Colonial Pines Golden Age Home

Pros

• The staff at Colonial Park Care Center are fantastic, with doctors, nurses, and therapists who are friendly, caring, and compassionate.
• The facility is clean, well maintained, and residents are treated with respect and care.
• The physical rehab program is top notch, with staff who go above and beyond.
• The receptionist is welcoming, and the office staff are friendly and helpful.
• Families receive regular updates and feel peace of mind about their loved ones.
• The center offers organized activities and holiday events that engage residents.
• Staff treat residents with dignity, and families feel their loved ones are well cared for.
• The overall atmosphere is warm and supportive, with care that feels like family.

Cons

• The facility is described as a nasty place that smells of urine, with a warning not to place anyone there.
• A reviewer reports being billed for a day after requesting to take their father home, risking damage to their credit.
• One reviewer urged that the place be shut down and stated they would never put their parents there.
• An account claims abuse by a staff member and calls for the facility to be shut down.
• The night staff are described as horrible and nasty to patients, with delays in bathroom assistance and dismissive replies when shifts end.
• The facility is described as short-staffed, with dirty rooms/bathrooms, a stinky environment, and poor service.
• There is criticism that there are not enough staff to provide proper care, with long waits for pain meds and medications not as represented on the website.

Review

Colonial Park Care Center elicits a wide range of impressions from families who entrust their loved ones to its care. For some, the facility is a haven of warmth and attentiveness, a place where the staff are consistently kind, patient, and considerate, and where residents receive dignified treatment even through difficult days. Multiple families speak of staff that are friendly, professional, and genuinely committed to the well?being of those in their care. Words like "amazing," "wonderful," and "caring" recur when describing the frontline team: nurses on the second floor, aides, therapists, and social workers who go out of their way to communicate, reassure, and assist. In particular, several reviewers highlight specific individuals - Dr. Sahi, Julie the social worker, Ashley and Myls from physical and occupational therapy, Kathy and George the second?floor nurses, and Tyler the unit manager - as making a meaningful difference in their loved ones' care. The general sentiment from these accounts is that, when things go well, the facility can feel like a real extension of family, with clean rooms, organized activities, and a supportive atmosphere that helps residents feel comfortable and engaged.

Yet the portrait is not uniformly rosy. A substantial portion of the feedback sounds alarms that cannot be ignored. Some reviewers describe the place as a "nasty" environment, with smells of urine, dirt, and a sense that the facility struggles with cleanliness and odor at times. One reviewer even calls for the place to be shut down after witnessing alleged abuse by a staff member and referencing a social media post that names a particular user. There are persistent concerns about safety and responsiveness - claims that press a "call button" is not answered promptly, that patients are left waiting for help with basic needs, and that some aides and night staff can be rough in their bedside manner. In these voices, the day-to-day reality sometimes feels disjointed from the compassionate ideal many staff members strive for.

Staffing levels emerge as a central theme in the mixed reviews. On one hand, several families praise the staff for not being overwhelmed and for delivering attentive care; on the other hand, there are repeated complaints about being understaffed at critical times, delays in getting help, and a sense that residents do not always receive the timely attention they need. The contrast is stark: some praise the rehab program as "top notch" and helpful, while others report long waits for pain management, missed meals, or items missing from trays. The kitchen, too, receives a split verdict - some reviewers note that meals can be inconsistent, with items missing or meals sometimes swapped, and a complaint about the quality of certain items like powdered eggs, while others commend staff for their effort and the overall quality of rehab services.

Financial and administrative threads weave through several narratives as well. One family recounts a discharge dispute and a billing confusion that led to frustration over potential charges for a day the patient could not be discharged, raising worries about how outpatient costs might affect their loved one's and family's credit. There are also mentions of payroll concerns that allegedly affected the facility's ability to pay staff on time, a reminder that the economics of care can ripple out to affect both employees and residents. These elements remind readers that the experience of a skilled, compassionate staff can be shaped not only by bedside care but also by the administrative and financial processes that support it.

Cleanliness and environment surface in mixed fashion too. Several reviews paint Colonial Park as a neat, well?kept place with welcoming receptionists and pleasant communal spaces. The lobby and reception area are praised for warmth and helpfulness, with staff that greet visitors and help them navigate the facility. Other voices, however, stress that the physical environment can be less pristine on some days - rooms described as dirty or with lingering odors, bathrooms that are not up to expectations, and a general sense that maintenance and housekeeping are uneven across shifts. The reality, as captured by these voices, seems to swing between moments of comfort and concerns about the basics of cleanliness and upkeep.

Amid the tensions, a thread of gratitude for positive experiences persists. Several families note that, in their experiences, their loved ones have been treated with dignity, respect, and genuine care. They emphasize that, when they visit, they see a staff that is patient, communicative, and engaged in meaningful activities that support the residents' well?being. For many, this health?care partnership offers reassurance and peace of mind - a sense that their loved one is not just being supervised, but truly cared for with empathy and professional competence. The facility's ability to deliver this kind of care seems to hinge on factors such as staff availability, effective communication, and a consistent approach to both clinical and everyday needs.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced portrait of Colonial Park Care Center. There are clear strengths - the dedication and warmth of many staff members, the presence of capable therapists, and a welcoming front?of?house experience that helps families feel connected and informed. There are equally clear challenges - the realities of understaffing at times, disparities in kitchen and room standards, and disputes over discharge and billing that can sour otherwise positive experiences. For families considering this facility, the message is to engage deeply: meet the team, ask about staff ratios and response times, review meal and discharge policies, and observe the facility in person across multiple visits and times of day. The best outcomes appear to come from a partnership approach - parents, children, and caregivers working together to advocate for consistent care, transparent communications, and a safe, clean, and respectful environment for every resident.

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)