Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 80 Google reviews
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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Low overall rating (2/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (1/5 stars)
- High staff turnover (77%)
- High RN turnover (62%)
Below average in NY · Critically understaffed (RN) · Very high staff turnover · No penalties on record
What this means for your family
While the physical therapy department is frequently praised for helping patients regain mobility, the facility faces severe and recurring complaints regarding basic hygiene, neglect, and unresponsiveness. If you are considering this facility, we strongly recommend conducting an unannounced visit to observe the cleanliness of the rooms and the responsiveness of the staff during off-peak hours.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
80 reviews on Google“Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare receives polarized feedback, with significant concerns regarding neglect, poor hygiene, and inadequate staffing levels. While some patients report positive outcomes from the physical therapy department, many families describe a facility that is understaffed, unresponsive to communication, and failing to provide basic care such as hygiene and timely medication.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Effective physical therapy department
- Some dedicated individual staff members
- Helpful social work services
Concerns
- Chronic understaffing and slow response times (mentioned by 12 reviewers)
- Poor hygiene and unsanitary facility conditions (mentioned by 9 reviewers)
- Communication issues and inability to reach staff via phone (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
- Poor quality and unappealing food (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Neglect of basic patient needs (bathing, medication, toileting) (mentioned by 8 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 84 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the current staffing levels, what is the specific protocol for ensuring timely assistance when a resident uses their call bell?
- 2I noticed some concerns regarding facility cleanliness; could you walk me through your daily housekeeping schedule and how you maintain hygiene standards in resident rooms?
- 3Could you describe the current process for ensuring residents receive consistent, nutritious meals, and how do you accommodate individual dietary preferences or concerns about food quality?
- 4How does your nursing team manage medication administration to ensure accuracy and timeliness for residents with complex health needs?
- 5What is your facility's strategy for improving communication with family members, especially when we are trying to reach staff or nursing stations by phone?
- 6I see that your physical therapy department is highly regarded; how do you integrate those therapy goals into the daily routine and overall care plan for residents?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The PT department has been exceptional. Best part of my stay here.”
“This is a horrible place they have committed nursing home abuse and neglect against my mother which contributed to her death and I somehow had to wait 3 days to get her medical records.”
“She truly cared not only about David’s needs but our family needs as well. She took the time to call me or catch up with me in the building to chat with me let me know how things were going.”
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
9
measures
6
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 on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents who lost too much weight
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents whose walking got worse
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families have filed complaints leading to 7 deficiencies, indicating ongoing concerns about this facility's care quality. The most recurring issues involve resident rights (particularly maintaining a safe, clean environment), fire safety systems, and electrical equipment maintenance. While all deficiencies show correction dates, some problems like environmental safety and resident rights violations have persisted across multiple surveys from 2020 to 2024, suggesting potential systemic challenges with sustaining improvements.
Nov 13, 2024Routine8
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Nov 13, 2024Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
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.
Jun 18, 2024Complaint4
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Dec 19, 2022Routine11
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Mar 6, 2020Routine8
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Services Deficiencies
Have elevators that firefighters can control in the event of a fire.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Establish roles under a Waiver declared by secretary.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Centers Health Care
37 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.2/5 · Rank 14 of 35
Ownership & Management
Owners
Rozenberg, Kenneth
Owner
Sicklick, Jeffrey
Owner
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
80 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit essex-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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