St Francis Nursing Ctr

Pros

• The caregivers here are wonderful.
• Residents enjoy living here.
• Some nurses were absolutely wonderful and treated residents with the utmost respect and care.
• A few staff members are described as earth angels for their compassion and care.

Cons

• The reviews claim the care is substandard.
• They describe staff as rude, disrespectful, condescending, intimidating, and bullying.
• They allege residents developed bedsores due to neglect and lack of proper therapy or nutrition.
• They report not being informed when loved ones were hospitalized or died, including during COVID.
• They say nurses hang up on callers and fail to provide timely updates.
• They accuse management or head nurses of lying on camera and mistreating visitors, including calling the police.
• They state medical records requests were ignored for years.
• They claim belongings were lost or missing after a resident's death.
• They report being falsely accused of abuse to restrict visitation.

Review

A collection of conflicting experiences at East End Health and Rehab Center - formerly known as East End Health and Rehab Center before it was sold to Saber Corporation - paints a complex picture of care, communication, and accountability. On one hand, there are residents and families who speak well of the people who care for them, noting kindness and dedication from the frontline staff. On the other hand, many reviews describe serious concerns about neglect, poor communication, and a perceived disconnect between what is advertised and what happens in daily care. The facility's history and leadership changes also surface in these accounts, adding to the sense that trust and consistency have been hard to maintain for some families.

One recurring tension in the accounts concerns the role of Registered Nurses (RNs) versus aides. A common sentiment from residents and families is frustration with how care duties are distributed, with some feeling that RNs sit back and don't actively support the aides who are on the floor with residents throughout the day. The implication in these remarks is that the system places a heavier burden on aides and that the presence and engagement of RNs are inconsistently felt. Yet there is also a contrasting memory: a resident who has lived there since November 2022 says that "all the people here that take care of us are Wonderful" and expresses appreciation for living there, highlighting that experiences at the facility can vary significantly day to day and person to person.

In one lengthy testimony, a resident who remained at the facility for many years describes a troubling decline in her mother's condition during the last stay. She reports that her mother, who could walk when admitted, was eventually confined to a wheelchair and prevented from exercising, which allegedly contributed to a rapid loss of mobility. The same account alleges bedsores, failure to implement a special diabetic diet, and critical lapses around medications and oxygen when the mother was signed out for a birthday outing. The family says they were repeatedly told the mother was sleeping or unavailable when they called, and they describe long delays in receiving medical records despite submitting required documentation for years. The patient died in 2020 on Christmas Day after a prolonged period of decline, and the family expresses deep anger over what they view as a lack of transparency and respect, even noting that some nurses were caring while others were not.

Other accounts focus on specific confrontations involving staff conduct and administrative responses. One review recounts an incident where the head nurse allegedly lied on camera about interactions with the reviewer's cousin and uncle, prompting police involvement and removal from the facility. The family asserts they sought accountability and legal advice, particularly given the patient's stage-four cancer and the emotional weight of wanting to provide clothing or basic care items during visits. The narrative emphasizes difficulty in obtaining staff names and mentions a direct, confrontational exchange that led to the family's ejection from the facility, with the reviewer planning to pursue legal action.

A separate, highly critical post repeats the core complaint: there is no real care experience here, with "less than a handful of employees" who demonstrate professionalism. The reviewer singles out a nurse by nickname (referred to as SAM or SASQUATCH) and points to posters in the facility about treating residents as adults that seem incongruent with the observed behavior toward elderly residents. The sentiment is clear: the reviewer would rate the facility very poorly, urging others to consider alternatives and suggesting that abuse or neglect may be occurring, or at least going unaddressed, despite the appearance of formal standards on the walls.

Another strongly negative account centers on a family member visiting an elderly relative with terminal cancer. The reviewer describes repeated experiences of rude, dismissive, and verbally aggressive behavior from the head nurse on the floor when asked for basic information such as a staff member's name to file a complaint. The account details attempts to bring clothes for the patient, the escalation to the point of police involvement, and the subsequent restriction of the visitor from returning. The reviewer notes that the incident was captured on video and expresses intent to pursue legal action, underscoring a broader sense of fear and anger around how families are treated and informed about a loved one's condition and whereabouts.

Several reviews echo a common plea: do not rely on the facility's name alone when choosing care for a loved one. A respondent openly admits they were about to place a parent there but changed their mind after reading the reviews, arguing that the reputation simply does not align with what they would expect from a facility entrusted with serious medical needs and end-of-life care. The fear expressed is not only about immediate safety and comfort, but also about respect, transparency, and the ability to maintain dignity in one's final years.

In these accounts, there are glimmers of praise amid the criticisms. A few reviewers acknowledge that there are compassionate staff members and moments of good care, and some maintain that those who work directly with residents can be genuinely caring. Yet the overarching message conveyed across multiple posts is one of concern about consistency, communication, and accountability within the facility. Several reviewers describe a culture that seems to struggle with keeping families informed, handling complaints effectively, and aligning daily practices with the promises implied by posters and public statements.

Taken together, these experiences reflect a facility with a divided reputation: some residents and family members feel cared for and valued, while others feel neglected, misled, or even mistreated. The changes in name and ownership - moving to Saber Corporation and continuing to operate under a new banner - appear to be a backdrop to these tensions, fueling questions about stability, leadership accountability, and the ability to uphold a consistently high standard of care. As with many long-term care settings, the most pressing concerns raised here center on respectful, transparent communication; timely, appropriate medical attention; accurate record-keeping and access to records; and a care culture that truly centers residents and their families in every step of the process.

This area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies within close proximity, access to healthcare and medications is easily accessible. There are also several cafes and restaurants nearby for socialization and dining options. Places of worship provide spiritual support, while various physicians' offices cater to medical needs. The presence of hospitals, including specialized facilities such as the Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Children's Hospital, ensures quality healthcare services. Nearby parks offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure activities. Additionally, transportation options are available with the Amtrak station and bus station located within a reasonable distance for easy travel.

Pharmacies

• Stanton Negley Drug Company (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• Shop 'n Save (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)

Cafes

• Redstart Roasters (0.5 miles)
• Bakery Square (0.9 miles)
• Arriviste Coffee Bar (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Trace Brewing (1.7 miles)
• The Abbey on Butler Street (2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar Penn Ave (0.7 miles)
• Spork (0.8 miles)
• East End Brewing Company (0.9 miles)
• 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe (1 miles)
• Wendy's (1.2 miles)
• The Allegheny Wine Mixer (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Calvary Episcopal Church (0.9 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood (3.2 miles)

Physicians

• Aiken Medical Building (1.4 miles)
• Bellissimo Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa (1.6 miles)
• Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC (2.7 miles)
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2.8 miles)
• Kaufmann Medical Building (2.9 miles)
• Advanced Dermatology (3.2 miles)
• Renaissance Family Practice (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Southwestern Veterans Center (1.4 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital labor and delivery (1.4 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Hillman Cancer Center (1.5 miles)
• UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1.7 miles)
• St Margaret's Hospital Emergency Department (1.9 miles)
• Department of Radiology (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Aspinwall Riverfront Park (1.6 miles)
• Leslie Park Field (1.9 miles)
• Arsenal Park (2.1 miles)
• Frick Park (2.4 miles)
• Schenley Park (2.6 miles)
• Frick Park Blue Slide Playground (2.8 miles)
• Filmet Park (3.7 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak - Pittsburgh Station (4.1 miles)
• Bus Station (4.1 miles)