Review of Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

1 Star User Review

Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility has SERIOUS internal communication problems. In my most recent experience, staff -- LPN, RNs, Nursing Supervisor of Rehab., PT, Nursing Director and Nurse Practitioner were never on the same page and I was given conflicting information as to the health of my loved one. Instead of relishing the final days of my loved one's life and enjoying spending quality time, I found it necessary to have frequent conversations and meetings with personnel who, until the ultimate death, continued to provide totally different prognoses.

Rehabilitation personnel do not seem to recognize their own limitations and seek outside help when warranted. A simple diagnosis of pneumonia was not made, in fact staff denied that pneumonia existed. Two hours later an ER team x-ray determined not only pneumonia but sepsis, from which my loved one ultimately died.

Staff also failed to recognize and adequately treat dehydration which they felt was "slight" until I insisted something be done for my loved-one's condition. ER team later determined there was "severe dehydration" and infused two litres of IV fluids in a period of two-hours.

No action was proactive - it often seemed as though my loved one was being confused with a nursing home patient and not one who had been sent to rehab for strength and return home. Much of the action taken was reactive to family concerns and discoveries.

Do NOT send your loved one to the rehabilitation facility unless you plan to spend every hour there keeping watch and advocating for him/her.

Ask for more information from patients and families who you know to have been there. Do not believe the marketing campaign or television commercials - they selected only from success stories and naturally are not going to focus on the negative.

Do not let proximity to home influence in your decision. Closer does not mean quality.