Ruxton Health and Rehabilitation Center of Westover Hills

Pros

• Forest Hill has come a long way, and the hard work of the staff, nurses, therapy, social services, and other departments has not gone unnoticed.
• The staff at Forest Hill is knowledgeable and attentive.
• Forest Hill's building has undergone physical improvements and positive changes, turning it into a great asset to the community.
• Forest Hill Nursing and Rehab Center is compassionate, professional, and truly dedicated to residents' well-being.
• The facility is clean, welcoming, and provides a safe environment where residents can feel at home.
• Communication with families is strong, and the team genuinely values residents' physical and emotional needs.
• Forest Hill has a newly renovated, state-of-the-art rehab wing that is modern, beautiful, and well-equipped.

Cons

• They warned others not to send their loved ones there.
• They did not receive the requested air bed and found no usable medical equipment on arrival.
• They described the facility as dirty and smelling of weed at the front desk, with roaches reported.
• They alleged the response to call buttons was poor and that staff lacked empathy.
• They reported a patient being left unattended for 25 minutes, causing a fall and injury, with no timely EMS follow-up.
• They claimed narcotic pills were swapped for Tylenol and that medication handling was flawed.
• They noted the bathrooms were not fully accessible (no grab bars, inadequate handicapped facilities).
• They described a physician as not employed by the facility and unable to assist, undermining care.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a landscape of conflicting experiences at Forest Hill Nursing and Rehab Center, and to some extent its sister site, Shalom Gardens. On one hand, many readers speak glowingly of progress, renewed energy, and a sense that the facility is becoming a solid community resource. They highlight a newly renovated skilled rehab wing, modern furnishings, clean spaces, and a staff that is described as knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated. Several reviewers commend the work of nurses, therapists, social services, and other departments, noting that communication with families is strong and that the staff genuinely attends to both the physical and emotional needs of residents. In these accounts, Forest Hill is portrayed as a place where improvements are visible: a transformed building, a positive culture, and an environment that residents and families feel comfortable calling home.

There are many testimonies that focus on the everyday care and the sense of warmth from dedicated personnel. Positive reviewers repeatedly mention the level of attentiveness and bedside manner from nurses and aides, the thoroughness of therapy teams, and the sense that the facility is clean, welcoming, and safe. The rehab wing, in particular, is celebrated as state-of-the-art and modern, with new furniture, lighting, televisions, bedding, flooring, and artwork. People who have experienced the care there describe it as improving lives and bringing a sense of pride to the community. Some families have even singled out staff by name for praise, noting that aides and therapists go above and beyond to ensure residents feel cared for and respected.

Amid these favorable accounts, other reviews present intense, distressing concerns that raise serious questions about patient safety and operational ethics. One highly critical note begins with a blunt warning: DO NOT SEND YOUR LOVED ONE HERE. The reviewer recounts a spine procedure rehab scenario in which crucial equipment - such as an air bed - was not provided, even though it had been requested and supposedly existed on site. They describe a lack of accessible medical gear, an unprepared handicapped bathroom without grab bars, and a decision to bring home equipment to compensate. The report goes on to describe delays in call button response, an unpleasant odor at the front desk, and a timeline in which a doctor visited only after several days, with the medical professional acknowledging that the patient should have had the air bed. A serious injury followed after the patient was left unattended, and the family alleges a hostile reaction from staff when they tried to address the incident, including accusations of theft and a lack of timely follow-up communication by the facility.

Another sequence of reviews portrays a similar gravity of concern. A reviewer describes being admitted and then left to feel unsafe, with difficulty obtaining emergency care and a tense, accusatory atmosphere. They recount being ignored during a medical emergency on a Friday night because the pharmacy would not open until morning, and a staff member who allegedly refused to call EMS unless explicitly asked by the patient's family. The account includes the distress of having personal belongings withheld, challenges in obtaining medications, and a perception of indifference from the staff. The reviewer emphasizes that this experience culminated in a transfer to hospital for treatment of a suspected stroke, accompanied by a sense that the facility did not take appropriate action in a timely manner.

There are also detailed narratives about broader, ongoing quality concerns. One account highlights the fear of unsafe conditions and a sense of neglect that extended to multiple areas - unresponsive call lights, an unclean environment, and what the reviewer describes as a lack of empathy from staff. The reviewer recounts a situation where a family member experienced a severe lapse in care during a medical crisis and notes that EMS was summoned only after significant delay, with the staff later failing to follow up on the patient's condition. This story is presented alongside others that mention a shift in culture toward improvement, but the tone remains cautious and strongly warns potential patients and their families about safety and responsiveness issues.

In another comprehensive critique, a resident with a long hospital stay paints a vivid picture of systemic problems: an amputation patient assigned to roommates who should have been in a locked unit, a jacket used as a diaper by a roommate, and a staff member saying they did not speak fluent English well enough to understand orders. Medication handling is questioned, with a narcotic prescription allegedly swapped for Tylenol, and dietary accommodations ignored - such as an allergy to certain foods and a regimen of noncompliant meal choices that appear to jeopardize recovery. Clothing and belongings were mismatched to the wrong people, walker deliveries were delayed, and a case worker failed to secure a waiver for a personal attendant, resulting in financial strain for the family. The patient also describes roach sightings, missing dietician oversight for calorie counts, and confiscated outside food, all of which together create a highly troubling picture of daily life and safety.

Taken as a whole, the reviews reveal a facility that is clearly in a state of tension between significant improvement and serious lapses in care. On the positive side, there are strong statements about renovation, modern rehab amenities, and a culture of care that many staff members appear to embody. The most consistent praise centers on the compassion and professionalism of individual caregivers, the visible upgrades to the physical plant, and the sense that the community is beginning to turn a corner. On the negative side, there are multiple, detailed accounts of safety failures, delays in critical medical responses, equipment shortages, unaddressed injuries, and a concerning pattern of perceived indifference in crisis situations. The sensory details - odors, cleanliness concerns, and the experience of calling for help - underscore why some reviewers feel strongly that this is not a place to entrust a loved one.

For anyone considering Forest Hill or comparing it to other options, these stories suggest a few practical considerations. Prospective families should tour the facility with a critical eye, ask about the status and accessibility of the rehab wing, and speak with administrators and front-line staff about infection control, equipment availability, and response times to call lights. It would also be prudent to verify the presence of a robust emergency plan, ensure proper medication handling procedures, and request recent incident reports or inspection records. While some residents report genuine improvements and a culture of care that resonates with families, others warn that past and potential safety risks require careful scrutiny before making a placement decision.

This part of Richmond, Virginia, offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing for seniors looking to relocate to the area. With several pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians located within a few miles, access to healthcare is convenient and readily available. Additionally, there are numerous parks nearby for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The neighborhood also features a selection of cafes and restaurants for dining options. Places of worship are easily accessible for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Public transportation options are located within a short distance, providing ease of travel around the city. Overall, this area provides a mix of essential services and recreational opportunities that may appeal to seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.8 miles)
• Paragon Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Forest Hill Park (0.4 miles)
• Barker Field Dog Park (1.3 miles)
• Dogwood Dell (1.4 miles)
• Monroe Park (2.4 miles)
• Lombardy Park Playground (2.4 miles)
• Byrd Park (2.8 miles)
• Brown's Island (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (1.7 miles)
• VCU Medical Center Emergency Department (2.7 miles)
• Vcu Health System Authority (2.7 miles)
• Hospital Hospitality House (3 miles)
• Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (3.1 miles)
• VCU Critical Care Hospital (3.2 miles)
• Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Lamplighter (2 miles)
• Quench (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Blanchard’s Café (3.1 miles)
• Ironclad Coffee Roasters (3.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Little Mexico (2.1 miles)
• Sticky Rice (2.2 miles)
• Papa John's Pizza (2.2 miles)
• Joe's Inn (2.4 miles)
• Jimmy John's (2.6 miles)
• Cava (2.6 miles)
• Capital Ale House (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christadelphian Chapel (2.3 miles)
• Tikvat Israel Congregation (2.4 miles)
• Remnant Church (2.5 miles)
• 31st Street Baptist Church (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Bhatti Jawad Dr Virginia Pain Network And Clinics Richmond (2.4 miles)
• Surgical Specialists of Richmond (2.6 miles)
• OrthoVirginia - Chippenham (2.7 miles)
• Bergen Nelson, MD, MS (3 miles)
• MCV Children's Pavillion (3 miles)
• Clanton, Samuel Ambulatory Care Center (3.1 miles)
• Wickersham Jodi Hume Lee Transplant Clinic Richmond (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• GRTC Pulse - Convention Center (2.8 miles)
• Main Street Station (3 miles)

Theaters

• Bow Tie Movieland at Boulevard Square (3.3 miles)