The Pines At Utica Center For Nursing And Rehab

Pros

• Nurse Keona, LPN, on the second floor was praised for her great care and support for the patients.
• Some family members appreciated the potential amenities that The Pines offered at the outset, believing it could be a good choice initially.
• There were instances where staff made efforts to attend to basic needs, such as providing food when requested by family members.
• Despite the negative experiences overall, some family members felt compelled to visit regularly and advocate for their loved ones' care.

Cons

• The facility provided minimal rehabilitation services, prioritizing profit over patient care.
• Staff frequently neglected residents, leaving them unattended for long periods.
• Communication from the nursing staff was poor, with concerns being ignored and no follow-up provided.
• Residents were treated like nursing home patients rather than receiving appropriate rehab therapy.
• Basic needs, such as meals and bathroom assistance, were not adequately addressed.
• The facility's administration and leadership were unprofessional and unhelpful when issues were raised.
• Essential medical information was overlooked, leading to tragic consequences for residents.

Review

The Pines has been the subject of several scathing reviews from families who entrusted their loved ones to this rehabilitation facility, and the consensus reveals a disheartening reality of neglect and inadequate care within its walls. Numerous accounts describe a prevailing culture that appears more focused on financial gain than on providing quality rehabilitation services for patients. The experiences shared by family members indicate a troubling disregard for the well-being and dignity of individuals requiring critical rehabilitative support.

One family recounted their experience with an elderly mother who suffered a fall at the end of February 2024. Initially hopeful that The Pines would provide effective rehabilitation, they were soon disillusioned to find minimal therapeutic intervention for their loved one. Instead of receiving appropriate care, she was often left in her wheelchair for prolonged periods or confined to bed. Disturbingly, there were numerous occasions when staff did not attend to basic hygiene needs, as evidenced by instances where the patient’s depends were soaked with urine during family visits. Complaints directed toward the Director of Rehab yielded little satisfaction, leading them to conclude that monetary motives overshadowed genuine patient care.

Another harshly critical account came from a spouse whose wife had experienced a stroke affecting her mobility on one side. Despite being classified as a fall risk, she faced alarming negligence while in The Pines’ care. Staff routinely failed to monitor her adequately, disregarding repeated warnings about her precarious situation in her wheelchair; this culminated in an unfortunate incident where she fell out of the chair without any staff member informing her husband about it afterward. Bruises and cuts appeared on her legs due to this lack of supervision, prompting an outraged assessment that labeled the entire facility as unfit for operation.

The grim experiences were echoed further by another frustrated family who felt their father was returned home in dramatically worse condition after his stay at The Pines than he had been upon entering. This individual described how patients received only limited therapy—once daily—and then spent the rest of their time either confined to bed or parked in wheelchairs. Basic tasks such as walking even to the bathroom appeared neglected; many residents resorted to using urinals or waiting long periods for help with fundamental needs like meals. There was little effort made by nursing staff addressing concerns raised by family members about inadequate treatment or poor communication regarding care protocols.

Highlighting systemic issues within The Pines, another reviewer recounted their step-father’s harrowing experience shortly after undergoing leg amputation surgery. Despite entering the facility in relatively good health, he encountered dismissive attitudes concerning his dietary requirements as a diabetic patient when he requested proper meals following admission. Such negligence extended further into emergency situations; after suffering from panic overnight—a crisis exacerbated by miscommunication regarding contact numbers—the lackadaisical attitude displayed by staff resulted in devastating consequences: he passed away alone in an ER rather than receiving timely assistance from his family.

Overall, these testimonials paint a bleak picture of life inside The Pines Rehabilitation Facility—one characterized by inadequate care protocols and profoundly troubling levels of attention given to patients' needs. Families leaving loved ones under professional supervision expect them to receive compassionate and competent support during vulnerable times; however, what emerged instead was an unsettling narrative suggesting apathy among caregivers driven predominantly by profit margins rather than genuine concern for residents' recovery processes. With multiple families urging others not to put their loved ones through similar ordeals again, it raises serious questions about accountability within such institutions dedicated ostensibly toward healing but falling painfully short in practice.

Restaurants

• Arby's (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.2 miles)
• Dick Smith's Tavern (0.8 miles)
• Celtic Harp (1.3 miles)
• Nostro Restobar and Lounge (1.3 miles)
• Nail Creek Pub & Brewery (1.3 miles)
• Swifty's Restaurant & Pub (1.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Utica Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Randall's Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Bagel Grove (0.2 miles)
• Joseph Putrello Coffee Barista Bar (1.3 miles)
• Utica Coffee Roasting (1.8 miles)
• Daylight Donuts (1.8 miles)
• Bagg's Square Cafe (2 miles)
• Debbie's Cafe (2.4 miles)
• Raspberries Cafe (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• Adirondack Community Physicians: Neuro Sciences Group (0.3 miles)
• Kenneth Ortega (0.3 miles)
• Faxton-st. Luke's Healthcare Foundation (0.3 miles)
• Slocum-Dickson Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• Eye Associates of Utica PC (0.6 miles)
• Marian Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (0.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Faxton X-ray Department (0.3 miles)
• FAXTON-St LUKE'S HEALTHCARE - FAXTON CAMPUS (0.3 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (0.4 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (0.6 miles)
• Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (0.9 miles)
• Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (1.2 miles)
• Faxton St Luke's Healthcare: St Luke's Campus (1.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Our Lady Of Lourdes Ch (0.7 miles)
• Kingdom Ministries Place of Worship/House of Prayer (1.8 miles)
• St John The Evangelist (2 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (2 miles)