Masonicare Health Center - Wallingford, Connecticut

Shannon P.

It's taken me a year to think about how to write a review for this facility. My mom was here - in 4 Wooster mostly, and Sturges for a short time - from Nov 2022 thru Aug 2023. The rollercoaster of emotions I went through in those 9 months still haunt and comfort my memories. I want to talk about the good first. 1.) Dr Deshields - he was her psychiatrist and he was the brightest light in the facility. He is a pleasant, caring person. I truly felt he had my mom's best interests at heart. He wanted to get her treatment just right, so he could genuinely say she is ready and stable to be in a nursing home environment without acting out. This took some time. 2.) Another positive was my mom's social worker/primary therapist - Sarah Shea. She was a sweetheart. 3.) The nurses station - and hear me out because they were one of the negatives too. I guess for as long as my mom was there, they grew on me. My mom was fully immobile. So it was blessing having these nurses cleaning, feeding, providing social activities and doing all the other things that i was doing myself before. 4.) the other families. being there for so long, I had the pleasure - and shared sorrow- of getting to know the other families. ok, the not so good: 1.) the social workers - hear me out. I loved Sarah, but she went on leave for a couple months and we had a fill in - Edna. Edna was a high energy, fast talking lady. but i think maybe she had a lot on her plate? I don't know, but i felt like when i asked her questions, she responded, but didn't really answer me. Also, when we were looking for long-term nursing home for my mom she would ask me if I had any preferences, to which my only preference was that my mom be near where our family is. i asked if she had a list to which she said they do not keep directory of homes! The best thing Edna did was hook me up with medicaid4you. I dealt from then on with my mom case worker for that program, and it was fabulous. They even provided me with a database of ALL nursing facilities in the STATE. i could not understand why masonicare didn't have access to something like this! 2.) The limited visiting hours , 3.) the nurses were still on my dog list for some stuff. top of the list was when i went to see my mom, she would be so disheveled. she had stains on her clothes from eating, her skin was so dry it was literally flaking onto her shirt. her hair was falling out in the back because no one was tending to it. when i saw the bald spot, i was livid. i got permitted from that day on, during our visits, to clean my mom up, lotion her skin, and braid her hair for her. that was when i noticed that other black patients in the building were walking around looking about the same. i don't think this was a racist thing at all...but the nurses in 4 wooster were mostly NOT black, and i think maybe they just didn't have clue how to tend to our natural hair. this brings up another good thing i did not include about - when my mom was put in the sturges building for a short while, i came to see her and she would be CLEAN , her face SHINY with vasoline, her hair was freshly cornrowed...her nails were treated, trimmed and cleaned! Sturges had a TON of black ladies working there! they called my mom, 'mama' and i actually left there one day crying because i felt like someone was finally treating my mom with some respect. this was my experience here, everyones is different. Visit your loved one, advocate for them, POP in, stay on top of things and try to get out quickly. All in all, i did appreciate the staff very much.

Kai K.

I was a caregiver for a resident here, private hire. Most of the there departments such as laundry kitchen,and front/ security were very pleasant to deal with. Rehab on floor 3E were rude, unhelpful monitoring if the client was soiled or even moved so they didn't get sores, I was frequently gossiped about by most of them while working. Most are left in a room for HOURS with only a simple glance by the door. If u are a caregiver DO NOT TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT!!!

Maria S.

The worse. They don't care about hospice patients. My brother was a hospice patient with them. We called them when he got really sick they didn't care. They scheduled appointment for him to come to the house they didn't even show up. They are horrible. No compassion for the patients.

Ashley K.

If you have any family members that is planning on coming here I WOULD HIGHLY NOT recommend!!! THE STAFF/ NURSES CNA ARE RUDE AND DONT CARE ABOUT THE PATIENT'S that they are being paid to do so!!!!!! SHAME ON ALL YOU !!!! What they don't understand is what these patients are going through from life-threatened surgeries regular surgery or just being for a sickeness, have some compassion don't be quick to judge and come in with a stank face .My father is in here right now and the nurses are just downright rude , to my father to family members that come. They definitely don't take care of him like he's they're supposed to. He's been there for 2 weeks and they literally checked on his leg once. Unfortunately he needs help with cleaning up in the bathroom and they don't clean him properly. When he is asking for help it takes them 20-30 minutes to come in the room and let's not talk about how long it takes him to get his medication.They rather laugh and joke over in the nurses station.This place is Awful. If I could give this place a negative zero I would no

J B.

Do not place a loved one here. The facility is filthy. The staff’s mood depends on how much care is provided to your loved one. The physical therapists are disgruntled and could be heard chronically complaining daily. Our parent’s clothing was admired by the staff, and then piece by piece went missing. Our parent fell and when we asked how, they flipped the questioning on how we would prevent that? When the insurance stops,despite making an appeal, no one would speak to you. Spoke to the highest level nursing personnel, but of course when you’re complaining they really do not listen. Told us they would be in touch, never heard from them again. If you love your family member, DO NOT place them here. There are considerable infrastructure concerns, burnt out staff working double shifts and basically zero empathy and true concern about patients. It’s all about the $$$ not the patient. Dreadful experience, stay clear of this decaying facility.

Rob F.

This might be the worst place ever to send someone. My dad needed meds adjusted to get placed at assisted living and he was drugged up beyond belief. He's no longer aggressive because you turned him into a wheelchair bound zombie.

No one ever answers the phone in the finance department to pay a bill, they didn't send him to assisted living with his false teeth. Just unbelievable incompetence at every level in this facility.

S F.

This place needs major revamp. The building needs major remodeling. The office area and entrance seemed updated but as soon as you enter into the elevators to see patients the whole building is falling apart.
That area is outdated. Including the cafeteria. Old, dark, dirty and depressing .
Who wants to bring a family member to such a depressing place. The physical part of the building where patients and family reside needs to be taken care of!
The floors are very dirty. Elevators have signs all taped with scotch tape How about a sign holder? More professional?

The patient units are very short on staff. Patients unattended. Lousy attitudes by many CNA’s and a few nurses.
Many nurses are leaving. Overworked, and poorly paid.
Like where is the compassion

This place needs renovations of the physical building and internally.
Make it more appealing and desirable to patient, families and workers.

egg P.

My mother had a massive stroke which resulted in living at Masonicare for a little over eleven years. My father and I visited my mother faithfully every day. I have seen a lot during those eleven years. Long Term Care was a real challenge after COVID when people decided they rather stay home then come back to work. Turnover was high and employees were stretched thin. And It didn't matter to me that the rooms are small and outdated or other things like that. The most important thing was that my mother was always happy there, she adapted very well to living in a nursing home when that was clearly not how she wanted to spend the rest of her life. She loved the staff and they loved her. That's what matters. I want to thank all of the employees who really went above and beyond up until my mother passed away to join my father two weeks after he passed. I am especially grateful for Keisha from the cafeteria on Ramage four who always did a little dance for my mother when she could have just passed by her room, Alan, Ryan, and Jason who always made my mother smile and helped when she was frustrated, CC who always helped me when my mother was frustrated, and most of all Jane who was my Masonicare Angel the whole time my mother was there, who helped me with all of my concerns and gripes every time I needed help. I want to thank of of you who came to see my mother when she was in hospice. It really touched me that you cared so much to come and say goodbye. The most important thing to me was my mother's happiness. And these employees made her very happy. God Bless all of you and all Masonicare employees who are genuine, caring, and compassionate. Thank you so much for making my mother's not so golden years much better.