detail regarding his case was astonishing.
• The assisting staff, such as aides and nurses among others, was exceptional.
• The lobby is completely renovated and lovely.
• The staff is friendly and helpful.
• VanDuyn has far exceeded my family's nursing home expectations.
• Bottom line: VanDuyn was an excellent experience in every way.

Cons

• The facility is described as one of the most disturbing places for senior care, lacking basic hygiene in rooms, hallways, and common areas.
• The staff is described as extremely unprofessional, often ignoring call bells and showing little compassion or respect for patients.
• Residents appear neglected, unwashed, and unattended for long periods due to a perceived lack of management and oversight.
• There is a pervasive smell of urine and feces, with floors that are never mopped and rooms in disrepair.
• The food is described as horrible and unappetizing, with many reviews noting missed meals and poor nutrition.
• Numerous reviews warn not to send loved ones here, labeling the facility a place where residents are abused or neglected.
• Night staff are accused of abuse and neglect, including forcing residents to climb stairs and failing to respond to call bells.
• The facility is criticized for chronic understaffing, apathy, and poor communication with families.
• Some reviews describe rooms and bathrooms as dirty, with holes in walls and overall run-down conditions.
• There are accusations that the center prioritizes profit over patient care, keeping residents longer to maximize earnings.

Review

Van Duyn Home & Hospital in Syracuse is best suited for seniors who prioritize rehabilitation and hands-on clinical attention, and who can tolerate a facility with notable variation in day-to-day consistency across floors. The 7th floor rehab area, supported by a committed PT/OT team and an engaged nursing contingent, has produced tangible mobility gains and confidence in residents returning home. For families seeking real-time problem solving, the presence of capable supervisors (notably on the 6th floor under ADON Michelle Wells) and a proactive social-work and concierge layer can translate into a surprisingly supportive recovery environment. In short, this community rewards residents who arrive ready to participate in therapy and daily activity programming and who can align expectations with the ebbs and flows of a multi-floor campus.

Alternatives should be on the radar for families who value uniform cleanliness, predictability, and consistently empathetic care. Several reviews describe pervasive hygiene challenges, odors, and rooms that feel neglected or poorly maintained. Complaints about missed medications, unresponsive call bells, and a sense that some staff view caregiving as a paycheck rather than a calling create real hesitation for anyone who needs steady, risk-averse supervision. For residents with high cognitive impairment, complex medical needs, or a history of wandering or agitation, the caution becomes more pronounced: inconsistent staffing and supervision may not provide the level of reliability required for safety and peace of mind.

The strongest argument in Van Duyn's favor rests with its rehabilitation and clinical-support strengths. When on the rehab floors, residents consistently benefit from attentive nursing care, timely administration of therapies, and a culture of results - from gait training and stair use to respiration-focused rehabilitation. The work of therapists and occupational therapists on those floors stands out as a core asset, and the positive experiences of families who witnessed observable improvements cannot be dismissed. The concierge and social-work teams offer an important bridge to families, helping with transitions, care planning, and navigation of the system, which can significantly reduce anxiety during a tough recovery period.

Beyond rehab, the facility earns praise for the hard-working staff members who show up across shifts, the perceived cleanliness in certain spaces, and the presence of meaningful programming and social interaction. Several reviews underscore that the facility is clean enough where it matters and that many aides, nurses, and therapists are genuinely caring and responsive. Yet these strengths are unevenly distributed - some floors and wings receive consistently high marks, while others incur ongoing complaints about odor, clutter, or inattentive care. The result is a facility that can be excellent for a well-matched resident but risky for someone who needs steady, uniform support throughout the day.

This is not a place where one can rely on a monolithic experience. The most credible decision-making framework acknowledges the gap between high-performing rehab environments and the rest of the campus where issues persist. The main cons - odor and cleanliness problems, inconsistent response to call bells, and sporadic medication management - have outsized consequences for long-term living or post-acute stabilization. When these drawbacks collide with the positive elements of therapy, social work, and a few standout staff members, the experience becomes highly contingent on floor assignment, caregiver teams, and the specific care plan in place.

For families weighing next steps, the practical verdict is clear. If rehabilitation, mobility recovery, and a robust support network around therapy are the top priorities, Van Duyn can be an excellent choice - provided a floor with proven performance is secured and care plans are actively managed. If long-term living with a consistent, hotel-like standard of cleanliness, predictable meals, and uniformly proactive caregiving is the objective, it may be prudent to explore other communities or demand a documented commitment to floor-specific performance metrics, staffing ratios, and accountability. In either case, proactive engagement - requesting a detailed care plan, arranging a floor tour, and speaking with multiple families about their experiences - will reveal whether Van Duyn's strengths align with the resident's needs, or whether safer, steadier alternatives are warranted.

This part of Syracuse, New York, offers a convenient and well-equipped environment for senior living. With several hospitals in close proximity such as Upstate Golisano After Hours Care and Upstate University Hospital, residents have easy access to medical care. Additionally, there are various specialists and physicians nearby, including DeRoberts Plastic Surgery and Orthopedics East. For groceries and medications, pharmacies like Kinney Drugs and Wegmans are within a short distance. Places of worship such as the Apostolic Church and St Elias Orthodox Church offer spiritual support for residents. The area also provides opportunities for leisure with parks like Burnet Park and amenities like cafes (Cafe Kubal) and theaters (Regal Destiny USA IMAX & RPX) a few miles away for recreational activities. Overall, this location ensures convenience, healthcare accessibility, and a sense of community for seniors looking to settle down in Syracuse.

Hospitals

• Upstate Golisano After Hours Care (0.2 miles)
• Upstate University Hospital (0.2 miles)
• Specialists One Day Surgery (1.9 miles)
• Syracuse VA Medical Center (2.4 miles)
• Suny Upstate Medical University University Hospital (2.5 miles)
• Crouse Hospital: Human Resources (2.6 miles)
• Crouse Promptcare (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• Upstate University Hospital Community Campus (0.2 miles)
• DeRoberts Plastic Surgery (0.2 miles)
• Dr Anne Barash, MD (1.9 miles)
• Orthopedics East (1.9 miles)
• The Vision Center (2 miles)
• Syracuse Community Health Center Incorporated, Infectious Diseases Department (2.3 miles)
• University Surgical Associates (2.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Luigi's Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Gannon's Ice Cream (0.7 miles)
• Pfohl's Tavern (1.2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Burger King (2.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Kinney Drugs (1.8 miles)
• Wegmans (2.1 miles)
• Syracuse Community Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Gifford & West Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Apostolic Church (1.9 miles)
• St Elias Orthodox Church (2 miles)
• Islamic Society of Central New York Mosque (2.4 miles)
• May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society (4.7 miles)

Parks

• Burnet Park (2.4 miles)
• Clinton Square (3 miles)
• Clark Reservation State Park (3.7 miles)

Transportation

• Centro Transit Hub (2.5 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (3.1 miles)

Cafes

• Cafe Kubal (2.7 miles)
• Original Grain (2.8 miles)
• Tous Les Jours (4.7 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Destiny USA IMAX & RPX (4.2 miles)