My family entrusted The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Queens (157-15 19th Avenue, Whitestone,…read moreNY 11357) with the care of our mother after she suffered a devastating stroke and brain bleed. She lost vision in one eye, had significant difficulty walking, limited use of her hands, speech impairments, and severe confusion. She was unable to make her own medical decisions, and my sister was legally responsible for making healthcare decisions on her behalf.
Before choosing this facility, we carefully read the reviews and viewed the photos on the website. Nothing raised any concerns. Unfortunately, our experience was completely different from what was advertised. The photos do not accurately reflect the condition of the facility. It was dirty, with visible dirt buildup around the windows, filthy floors, and a constant unpleasant odor.
One of our most alarming experiences involved my mother's medical decision-making. Despite our repeated verbal and written documentation that she lacked the capacity to make her own medical decisions, the social worker informed us that she scored a "13" on a cognitive assessment and gave conflicting explanations about whether she could make decisions. Despite knowing her daughter was her designated decision-maker, staff attempted to have my mother sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. By the grace of God, my brother-in-law walked into the room just as she was attempting to sign the paperwork and stopped it.
The facility advertises 24-hour medical care, but that was not our experience. There was no physician readily available to assess patients when medical emergencies occurred. Instead, staff would place a call, and it could take one or two days before a provider responded. During my mother's stay, she experienced three separate medical emergencies. Not once did a physician come to evaluate her promptly after these incidents.
The nursing assistants responsible for helping patients with bathing, toileting, dressing, and other activities of daily living were often unprofessional and lacked compassion. My mother was frequently told to simply use her diaper because they were short-staffed rather than being assisted to the bathroom. On multiple occasions, she remained in a soiled diaper for hours before anyone responded.
Emergency call lights often went unanswered. There were even times when my mother's call button had been disconnected, leaving her with no way to ask for help.
When my mother was first admitted, her bed had safety rails to reduce her fall risk. One day we arrived to discover they had been removed. Staff told us the rails were "illegal" and that the facility was waiting for replacement beds. After the rails were removed, my mother fell out of bed twice. Rather than implementing another safety solution, staff simply shrugged their shoulders. Even more upsetting, after one of her falls, staff scolded and yelled at her, telling her she needed to "stop falling out of bed." No vulnerable patient deserves to be treated that way.
During one visit, I discovered someone had drawn a smiley face on my mother's arm with marker. Management and social work attempted to dismiss it by suggesting that perhaps a staff member was trying to cheer her up. I found that explanation completely unacceptable. Patients deserve dignity and professionalism, not to be treated as if they are objects for amusement.
Communication with the facility was extremely poor. If my mother was too confused to answer her phone, I would call the nursing station. Most of the time, no one answered any of the phone lines. I left numerous voicemail messages and often waited three to four days for a return call, only to be told they were short-staffed.
At one point, the facility even ran out of adult diapers. Our family had to purchase and bring our own supplies to ensure my mother had basic necessities.
Many people may ask why we didn't simply transfer her elsewhere. Unfortunately, health insurance does not make that easy. Another rehabilitation admission generally is not covered unless the patient is hospitalized again and qualifies for a new admission, leaving families with very limited options.
No family should have to worry whether their loved one is receiving basic care, respect, and medical attention. Our experience was heartbreaking and deeply disappointing. I sincerely hope the New York State Department of Health thoroughly investigates the conditions and practices at this facility so that other families do not have to experience what ours did.