Gem City Nursing and Rehab Center

Pros

• The staff at Gem City are welcoming, communicative, and genuinely invested in resident care.
• The ancillary services offered are a significant benefit to residents and those supporting them.
• The administrators are welcoming, and the social director Eric Doan is down to earth and attentive to residents' feelings.
• The nurses and aides are driven and have been there for residents when needed.
• The physical and occupational therapy teams help residents regain strength and manage pain.
• Ken Chapman, Gem City's Director of Nursing, is remembered for going above and beyond to save a life.
• The building was completely restored after the 2022 flood and now feels new and improved, while retaining familiar elements.
• The staff are described as the most caring and amazing, with nurses and aides having big, caring hearts.
• The office manager is amazing and a fierce advocate for residents and their families, handling complex responsibilities with class.
• The DON and administrator are praised for their leadership and for creating a loving, welcoming environment.

Cons

• The facility is not equipped to care for its residents due to limited staffing, inadequate facilities, and supplies.
• During the summer, the air conditioning was not working for almost two weeks, and patients had to be moved to different rooms and given fans.
• The wound care nurse did not have the correct supplies and did not practice aseptic technique during dressing changes.
• The house physician never visited or rounded on the patient.
• The administrative team and social work prioritized placing residents in long-term care rather than ensuring rehabilitation or transitioning back home.
• The care was described as inadequate and unsafe, with neglect and residents left in their bowels for hours.
• There were reports of a ceiling collapse in or near a room, signaling unsafe conditions.
• There were repeated shortages of linens to change beds, leaving patients in unclean conditions.

Review

Gem City presents itself as a facility that brings together warmth, dedication, and a broad spectrum of care, but the experiences reported by residents, families, and caregivers fall on both ends of the spectrum. On one hand, there are numerous accounts of welcoming staff, open communication, and a genuine commitment to whole-person care. On the other, there are deeply troubling narratives about staffing shortages, supply gaps, and concerns about safety and adequacy of care. The contrast is striking, yet it reflects a single truth: the facility has inspired powerful loyalty and appreciation from many, while also drawing sharp criticism from others who felt let down during vulnerable moments.

A number of reviewers emphasize the strength of the team and the culture of hospitality at Gem City. Staff are described as consistently welcoming and communicative, with ancillary services praised for benefiting residents and those who support them. The Social Director, Eric Doan, is highlighted as down-to-earth and genuinely attentive to residents' feelings and opinions, with several notes that he acts from a place of good intentions. The Nursing team and aides are recognized by multiple visitors as driven and dependable, especially during times when residents needed extra support. The Therapy group - Physical and Occupational Therapy, along with Speech Therapy - receives thanks for helping residents regain strength, manage pain, and participate in rehabilitation. The facility's leadership, including the Administrator and the DON (Director of Nursing), also figure prominently in positive memories, with stories of leadership that cared deeply about residents and families and, in at least one memorable moment, a DON who interrupted a family Christmas ritual to provide life-saving care during a severe infection. Even after a devastating flood in December 2022, reviewers note that Gem City undertook a complete restoration, restoring a sense of new-to-the-building while preserving a familiar feel, and leaving many residents and families loyal and hopeful about what the place represents.

Within these affirming voices, there are equally compelling testimonials about the facility's potential when things go well. One review centers on a relative who weighed more than 500 pounds and was bedridden, where nurses, aides, and other staff were described as having some of the kindest, most caring hearts in the industry. The author praises the staff's consistent, compassionate presence over a long period, including daily interactions and genuine friendship. The office manager is singled out as an exceptional advocate for residents and families, balancing the complexities of state requirements, staffing realities, and the day-to-day care - an advocacy that many felt helped keep residents' needs front and center. The sense of loyalty and the sense that Gem City is a "treasure of the heart" recur as a powerful through-line for those who had positive experiences, even in the face of extraordinary challenges such as the flood repairs.

At the same time, a series of reviews recount serious concerns that raise questions about staffing adequacy, facility readiness, and the consistency of clinical care. One account describes the facility as not equipped to care for its residents due to limited staffing, with photos seen online not reflecting the current realities inside, including stretched staff across floors and a lack of supplies. The summer period brought an extended air-conditioning outage, forcing residents to be moved to different rooms and given fans as a less-than-ideal solution for healing. Wound care and aseptic technique were called into question, with a nurse reportedly lacking the necessary supplies and proper practices during dressing changes. Communication gaps with physicians and outpatient offices emerged, including an incident where a doctor's office inquired about a device Gem City claimed to have, only to be told later that the device did not exist. The reviewer also notes that the house physician did not visit or round, and that administrative and social work staff sometimes appeared more focused on placement in long-term care rather than ensuring timely rehabilitation. The result, in this account, was unsafe conditions and a sense that residents' rehab and medical care were not being prioritized.

Other strong warnings come from additional negative reviews detailing specific safety and care failures. A patient described having no call light available and an inability to call for help at night due to a disconnected patient's tracheotomy situation, forcing them to rely on a family member to relay needs. The Directorship (D.O.N) was described as extremely rude to family members, and a ceiling collapse near the patient's bed added to a sense of risk and neglect. One reviewer wrote in stark terms that they would pursue legal action, underscoring a belief that the facility did not meet basic standards of care and safety. A graphic, emotionally charged critique framed the establishment as a place where neglect and poor management compromised dignity and basic hygiene, with claims of residents left in their bowels for extended periods and food described as moldy or inconsistent. The overarching message in these accounts is not just dissatisfaction with isolated incidents but a perception of systemic failure in staffing, oversight, and execution of patient care.

Despite the gravity of some criticisms, the collection of reviews acknowledges that not all experiences fall into the negative category, and even those who had difficult experiences recognize that some caregivers were compassionate and capable. In several narratives, the nurses, aides, therapists, and support staff are described as kind, patient, and attentive, with responsiveness to call buttons and daily routines that included assistance with activities of daily living, hydration, and recreation. The contrast remains stark: for some families, Gem City delivers warmth, professional competence, and meaningful rehabilitation; for others, the facility failed to meet basic standards of care, leaving them with lasting concerns about safety, communication, and governance.

In weighing these perspectives, it's clear that Gem City is a place of strong dichotomies. The facility has inspired deep appreciation for its people - the nurses, aides, therapists, social workers, and administrative leaders who have demonstrated loyalty, compassion, and resilience. At the same time, credible reports point to systemic issues: staffing shortages, supply gaps, maintenance challenges, and inconsistent clinical oversight that can profoundly affect patient outcomes. For anyone considering Gem City, the message seems to be to look closely at current staffing levels, leadership accessibility, the availability of necessary supplies, and the facility's responsiveness to discipline-specific concerns. It's a reminder that the experience of care is made up as much by the people who show up every day as by the policies and buildings that house them.

This part of Dayton, Ohio offers a convenient location with easy access to various amenities and services. With multiple hospitals and pharmacies in close proximity, residents can feel assured of quality healthcare options. Additionally, there are several reputable physicians' offices nearby for medical care needs. The area also features a range of dining options from casual to upscale restaurants, as well as cafes for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. For relaxation and outdoor activities, there are parks within a short distance for leisurely strolls or picnics. Places of worship provide spiritual support for those seeking a community connection. Transportation options such as cab services and U-Haul rentals make it easy to get around the area. Overall, this neighborhood offers a blend of convenience, healthcare access, dining choices, and recreational opportunities suitable for senior living.

Hospitals

• Grandview Medical Center (0.1 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital (0.2 miles)
• Premier Health Partners (0.8 miles)
• Dayton Children's (1.8 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Inpatient Rehab Unit (1.8 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Surgery Floor (1.9 miles)
• Va Medical Center (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Khn Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Adam Jeffery S MD (0.6 miles)
• Schear Family Practice Network (0.9 miles)
• Dayton Pain Center (1.5 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Pain Center (1.8 miles)
• Miami Valley Heart & Lung Surgeons (1.8 miles)
• Wright State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (1.8 miles)
• Richard Allen Turner, MD (1.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Bar Granada (0.6 miles)
• Table 33 (0.7 miles)
• Uno Chicago Grill (0.7 miles)
• Lock 27 Brewing (0.9 miles)
• The Barrel House (1 miles)
• Grist (1 miles)
• Warped Wing Brewing Company (1.1 miles)

Parks

• RiverScape MetroPark (0.7 miles)
• Kettering Field (0.8 miles)
• Deweese Park (2 miles)
• Hills & Dales MetroPark (3.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace United Methodist (0.8 miles)
• Saint Helen Catholic Church (4.5 miles)
• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church (4.9 miles)

Cafes

• Winans Chocolates + Co (0.8 miles)
• Press (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Pettibone Coffee (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)

Transportation

• Dayton Yellow Cab (1.3 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (1.6 miles)