Avamere Salem Transitional Care

Pros

• They took really great care of his father-in-law.
• The kitchen staff truly did their best to meet his dietary needs.
• Deanna Thompson of social services worked tirelessly to find a long-term care facility that would accept VA benefits.
• Advamere at Sunnyside is a great place.
• Amazing staff.
• The best Physical Therapy center in Salem thanks to Diane.
• They stay safe and COVID-free this whole time.
• They treat her like she is their family.

Cons

• A reviewer warned, "Don't go here" and advised against sending loved ones due to poor care.
• One reviewer claimed, "This place killed my father" and urged others not to stay.
• Multiple reviews described the staff as cold, impersonal, and dirty, with very poor responsiveness.
• A reviewer said the nursing staff is not responsive and that residents must walk to the bathroom themselves.
• There were reports of bedsores, a broken bed, and dirty rooms with odors.
• Families reported meals missing or delayed, including a case where a resident did not get breakfast and wasn't fed for hours.
• Several reviews allege staff argued with hospice nurses and refused to provide PRNs.
• A reviewer stated a resident was told to use a portable toilet and had to stay in bed, unable to leave.
• One reviewer criticized a lack of accountability at leadership, suggesting the need for investigation.
• A reviewer described finding a dirty diaper left on the floor and a room that smelled like feces.

Review

The collection of remarks about Avamere Sunnyside reveals a wide spectrum of experiences, ranging from heartfelt praise to urgent warnings. On the positive side, families consistently point to dedicated staff and compassionate care, with several notes highlighting specific individuals who made a meaningful difference. One reviewer shared an encouraging family story: after multiple hospital stays and a long rehabilitation period, the kitchen and care teams worked hard to meet complex dietary needs tied to MS, and even when regular insurance coverage ended, a social worker named Deanna Thompson went to great lengths to secure a VA-benefit-supported long-term placement. The son of that resident reported back with warmth, saying his loved one felt "they gave me 110%," a sentiment echoed by others who noted attentive, respectful care and a sense of professional, empathetic treatment. Another account praised a mother's stay, describing professional, courteous staff and a clean, well-run operation, and several entries specifically attributed good experiences to the facility's physical therapy team, including praise for Diane and the overall quality of rehabilitative services. In these voices, Avamere Sunnyside is seen as a place where staff genuinely try to meet families' expectations and where the facility can feel like a supportive environment during recovery and transition.

There are also strong defenses from residents and family members who dispute negative portrayals, underscoring the complexity of caregiving in a facility of this kind. One resident, who identified themselves as currently living there, argued that the negative online reviews do not accurately capture the experience, asserting that the building is very clean and that the nurses, CNAs, and office staff are wonderful. This perspective emphasizes ongoing efforts to maintain safety protocols, including COVID-19 measures, and notes that proactive communication from staff leadership helps keep families informed. The defense highlights a sense of community within the facility, where many staff members are described as professional and genuinely engaged with residents' daily routines and needs.

Despite these affirmations, a substantial portion of the feedback centers on serious concerns about care quality and responsiveness. Several reviewers recounted troubling experiences: inadequate help with basic needs like getting to the bathroom, delays or lack of assistance during critical moments, and questions about the facility's responsiveness to urgent requests. One family recounted a situation where a loved one could not be assisted promptly and ended up needing to navigate to the bathroom independently, raising fears about the possibility of a fall. Another reviewer claimed that their father was not properly attended to during rehabilitation and expressed frustration with perceived neglect, including instances of ignored calls and unreturned messages. The sentiment across these accounts is a palpable anxiety about safety and the reliability of service when residents are at their most vulnerable.

Dietary considerations and meal-related issues form another recurring thread in these reviews. Several families describe frustration over dietary accommodations, including a lack of gluten-free options and questions about the facility's responsiveness to gluten intolerance and celiac disease. One parent recounted a food-related restriction tied to a medical condition that triggers itchy blotches, insisting that gluten-free bread and other options are essential for health and comfort. There's also a sense that some dietary restrictions are not consistently observed, with complaints about inconsistent breakfast offerings or substitutions that do not align with residents' health needs. This gap between dietary requirements and menu execution appears to be a notable source of dissatisfaction for some families who value nutrition and safety as central to the rehabilitation process.

In addition to issues around responsiveness and dietary accommodations, some reviews paint a more troubling picture of the facility's day-to-day operations and environment. A number of comments describe dirty conditions, delayed call-outs, and what is portrayed as rough handling or neglect of residents. Instances include discussions of slow or absent responses to calls for help, unclean rooms or linens, and inpatient experiences that felt impersonal or unsympathetic. Several accounts portray front-desk and administrative teams as overwhelmed or inattentive, with patients or family members reporting repeated failures to return calls or to provide timely information about care plans, routine goals, or equipment needs such as walkers, wheelchairs, or bed tables. The frustration conveyed in these messages centers on a perceived lack of accountability at the top and inconsistent execution on the floor, leaving some families questioning whether the facility can consistently meet the basic standards they expect for loved ones.

The overall narrative demonstrates that Avamere Sunnyside can be a place of genuine support and expert rehabilitation for some residents, while for others it represents a stressful, inconsistent, and sometimes inequitable care environment. The praise for specific staff members and the emphasis on professional conduct and infection-control practices coexist with urgent warnings about unresponsiveness, safety hazards, and inadequate attention to essential needs. For families navigating transition, memory, and medical complexity, these competing experiences underscore the importance of ongoing oversight, transparent communication, and proactive collaboration with care teams to ensure that each resident receives timely help, appropriate dietary options, and a safe, supportive living environment.

This part of Salem, Oregon offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With several parks nearby such as Fircrest Park and Woodmansee Park, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and nature walks. There are also numerous healthcare options including Happy Doc Family Medicine and Willamette Sleep Center, ensuring access to quality medical care. Additionally, there are pharmacies like Walgreens and Rite Aid for easy prescription refills. Places of worship such as Queen of Peace Parish are available for spiritual needs, while restaurants like McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House offer dining options. The area also features cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for socializing over coffee. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of recreational, healthcare, dining, and shopping choices that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a well-rounded living environment in Salem.

Parks

• Fircrest Park (0.5 miles)
• Nelson Park (0.6 miles)
• Woodmansee Park (1.6 miles)
• Sumpter School City Park (1.7 miles)
• Minto-Brown Island City Park (1.8 miles)
• McKinley School City Park (1.9 miles)
• Fairmont City Park (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• Happy Doc Family Medicine (0.6 miles)
• Pain Management Northwest (0.9 miles)
• Willamette Sleep Center (1 miles)
• Salem Clinic (1 miles)
• Willamette Hearing & Audiology (1.1 miles)
• Willamette Ear Nose & Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery (1.1 miles)
• John Donovan (1.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Avalina Pharma08256943 (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Physicians Building Group (2.5 miles)
• Calhoun Compounding Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Queen of Peace Parish (0.9 miles)
• First Christian Church (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House (0.9 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1.4 miles)
• La Hacienda Real (1.4 miles)
• Burger King (1.4 miles)
• Tup Tim Thai Cuisine (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (1.5 miles)

Hospitals

• DaVita Salem At Home (1 miles)
• River Road Surgery Center (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• Dutch Bros Coffee (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.5 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.6 miles)
• Urban Grange Coffee (2.8 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (3.1 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Cinebarre Movieland (3.6 miles)