St Francis Nursing Ctr in Pittsburgh, PA

Pros

• The staff here are wonderful and caring.
• The facility is clean and the front desk to housekeeping staff are friendly.
• The nurses are wonderful, highly professional, and caring.
• The care provided was amazing, with respectful treatment and excellent medical care, including rehab and activities.
• The front office staff were amazing and very helpful.
• The doctors, nurses, and physical therapy staff are fantastic and deliver great care.
• They created a communication binder to help the resident express themselves effectively.

Cons

• Some reviewers claim the RN nurses sit on their butt and don’t assist the aides, calling the system broken.
• The facility is described as dirty and care as substandard, with residents developing bedsores.
• Families report rude, unprofessional staff who intimidate or bully residents.
• There are allegations that staff withhold or mismanage medications and fail to provide proper diets.
• Visitors recount being lied to or hung up on, and sometimes being kept unaware of a patient’s hospitalization or COVID status.
• Several reviews call for the facility’s closure or advise against placing loved ones there.
• Financial exploitation is alleged, with claims that staff stole residents’ money.

Review

St Francis Nursing Center in Pittsburgh is best suited for families seeking short- to medium-term rehabilitation care where therapy access is a priority and where loved ones require active supervision and advocacy. The community has changed hands and rebranded in recent years, which can signal shifting leadership and policies. Families should expect that gains in functional recovery may hinge on vigilant oversight and timely, persistent communication with staff. This is not a place to “set and forget” care; it rewards that level of involvement with the potential for meaningful rehab results when the system cooperates.

Those considering alternatives should take this as a clear warning: if reliability, dignity, and consistent communication are non-negotiable, look elsewhere. The reviews consolidate a pattern of highly variable experiences, from hopeful rehab stories to grave concerns about neglect, disrespect, and unsafe conditions. For long-term residency where the emphasis is daily welfare and stable daily routines, the risk calculus here tilts toward other options. Families should reserve judgment until they have toured the facility, spoken with several disciplines, and confirmed staffing practices are aligned with their expectations.

On the positive side, there are credible reports of dedicated, caring staff in certain shifts and units, especially among therapy teams and some front-desk personnel. A few residents and families describe clean surroundings, attentive aides, and effective rehabilitation that helped individuals regain walking or mobility. When present, those interactions can noticeably improve mood, participation in therapy, and overall experience. The strongest encouragement in the favorable replies centers on specific caregivers and therapists who deliver real help and compassion.

However, the roll call of cons is long and deeply troubling. Records from numerous reviews recount bedsores, inconsistent bathing and hygiene, missed or delayed calls for help, and poor communication with families about medical events. There are repeated allegations of staff disrespect, curt or dismissive responses to family inquiries, and even accusations of mismanagement or worse, including questions about patient safety and accountability. Several families report difficult or hostile interactions with leadership, and some describe a culture that allows or ignores problematic behavior. The most serious stories involve potential harm and a perceived lack of transparency.

Given the breadth and severity of these concerns, the pros stop short of offsetting the main risks for most seniors and families. Effective rehab can be a cornerstone of a stay, but without reliable daily care, consistent communication, and a respectful environment, the rehab gains may be outweighed by safety concerns and emotional toll. The best approach is a deliberate, hands-on due diligence: verify current staffing ratios, request recent incident logs, tour multiple units at different times, and demand to meet the therapy team and charge nurse with questions about pressure sore prevention, medication safety, and resident complaints resolution. Until those assurances are solid, St Francis should be viewed as a facility to move through carefully, not a default choice for anyone needing dependable, compassionate care.

For families weighing options, the recommended playbook is clear. If choosing St Francis, prepare a concrete oversight plan: designate a dedicated family member to accompany every visit, insist on prompt call-bell responses, and require daily progress notes from therapy and nursing staff. Seek a transparent outline of the facility’s current response procedures to patient safety concerns and a documented pathway for escalating issues to administration. If this level of scrutiny cannot be sustained or if the tone and responsiveness do not improve quickly, turn to alternatives with stronger safety records and more consistently respectful care. In the end, the decision should prioritize dependable, dignified daily care and a clear, collaborative relationship with the care team.

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)