Amanda Jones
Jun 2026
My family entrusted Gulf Coast Village Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Center with the care of my 82-year-old father after he spent nearly two weeks hospitalized with pneumonia, sepsis, a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and a stay in the ICU. Health Park determined he was stable enough for rehabilitation and transferred him to Gulf Coast Village on June 3. We chose Gulf Coast Village because of a positive experience our family had there years ago. Unfortunately, what we experienced this week was deeply disappointing. From the moment we arrived, the facility felt worn, dirty, and neglected. My father’s room contained mismatched, dingy furniture and an unexpected roommate. The television that provided him comfort did not work, and after I got it working, I discovered there was no remote, leaving him unable to control it independently. What concerned us far more was the lack of responsiveness from staff. While visiting, my father needed assistance to get to the bathroom. His call light alarm was sounding at the nurses’ station directly outside his room, yet no one responded. After several minutes I personally informed a staff member that my father needed help. More time passed before anyone assisted him. My father was connected to oxygen and monitoring equipment and could not safely get up on his own. The following morning we were told he had a good night and no issues with oxygen. When my sister arrived shortly after, she discovered a very different reality. My father reported experiencing chest pain throughout the night, was struggling to breathe, and stated that his call button had gone unanswered. His oxygen levels were low enough that he was transported by ambulance to Cape Coral Hospital less than 24 hours after arriving at the facility. A supervisor later told us he believed my father required a higher level of care than the facility could provide. If that was the case, why was he accepted for admission in the first place? The problems continued when I returned to retrieve his belongings. I found his room completely emptied despite the fact that, at that time, the facility had no reason to assume he would not return. Staff could not tell me where his belongings were. I received conflicting explanations, including that family had taken them, that housekeeping may have removed them, and that no one knew what happened. After multiple phone calls and a trip back to the facility, his belongings were finally located. My father is an Army veteran who served overseas in Turkey during the 1960s. More importantly, he is a human being who deserves dignity, compassion, and attentive care. Every resident in that facility deserves the same. What happened to my father was unacceptable, and I cannot recommend Gulf Coast Village Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Center based on our experience.
