Manorcare Health Services Shadyside in Pittsburgh, PA

Pros

• The facility is very clean with a pleasant atmosphere and nice nurses.
• The staff were nice and approachable, providing helpful care.
• The receptionist was friendly and informative.
• The front desk staff greet visitors with a friendly, welcoming demeanor.
• The PM nurse was very nice to the resident and provided attentive care.
• The environment is clean, and the staff are caring and respectful toward residents.
• Amanda is responsive and returns calls promptly.

Cons

• The facility is filthy and smells strongly of urine, with rooms and elevators consistently dirty.
• The staff are overworked, undertrained, and often unprofessional or rude.
• Residents are left unattended for long periods, with call bells ignored or unanswered.
• Medications are mishandled, including pills left on tables or not administered properly.
• Residents are sometimes left in soiled conditions, including days without toileting or changing briefs.
• The dining and food service are inconsistent, with meals described as inedible or insufficient.
• The building is portrayed as unsafe or unsanitary, with some reviewers urging that families not send loved ones there.
• Front desk and administration are criticized as disrespectful or unhelpful by some family members.

Review

Manorcare Health Services Shadyside is best suited for families that can stay actively involved and advocate on behalf of a loved one, especially when the need is for skilled nursing or short-term rehab and daily oversight is feasible. The facility can deliver genuine warmth from a subset of RNs and aides, and therapy services sometimes help residents make meaningful progress. Yet the experience is highly variable, and the strongest asset, personalized attention from individual staff, depends heavily on who is on duty.

Families should explicitly recognize that alternatives deserve consideration, particularly for loved ones requiring consistently high cleanliness, reliable nurse responsiveness, and rigorous medication management. If a facility’s history includes repeated reports of dirty rooms, strong odors, unaddressed call bells, or gaps in basic care, other options may provide a more stable baseline of safety and comfort. For those with high fall risk, complex medical needs, or advanced dementia, shifting to an environment with proven, steady staffing and tighter operational controls is prudent. In short, this is a place to visit with a critical eye and a plan for vigilant oversight, not a hands-off destination.

On the upside, several reviews point to friendly faces at the front desk, approachable nursing staff, and occasional episodes of attentive care. When administration or therapy teams align with a resident’s rehab goals, tangible gains can occur, and a few families report moments of genuine reassurance and dependable support. The best moments come from staff who communicate openly, demonstrate competency in rehabilitation, and treat residents with kindness. Those pockets of quality care can offer real value, especially for moments when family presence is limited.

The downsides are repeated and systemic enough to overshadow the positives for many families. Widespread complaints include persistent filth and odors, dirty rooms and common areas, and facilities that feel understaffed or overwhelmed. Call bells frequently go unanswered, medications are inconsistently administered, and some residents experience neglect or discomfort that cannot be ignored. Reports of bedsores, inadequate hygiene, and privacy lapses, along with sporadic but severe allegations of elder abuse, underscore serious safety concerns. The inconsistency in care quality makes planning around daily routines and health needs uncertain, which is a major risk for long-term placement.

Whether the positives can offset the negatives largely depends on the family’s ability to supervise care and the resident’s tolerance for variability. For short-term rehab or a temporary stay, the presence of compassionate staff and effective therapists can help a patient regain function if family members can monitor progress and intervene quickly. For long-term residence, however, the recurrent cleanliness issues, staffing gaps, and safety lapses create a risk profile that is difficult to overcome with occasional good days. In other words, the advantages may feel meaningful in small doses but do not reliably counterbalance the broader reliability problems.

For families weighing a decision, the prudent path is to conduct thorough, multi-hour visits at different times to observe routines, inspect rooms, test call bells, and interview the director of nursing. Review the latest state inspection reports and ask about nurse-to-patient ratios, medication administration policies, and how ad hoc staffing fluctuations are managed. Demand concrete action plans for improving cleanliness, meal quality, and responsiveness, and request a clear point of accountability if concerns arise. If the answers feel piecemeal or slow to change, it is wise to explore alternatives that offer more consistent safety and care. In the current reality, Manorcare Shadyside can work for families who are ready to be highly engaged and prepared to move decisively if standards slip; for most others, a facility with a proven track record of steady cleanliness and reliable care may be the safer, steadier choice.

This particular part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals in close proximity, residents have easy access to medical care. Additionally, there are various cafes and restaurants for socializing and enjoying meals out. The nearby parks provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The presence of places of worship also allows for spiritual fulfillment. Public transportation options such as bus stations and an Amtrak station ensure ease of travel for seniors who may not drive. Overall, this area provides a convenient and vibrant environment for senior living.

Physicians

• Bellissimo Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa (0.2 miles)
• Aiken Medical Building (0.5 miles)
• Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC (1.6 miles)
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1.6 miles)
• Kaufmann Medical Building (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Arriviste Coffee Bar (0.4 miles)
• Bakery Square (0.9 miles)
• Redstart Roasters (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Trace Brewing (1.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.7 miles)
• Brooklyn Bagel At Arsenal (2.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Stanton Negley Drug Company (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe (0.5 miles)
• Wendy's (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar Penn Ave (1 miles)
• Spork (1 miles)
• East End Brewing Company (1.2 miles)
• The Porch at Schenley (1.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Calvary Episcopal Church (0.6 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Hillman Cancer Center (0.7 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital labor and delivery (1.1 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital (1.1 miles)
• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (1.6 miles)
• UPMC Presbyterian (1.6 miles)
• UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1.7 miles)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1.7 miles)

Parks

• Schenley Park (1.2 miles)
• Frick Park (1.5 miles)
• Frick Park Blue Slide Playground (1.6 miles)
• Arsenal Park (2 miles)
• Leslie Park Field (2.1 miles)
• Aspinwall Riverfront Park (3 miles)
• Filmet Park (3.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Waterfront 22 (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak - Pittsburgh Station (3.2 miles)
• Bus Station (3.3 miles)