Autumn Lake Healthcare at the Willows
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise highly effective physical and occupational therapy teams. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 62 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
This facility is highly regarded for its physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes, making it a potential candidate for short-term recovery. However, the recurring reports of unresponsive nursing staff and poor communication are significant red flags. We strongly recommend visiting in person to observe staff-to-patient interactions and asking specifically about their protocol for answering call bells during evening and weekend shifts.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
62 reviews on Google“Autumn Lake Healthcare at The Willows presents a deeply polarized experience for families, with reviews split between high praise for the rehabilitation therapy team and severe concerns regarding basic nursing care. While many families report excellent outcomes for short-term rehab, others describe a facility where call bells go unanswered, hygiene is neglected, and communication with family members is frequently poor.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Highly effective physical and occupational therapy teams
- Professional and compassionate long-term care staff
- Clean and well-maintained facility environment
- Responsive and helpful social services department
Concerns
- Unresponsive staff and long wait times for call bells (mentioned by 8 reviewers)
- Poor communication with family members and difficulty reaching staff by phone (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Inadequate hygiene and assistance with basic personal care (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Unprofessional or rude staff interactions (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 64 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I noticed that the physical and occupational therapy teams are highly regarded here; could you tell me more about how they coordinate with the nursing staff to support a resident's daily mobility?
- 2We understand that timely assistance is important for peace of mind; what is the facility's current protocol for responding to call bells, and how do you ensure residents receive help promptly?
- 3Communication is a priority for our family; what is the best way for us to stay in regular contact with the care team regarding our loved one's health updates and daily well-being?
- 4I see that you actively engage with feedback online; how do you use that input to improve the quality of daily care and the overall experience for residents and their families?
- 5Regarding personal care and hygiene, what steps does the staff take to ensure residents receive consistent and dignified assistance throughout the day?
- 6With medication management being a critical part of care, could you walk us through the process for administering medications and how you monitor for any side effects or changes in a resident's condition?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The staff, especially nurse Twan who literally saved his life, and social worker Danielle who saved his life in another way have provided such excellent care, helping him adjust to his new reality.”
“I had a fantastic experience at Autumn Lake Healthcare at The Willows in Woodbridge, CT. The Aides, Nurses, and many other professionals took care of my every need with kindness, warmth, and constant encouragement.”
“My mom was there for short term rehab after a fall. The only positive part of the experience was the physical therapy team. They were great! The nurses, the staff (managers included) were uncaring and not attentive.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
11
measures
4
measures
2
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents who lost too much weight
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Autumn Lake Healthcare at The Willows has a concerning pattern of repeat deficiencies, with families filing complaints about care quality and resident rights violations. The facility struggles most with quality of care, nutrition and dietary services, and medication management, with some issues recurring across multiple surveys. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the persistent problems in core care areas warrant careful consideration during your visit.
Nov 14, 2025Routine7
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Aug 13, 2024Complaint2
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Apr 12, 2024Complaint4
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Jan 10, 2024Routine14
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home.
Sep 22, 2021Routine3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Autumn Lake Healthcare at the Willows
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Autumn Lake Healthcare
60 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.8/5 · Rank 13 of 60
Ownership & Management
Owners
Kc Derby Ct AL Opco Jv LLC
Owner · Organization
Aut Ct7 Holdings LLC
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
62 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit autumnlakehealthcare.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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