South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

The absolute worst experience for a family member! My loved one was sent to Southshore Healthcare for respiratory rehab-- weaning off a ventilator. Although the respiratory care was okay, the (lack of) nursing care landed him back in the hospital with an infected stage 4 sacral wound, severely infected gastric tube site, and pseudomonas pneumonia from suctioning with a dirty catheter. They would leave him in bed for 5 days at a time without positioning or getting him up to a recliner! Although I requested transfer out on Day 3, the Social Worker told me "nursing" said he was unstable for transfer. When that was deemed untrue, and on Day 7, when I inquired about the transfer, the SW told me, "Nursing said you canceled the request"! Outrageous! He was finally sent back to the hospital when his red blood cell count was so low it was barely life-sustaining. It was in the hospital that his multitude of infections were discovered along with a pleural effusion requiring a chest drainage tube. Stay Away!!

I was admitted to South Shore Rehabilitation on May 28, 2026, and my experience was so concerning that I requested a transfer to another facility within a few days. On the day I arrived, I informed the nursing supervisor, Mr. Murtaza, that I was in severe pain. Hours passed without assistance. My pain became so intense that I needed to use the bathroom, yet I still had not received help. When assistance finally arrived, I learned that the nurse who ultimately cared for me had not been informed of my condition. When I questioned why I had been left waiting for hours, I received conflicting explanations. I want to recognize Nurse Shenniel and Sabrina, an aide, who eventually assisted me after a long delay. Unfortunately, the overall experience was extremely poor. Basic equipment that I needed, including a commode, wheelchair, and walker, took hours to arrive despite repeated requests. Throughout my stay, many aides appeared overwhelmed or unwilling to assist patients. Meals were frequently served cold, and requests for water, ice, or assistance often went unanswered. Patients would call for help and wait extended periods for staff to respond. One of the most disturbing aspects of my stay was the lack of supervision during the overnight hours. My roommates and I were frequently unable to sleep because patients were yelling for help, banging on walls, or calling out throughout the night. One roommate with Alzheimer’s disease repeatedly got out of bed without staff intervention. The bed alarm either failed to function or was ignored. On one occasion, she wandered around the room multiple times during the night while other patients tried to keep her safe. The most upsetting incident occurred during the early morning hours of May 30. The Alzheimer’s patient was confused, wet, and attempting to move around the room. Despite my own medical limitations, I spent approximately ten minutes trying to keep her safe while seeking help. She ultimately fell over a wheelchair that had been left on her side of the room without the brakes engaged. I repeatedly yelled for assistance. When an aide finally appeared, he initially continued with another task while I remained with the patient on the floor. The patient was cold, frightened, and confused. I had to comfort her and help keep her calm after she was returned to bed. As a patient recovering from my own medical issues, I should not have been placed in a position where I felt responsible for monitoring another resident’s safety. The lack of sleep, anxiety, unmanaged pain, and constant concerns about patient safety made my stay extremely difficult. On June 1, I requested assistance from Social Worker Sabeena to obtain a PRI so that I could transfer to another facility. After receiving little response, I contacted Administrator Matt and explained everything that had occurred since my admission. To his credit, Matt listened, apologized, and took immediate action. He transferred me to a quieter room and worked quickly to help secure my transfer. When I later learned that beds at the other facility were filling up, Matt personally followed up and helped ensure that my spot was held. For that, I am grateful. I also want to recognize several staff members who treated me with kindness, professionalism, and compassion during a very difficult time. Sharon, Maureen in Rehabilitation, Kelly in Occupational Therapy, Kion in Physical Therapy, Sofia and Kathleen in Speech Therapy, Nurse Calvin and Shenniel, Sabrina the CNA and Lisa the Dietitian all did their best to make me feel comfortable, supported, and heard. While I appreciate the efforts of Administrator Matt, my overall experience at South Shore Rehabilitation was disappointing and, at times, alarming. Patients deserve timely pain management, basic assistance, adequate supervision, safe conditions, and respectful care. Unfortunately, I did not consistently experience those standards during my stay.