Humboldt House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.
based on 161 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.
- Special Focus Facility (under heightened CMS scrutiny)
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (15 vs median 6.0)
- High staff turnover (58%)
Bottom 25% in NY · Critically understaffed (RN) · Worst in THE SHERMAN FAMILY chain · $375,976 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS)
What this means for your family
While the physical therapy department is frequently praised for helping patients recover, the facility suffers from persistent, severe issues regarding cleanliness and staff responsiveness. If you choose this facility, you must be a highly proactive advocate for your loved one, as communication and basic care standards appear to be inconsistent.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
161 reviews on Google“Humboldt House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center receives highly polarized feedback, with many families reporting severe neglect, unsanitary conditions, and unresponsive staff. While a subset of reviewers praises the physical therapy department and specific individual staff members, these positive experiences are frequently overshadowed by reports of poor hygiene, slow call-bell response times, and communication failures.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Highly regarded physical therapy department
- Specific, dedicated individual nursing aides
- Helpful and welcoming front desk staff
- Recent improvements in facility atmosphere noted by some
Concerns
- Unsanitary conditions and persistent urine odors (mentioned by 18 reviewers)
- Understaffing and slow response to call bells (mentioned by 14 reviewers)
- Staff observed using phones instead of providing care (mentioned by 8 reviewers)
- Cold, poor quality, or late food service (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
- Lack of communication with families regarding medical status (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 165 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I understand the physical therapy department is highly regarded here; how do you integrate that therapy schedule into the residents' daily routines to ensure they stay active?
- 2We have heard that some families have had difficulty getting timely updates on their loved one's medical status; what is your specific process for keeping families informed about changes in care?
- 3With a large facility of 173 residents, how do you ensure that staff are consistently available to respond to call bells in a timely manner?
- 4I noticed some concerns regarding the facility's environment; what is your current protocol for maintaining cleanliness and managing odors throughout the day?
- 5Could you walk us through how the dining experience is managed, and what steps are being taken to ensure meals are served at the right temperature and meet residents' nutritional preferences?
- 6How do you monitor staff engagement during shifts to ensure that caregivers are focused on resident needs and providing attentive support?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The only positives are Concierge Mike, aids Tony and Kerri, nurses Cece and Debbie the therapy staff. Most if the time the employees are sitting on their phone ignoring patients.”
“The physical therapist is especially charming and manages to get my wife out of bed. Staff care about the residents and give encouragement.”
“My sister is in this place and I can't get any information on her. No one will answer the phone. I leave messages and NEVER GET A RESPONSE!!”
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
5
measures
3
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
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
This facility shows concerning patterns with families filing multiple complaints about abuse and neglect protection, care quality, and living environment issues that persist across surveys. The most recurring problems involve resident safety and protection from harm, maintaining clean and comfortable living conditions, and fire safety compliance. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the repeated nature of abuse-related citations and ongoing family complaints suggest systemic challenges that warrant careful consideration during any visit.
Mar 27, 2026Complaint4
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
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 care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Oct 10, 2025Routine24
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.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Administration Deficiencies
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
Egress Deficiencies
Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
Egress Deficiencies
Install proper backup exit lighting.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
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.
Smoke Deficiencies
Construct fire resistant interior walls.
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 and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
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
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Jun 18, 2025Complaint1
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
Apr 4, 2025Complaint2
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 treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Dec 31, 2024Complaint1
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.
Dec 16, 2024Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Oct 10, 2025
$195,218
Fine
May 23, 2024
$72,466
Fine
Aug 14, 2023
$3,174
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Humboldt House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
for profit
Chain Affiliation
The Sherman Family
7 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.3/5 · Rank 6 of 7 (Worst)
Ownership & Management
Owners
Amsel, Hindy
Owner
Goldstein, Jeffrey
Owner
Mendlowitz, Esther
Owner
Sherman, Alexander
Owner
Sherman, Lea
Owner
Sherman, Tzvi
Owner
Sherman, Yehuda
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
161 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit humboldthouse.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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