My Guilford House experience was outstanding!! The management, Nursing , and Aide staff were attentive, caring, kind, etc....and so many more accolades. The Physical therapy staff was always accommodating to my time and provided me with the utmost care! I consider myself a bit of a food snob but the food at Guilford House is definitely above any hospital or medical rehab facility that I have attended. With all that being said, I would definitely recommend getting Physical Rehabilitation there. A Caring and Clean Environment!! read more

Scary place - residents are not bathed regularly - maybe once a week; dead flowers everywhere; garbage overflowing - should be inspected; staff are hostile. Recreation is limited compared to Evergreen Woods down the road and so is this facility read more

I am deeply disappointed with the level of care and service provided at Guilford House. My experience as a visitor here has been far from satisfactory, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a supportive and nurturing environment for their loved ones. First and foremost, the treatment of patients leaves much to be desired by most of the staff. It is heartbreaking to witness residents being neglected and not receiving the attention or care they deserve. Room bells ringing, eventually someone enters turns off the bell light and continues on their way. Awful. Simply awful treatment. The staff appears to be too busy to attend to even the most basic needs of the patients, which is utterly unacceptable in a facility that is supposed to provide round-the-clock care. Oddly enough there is plenty of time to talk at the nurses station about personal appointments and watch TV all in the Library while patients are waiting for assistance. Time and again, I have heard the same excuse: "We are understaffed." While understaffing is a legitimate issue, it shouldn't be used as a justification for the lack of compassion and dedication required in such a critical field. Leadership should prioritize hiring and training more qualified empathetic staff to ensure that residents are receiving the highest standard of care being paid for. When a patient is at the end-of-life stage, it is very inappropriate to hear for an RN "We've all been through it" Well, that may be a correct statement but very inappropriate during an extremely difficult time. An RN takes the Nightingale Pledge " devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care". Care for the patients as if they were your loved ones. Patients should not be in a position of waiting an excessive amount of time especially if they are a fall risk. Remember patients are in need of care or they wouldn't be there, and the staff would not have jobs! Arrogance and unprofessionalism is what I would call the majority of the staff. Retraining and an overhaul are what is needed. While a private room might be nice, the quality of the rooms is awful. Holes in the walls, some patched unpainted walls, stained carpets, filthy bathrooms. The dietary selections leave much to be desired. I can't even image what the kitchen looks like. When a family is faced with needing a facility, this is one that should not be recommended. The facility is in dire need of improvement, both in terms of staffing and management practices. It is crucial for those in charge to address these issues promptly to create a more positive and caring environment. Until significant changes are made, I cannot in good conscience ever recommend this facility to anyone. read more

I can't express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional care and compassion shown to my loved one at The Guilford House. From the moment we walked through the doors, it was clear that the staff was not only highly professional but genuinely caring. They went above and beyond to ensure my loved one felt safe, respected, and supported throughout the entire recovery process. Every nurse, therapist, and even doctor took the time to get to know my loved one's specific needs and treated them with the utmost kindness and dignity. The level of personalized care was incredible, and it truly made a difference in their recovery. The team was always available to answer questions, offer reassurance, and provide guidance. It was clear that they were invested in my loved one's well-being, not just as a patient, but as a person. What stood out most was the compassion. The environment was warm, welcoming, and full of positivity, which helped my loved one stay motivated during some tough moments. The therapists were not only experts in their field but also incredibly patient and encouraging, ensuring that every step of the journey felt manageable. Thanks to the outstanding care at The Guilford House, my loved one has made significant progress, and we are forever grateful. If you are looking for a rehab facility where your loved one will receive the highest level of care, respect, and compassion, I cannot recommend this place enough. It's truly a place where healing happens--not just physically, but emotionally as well. Thank you for your kindness start to finish. read more

My father was here for 10 days after a automobile accident. My father ended up with a respiratory virus at the guilford house. When I went to visit him he was wheezing so bad he could barely speak. I grabbed a wheelchair and rushed him to the hospital where he spent a week recovering. I did not receive a single phone call from the guilford house telling me he was not feeling well. I also never received a phone call following up on how he was doing. Most of the nurses were good, with the exception of the Russian nurse who was a monster. I will never recommend this rehab facility to anyone. read more

When I was looking around Connecticut for a nursing home for my aunt, I was so disappointed in the choices I was having and the nurse said to me try the Guilford House . I am so so excited and happy over three years now and she is clean attentive and all the times we go there staff the Aides I hear them just talking to all the other residents there with love and respect. I highly recommend this, Nancy, Errante read more

My husband was recently a patient at GH for three weeks. The facility itself is modern, bright, and clean as are the rooms. Someone is always at the desk unlike other facilities he has used assuring safety. From the moment he arrived, he was greeted by friendly staff members, and we found everyone from maintenance to administration had that same friendliness. Overall, we cannot find a fault starting with administration to physical therapy, nursing, aids, meals, and care in general. The best! The staff is hardworking, answers call bells in a timely manner, and treats patients with respect and kindness. I have only one negative....the constant background music, annoying. read more

The bathing situation was intolerable. They say they bathe their residents once a week, but that rarely happened. Supposedly they did sponge baths. I can say my mom desperately needed cleaning when we moved her. Then they had no hot water and they were not clear how long that went on or if it is even back. There isn't much by way of activities. Plus side- people were nice and food was good. read more

After a brief stay in the hospital, I was sent here to rehabilitate after spine issues. I've never been in a rehabilitation facility, so I was concerned about what it would be like. It is a lovely facility, with dedicated staff who are friendly and caring. The food is tasty. The beds are comfortable. I received physical therapy, with an occupational therapy consultation. I don't know what they could have done better. It's a head scratcher as to why other reviews are so negative. I've found my stay so far to be therapeutic and comfortable. Again, the staff are definitely dedicated and caring. You get what you give- treat others with kindness and respect, and you'll get it back. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Guilford House to others- and if it means anything, an employee from the hospital I was in, said her mother-in-law had stayed here, and she recommended it, and a friend of mine who was an employee here also recommended it. Very good experience so far! Thanks, Guilford House! read more

My father spent three weeks at The Guilford House after having had hip surgery. A few of the nurses were great, the grounds look beautiful, but the care, for the most part, left much to be desired. Please do not send your family members who have dementia or Alzheimer's to The Guilford House. My father was kept so medicated that he was unable to do his physical therapy as it was easier to medicate him rather than having to deal with his dementia. The greatest downfall of this is that my 89 year old father is still in de-tox from what he was given. I truly think COVID has compromised a lot of the care. No one can visit, so it's difficult to check up on your loved ones. We were there twice each day, though, communicating through the window. One Saturday night I saw my father almost naked in his bed, which I found neglectful. When I called the reception area and asked for a nurse, the nurse who answered said she had just arrived, still had her purse on her shoulder, and didn't know what was going on with my father. The situation could have escalated as my anger had me almost through the front door of The Guilford House. Although I am realistic, and know that the expectations for a man of 89, with advanced dementia, and who is recovering from a fractured hip, cannot be too high, I truly, truly feel that The Guilford House ruined my father. I don't know why it says I am from San Francisco. I live in E. Haven, CT, and always have. read more

During the pandemic that is all they are concerned with. My mother went in post hospital stay for various medical issues. The care she received was the most unprofessional I've ever seen. It was unsanitary due to not cleaning the in room Porto potties they had to use so as not to share the bath with their neighbor. No private lavs. They only cleaned them at night so the dirty pots would sit in the rooms all day and the patients had to put up with it. They took between 30-45 min to reply to the in room help buttons. One of the receptionists who answered the phone yelled at me for asking questions, the meals were all cold when delivered even dinner, they gave her medication not in her hospital discharge papers because she asked for it, never contacted me with medical updates until I insisted 2 weeks after she went in, sent her for a medical treatment to the hospital with an empty oxygen tank and she needed it for breathing, etc, etc, etc. And of course I was not allowed in due to covid restrictions so it was quite a challenge to get my mother all the proper cate that she needed. There were more issues than I listed. There were too many problems to list. Do not send an aging relative there! At least not until you can get in to oversee their care. It was a horrendous experience for our whole family. Thankfully she is back home now and will never return regardless. read more

The rehab center was awful. I was in for a broken hip and received almost no therapy . Except for a few kind souls, staff was arrogant and often kept me waiting on toilet(sometimes an hour) just to get help getting up. Staff played"games" with pain meds and witheld them till the very last minute eventhough meds can be given an hour in advance. They were clueless about pain management. Lost 20lbs despite my lack of mobility. Food was ineatable. I would not recommend this place to an animal read more

Family is everything and our parents deserve the best. When children are faced with parents in need of a skilled nursing facility it becomes one of the most important decisions we will ever make. That's why you should listen to our story and think long and hard before you choose the Guilford House. My family was faced with finding someplace for our Dad to recuperate after a fall at home left him unable to care for himself. We heard great things about the Guilford House. The food, the atmosphere, the long waiting list. It seemed too good to be true and as it turns out it was. Dad was initially welcomed with open arms. After he fell on their watch, broke his hip and was diagnosed with dementia, everything changed. That's when the Guilford House social worker, administrators and owner showed their true colors. They put a tremendous amount of pressure on my family to find 'alternative arrangements' for Dad. Given he had fallen and been injured on their watch, you would think we would jump at the opportunity to move him somewhere else. I wish we had. The problem we faced was Dad's dementia was quickly progressing and he thought of Guilford House as home. He was already very confused. We thought uprooting him to a strange environment would do irreparable harm. Little did we know it may have saved his life. The Guilford House was so aggressive in their tactics of trying to push Dad out we had to engage a State of Connecticut Ombudsman to fight for Dad's right to stay. Why did we do that after he fell on their watch? Why didn't we move him someplace else? At the time we truly believed the risk of moving him someplace unfamiliar was far greater than the risk of keeping him at the Guilford House. We couldn't have been more wrong. We won the fight to keep Dad at the Guilford House, but in the end we lost the war and Dad lost his life. On February 15, 2018 we got a call that Dad was complaining of pain in his leg. His nurse had no idea what could be wrong - maybe he had a blood clot she said. They told us he was having a great day and had been up and happy, but... just to be on the safe side she thought it was a good idea to have his leg looked at, so as a precaution were sending him by ambulance to the hospital. I think a five-year old could have taken one look at Dad's leg and recognized that something was very wrong. It was incredibly swollen and bruised. Dad was in excruciating pain and such bad shape he went straight to a trauma room at the hospital and 10 days later he died. The official, State of Connecticut coroners' report states Dad died as a result of 'blunt force trauma' to his lower extremity. Yet the Guilford House has absolutely no documentation of any event. As far as they are concerned nothing happened. It is an unsolved mystery as to how Dad, who was unable to transfer himself and hadn't walked in over a year had multiple fractures in his leg with nothing documented in any Guilford House records. Someone who was working at the Guilford House knows what happened to Dad. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it wasn't. We will never know. What we do know is if we had to do it over again we would NEVER, ever, send our parent or anyone we love to the Guilford House for rehab. Who cares how good the food is? Or how pretty the hallways are? What really matters is that the rehab facility caring for your family member is competent, and honest. Nothing is more important than your loved ones life. Don't make the same mistake we did. Find someplace else for your family member. Someplace where they will be safe and well taken care of. read more

My choice is to give the Guilford House no stars. Unfortunately you have to choose at least one to move forward. If only.... if only we could go back in time and not choose the Guilford House. It was the worst choice we made for my father. What we thought was going to be the best care, turned out to be anything but. Please read all the reviews. Please don't send your loved one here. Don't let the "good food" or " pretty atmosphere " be your deciding factor. There are for more important factors like care. My family and I can't go back in time but you can make better choices for your loved one. Don't go to the Guilford House. Go anywhere else. Anywhere. It could cost your loved one their life. read more

Horrible, Deplorable, should not be in business!! My mother was a patient there for 4 days. Talk about elderly abuse, she was yelled and screamed at, no shower was reprimanded for ringing her buzzer for wanting to go to the bathroom. Never a HOT meal. Family had to intervene and call a ambulance when she couldn't breath and couldn't get any help. She's now in intensive care. Don't send your loved ones there!!! I have filed a report with the state. Unexceptional if I could I would rate far below except able standards read more

PLEASE read THIS!! I wouldnt send ANYONE to this place!! Let me tell you why....To start, they never in the 10 days I spent there brought me a tray of food!! I had to track down someone every time I wanted something....the beakfast, lunch and dinner service went by my room EVERY TIME!! Also, I was there not amulatory, and needed a walker to get into the bathroom with an attendant, no one EVER came!! There was a leak in my toilet for days and I requested it be fixed multiple times...never was!! This caused me to slip when I was alone in the bathroom, as no one ever came to assist me. This is where you need to pay CLOSE ATTENTION....The evening pain meds seemed to not work as effectivly as the daytime meds, made me think they where being tampered with. Sure enough, one night, rather than blindly putting the cup contents(meds) into my mouth, I checked and SURE ENOUGH there was a missing oxycodone, when I asked the night Nurse about it she at first said no you took the right meds until I showed her the pill contents still in my hand, right away she was SO apologetic, telling me she had to BORROW my meds from another patient whatever that meant and got me the apprpriate dose. I Struggled reviewing this facility this way but I am young and strong and can speak up for myself, it breaks my heart to think the elderly may be treated in this fashion, enduring possible severe pain if the meds they are perscribed arent given to them according t Dr's orders. I STRONGLY reccomend that if you MUST leave your loved one there, you check on them regularly or even better find a faciliy that is more than the smoke and mirrors that the Guilford House portrays. read more

Please do not send your loved one to the Guilford House of Horrors! I witnessed inhuman treatment, patients being neglected and the owners not caring about anyone. This is not a rehab facility, people that go there don't come out but end up dying in there. My friend developed such bad bed sores from lack of being turned that he ended up in the hospital and eventually dying. Stay away from this place please! read more

My grandmother entered the Guilford House on August 5, 2020. Since her admission there, her emotional and physical well-being immediately declined. There were several incidents that occurred while she was a resident at their facility. Upon admission, the staff were unprofessional and not providing the family with any update on her treatment plan. They would screen our calls or just not answer. We would visit outside her window for 5+ hours at a time, where we witnessed that no one would check in on her during the entire visit. We would call the nurses' station and/or front desk during our visit, and no one would answer as they would screen the calls. My grandmother would request water, food, diaper change and no one entered for hours. Being that she was Italian speaking and the staff notified us that they did not understand her or have a translator available, we as a family expressed concerns surrounding the ability of a facility to responsibly treat her. We spoke with nursing directors and our concerns were minimized and not addressed. My grandmother would constantly tell us during visits that she was hungry and thirsty and it took hours before a nurse would come into the room. They did not follow legal guidelines with changing her diaper as well as feeding/drinking. She was often found without pants on and freezing cold. We would call staff to dress her and once again, we would wait hours before someone would answer the phone or even come into her room. She also had a fall from her wheelchair while there due to irresponsible staff leaving her unattended for hours without a belt or the foot rest. She lost weight and always reported not having energy which was witnessed during our visits. She was a very active person with an appetite and due to the lack of treatment, she immediately declined at the Guilford House. When we made these complaints and expressed our concerns, the following day she would be completely sedated and they would explain that they gave her pain medication, although she only requested Tylenol and did not complain of pain. They would always give pain medication after concerns were expressed and after she would notify us that they did not provide her with food or water for hours. She was also left in the dark due to staff not coming in to put lights on. Since admission, she continued to regress. They offered limited physical therapy and due to not having a translator they were incapable of completing the exercises. No one suggested return to home or hospice. Family had to request information from outside resources on how to remove her from the facility. The social worker explained that we needed treatment to be set up prior to removing her. RN supervisor, Ann closed window during family visits to avoid family from having communication with my grandmother. We were always told that there were staff shortage and other visitors were always complaining of neglect. In addition, after her passing their MD, Dr. Perera called with an update on her condition unaware that his patient passed away. At this time, we are asking for justice. Our geriatric population needs to be treated equally and we need to hold these agencies accountable for their lack of treatment. It is illegal not to present to a patient's room for over 5 hours. It is also illegal to not change or feed a patient for those number of hours. My grandmother was well aware of the lack of treatment and the family was working hard on trying to remove her, however the facility did not assist at all which prolonged the transition and unfortunately lead to her death. Please help me get justice!!! Thank you from her loving granddaughter, Martha read more

My mother was sent here for rehab after an operation. After one week I felt it necessary to pull her out. My opinion was that the nursing staff and aides worked very hard and were good to her, but that the management of the facility was very poor. Chaos seems to rule at this facility. If I asked two different staff members a question I always seemed to get two different answers. Process seems to be non-existent. When my mom was first there, I asked how I find out how things worked, for instance who does the laundry, should I get her own toothbrush, stuff like that. Most places like this have a handout with this sort of information. I was told I would need to request a meeting, and these meetings happen every Tuesday and Thursday. I thought this was a little strange, but asked for a meeting that Tuesday. On Monday I got a call telling me that they saw my meeting request, but that those meetings happen on Wednesdays, and the next available one was in three weeks (when her rehab would be almost complete). ??? I had to visit Tuesday anyway to go to the doctor with her, so I figured I would just deal with it then. When I arrived on Tuesday she had already been sent to the doctors office, 90 minutes early. The Guilford House allowed AMR to take her 90 minutes early and dump her with the doctors office. If she was alert this would have been bad enough, but in a semi-confused state, she had no idea where she was or what was going on. When i got to the doctors office, she had been abandoned in the lobby, alone in a wheelchair. While AMR bears some blame here, the Guilford House, in my opinion, reneged on their duty to care for her by allowing AMR to transport her well in advance of an appointment. Also, although I had told them I would be there they didn't bother to let me know (I had to ask around to find out where my mother was). Like I said, chaos rules at this place. I had other indications that she was neglected while she was there, but I don't feel I have enough information to bring charges against the facility. I certainly did not feel safe leaving her in their care, and made arrangements to have her moved immediately. I was told by the new facility that this was delayed because the responsible people at the Guilford House were always "on the phone" when they called, and they would never return their calls. Given that I had multiple instances where the Guilford House personnel did not return calls as promised, I can believe this. One cynical interpretation is that they purposely delayed to get a couple more days of Medicare billing. When we finally left, I had to wheel my mom and her belongings to the curb myself. Nobody from the Guilford House offered any kind of good bye, good luck, or even apology, and certainly nobody offered to help in any way. Also, even though they knew she was being discharged they sent all her laundry out so that I couldn't pack it up,. I don't have much hope of ever seeing her clothes again. Given that there are other good alternatives in the area, I would never allow a relative to go there, and I would strongly council friends and acquaintances to go elsewhere for a rehab/nursing facility. read more

Wow! Are these 2 existing reviews wrong. Although these people have a right to their opinion, these are too far off from the typical experience people receive at the Guilford House (TGH) to ignore. As an Elder Law attorney who has clients who regularly receive rehab, I have sent multiple clients to this (short term only) rehab facility... the care is excellent, at least as good as nearly every other local rehab community on the Connecticut Shoreline. Don't know what YELP is doing, but if you look at the other five (5) reviews (listed as not recommended) they confirm/corroborate what I'm talking about. I had a client that spent 2.5 months in another community; it did him no good. He was at TGH for 2 weeks and Pat/Cal had him up, around, and out (back at home) in great shape. The place is lovely; 2nd to none in terms of decor and cleanliness. Don't answer phone calls? Not true. Non attentive staff? Try it. This is not the typical experience neither ANY of my clients nor any client from any assisted living community I know have experienced. Got a problem? You can call the owners (not a corporation or corporate executive) who are onsite regularly. I refer clients to this and similar communities as often as I can. Accordingly, I utilize, visit, eat (meals) at, and attend nearly every community within a 25 mile radius of Guilford. I know these facilities, their staff, and their conditions. Go experience this facility and others first hand (see the facility, meet the owners and staff) to gauge your opinions. Although I try not to opine on professional matters on Yelp or other review sites, those other reviews are so far from the typical experience one receives at the Guilford House, I had to share... Matthew T. Stillman, JD, LL.M. Elder Law Attorney Certified Veterans Claims Attorney CT Bar, Elder Law Section, Executive Committee CT NAELA, Board Member read more

The worst rehab center in Ct. People screaming for help never getting assiatance. Mom left in bed after buzzing to use the bathroom. Left in feces. Burned her feet in the shower. True elder abuse. If you care for your loved one. DO Not send them to this awful place. We have pics and are now considering litigation. After being sent an email from owner threatening our mental competency. We have pics that dont lie and we are considering litigation now more than ever... read more

After my Mom had a fall, broke her pelvis and Yale New Haven Hospital refused to keep her the 3 days needed for Medicare to kick in - presumably because a higher rate of these claims is meet by our government reducing funding to their hospital .... thanks Obama, she went here for a week. She had terrific things to say about the staff, including Rich the GM (who is also busy in the kitchen and makes some fantastic soups) and Cal - the owner. You can tell these guys really care. The nurses are good but Mom complained they were excessively noisy at times. Her physical therapy was great and she surprised everyone by how quickly she was able to recover. I'd recommend this place if you need short-term rehab and I'm not sure what happened with the two complaints - I guess this is a tough business to get 5 stars in. read more

My dad went there after both knee surgeries and mom for other reasons. The food is excellent and if someone is not eating, they are not well. The rehab is top notch. They ate trying to not just get you passable but the best you can be. My parents and friends won't go anywhere else. read more

A very dear friend was a patient at The Guilford House twice over a period of 2 months. I found their nursing care the best. Her care was difficult, with many complications. The staff handled it calmly and professionally. When a problem did arise, it was taken care of immediately. Sometimes personalities clashed..again, changes were made immediately to the benefit of the patient. The staff from dietary, PT, housekeepers to administration...all were kind to her and myself. I've been in many facilities over my career in Nursing. Never have I seen an owner more hands on than Cal. He's to be commended for his dedication to the patients. I'd recommend this facility for your loved ones care. read more

My Mom was there for over a month. I had to pull her out before they were ready to let her go. The reason? They have absolutely nothing in place for someone with a Traumatic Brain Injury. She would want to practice on the stairs in the PT room, and they wouldn't let her. She would walk around the halls with the walker, to try and exercise and the nurses would corral her back in her room. The proper paperwork never got sent to my mother's Long Term Health Insurance company, so I had to follow up with that. They are under-staffed, and sadly, somewhat clueless. It was not a good experience for my mother, or the rest of the family that was stressed out of our minds regarding "What happens next?" They were a huge disappointment. read more

This place is a nightmare!. My mother was left in her bed in her own feces after calling the nurse to use the bathroom and waiting nearly an hour. This happened time after time. The excuse was she has dementia and never pushed the button! I overheard this excuse used over and over again with other families. After not showering her for days. My son asked they please give her a shower. The next day I arrived they burned her arms and feet. And said it was her medication and she was lying because she has dementia! The blisters on her arms and legs were not made up! They Don't even treat these patients like human beings. They may fancy themselves 5 star. But Please Be warned. There are patients in the hallways screaming for help for hours. No one even comes to help them. This place is a total disgrace!!! DO NOT ALLOW A LOVED ONE IN THIS FACiILTY. THEY ARE NEGLECTFUL AND INCOMPETENT read more

[The below is a letter I wrote to Cal Melfi after my first stay at Guilford House in 2104. Since that time, I have had two additional joint replacement surgeries and stayed there after each one. I have now logged a total of 67 days at Guilford House and everything I wrote after the first stay still applies. Should I need another rehab stay it will be at Guilford House.] October 16, 2014 It is easy to find fault with places where you actually want to be. The fine hotel where you might just prefer a different brand of shampoo. The elegant resort where room service might be a touch slow. So, it isn't all that hard to find fault with places you have eagerly sought out. Imagine how much easier it is to find things wrong with a place where you don't really want to be. I can't think of a better example of a place that, generally, I would want no part of than a post surgery rehab facility. So, it is with considerable surprise, that I can find nothing wrong with the Guilford House, a 75-bed rehab facility 15 minutes or so north of New Haven where I recently spent 3 weeks. Well, actually, there is something wrong with it. The shelves in the bathroom could be larger. Substantially larger. But if that is the best I can do after a lengthy stay, I would settle for even smaller shelves. It starts with the people who own Guilford House, Cal and Pat Melfi. As best I can tell, Pat handles the back of the house and is likely a key reason why things run so smoothly. The uniformly excellent staff did not happen by chance. Cal is on the premises and highly visible six days a week. A bit like "that damn elusive Scarlet Pimpernel," Cal is here, he's there, he's everywhere and all to fine effect. Every morning, without ever being asked, Cal dropped off a copy of the New York Times so that it was there upon my return from my morning physical therapy session. One day, while making his rounds, he saw that I was reading a collection of essays by Calvin Trillin (courtesy of the well stocked Guilford House library). He asked if I had read Trillin's tribute to his late wife, Alice, and said he would drop by with it later. Cal is in the dining room for lunch and dinner, seating the residents when needed, explaining the meal choices and offering to accommodate and often anticipating any special dining needs. He knows his clients well and clearly is well liked. He and the other people working in the dining room bring a level of personal service to what can easily be a terribly impersonal environment. He does this with both grace and humor. Don, a gentleman I sat with often, found that root beer was one of the flavors that he really enjoyed and Cal would have it at his place as soon as he was seated. While there were two choices at each meal, special requests were readily accommodated and often suggested. Clearly, one does not come to a facility such as the Guilford House to eat. However, with a population that is limited, physically, in many ways, the one thing that all seemed to be able to do and enjoy was eating. So, the importance of healthy and remarkably tasty meals adds enormously to the recovery process. It is hard to imagine a facility serving a goodly number of people doing as excellent job of providing quality food. I once asked Cal whether, given the talent in the kitchen, he had ever thought of doing wedding receptions! During my stay, I had a follow up appointment with my orthopedist who had an office close by in Guilford. I asked Cal if he could get me a taxi. He said that would not be necessary; he would have someone drive me to the doctor's office. Shortly after I called to say I had finished, Cal arrived to take me back to Guilford House. He asked if I would mind if he stopped at Bishop's, a well known local orchard/market. He said that one of the residents was especially fond of the walnut chicken salad sandwich made at Bishop's and he had told her he would bring her one, which he did. Several people who visited me remarked on the absence of the "institutional odor" one might expect from such a facility. There was none. The staff that dealt with making sure that all was in neat and clean order did a high quality job. But, I was not there for the food, my daily copy of the New York Times or the pleasant aroma offered by the Guilford House. I was there because, after a long summer of no one knowing what ailed me, a total left hip replacement was performed. While I am in good physical shape, I am 79 years old and this was not going to be a proverbially walk in the park. I needed and wanted intense physical therapy as I was anxious to get back to the full, active life I was accustomed to. I found it at the Guilford House. For the first two weeks I spent both a morning and afternoon session with Linda whose assistance was invaluable. I also worked with several occupational therapists on balance and general coordination. One thing that was clear (and impressive) was how well the physical therapy staff worked together. That w read more

My father was transferred to the Guilford House from Madison House after he was poorly treated/neglected there. The staff at Guilford house is very caring and attentive, the facility is lovely and full of light, extremely clean and the food is excellent. The nurses have communicated efficiently and the visiting hours are flexible, with lovely areas inside and outside to visit. You will have peace of mind for your loved one at Guilford House. read more

I have been impressed by every aspect of care at the Guilford House. The nursing staff and therapists are excellent. The food is wonderful, with a variety of choices and special treats. The garden and courtyards are lovely and peaceful. The owners make sure everyone is comfortable, well fed, and well cared for. The philosophy seems to be that if patients are getting good food, good rest, and good care, they can focus on the hard work of getting stronger after injury or sickness. Having visited many similar facilities over the years, this one stands out above the rest for quality of care and the atmosphere. read more

My mother chose Guilford House for 2 reason: 1) She had visited friends who stayed there and she loved the place. Not only was it clean and attractive, but if she visited around mealtimes, the staff offered her a meal, too. My mother is a great chef and baker, and she thought the food was good. 2)The staff at Yale New Haven Hospital, where she had her heart surgery, highly recommended the place. Everyone there who had any knowledge of local rehap centers, affirmed that it was tops. Whether it was her surgeon, her nurses, or the social workers who specialize in placing patients. Everything I saw there confirmed the correctness of my mother's decision. read more

My mother was there for 3 weeks in 2011. It was fabulous! The owners are very attentive and the food is good. The staff tries very hard to please. My friend was there in January 2015. She was pleased with her accommodations. Her room was a private one and the food was more than acceptable. Not sure how the rehab staff is at this time. It was very good in 2011. It's not supposed to be a five star hotel! read more

The Guilford House is negligent, incompetent, and terrifyingly spiteful with their patient care. After we saw the awful treatment of my grandmother, we attempted to transfer her to a different facility to ease our consciences and make sure she got the best care possible. However, when the Guilford House realized this was what was going on, the organization contacted my grandmother's insurance provider and falsely told the insurance provider that she was due to be discharged in 2 days. Seeing as that would put her at 1 (ONE, AND ONLY ONE) week after a bilateral knee replacement operation, I find the claims by the owner, Cal, who I am SURE is going to respond to this post and lie left right and center, insulting. This resulted in the insurance agency telling my grandmother that she was not cleared to be sent to another rehab facility. And Cal then discharged my grandmother today, exactly six days after her surgery. Think about that for a second. Six days after a full knee replacement on both knees, the insurance company is told that she is mobile, independent and capable of handling stairs all by herself. She cannot get out of her own way. Immediately after getting home, she tried to use the restroom, and became stuck on the toilet because her knees do not work yet, because IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A WEEK. So, there's a huge list of problems aside from that main, spiteful, childish, dangerous and bordering on criminal offense. -The stink of urine all through the recovery ward. -A wheelchair bound patient in a neckbrace was left in one of the "library rooms" to stare out the window. All by himself. No supervision. -The fact that my grandmother was denied painkillers for a ten hour period of time, from 8 PM until 6 AM, despite asking for them three times. (Staff later falsified reports to say that my grandmother never called for painkillers, and that a nurse came by to ask if she needed anything during that time window) -Ace Bandages were wrapped so tightly around the patient's knees that when they were removed, her ankles and feet immediately doubled in size and swelled up to a dangerous level. -We're not sure exactly what the dosage is supposed to be on certain medications, as Guilford House refused to give any paperwork or advice on what these medications fill sizes and dose regularity are. -No discharge paperwork was given. -Staff refused to have any part in arranging transport for the patient to a different facility, as that's "not their job". -When confronted about the awful state of care, the owner not only refused to even consider that his staff may have erred, but got into a shouting match with the patient's daughter. As an aside, this is a service industry. Cal, since I know you're going to read this, YOUR JOB IS TO ENSURE PATIENT SATISFACTION, NOT JUST TO PAD OUT YOUR BOTTOM LINE. You should be trying to make sure that every patient is as happy as possible, feels safe, and isn't in distress, not shouting at family members when they try to point out your staff's errors to you. Regardless of how a customer behaves, IT IS YOUR JOB TO SMILE AND SAY THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO IT. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SCREAMING AT PATIENTS. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I think the last thing I want to point out is just how many people in the staff at Guilford House are Aides, not Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses or even Medical Assistants. That means people don't need to have certifications to do any of this work. Joe Schmoe off the street could have applied for the job and gotten it, and not be sure which end of the needle is the business end. So, if you're reading this, wondering if you can trust these recent Yelp reviews, or if Cal's lines of BS that he will undoubtedly respond to this review with is to be trusted, just think. All of these reviews sound similar, but not exactly the same. This isn't some concerted effort to try to bring Guilford House down for no reason. We people who are taking the time to review it have had really, really bad experiences here with family members' lives at risk. This facility is dangerous. This facility does not care about you. This facility does not care about your loved ones. This facility cares about money, and nothing but. This facility's care has declined sharply in the past few years, likely as a cost-cutting measure. This facility is going to kill someone, and it might be your family member. And Cal, spare the people your lines of garbage. Just go ahead and say that you didn't like my mom. I know for a fact that you remember her. Just go ahead and admit that you contacted the insurance company to try and make sure my grandmother didn't get the care she needed because you had to feel like a big man. read more

Please don't send a family member to The Guilford House. My husband chose this facility for rehab after a knee replacement. His decision to go there was based upon the referral of a friend of ours who had recuperated there a couple of years ago after the same surgery. I have since learned that care and conditions have changed greatly over the past few years. The surgeon told us that the three most important things during recovery would be: keeping the leg elevated above the heart constantly for 7 days; making sure that no one touched the patient without first using hand sanitizer; and keeping swelling down by using a leased cooling machine constantly and sleeping with a demobilizing brace. When we arrived at TGH we found that the beds could not be elevated and no one on staff knew how to apply the cooling machine or leg demobilizer. Cal suggested that we "throw a bag of ice on it" and wanted to make sure that he wasn't paying to lease the machine. The equipment was placed on my husband, but the nurse assured us that she had never seen a cooling machine. A foam cushion was shoved under the end of the bed and the leg was put up on a plastic wedge. Not one staff member entering the room ever went near the sanitizer. Meanwhile a patient across the hall was screaming that he wanted to get out and the nursing staff was yelling back from the end of the hall that he wasn't allowed to leave his room. The "private" room contained a shared bathroom with no shower or tub. After helping my husband change, I promised him I would return in the morning and would take him home as soon as a physical therapist showed him the proper way to go up and down stairs. I returned at 6:45 am to find my husband closed in his room, with all equipment removed and his leg off the wedge. He told me that he had lost feeling his foot because the cooling machine was put on upside down. He had ripped off all equipment during the night after paging the nurse and waiting over 45 minutes for someone to come. He had even tried yelling, to no avail. The man in the next room, with whom he shared the adjoining bath, had wandered into his room several times during the night but was too confused to provide or get help. Although I got my husband out as quickly as I could, he still developed an infection that required a 3 hour visit to the ER and a return trip to the surgeon.. He is currently taking massive doses of antibiotics to stop the spread of the infection. Two physicians have confirmed that it was likely caught at the rehab facility. They weren't able to get my husband the equipment he needed to go home "on such short notice", but assured us that a walker, cane, and commode would be delivered to our home later that day. It's been 6 days and the equipment still has not arrived. Since leaving TGH, we have had numerous health care professionals in our home who have told us that people used to rave about The Guilford House, but they have heard many, many complaints over the past two years. It seems that things have changed. Staff is clearly not properly trained and the conditions are not sanitary. Please, please, don't go to The a Guilford House. read more

The Guilford House provided excellent care for both my grandmothers and mom. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for care they can count on and trust. Thank you to the wonderful staff for all your kindness to my family in a time of need. read more

My grandmother had a good experience at Guilford house. I was surprised by the other reviews, especially those that mention Cal. As an owner I found him to be extremely pleasant, very "hands on", visiting patients everyday and always seeing my grandma's needs were met. He and the staff were very accommodating and even served my kids ice cream when we'd visit! At 87 and recovering from a surgery that had complications, I feel that Guildford house did a great job of helping her recover. Thank you Cal, Richard and staff!! read more

I just read your review. Your experience defies my comprehension. My mom has stayed at the Guilford House several times (she is 93) the staff is super the administration is always concerned and attentive to her needs. I will always request The Guilford House when my mom needs care. read more

Our Mom had knee surgery and wanted to rehab at her home. After complications with her recovery she needed monitoring and was recommended to stay at the The Guilford house for rehab. To say she didn't want to go was a huge understatement! But from the minute we walked into The Guilford House to her steps out the door for home was filled with the best care possible. She was brought a rootbeer float with coffee ice cream (her favorite) in the first few minutes of arriving! Outstanding, stellar, professional, personable, caring, creative, and patient focused are some of the attributes that stand out. The owner and director were always there and available balancing and creating their center to excellence and the staff followed in their footsteps. The meals were gourmet served in a dining room with table linens and china, my Mom gained 5 needed lbs. after only a week stay. The rehab program and the Physcial therapist were fantastic (and tough) - I couldn't even imagine that we actually thought to try this at home! More importantly, The Guildford House gave us our Mom back- her fiesty personality to know she can recover, get strong and go home! Don't even think twice at any other options- this is it! read more

The Guilford House provided excellent care for my mom after she fell and fractured her hip. She was a challenging medical patient with dementia, COPD, heart problems and a fractured hip. I found the facility to be clean and staffed with courteous caring and friendly people. The food was excellent. Patients and their visitors could dine in their rooms or in the Guilford House dining room. I believe what differentiates The Guilford House from many similar facilities is that it is family owned and operated. Both husband and wife are on the premises daily and personally interact with the patients and their family. I would highly recommend The Guilford House to any of my friends or family. read more

My father was transported from Yale to The Guilford House. We were greeted by many folks over the first few hours. Promises were made and never happened. My Dad was not cared for in the way he needed. He asked for help in eating and was told, no, you can do it yourself. Then another nurse came by and helped Dad so he could eat. He was never given a bath, although promised daily. It was stated that he was anxious and their response was to increase his xanax. I saw Dad everyday, on the third day he was out of sorts, not able to breathe well. They stated he was fine, just anxious, no fever. I called an ambulance and brought him back to Yale. Dad had 102 fever and was immediately admitted and placed on two antibiotics. He was also given a bath, within the hour. He remained at Yale for five more days until we then took him home. Our experience was nothing but horrific. If you are healthy and need care for rehab perhaps this place is exceptable. If you are in any need for personal care or medical attention, not the place to be. read more

The Guilford House better known as the House of Horrors. My 73 year old mother was sent her to rehab here after having intensive back surgery. On her 7 day she came down with a severe case of the norovirus. Extreme vomiting and diarear. The nurses assured me that she was in good care and would be fine. My mom told me that she would ring for the aids/nurse and they would not respond for over 1/2 hr. She was too weak to get up to use the bathroom. She was finally given iv fluids for dehrydration. On the second day of her illness she seemed to be improving slightly. She asked and it was recommended that she be on a very bland diet, the kitchen continued to bring her foods not suitable i.e. pastries for breakfast, salads with mayo, etc. This happened repeatedly despite her and my attempts to rectify this. Over the next day she began to have diareear again. She also told the nurses she thought she had developed thrush in her mouth and they told her no. She was becoming weaker and weaker. I asked the head of nursing if she thought the should be put into the hospital and was told no she would be fine. Finally I made the decision to put her back into the hospital and thank god I did. She was dehydrated and was diagnosed with pneunomnia and a severe case of thrush. This place is the absolute worst in caregiving, nurses, aids, management everything. STAY AWAY if you care about your loved ones. read more