Hackensack Meridian Jfk Johnson Rehabilitation Institute's Online Review Report Card

This place is amazing. I have a traumatic brain injury from a car accident , along with multiple other injuries . I had to learn how to walk, I had speaking slight impairment and I needed physical occupational, speech and neurological physiological therapy. They are very gentle, kind, friendly, patient and helpful as long as you trust the process. They treat the outpatient therapy just like they treat the patients that live there from my observation . They are also are very professional and are like angels working in there to get us back to a new normal. If you only understand what the people go through as in patient to get to where we are today. This place should all five stars, therapist have for us you would give everybody a five star display should be on the news because of how great they are and the jobs they do I can speak for myself. I've seen over 20 of us that came in and left better than I expected, I was using a wheelchairs when I first got there, it was painful and hard to walk more than four steps!!! I couldn't walk and then I got to a place where I bought a cane and practiced with it, I actually can us a cane at any time but after my fall I'm afraid so I use my walker not because I can't walk but because it gives me stability. I can now do things I couldn't do before! I'm a different person and my life has value, the support groups the confidence is by far amazing!!! Thank You

Unprofessional at the T. I'm a friend of a family to a patient who was here. I decided to put on my uniform on so when I leave the rehab, I'll head on to work. Every time these CNA passed by, they had an attitude, thinking I'm the aide for the patient, and I must do their job. They are rude, with no professionalism at all. The only time they act nice are when families are around. It is very sad to know how people misjudged another person. There's no compassion in here. My advice is that they are getting paid to do a job. Just follow protocol and keep it moving!!! The one star is for the ones who are professional, and that's very few and far between!!!!

Stay away.

The only reason this facility is getting 2 stars rather than 1 is that their physical therapy department is top notch. They spent a lot of time with my husband, gave his constant encouragement and pushed him to do as much as he was able without ever endangering him or making him feel he wasn't trying hard enough. They were outstanding. Some of the nurses were okay, except they only showed me how to change his ostomy bag and his wound care dressing one time. The nurses also put off changing his ostomy bag until the very end of their shift so that the next shift would have to deal with it, and this often led to the bag becoming too full which created a big mess and embarrassed my husband even though it wasnt his fault.The aides were so-so. My main complaint is that no one told my husband he was going home until they planned his discharge. We met with his social worker--his alleged advocate--exactly twice. Once shortly after his arrival for about 20 minutes and once when we found out he was due to be discharged, even though the physical therapists, doctors and nurses all agreed he needed at least another 10 days. His social worker and I both filed appeals, both of which were denied. On the day he was actually discharged the nurse came in to go over his medications with him. I noticed no pain medication was listed. My husband had had 3 different surgeries at JFK Hospital, 2 of them life-threatening due to a massive bacterial infection and gangrene. He was in tremendous pain. The nurse said she'd take care of it. She didn't. Amanda, his social worker said she'd take care of it. She didn't. On the discharge instructions sheet it clearly states to call AMANDA, his social worker if there are any problems. I called--no answer because she leaves at 3pm. My husband was in absolute agony for a full day because of Amanda's and Hartwyck's incompetence. The next day I called my husband's normal GP who prescribed double the amount Hartwyck doctors gave him because of the trauma he'd been through. About 2 hours later Amanda called and sweetly asked if her calls had helped. I told her no. My impression is that once you are out of the facility Amanda completely washes her hands of you, even though the discharge instructions tell you to call her if you have any problems. I also had trouble setting up a VNA and at home physical therapist with her. She's a pleasant person but not the best at her job. If either of us need sub acute care again we will try to avoid this one.

The nursing staff is rude and arrogant. Medications and feeding are never given on time if they are given at all. when you ask if your love one was given a prescribed treatment they tell you they are too busy to answer. Complaining to the head nurse or social worker gets you nowhere. The therapists seem good but my husband has missed several therapy sessions already because his diaper was wet and the nurses aide refuse to change it in time! The therapist refuse to work with him if the diaper is wet! So he is not getting the therapy he should be getting. I'm really disappointed in this facility and I can't recommend it.

If you're needs are SUBACUTE, rehab, HARDWICK is fine. I have read the reviews posted regarding the brain injury rehab, and fortunately I am not in need for that kind of help. So I can only report on the subacute. The staff works hard, and all in all they do a good job. The food is sometimes excellent, and sometimes just ok. I mean as an example I have had coconut shrimp, I've had scallops, I've had a cheese lasagna that was better then I've had in Restaurants. But I have also had three or four different soups that unfortunately were not only cold, but totally tasteless. They ask you to fill out a menu for the week, but I sometimes wonder if any one reads it when preparing your tray. As an example ever day on my order for breakfast I ask for two cups of coffee, most days I get one. I also get but didn't order a container of milk, a container of orange juice, and sometimes oatmeal, all of which I didn't order, and don't eat . HOWEVER IF YOU GET SOMTHING THAT YOU WONT, OR CANT EAT, THEY WILL CALL DIETARY AND REPLACE IT. Try that in a restaurant. as I've stated all in all they try hard to help you, the nurses and nurses aides do a good job although they seem to be under staffed, and slightly overworked.the therapy department is very helpful, and does work you hard. so after all I have said, why onply four stars, for good, and not five for great? Well here is my one complaint. If you need any help, and use the call button, except to wait between fifteen and forty five minutes before you get help.I'm aware that in subacute care, the need for help is different then in acute care, most calls are not life threatening, however if you call for, a bed pan , and then wait a half hour, your needs change, very frustrating. They need a more up to date system.

I would NOT recommend this place is you have a Brain Injury and need rehab. They claim to have an "extensive brain trauma" program but that is nothing short of a joke. First of all, the place is old, dingy and dirty. The Brain trauma patients are mixed in with the sub acute patients and have the same staff. NOTHING extensive or specialized about that. Yet, they charge your insurance for higher levels of care. Staff can't be bothered and rude to the patients and visitors. My 54 yr old husband was transferred there after his Acute stay at JRI after 2 post brain surgeries(mets to brain) he had in less than 3 months. No sooner then 2 days being there, he fell out of bed. I don't care who's fault that was, Brain injury/trauma patients are a higher risk and should be closely monitored. They pretty much left him in bed most of the day and made him use a bed pan instead if taking him to the bathroom. I literally had to call daily to make sure he was out of bed for fear of bed sores or Pneumonia. He most certainly doesn't need any lung issues as he is a stage 4 lung cancer survivor. The days he was in a wheelchair, which btw was way too small for him, they had him back in bed by 4pm and gave him a sleep aid by 5:30 to sleep. Again, cant be bothered. When he did ask to go to the bathroom, the one day it took 8 hours for someone to come. He did express that issue to one of the supervisors. He was told by a nurse when he asked for help with something that he wasn't the only patient there. The aid who showered him yelled at him and made him defacate in the shower then washed it down w/ bleach. Not only is that humiliating, but disgusting. He didn't say much to me at first for fear of retaliation by the staff. His ultimate goal was to get therapy and get home as soon as possible. But everyday was something new in this place until we made the decision to transfer him out. Sadly, there aren't many sub acute's in NJ that specialize in Neuro. 2 at that. That too needs to change. Mind you, his stay was short, a total of 8 days. The same day he was leaving he opened the closet door to get some of his stuff and the door came right off the hinges. Luckily, he was able to grab it with his good arm before it hit him in the face of worse, the head. When I called the unit nurse to ask about this, I was told "it was only a screw" that came off and shrugged it off. Mind you my husband is very cognitive and alert, Thankfully to be able to speak up. I will say the therapy team was great. Some of the nursing staff were good but their nursing team as a whole need's a revamp and ALOT of work. In this field, you need compassion and patience. I should not have to call the social worker almost daily with complaints and concerns. It's exhausting and nerve racking not knowing what to expect on a day to day basis. Especially, with the strict visitor guidelines due to covid and unable to be there as often as I'd like. The family should be able to sleep good at night knowing their loved ones are in the best care and the patients should not have to fear the staff asking for help. I feel for those not so cognitive and don't have the ability to advocate for themselves. IMO, This is a nursing home that administers P/T, O/T and S/P. Keep away!

I would NOT recommend this place is you have a Brain Injury and need rehab. They claim to have an "extensive brain trauma" program but that is nothing short of a joke. First of all, the place is old, dingy and dirty. The Brain trauma patients are mixed in with the sub acute patients and have the same staff. NOTHING extensive or specialized about that. Yet, they charge your insurance for higher levels of care. Staff can't be bothered and rude to the patients and visitors. My 54 yr old husband was transferred there after his Acute stay at JRI after 2 post brain surgeries(mets to brain) he had in less than 3 months. No sooner then 2 days being there, he fell out of bed. I don't care who's fault that was, Brain injury/trauma patients are a higher risk and should be closely monitored. They pretty much left him in bed most of the day and made him use a bed pan instead if taking him to the bathroom. I literally had to call daily to make sure he was out of bed for fear of bed sores or Pneumonia. He most certainly doesn't need any lung issues as he is a stage 4 lung cancer survivor. The days he was in a wheelchair, which btw was way too small for him, they had him back in bed by 4pm and gave him a sleep aid by 5:30 to sleep. Again, cant be bothered. When he did ask to go to the bathroom, the one day it took 8 hours for someone to come. He did express that issue to one of the supervisors. He was told by a nurse when he asked for help with something that he wasn't the only patient there. The aid who showered him yelled at him and made him defacate in the shower then washed it down w/ bleach. Not only is that humiliating, but disgusting. He didn't say much to me at first for fear of retaliation by the staff. His ultimate goal was to get therapy and get home as soon as possible. But everyday was something new in this place until we made the decision to transfer him out. Sadly, there aren't many sub acute's in NJ that specialize in Neuro. 2 at that. That too needs to change. Mind you, his stay was short, a total of 8 days. The same day he was leaving he opened the closet door to get some of his stuff and the door came right off the hinges. Luckily, he was able to grab it with his good arm before it hit him in the face of worse, the head. When I called the unit nurse to ask about this, I was told "it was only a screw" that came off and shrugged it off. Mind you my husband is very cognitive and alert, Thankfully to be able to speak up. I will say the therapy team was great. Some of the nursing staff were good but their nursing team as a whole need's a revamp and ALOT of work. In this field, you need compassion and patience. I should not have to call the social worker almost daily with complaints and concerns. It's exhausting and nerve racking not knowing what to expect on a day to day basis. Especially, with the strict visitor guidelines due to covid and unable to be there as often as I'd like. The family should be able to sleep good at night knowing their loved ones are in the best care and the patients should not have to fear the staff asking for help. I feel for those not so cognitive and don't have the ability to advocate for themselves. IMO, This is a nursing home that administers P/T, O/T and S/P. Keep away!

My father was placed in this facility after having a fall. They first placed him on the 3rd floor which he said wasn't that bad. Once he got placed on the 2nd floor into long term care he said he got treated completely different! The 2nd floor the furniture was all worn down and old. Whenever he called for help it took forever for someone to come and help him. They told him he doesn't get a food menu on the 2nd floor that he has to eat whatever they are given. He hears other patients yelling and screaming. It's more like a looney bin! On the 2nd floor they had No television in his room. I had to bring him a television. His wheelchair was always placed to far away from his bed so it was hard for him to get too! Just horrible!!!! If I could rate lower than one star, I would! I ended up taking him home!

This is the worst place I ever seen, dirty, filthy, disgusting, the staff is very rude and obnoxious, don’t ever send a loved one there, we seen cockroaches there and they just don’t care.