Golden LivingCenter - Riverside in St. Albans, WV

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Pros

• The care his uncle received was exceptional.
• The director Cameron was always available to answer questions.
• The care staff did a great job keeping him clean, fed, comfortable, and as happy as possible away from home.
• The facility was clean and the staff welcoming.
• Chrissy in the business office went above and beyond to help families navigate the process.
• Riverside had a spot for their uncle, for which they were thankful.
• The OT and PT were great with the exercises.
• The staff provided very friendly and exceptional care.
• He loves the staff like family and they take really good care of him.
• Cameron, Lee, Jimmy, and staff do a wonderful job caring for their residents.
• Riverside is the best nursing facility that they have visited.
• Riverside saved my dad's life.

Cons

• The reviewer described the facility as a horrible place with terrible patient care; they pulled their daughter out after a week and wouldn’t even put a dog there.
• The rehab was non-productive and minimal, with wound dressing changed only once and not observed.
• Room changes occurred without family notification, and discharge planning was nonexistent.
• Staff claimed they were new and the manager was gone, signaling poor accountability.
• There was no privacy for patients due to overcrowded rooms.
• There were neglect and indifference by the staff, and the facility was not very clean.
• The reviewer urged others to steer clear of the facility, criticizing poor customer service and lack of compassion.
• A latex balloon arch in the cafeteria created unnecessary risk for latex-allergic individuals.

Review

Golden LivingCenter Riverside in St. Albans, WV is best suited for families seeking a caring, hands-on nursing environment where frontline staff and near-constant accessibility drive daily comfort and safety. The facility tends to favor residents who benefit from a family-like culture, attentive care, and reliable medical and rehabilitation support that can be coordinated with family input. When a loved one needs steady daily assistance, clean surroundings, and compassionate interactions with staff who repeatedly show up for questions and concerns, Riverside delivers noticeably strong value.

Those who may want to consider alternatives include families chasing consistently flawless rehab outcomes, predictable discharge planning, or an environment with minimal privacy trade-offs. Several reviewers describe experiences that point to gaps in rehab productivity, communication about room changes, and logistical hiccups at discharge. For residents who require intensive memory care management, highly predictable routines, or where alleged lapses in attention or safety could be especially consequential, exploring other facilities with more uniform performance metrics may be prudent. Additionally, persistent concerns about privacy and overcrowded rooms suggest that privacy-focused families will want to compare options.

On the upside, Riverside earns credibility through deeply engaged staff who frequently earn praise for gentleness, respect, and professional competence. Families repeatedly highlight nurses, therapists, and front-desk personnel who build trust through prompt answers, personal attention, and a sense of genuine care for both residents and relatives. Cleanliness is commonly noted, and several accounts describe staff who go beyond the call to help with medical needs, daily routines, and even emotional support. The presence of accessible leadership, cited as responsive and hands-on, helps families feel seen and guided through the care journey.

Yet the cons are real and consistently cycling through the reviews. Reported issues span from nonproductive rehab experiences and insufficient discharge planning to room overcrowding and limited privacy. Several accounts describe serious lapses in care quality, including delays in basic needs, concerns about sanitation, and perceived inattentiveness by some staff. While these negative experiences appear in a minority and are often counterbalanced by positive testimonials, they create a meaningful caveat: outcomes at Riverside can hinge on staffing patterns and the consistency of daily operations, which vary over time.

The key question becomes whether the positives can be reliably leveraged to offset the notable drawbacks. When Riverside shines, it does so through a culture of compassionate care, attentive family communication, and a strong rehab team that can mobilize quickly with physicians, therapists, and social workers. The facility’s strengths, cleanliness, respectful treatment, and programs that engage residents, are tangible assets for families prioritizing dignity and daily comfort. The main offset is the risk of inconsistent rehab productivity, discharge coordination challenges, and privacy compromises that could complicate recovery trajectories or daily life.

Prospective families should approach with a practical checklist: tour the facility with a focus on private room availability, current rehab staffing levels, and the cadence of therapist sessions; meet the administrator and key clinicians to gauge responsiveness; request recent care plans and discharge protocols; and speak with multiple families about their ongoing experiences. If possible, observe a mealtime and a therapy session to assess staff engagement, attentiveness, and whether the care team communicates clearly about goals and progress. In short, Riverside can be a strong match for families who value compassionate, available staff and solid core care, provided caution is exercised around rehab outcomes, privacy, and discharge logistics.

This part of St. Albans, West Virginia, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living needs. The area features several restaurants, including Fresh Seafood Co. and Cracker Barrel, providing convenient dining options. Additionally, there are numerous pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS nearby for easy access to medications. Medical care is also readily available with multiple physician offices and hospitals in close proximity. For entertainment, residents can enjoy movies at Regal Nitro or Marquee Cinemas - Southridge 12. Cafes like Tim Hortons and Coal River Coffee Company provide relaxed settings for socializing. Places of worship such as First Presbyterian Church and Southridge Church offer spiritual support within the community. Overall, this area provides a comfortable and well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle down in St. Albans, West Virginia.

Restaurants

• Fresh Seafood Co. (0.6 miles)
• Los Agaves (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Wendy's (2.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.8 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (2.9 miles)
• Wendy's (3 miles)

Parks

• Wine Cellar Park (1.9 miles)
• Shawnee Park (2.1 miles)
• Little Creek Park (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Bypass Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)

Physicians

• Dunbar Medical Associates (2 miles)
• Dr Endicot Office (2.5 miles)
• Spring Hill Primary Care Physicians (2.6 miles)
• Charleston Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates (2.6 miles)
• TMH Summit Orthopedics (2.6 miles)
• Crigger & Associates Ent (2.6 miles)
• Mountain State Medicine & Rheumatology (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Thomas Breast Cancer Center (2.5 miles)
• Thomas Memorial Hospital (2.7 miles)
• Thomas Herbrt J Mm Hospital Association (2.7 miles)
• Best Medical Oxygen-HM Medical (4.9 miles)
• Women & Children's Hospital (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Nitro (3 miles)
• Marquee Cinemas - Southridge 12 (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (3.6 miles)
• Coal River Coffee Company (3.8 miles)
• Tj Cinnamons (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Presbyterian Church (4.5 miles)
• Southridge Church (5.5 miles)
• Robinson United Methodist Chur (6.9 miles)