Guardian Elder Care Center in Nanticoke, PA

Pros

• The staff at Lakewood Rehab & Healthcare Center are professional, kind, and caring.
• They go above and beyond to assist families in making the best decisions about care.
• The staff are amazing, and residents are well cared for.
• The rehab team is outstanding and encouraging residents to maintain hope and progress.
• The facility is clean, welcoming, and well maintained.
• The staff treat residents like family and provide compassionate care.
• The activities program is creative and interactive, enriching residents' daily lives.
• The nursing and therapy teams are attentive, professional, and dedicated to each resident's well-being.
• Families feel comfort knowing their loved ones are in capable hands.

Cons

• The facility is disgusting; it smells putrid and staff does not care.
• A CNA ripped out a drain and never reported it to a nurse.
• The TPN was spiked and held together with scotch tape, and critical care was neglected.
• Staff ignored critical lab values, which ended the patient in the PCU.
• There are only two nurses for 100 patients.
• The plumbing is broken in the rooms, leaking on floors; it's a nightmare facility.
• Call bells are useless; residents wait hours for help.
• The food is not cooked properly.

Review

Guardian Elder Care Center in Nanticoke, PA is best suited for families seeking a warm, rehab-forward environment where compassionate staff and a structured activity program can meaningfully support recovery and ongoing daily living. The community earns particular mileage with post-hospital and short-term rehabilitation needs, where residents benefit from attentive nursing, a dedicated therapy team, and a home-like atmosphere. When care teams are engaged and proactive, families feel their loved one is in capable hands, and the facility's clean, comfortable surroundings reinforce that impression. This is not a generic, one-size-fits-all option; it works best for those who are ready to partner closely with clinicians and front-line workers to continually tailor care.

That said, several reviewers counsel considering alternatives if certain risk factors matter most. The most important red flags include reports of inconsistent staffing and delayed call-bell responses, with some accounts detailing long waits for assistance. A few families raise alarms about safety lapses, such as medication management and monitoring concerns, and a handful describe odor, cleanliness, or maintenance issues that undermine confidence. Some reviewers also point to communication gaps with social services and administration, which can leave families feeling out of the loop during stressful transitions. In short, Guardian can be an excellent fit when care teams are stable and responsive, but the experience appears more variable than ideal for those requiring near-constant vigilance.

The strongest positives - professional, caring staff, and a robust rehabilitation mindset - often offset the negatives for families who verify and advocate. Reviewers repeatedly highlight skilled therapists and attentive aides who go the extra mile, along with nurses who are described as compassionate and on top of evolving needs. The rehab program is frequently cited as a standout, with tangible progress that helps residents regain independence and confidence. Cleanliness, a respectful atmosphere, and activities that engage residents contribute to a sense of dignity and belonging. When leadership and line staff are aligned, Guardian becomes a place where residents feel seen, and families gain reassurance that real work is being done around daily living and recovery goals.

Another recurring strength revolves around the human touch: staff members who treat residents like family, and a culture that welcomes family involvement. Several accounts mention dedicated team members by name - nurses, social workers, activity coordinators, respiratory therapists, and maintenance staff - who contribute to a positive day-to-day reality. The sense that staff care deeply about individual residents, and that activities and social engagement are taken seriously, can be a decisive factor for families balancing medical needs with quality-of-life considerations. When this warmth is present, it softens the impact of occasional operational hiccups and reinforces the perception of Guardian as a trustworthy cradle for recovery and routine care.

Yet the evidence is not uniformly soothing. Some reviews describe serious lapses that erode trust: missed call-bell responses, perceived understaffing, or situations where critical clinical details were mishandled or not promptly addressed. A minority of families report troubling incidents or ongoing safety concerns, including disputes over medication, oxygen therapy management, or abrupt changes in care plans without clear family input. These experiences underscore the necessity of a proactive, hands-on approach from families - visiting frequently, asking precise questions, and demanding transparent communication from nursing leadership and the medical team. Prospective residents with complex, evolving medical needs will want to confirm a solid staffing model, current clinical leadership, and a concrete plan for rapid escalation if concerns arise.

In deciding on Guardian, practical steps separate confident choices from hesitant ones. Prospective families should schedule comprehensive visits, insist on meeting the director of nursing, tour the rehab gym, and observe call-bell response times during peak hours. Request current staffing schedules, review recent incident and medication safety policies, and speak with several frontline staff about their daily protocols. It is equally wise to request references from families with residents in the same unit and to verify the latest survey results and any corrective action plans. For those who prioritize a high-touch rehab environment and are prepared to stay engaged and vigilant, Guardian Elder Care Center offers a compelling path to recovery and everyday care. For others - especially those needing near-constant supervision or a flawless safety record - exploring alternative options may yield greater peace of mind.

Restaurants

• Marty's Blue Room (0.2 miles)
• Burger King (1.2 miles)
• Maureen's (2.4 miles)
• Ice House Pub (4.5 miles)
• Raub's Restaurant (4.5 miles)
• The Big House Bar (5.1 miles)
• Adelina's Restaurant & Pizzaria (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Gerrity's Supermarkets (2.7 miles)
• RLS (4.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.9 miles)
• Harrold's Pharmacy & Home Infusion (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Nebo Baptist Church (1.2 miles)
• St Peter & Paul Ukranian Catholic Church (4.7 miles)
• Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church (6.2 miles)
• Holy Spirit Parish (7.2 miles)
• Town Hill United Methodist Church (7.4 miles)

Physicians

• Eye Care Specialists (1.2 miles)
• Intermountain Medical Group (5.4 miles)
• Geisinger-South Wilkes-Barre (6.5 miles)
• Geisinger Pediatrics At Mercy Hospital (6.6 miles)
• Klynowsky Family Practice (6.8 miles)
• Northeastern Eye Institute (6.9 miles)
• Northeastern Eye Institute (7.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Emergency Department (6.5 miles)
• Geisinger Health System (6.5 miles)
• Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (6.9 miles)
• Geisinger Health System (7.2 miles)
• Wyoming Valley Health Care (7.8 miles)
• NEPA Breastfeeding Center (8.5 miles)
• First Hospital (8.6 miles)

Parks

• Barney Farms Park (6.7 miles)
• Kirby Park (7.8 miles)
• PPL Susquehanna Riverlands (8.8 miles)

Theaters

• R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 (7.9 miles)

Transportation

• East Coast Institute Taxidermy (7.9 miles)

Cafes

• Mattern's Floral and Furnishings (8 miles)
• Starbucks (8 miles)
• Starbucks (9 miles)