Colonial Pines Golden Age Home in Harrisburg, PA

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Pros

• The staff are extremely kind and always helpful.
• The staff know their jobs and do them very well.
• The staff are amazing.
• The staff are wonderful and caring, treating residents with dignity and respect.
• The staff show commitment, communication, and care during the Covid crisis.
• The staff at CPCC are fantastic; doctors, nurses, and therapists are friendly, caring, and compassionate.
• The staff are professional, helpful, and treat residents like family.
• The staff are capable and kind.
• The staff provide phenomenal care to residents.
• The staff are friendly, caring, and welcoming.

Cons

• The facility is described as a nasty place that smells of urine.
• The reviewer would shut the place down and would not award it any stars.
• The reviewer questions how the state allows this facility to stay open, calling it very disgusting.
• The reviewer witnessed abuse by a staff member and hopes the facility is shut down.
• The night staff is absolutely horrible and nasty to patients, with little help provided.
• The facility is understaffed and has slow response times, including delays for pain relief.
• The meals are frequently missing items, the water for tea or coffee is warm, and the chicken broth is among the worst.
• Some aides’ bedside manner tends to be rough and pushy.
• The facility is dirty, with unclean rooms and bathrooms, and it stinks.
• Nurses were extremely rude and failed to provide basic care, including medication and bathroom assistance.
• A nurse refused bathroom access, threw a bed pan at a patient, and did not provide a bed.
• The administration reportedly pays employees late, affecting finances.

Review

Colonial Pines Golden Age Home is best suited for families that want a warm, person-centered caregiving environment where staff engagement and ongoing personal contact with residents are prioritized. The community tends to reward families willing to stay involved and to advocate for their loved ones, because the staff is repeatedly described as kind, attentive, and genuinely invested in residents’ well-being. It is especially attractive for those who value regular updates, meaningful activities, and a home-like atmosphere where residents can form relationships with caregivers and therapists who treat them with dignity and respect.

Those considering alternatives should note that this facility comes with strong caveats. A broad swath of reviews highlights serious concerns about cleanliness, odor, and overall upkeep, along with inconsistent responses to calls for help, especially at night. Billing disputes, medication and meal inconsistencies, and reports of pushy or rough bedside manners by some aides appear in multiple accounts. For families needing rock-solid nighttime coverage, flawless housekeeping, or a straightforward billing experience, other nearby options may offer greater predictability and fewer red flags.

On the positive side, the recurring praise for staff quality cannot be ignored. Families and residents frequently commend nurses, therapists, and front-desk teams for their professionalism, empathy, and willingness to communicate. The physical rehab program is singled out as a standout by several reviewers, with residents noting genuine progress and attentive therapy teams. Cleanliness and a calendar of organized activities also surface in many impressions, contributing to a sense of a cared-for community where residents can participate in social and recreational opportunities with visible staff involvement.

Yet the main drawbacks weigh heavily in decision-making. The most persistent themes are understaffing and slow response times on care requests, particularly overnight, which can leave residents waiting for assistance and medications. Food quality and consistency surface as concerns in some reviews, along with complaints about specific dietary errors or lapses in meal service. Maintenance of rooms and bathrooms, plus odor-related issues, emerge as frequent deterrents, painting a picture of a facility that can be welcoming in good days but faltering on others. A few reviews also recount troubling interpersonal dynamics and, in one or two cases, serious safety concerns, underscoring the variability families may encounter.

In balancing these factors, the pros offer meaningful counterbalances for families who can actively supervise care and insist on clear communication. When staff engagement is consistent, residents benefit from compassionate care, regular updates, and a robust rehab program that supports recovery and functional gains. The facility’s emphasis on cleanliness and activities contributes to a lively, engaged community atmosphere, which can make a meaningful difference in quality of life for many residents. The critical question is whether the level of day-to-day reliability, especially at night and in meal service, meets a family’s comfort threshold, and whether issues around cleanliness and billing are likely to be resolved through direct oversight and ongoing dialogue with leadership.

The bottom-line recommendation is practical and decisive. Colonial Pines is a viable option for families who want a personable, care-focused environment and who are prepared to stay actively involved in daily operations, from meal choices to care plans and billing inquiries. It is less suitable for those who require near-perfect cleanliness, consistently rapid nighttime responsiveness, or turnkey administrative experiences with minimal family involvement. Prospective residents should prioritize a thorough on-site visit, ask pointed questions about night staffing, meal accuracy, and housekeeping protocols, and seek recent, specific examples of improvements. If reliability on those fronts cannot be demonstrated, exploring nearby facilities with stronger night coverage, tighter adherence to hygiene standards, and transparent billing processes is prudent.

This area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania offers a variety of amenities and services that would be beneficial for seniors looking to relocate. With multiple places of worship nearby, individuals can easily access spiritual support and community engagement. The presence of several pharmacies and physicians within close proximity ensures easy access to medical care and prescription needs. Additionally, the diverse selection of restaurants provides options for dining out or ordering in. Nearby hospitals and healthcare facilities offer peace of mind in case of any medical emergencies. The theaters and cafes offer opportunities for entertainment and socializing, while the parks provide a tranquil setting for outdoor recreation. Overall, this area presents a convenient and vibrant environment for senior living.

Places of Worship

• Community Evangelical Free Church (0.5 miles)
• Colonial Park UCC (1.5 miles)
• Harrisburg Bic Church (2.5 miles)
• St Andrews In the Valley Episcopal Church (3.2 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (4.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Physicians

• PinnacleHealth Infectious Disease Associates (0.7 miles)
• Caputo Christopher Urology Of Central Pennsylvania Harrisburg (0.7 miles)
• Watkin Nipple & Associates (0.8 miles)
• Sears Hearing Aid Center by Beltone (0.9 miles)
• Heritage Medical (0.9 miles)
• Aspire Health Concepts (1.1 miles)
• Center For Advance Orthotics (1.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Peachtree Restaurant & Lounge (0.8 miles)
• Wendy's (0.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Gilligan's Bar & Grill (1.1 miles)
• Little Saigon Restaurant (2.6 miles)
• Fiesta Mexico (2.8 miles)
• 3 B Ice Cream (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• PinnacleHealth Community General Osteopathic Hospital (0.8 miles)
• Harrisburg State Hospital (2.6 miles)
• Alex Grass Medical Sciences Building (3.6 miles)
• Department Of Surgery (3.7 miles)
• UPMC Pinnnacle Harrisburg (3.7 miles)
• Labor & Delivery (3.7 miles)
• Polyclinic Campus (3.8 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Harrisburg (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Tomato Pie Cafe (2.9 miles)
• Greystone Public House (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Little Amps Coffee Roasters (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Forest Hills Park (3.7 miles)
• Riverfront Park Harrisburg (3.7 miles)
• City Island (4.1 miles)
• Fort Hunter Mansion and Park (5.5 miles)