Laurel Nursing & Rehab Ctr in Ivydale, WV

Pros

• The administration and staff go above and beyond to learn and make things better for the residents and the facility.
• The facility looks and feels clean, bright, and well maintained.
• The staff consistently greet visitors and engage with residents, showing care.
• Residents are well cared for and enjoy the staff, residents, and activities.
• Medically, residents have done very well at the facility.
• The ambiance is lively and cheerful, with staff actively participating in activities.
• The staff are friendly and supportive, helping residents recover well.
• The facility is nice, with hardworking staff who help residents regain strength, including through physical therapy.
• The food is good and meals are enjoyed in a friendly atmosphere.
• The place is very clean and staffed by amazing people.

Cons

• The facility is not a good facility at all; most staff are rude and off-putting.
• The staff are very lazy and don't do their jobs right.
• The quality of care and services has not been satisfactory.
• The smell outside matches the vibe inside.
• The only complaint is that no one answers the phone.
• There has been frequent administrator turnover, with five to six administrators over ten years.

Review

Laurel Nursing & Rehab Center in Ivydale, WV is best suited for families and residents who prize a clean, bright, and engaged environment where daily life feels active and purposeful. This community tends to work best for seniors who respond well to structured activity, accessible rehabilitation, and hands-on attention from caregivers. The most convincing case comes from long-tenured residents and families who report their loved ones being well cared for, kept clean and dry, and kept intellectually and socially engaged through a steady program of activities and therapy. When the atmosphere is calm, pleasant, and uplifted by music and interaction, Laurel can deliver meaningful quality of life day-to-day.

That said, alternatives should be considered for families prioritizing administrative stability and consistently responsive communication. Several reviews point to turnover at the top and frequent changes in leadership, which can translate into uneven policy execution and shifting expectations. For some families, a facility with firmer, longer-tenured management may feel more predictable. Additionally, when phone responsiveness and straightforward communication are non-negotiables, Laurel's reported issues with phone access and perceived gaps in responsiveness can be a dealbreaker. In short, a resident who needs rock-solid consistency in administration and rapid, reliable communication may do better elsewhere.

On balance, the core strengths at Laurel tend to offset the more problematic gaps for residents who benefit from strong personal care, engaging programming, and rehabilitative momentum. The positives include a consistently clean, bright, and well-kept setting; staff who interact meaningfully with residents; active programming that keeps people occupied and socially connected; and credible medical oversight with successful rehab experiences. Families frequently observe that caregivers are attentive, that residents are well-groomed, and that therapy and medical management support meaningful recovery and daily comfort. When these elements align, Laurel provides a compelling environment for recovery-focused living.

What complicates the decision are the competing, sometimes stark, resident experiences. Some families report exceptionally positive interactions with staff, noting kindness, warmth, and a willingness to go the extra mile - examples range from thoughtful transport coordination to proactive activity reminders. Other accounts describe rude or disengaged staff, odor concerns, and frustration with access to frontline communications. These contradictions suggest a facility in flux in management or culture, where the quality of the day-to-day experience can swing depending on who is on shift or which department a family interacts with. For someone with a loved one who is sensitive to staff demeanor or who places a premium on seamless, predictable operations, these inconsistencies carry real weight.

Decision-making hinges on aligning expectations with the lived reality of Laurel's operations. For families prioritizing rehab progress, social engagement, and a pleasant environment, Laurel is a solid fit - provided there is careful due diligence on leadership stability and communication pathways. Prospective families should seek specifics about current staffing ratios, the temperament and availability of front-line caregivers, and how management handles feedback and problem-solving when issues arise. A tour during active times, conversations with the activities team, and a candid meeting with the Director of Nursing can illuminate whether the facility's strengths can consistently address day-to-day concerns.

In the end, Laurel Nursing & Rehab Center offers a practical, value-driven option for those who want a lively, well-maintained setting with tangible rehab and care benefits. It is less appealing for families who cannot tolerate turnover at the top, inconsistent phone access, or the possibility of mixed staff experiences. The decision should rest on clear priorities: if ongoing engagement, clean surroundings, and dependable clinical support are paramount, Laurel warrants strong consideration, with a structured plan to verify leadership continuity and communication reliability before moving a loved one in.

Places of Worship

• Buffalo Valley Baptist Church (4.1 miles)
• Clay First Baptist Church (4.5 miles)
• Fairview Baptist Temple (4.8 miles)
• Middle Creek Baptist Church (5.5 miles)
• Maysel Missionary Baptist Church (5.7 miles)
• Burlington United Methodist Family Services (5.8 miles)
• Risen Lord Catholic Church (5.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Tudor's Biscuit World (4.8 miles)
• Subway (4.8 miles)
• Gino's Pizza (5.5 miles)
• Connie's (5.9 miles)
• Pizzas and Cream (6.9 miles)
• The Barn Restaurant (7.4 miles)
• Granny's Kitchen (11.3 miles)

Physicians

• Primary Care Systems (4.9 miles)
• Clay Rural Medical Clinic (5.9 miles)
• Braxton Health Associates (17 miles)
• Summersville Hospital Sleep Center (19.9 miles)
• Marvin Wurth MD (20.1 miles)
• Summersville Pediatrics (20.1 miles)
• Summersville Rural Health Clinic (20.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Clay Family Pharmacy (4.9 miles)
• Carl Walker Drug Store (17 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (17.7 miles)
• Walgreens (18.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (19.6 miles)
• Summersville Outpatient Pharmacy (20.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Braxton County Memorial Hospital (17.7 miles)
• Braxton County Health Department (19.6 miles)
• Summersville Regional Medical Center (20.1 miles)
• Summersville Memorial Hospital (20.1 miles)

Parks

• Veterans Memorial Park (18.7 miles)
• Holly-Gray Park (22.8 miles)
• Elk River Wildlife Management Area (22.9 miles)
• Calhoun County Park (23.2 miles)
• Mt. Zion Community Park (23.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (19.5 miles)
• G. D. B. (20.8 miles)

Theaters

• Elk Theatre (19.7 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (20.7 miles)
• Alamo (23 miles)
• Enterprise (23 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (23 miles)
• Braxton County Airport (48I) (23.2 miles)