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Reviewers of The Elmhurst HealthCare frequently praise the rehab and nursing staff for compassionate, attentive care, with several highlighting the intensity and quality of physical and occupational therapy. However, one detailed and serious account describes major breakdowns in discharge planning, missed medical appointments, and inadequate medication instructions, raising real concerns about care coordination during transitions home.
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
The Elmhurst HealthCare is a senior living community in Melrose, Massachusetts offering Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Restaurant style Dining Room, Gathering / Activity Spaces and Social Activities. Families rate it 3.4 out of 5 across 66 reviews.
The Elmhurst HealthCare is a 45-bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility in Melrose, Massachusetts, serving patients recovering from surgery, falls, and other acute medical events.
Family experiences at the facility diverge significantly. Several families praise the clinical and personal care provided, noting that staff members are kind, attentive to appointment logistics, and committed to residents' cleanliness and dignity. Physical therapy and rehabilitation services receive consistent recognition, with one family noting the PT team was "amazing." A few families also highlight the facility's home-like atmosphere and the responsiveness of social work staff. One family wrote that staff were "kind, encouraging and motivated." Food quality appears as a minor concern in at least one account.
Other families report serious gaps in coordination and follow-through, particularly around medical appointments and post-discharge planning, raising questions about consistency in care delivery. This tension between positive direct-care experiences and operational shortcomings shows across the reviews.
The facility holds a 3.4/5 Google rating based on 66 reviews, reflecting this mixed landscape. Prospective families should consider speaking directly with current residents and their care teams about appointment and discharge support before admission.
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Help Me Choose3.4overall · 66 ratings combined
3.4★ on Google (66)
Kevin Richardson
Mar 2026
I was here for rehab and the staff was excellent. PT and OT and rehab director Marissa were excellent. The nursing staff were great and let me wake up before treating me which I liked. The social worker Kiersten Fumicello was helpful and gave me good information. My doctor and NP also were nice. The food needs improvement but other than that I've been happy with my stay.
Ayla Lopez
Nov 2025
If I could leave zero stars I would. My mother was placed here after major surgery and when I tell you the staff at this facility were incompetent, they were incompetent. On arrival to the facility I explained that my mother had a lot of follow up appointments in Boston that she could not miss and they explained that it would be no problem to set up transportation, come to find out during discharge, I followed up with her surgeon and they explained that my mother had not been to ONE follow up appointment since being at Elmhurst. During her stay there, my brother went to visit, and no one greeted him at the door, explained where to go, and several staff saw him walking around the facility looking for my mother and no one said anything, like literally looking in peoples rooms. Discharge planning with Elmhurst was ATROCIOUS, as someone who has never been a caretaker, did not know anything about this process, they were extremely unhelpful. They called me to tell me when discharge was without planning or meeting, I had to be the one to request one so that I could help my mom and understand what caretaking for her would look like. They refused to set up any follow up for my mom for PT, home health aid, follow up appointments, and did not educate me on how to care for her wounds correctly, I had to be the one to ask for them to train me on how to do it correctly. I had to be the one to advocate for services. They were going to discharge her with no follow-up care plan. On the day of discharge, I arrived at 9am because they had said as soon as I could be there, they would start the discharge process. When I arrived, mother had not even been seen yet, had not been showered or dressed. They didn't start helping get her ADL's complete until 45minutes after I arrived. They allowed us to leave and called us back to the facility THREE TIMES. Twice because they forgot to pack some personal items (even though they told me that everything was all set) and the last time because they originally reported that we would not need her wound vac and that it would be delivered to us by the VNA the next day but we had to turn around because SHE DID NEED TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE UNDRESSED. Even after I specifically asked before discharge about taking it home. Once we arrived to Elmhurst for the last time, they wanted my mom to get out of the car to redress the wound, mind you my mother cannot walk and it took us about 15 minutes to get her in the car originally and I needed her to save her energy because we had to get her back into our house which is an apartment building. I told them that they would need to dress the wound in the car because I would not be moving my mother again! Also Kirstin the Social Worker (if I could call her that) really was unhelpful. I didn't meet her until I asked for a first meeting because they were proposing discharge without a plan. Kirstin was very firm in that "Elmhurst did not put in those types of referrals." Upon research, that is exactly what a social worker does at a nursing home. At the second meeting I came prepared, and made sure that I let her know that in fact she was supposed to refer my mother to these types of services. As far as the medical supplies, they gave me one box with all of her medications and medical supplies with no explanation on how, where, and when they needed to be given. There was a blood pressure medication that she needed three times a day and they only gave me one pill. They also did not tell me that we had to monitor her blood pressure before giving this medication and I only realized because I read the medication description. There was also a medication that was supposed to be applied daily to her toes and no one told me that, one, that it needed to be applied and two, how to apply it. The VNA was the one to tell me DAYS later, when this is something that needs to be applied daily. If you love your family, please consider not sending them to this facility. If I can save one family the heartache, than I did my job.
Joe Trovato
Oct 2025
I was a patient at the Elmhurst and regardless of of the negative reviews I see I beg to differ!!! Such professional staff and polite beyond what you would expect they took care of my appointment needs with my needs being most important and arranged everything I needed to accommodate me with my appointment they are upbeat and go out of their way to make sure u have what you need and the therapy staff is extremely knowledgeable and professional and had me out of my bed in 3 days to walking freely confidently in 2 weeks I don't understand how anyone could possibly be stay at the Elmhurst and say anything disparaging in any way shape or form it was a very nice and caring experience and in talking with most patients on my floor the feeling is was that it was 100 percent completely mutual it's well worth trying if your in need of such services I highly recommend the Elmhurst thank you for reading my review stop by for a visit you'll see I speak the truth!!!
Kathleen Johnson
Oct 2025
My name is Kathleen Johnson. I have never written a review before I came to this rehab. I just wanted to let you know that the hospital case managers will not always tell you the best rehab to go to but this place is exceptional. This place is more of rehab, more of a home like environment and it doesn’t feel like a hospital or a nursing home. Everyone who works here is kind, encouraging and motivating. The physical therapy here is amazing, sometimes two times a day 7 days a week. They are here to encourage and motivate you. All of the staff is phenomenal even at night when no one is watching. You can order food from outside if you want it- they let you do whatever will make you more comfortable to feel welcome at rehab. When you’re not feeling well, it is so nice to have kind people that work here. The night staff are also incredible. Gilberte the CNA brought in hats for me that made me feel pretty again after my cancer treatment. Kathleen the receptionist brought me an eyebrow pencil. The view of the lake and fall foliage is great here as well and there is a great view.
Cynthia Merchant
Sep 2025
My dad has been at Elmhurst since Aug 5th, due to a fall at home that cracked his hip, he is 89 years old. During his time there he has been treated with kindness, compassion, and his Physical Therapy Team has been amazing. My dads room has always been clean, floors been swept, bathroom wiped down, bed made and most of all my dad always dressed and clean. Its always nice to visit and have Kathy the receptionist welcome you as you come in the door, always asking how I'm doing, and always professional, and on a first name basis. There is always something going on for the patients weather a movie day, shake day, something that keeps them busy. I would highly recommend this place if you have a loved one who needs rehab.
3 inspection visits in the last three years, 31 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 10, 2025
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 2, 2024
Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 2, 2024
Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 2, 2024
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 26, 2024
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 26, 2024
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 26, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 26, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 19, 2023
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
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.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 30, 2023
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Severity B of L: potential for minimal harm, patternCorrected May 30, 2023
Source: CMS Care Compare, public federal data covering certified nursing facilities, refreshed monthly. Citations range from A (least serious) to L (most serious) on the federal scope and severity scale. Most citations are corrected quickly; review the details and ask the community about anything that concerns you.
The Elmhurst HealthCare offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
The Elmhurst HealthCare is located at 743 Main Street in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Reviewers of The Elmhurst HealthCare frequently praise the rehab and nursing staff for compassionate, attentive care, with several highlighting the intensity and quality of physical and occupational therapy. However, one detailed and serious account describes major breakdowns in discharge planning, missed medical appointments, and inadequate medication instructions, raising real concerns about care coordination during transitions home.
The Elmhurst HealthCare had 3 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 31 citations on file according to CMS Care Compare data. The full history, including what each citation was for and whether it was corrected, is in the inspection section on this page.
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