Ballard Care and Rehabilitation in Seattle, WA

Pros

• The building is old, but it was very clean.
• He had a room to himself with lots of natural light and felt immediately comfortable there.
• He received PT and OT every weekday from skilled therapists who helped him mobilize.
• The RNs and nursing aides always asked if anything was needed.
• The Social Services team was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition home.
• He was discharged walking again in 2.5 weeks.
• Ballard Center is one of the best nursing facilities in Seattle.
• The staff were kind, courteous, and professional.
• The facility was clean and the staff were pleasant.
• Nurse Janet was helpful.

Cons

• The reviewer states that this facility should be shut down and investigated for criminal behavior.
• The place is described as a complete disaster with unsafe conditions.
• The facility is dirty, run-down, and has a strong odor of urine.
• The nurses and staff are described as neglectful, abusive, and unresponsive.
• Residents experience missed medications and delayed or denied treatments, including pain management.
• The kitchen ignores dietary needs and serves late, cold meals.
• Families report being unable to reach residents by phone or receive timely updates.
• The environment is severely understaffed and poorly managed, leading to unsafe and disrespectful treatment.

Review

Ballard Care and Rehabilitation is best suited for families prioritizing rehabilitation potential when a strong local advocate can supervise care, monitor every detail, and insist on aggressive therapy. For residents who can benefit from effective PT and OT, the center can deliver meaningful mobility gains when staff engagement is consistent and visible. However, it is not a fit for those who require steady medical oversight, reliable family updates, and transparent, responsive communication without constant monitoring. Those needing highly structured nursing care, strict safety controls, and predictable day-to-day operations should look at other options where regulatory performance is consistently stronger and call-back times more dependable.

The reviews cluster around a troubling pattern: widespread concerns about neglect, poor communication, and inconsistent care. Families report calls going unanswered, medication delays, and a sense that staff turnover or shortages leave patients without essential assistance. Multiple accounts describe dirty conditions, inadequate hygiene practices, and a reluctance by staff to engage families or provide timely updates. The most urgent red flags focus on acute safety and medical oversight failures - emergency room events, hospitalizations, missed diagnoses, and in some cases, severe infections or complications that could have been avoided with prompt attention. While a subset of comments praises devotion and skill among some therapists and caregivers, the prevailing message is that basic accountability and reliable communication fall short.

Despite the negatives, several reviewers identify real strengths when the facility operates at its best. The rehabilitation program can be well-regarded by patients who receive consistent PT and OT, with therapists who drive progress and coordinate with families. Cleanliness and ambiance show up positively in certain accounts, offering a calmer environment for recovery when staffing is adequate. Social workers and case managers who maintain steady communication and coordinate transitions home are cited as valuable, and a few families point to successful discharges where residents regained meaningful independence. These positives illustrate that Ballard can function effectively under the right conditions, particularly with strong oversight from families who stay actively involved.

The core drawbacks are not merely cosmetic; they shape risk for any prospective resident. Chronic understaffing surfaces in delays to meals, medications, and basic assistance; language barriers and inconsistent handoffs compound miscommunications. Reports of inadequate showers, neglected daily living activities, and lapses in documentation contribute to a sense of instability. Observations that some units were temporarily shut down by authorities and that families faced barriers to timely feedback further erode confidence. In such an environment, the likelihood that a medical or safety issue will be detected and addressed promptly rises only when a dedicated family presence is available to fill the gaps.

From a decision-making perspective, practical due diligence should center on staffing, communication protocols, and measurable safeguards. Prospective families should request current state survey outcomes, ask for real-time escalation paths when concerns arise, and confirm that a robust social work and discharge-planning process is in place. Clarify how often family updates occur, who they communicate with, and how medication management is tracked. If choosing Ballard, plan to visit frequently in the early weeks, verify that therapy schedules are consistent, and insist on transparent documentation of progress and changes in care plans. Without these safeguards, the risk premium attached to Ballard's rehab promise may overwhelm the potential gains.

In the final assessment, Ballard Care and Rehabilitation presents a mixed proposition. For families who can maintain a vigilant, hands-on approach and prioritize rehabilitation outcomes while tolerating a degree of inconsistency in daily operations, there is room for genuine progress. For others - those seeking steady, unambiguous medical oversight, scrupulous communication, and consistently clean, safe care - the balance tips toward alternatives with stronger track records in patient safety and family engagement. The decision should hinge on the capacity to supervise care intimately, the ability to demand rapid, reliable updates, and the willingness to weather a facility whose strengths depend heavily on the presence and persistence of engaged families.

Located in the vibrant city of Seattle, Washington, this neighborhood boasts a variety of amenities that cater to seniors looking for convenience and leisure. With several pharmacies nearby, accessing healthcare services is easy and convenient. In addition, there are numerous cafes where you can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or family. The neighborhood also offers several parks for outdoor activities and relaxation, as well as top-rated physicians and hospitals for medical care. Transportation options are abundant with multiple transit stations nearby, making it easy to get around the city. Overall, this part of Seattle provides a well-rounded and accessible living environment for seniors looking to enjoy all that the city has to offer.

Pharmacies

• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Grifols (1 miles)
• Northgate Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (2.1 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Diva Espresso (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Cafe Mox (2.4 miles)
• Lighthouse Roasters (2.8 miles)
• Jake's Coffee (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Greenwood Park (0.9 miles)
• Carkeek Park (0.9 miles)
• Ballard Playfield (2.1 miles)
• Woodland Park Off Leash Area (2.2 miles)
• Woodland Park (2.4 miles)
• Maple Leaf Park (2.4 miles)
• Little Howe Park (4.3 miles)

Physicians

• Ballard Pediatric Clinic PS (1 miles)
• Seattle Gastroenterology Associates (3.4 miles)
• Warby Parker (4 miles)
• Queen Anne Eye Clinic (4.2 miles)
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (5.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Autumn (1.5 miles)
• RidgeWood Bottle & Tap (1.5 miles)
• Tin Hat Bar & Grill (1.6 miles)
• Bongos (1.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• Stoup Brewing (2.2 miles)
• Salt & Straw (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Northwest Hospital (1.8 miles)
• Uw Medical Center Cafeteria (4.3 miles)
• Seattle Children's Hospital (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• Northgate Station Seattle (1.8 miles)
• Northgate Transit Center (1.9 miles)
• Roosevelt Station Seattle (2.9 miles)
• U District Station (3.6 miles)
• University of Washington LINK Station (4.5 miles)
• Seattle Center Monorail (5.4 miles)