Windber Woods Senior Living & Rehabilitation Center in Windber, PA

Pros

• The staff at Windber Woods is amazing.
• The nursing staff was excellent, treating residents with professionalism, kindness, compassion, and respect.
• They went above and beyond to help residents with their recovery.
• Physical therapy was excellent.
• The facility is service- and care-oriented and presents a fantastic experience.
• They would definitely recommend Windber Woods for rehabilitation or long-term care.
• Administration is excellent at addressing concerns and solving problems.
• The staff treats all patients with respect.
• Communication is strong, with regular updates and virtual visits.

Cons

• Some staff care, most do not.
• The food was unedible most of the time.
• There were days she did not receive a dinner.
• Medications were not administered on time or correctly.
• She did not receive the healthcare she needed and sometimes had to wait weeks.
• Management was poor.
• It was the worst place ever.
• The owner and management did not seem to care about an alleged false accusation.
• They dragged their feet for six days with excuses for why she wasn't moved.
• They would not connect her phone line, preventing communication.

Review

Windber Woods Senior Living & Rehabilitation Center in Windber, PA is best suited for families pursuing aggressive, hands-on rehabilitation and sustained long-term care where frontline staff are the primary drivers of daily caregiving. The community earns strong marks for compassionate nursing and therapy teams, and it shines when a resident's goal is functional improvement through physical therapy and routine, attentive care. It works well for those who want regular family updates and are comfortable engaging with the care team to coordinate rehabilitation plans. Those seeking a uniformly polished management culture or an unflappably predictable administrative experience should explore alternatives, as several reviews flag management and consistency as recurring concerns.

On the upside, Windber Woods often delivers what families value most: genuinely caring staff and a responsive treatment team. Nursing and aides frequently receive praise for kindness, professionalism, and respect toward residents. Physical therapy is repeatedly described as effective and adaptable, with therapists willing to adjust schedules and approaches to meet evolving needs. Administration is repeatedly cited as problem-solvers who respond to concerns and keep the resident and family at the center of care. The facility's environment, including a renovated floor, conveys a sense of livability, and family members report meaningful engagement through weekly updates, coordinated virtual visits, and a practical model that supports recovery and daily living. For many, these elements translate into tangible progress and confidence in the care plan.

Yet the experience is not uniformly positive, and the unevenness is a real consideration. Several reviewers recount episodes of management problems, with some describing delays in care, medication issues, or a perception that problems were not addressed promptly. Food quality appears inconsistent, and a subset of residents or families report communication gaps - difficulty connecting phones or getting timely information, and situations where concerns about safety or care were not resolved quickly. There are disturbing notes about bed sores and episodes where residents felt neglected, and a few accounts allege deception or misrepresentation in handling transitions or discharge decisions. That mix of praise and alarm signals a facility where the day-to-day care can be excellent, but governance and reliability have caused problems for some families.

The key question becomes whether the strong, hands-on care can offset the governance and consistency risks. For rehab-driven families, the quality of nursing and therapy, plus proactive family communication, often makes Windber Woods a compelling choice. When care teams are aligned with a clear plan and families stay engaged, recovery trajectories improve and residents appear well-attended. The combination of wound clinics, virtual doctor visits, and a culture that prizes the resident's routine and comfort adds a practical resilience to the model. However, where operational friction exists - such as staffing gaps, slow response times, or perceived mismanagement - these gains can be eroded quickly, and the risk of recurring issues grows. The decision hinges on whether the emphasis will be on tangible therapy outcomes and daily interactions, or on governance and operational predictability.

Families considering alternatives should weigh the need for ironclad consistency against the proven ability to deliver care at the bedside. If reliability, transparent communication, timely medications, and consistently high food quality are non-negotiables, other facilities with stronger governance records may be a better fit. Windber Woods should be on the short list for those who value the clinical backbone - the therapists, nurses, and hands-on caregivers - while recognizing the importance of active oversight and prompt escalation of any concerns. Prospective families are advised to tour with an eye toward current staffing levels, speak directly with therapy and nursing leads, request a transparent tour of recent care plans, and review recent resident feedback from third-party sources to triangulate impressions.

In the final assessment, Windber Woods offers solid, practical benefits for rehab and long-term care, anchored by caring frontline staff and committed therapists. It is not a flawless operation, but for the right family - one that can remain engaged, ask questions, and monitor care - the facility can deliver meaningful recovery and steady daily quality of life. The recommended path is clear: pursue Windber Woods if rehabilitation success and personal attention are top priorities, but approach with a plan to verify care consistency and governance from day one. If those safeguards or a higher level of operational steadiness are essential, explore alternatives and compare administrative track records, staffing levels, and resident experiences before deciding.

Places of Worship

• Scalp Level Church of the Brethren (0.1 miles)
• Crossroads Community Church (2.4 miles)
• Faith Chapel (3.8 miles)
• St Benedict Church (4 miles)
• St Patrick's Church Rectory (5 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Caring Ministries (5.9 miles)

Physicians

• Reid Gentile DO (0.6 miles)
• Windber Ob/Gyn Associates (0.6 miles)
• Boroumand Masood MD (0.7 miles)
• Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center (0.8 miles)
• Alan J Kivitz MD (1.9 miles)
• Retina Vitreous Consultants (2 miles)
• Ophthamlic Associates Surgery & Laser Center (2 miles)

Hospitals

• Windber Medical Center (0.6 miles)
• James E Van Dandt VA clinic (2.2 miles)
• Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center (5.7 miles)

Restaurants

• The Rambler (0.9 miles)
• Windber Hotel (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Subway (1.8 miles)
• Main Moon Chinese Restaurant (1.9 miles)
• Pappy's Family Pub (1.9 miles)
• Firehouse Subs (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Randy's Bilo Foods (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• Genoa Healthcare (2.5 miles)
• East Hills Family Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• Silver Drive-In (1.5 miles)
• Richland Cinemas (2.3 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• The Morning Grind (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Lorain Park (4.2 miles)
• Roxbury Park (5.7 miles)
• Elim Field (6.3 miles)

Transportation

• John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (5.4 miles)
• Ken Lantzy All Star Game (6.6 miles)