Heritage Nursing Home Inc

Pros

• The care she received was absolutely amazing.
• The staff included the family in all aspects of her care.
• She was treated with love, kindness, and respect.
• The nursing staff were caring and attentive to safety and well-being.
• The therapy staff and nursing staff were patient and went above and beyond.
• The facility has a great Activities program.
• The administration was great and created a friendly environment where residents feel comfortable and well-supported.

Cons

• The facility was neglectful toward elderly residents, failing to meet basic needs such as hydration.
• The nurses gave the patient the wrong medications and medications she could not take.
• The kitchen served food on broken/unsafe plates and safety and hygiene standards were not upheld.
• Communication with families was terrible; staff did not return calls or relay important information.
• The patient suffered dehydration requiring an emergency transfer, a preventable outcome.
• The nurse-to-patient ratio was unacceptable, indicating severe understaffing.
• The administration and staff were unprofessional and should be shut down due to safety concerns.
• Rooms were not cleaned and bed linens were not changed, reflecting neglect of basic cleanliness.

Review

There appears to be a troubling mix of experiences at this long-term care center, with scores of families reporting severe lapses in care and safety alongside a smaller number of accounts praising the staff and programs. On the negative side, many reviews describe a pattern of neglect and mismanagement that ranges from hampered communication to outright medical errors. Family members recount being unable to reach higher-level administrators when concerns arose, leaving them feeling unheard and powerless. In several accounts, the nursing staff is accused of giving the wrong medications or medications that patients should not receive, including situations where Tylenol was administered despite strict prohibitions for certain treatments. The fear that basic safety standards are not being met repeatedly surfaces - reports of dehydration, incomplete basic care, and even safety hazards like serving food on chipped plates. The tone in these comments is one of alarm: "If zero stars were possible, I would use them," one reviewer insists, highlighting a deep concern for patient safety and the impression that the facility prioritizes procedures over people.

A recurring theme centers on hydration, nutrition, and basic attention to fundamental needs. Several families describe patients becoming dehydrated or undernourished while in residence, sometimes necessitating emergency transfers to other facilities. The concerns extend to everyday care tasks: at times, residents are described as not being helped with routine activities, not being provided with water or appropriate meals, and not receiving timely assistance when the call button is pressed. One reviewer details water withholding due to a brain tumor as a particularly distressing example of care that falls short of a patient's needs. Across multiple stories, the common thread is a perception that staff are overburdened, undertrained, or otherwise inattentive to the urgent everyday requirements of vulnerable elders.

Communication, in particular, appears to be a chronic weakness. Several families report "poor communication" and say they never receive call-backs, with some noting there is no voicemail option or clear lines of contact to the right people. The sense of being kept in the loop is described as inconsistent at best; families who visit or call often find themselves navigating opaque channels, unsure who is responsible for what aspect of care. In some cases, this lack of transparency is tied to a perception of staffing issues - an environment in which the nurse-to-patient ratio is viewed as unacceptable and where administrative initiatives seem detached from the day-to-day realities on the floor. The fear is that important changes in a resident's condition or new medications might not be shared in a timely or accurate manner, leaving families feeling blindsided.

Despite these troubling accounts, there are notable pockets of praise and gratitude. A number of reviewers describe moments of high-quality, compassionate care, especially in the later stages of life or during rehabilitation. They speak of staff who treat residents with kindness, respect, and patient involvement, and who welcome family participation in care planning. Some families highlight the presence of dedicated social workers, therapists, and activities staff who make an effort to know residents personally, involve families in decisions, and create meaningful programs. There are mentions of private meetings with leadership and coordinators, as well as positive notes about therapy programs, housekeeping, and overall environment when care proceeds smoothly. A few accounts explicitly credit nursing and therapy teams with providing "excellent" or "amazing" care, and praise is given to the atmosphere of support, warmth, and dignity during difficult times.

The truth across the board seems to be a strong claim of inconsistency. Several families report experiences that are described as "the most caring" or "the best," juxtaposed with others that recount "absolute neglect," medication errors, and missed basic needs. This contrast suggests that quality may fluctuate significantly depending on the shift, staff, or even the specific unit within the facility. Positive anecdotes often emphasize family involvement, transparent conversations, and collaborative care planning, whereas negative ones point to understaffing, physician access issues, delayed responses, and gaps in day-to-day attention to residents' comfort and safety. The result is a complex portrait: a place capable of delivering excellent, compassionate care at times, but one that also presents serious risks when staff are stretched too thin or communication breaks down.

For families considering this center, the takeaway is clear but nuanced. There are credible, heartfelt testimonials of excellent care and meaningful engagement with residents and families, alongside deeply troubling narratives of neglect and unsafe practices. Prospective residents and their families would be wise to conduct thorough, firsthand assessments before making decisions. Consider asking direct questions about staffing levels and nurse-to-patient ratios, request to speak with multiple members of the care team, and seek recent state or federal inspection results and Medicare surveys. If you choose to proceed, establish a clear line of communication with the nursing supervisor, social worker, and attending physician; insist on regular updates, and advocate for your loved one's needs with the same vigilance you would want for yourself or a family member. In short, the facility presents a dual reality: care can be profoundly compassionate and effective, yet systemic gaps may undermine safety and trust if not addressed promptly and consistently.

This area of Athens, Pennsylvania offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a peaceful and convenient place to live. There are several places of worship nearby, as well as restaurants offering a range of dining options. Transportation options are easily accessible, with car rental services and a railway station in the vicinity. The presence of parks allows for outdoor activities and relaxation. The availability of physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals ensures access to healthcare services within a short distance. Overall, this part of Athens provides a well-rounded and accommodating environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and engaging community to call home.

Places of Worship

• Unitarian Universalist Church (0 miles)
• Valley United Presbyterian Church (0.4 miles)
• Trinity Church (0.5 miles)
• Sayre Christian Church (1.2 miles)
• Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1.4 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (1.5 miles)
• Grace Episcopal Church (3.2 miles)

Restaurants

• The Showroom (0.2 miles)
• Mooney’s (0.3 miles)
• Grace Chinese Buffet (1.1 miles)
• Beeman's Family Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• Yanuzzi's (1.4 miles)
• Kelley's Pitstop (1.4 miles)
• Wendy's (1.5 miles)

Transportation

• Alamo (0.2 miles)
• Williams Auto Rental (1.8 miles)
• U-Haul (8.2 miles)
• Dreck's Taxidermy (12.9 miles)
• Bone Stripper (13.5 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (13.7 miles)
• Lehigh Railway (14 miles)

Parks

• Round Top Recreation Area (0.8 miles)
• Mt. Pisgah (13.1 miles)

Physicians

• Eric Schackow, MD, PhD (1.4 miles)
• Timothy Flurschutz, MS, FNP (1.4 miles)
• Angela Crisp, MD (1.4 miles)
• Guthrie Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine (1.5 miles)
• Guthrie Walk-In Care - Sayre (1.5 miles)
• David Piatok, MD (1.5 miles)
• Guthrie Desmond Street Practice (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Twin Tier (1.5 miles)
• Clinic Pharmacy Guthrie (1.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)
• Waverly Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Waverly Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Guthrie Healthcare System (1.5 miles)
• Memorial Hospital (12.7 miles)
• Personal Care Home Of Memorial Hospital (12.7 miles)
• Memorial Hospital (13.7 miles)

Cafes

• Owego Soft Serve (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• Keystone Theatre (14.1 miles)