Cedar Crest Nursing And Rehabilitation Center

First Unilocal review but after reading a one-​star posted a month ago, I felt the need to chime in.
I was recently at Cedar Crest for approximately 4 ½ weeks after 4 weeks at Stanford after surgery.
I agree that the response times for CNA’s and nurses are frequently too slow. Staffing issue? Not sure.
Re the review that said the wound care was below par, that’s very contrary to my experience. I had (have) 2 open wounds that needed dressing changes 4x a day. With a few exceptions, (inexperienced nurse’s who I sent packing!) everyone knew what to do (kudos to Amy who fashioned a «Montgomery Strap» application that wowed them at Stanford).
PT and OT are relentless which is why, when my care coordinator at Stanford asked where I wanted to have rehab, I chose Cedar Crest without hesitation. (I was there 3 yrs ago for rehab after knee replacement so knew exactly what to expect.) The PT staff doesn’t take «no» for an answer, but is very sensitive to your physical limitations. They push you just far enough to make a positive impact on your recovery. Chi, Randy, Frank, Dane, are just a few of the PT-​ers I worked with with MUCH success. The OT staff would come to my room if I was too pooped after PT. Left no opportunity by the wayside!
The food was adequate (soups were EXCELLENT) but didn’t seem to be the excellent quality it was during my previous stay (head chef the same, probably new staff). Only issue I had was breakfast being served at 7:30am! I’m not an early riser!
The facility is well kept, nice outside area for walking around and getting good exercise.
If I have to have rehab ever again, I’ll go back there!

This is my first ever Unilocal review, but I feel motivated to write it because of how well Cedar Crest Rehab and Nursing home in Sunnyvale is looking after my mother.
I would say I am a person who is very hands-​on and determined; so I am not that easily impressed. My attitude is – Do your job – whatever it is – to the best of your ability or move-​on. It is hard for me to let go; so, you can be sure, if something is done to someone – in this case, my wonderful 98 year old mother; I will be observing and evaluating.
Since I am my mother’s only local caregiver, it is extremely important to me that, if I am working or ill – I need to know those in charge of her care do it with honest concern and as per doctor’s recommendations. That brings me to Cedar Crest.
I had never really thought of my mother going to a nursing home, but, when it appeared she needed to go to one, I did my research. Everyone I knew at her assisted living facility recommended Cedar Crest. She has been admitted there twice. I have noticed that many residents have returned here after another hospital visit. That is a testament.
I very much like the employees at Cedar Crest who are loving, caring individuals. They do their work with a kind word and a smile. There seems to be low turnover, which is great.
The administration is top-​drawer:
The Administrator, is very smart, on top of everything, and does not hide behind closed doors. She is very approachable and is aware of what is transpiring in the building. She seems extremely concerned about the welfare of the residents. She is firm but very caring. Her door is very conveniently located off the main living room and almost always accessible.

The head nurse is very kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. If you observe something you think is not being addressed, she takes care of it immediately. I find it really interesting that – if you complain to a nurse – they, immediately, will contact her telling her of your complaint and it
is addressed. They feel they can be honest with her and she handles it.
The head of the CNA’s just won the top award DSD, Director of Staff Development, for the CAHF (California Associations of Health Facilities). She helped develop the «Second Day of Orientation» in which all department managers meet with all new hires once a month. I believe, this on-​going orientation is what keeps the staff operating as a cohesive, focused staff.
The dietary manager is open to suggestions to better fit the needs of the residents. He is extremely accommodating.
It is heart-​breaking to have a family member in any kind of health care facility. The range of emotions is difficult to navigate. I am no exception – I want the best for my loving, well-​deserved mother. I feel that the care staff really does care about her and try to make her stay there as upbeat as possible. I have been to other facilities and hear people crying and begging for help. It is heart-​breaking. I feel that the staff does care about my mother and tries to do what they can to keep her spirits up.
One more thing– this facility is clean. So many nursing homes reek of urine and other bodily smells. I have not noticed that here.
Are there shortcomings at Cedar Crest? I believe every single facility of this type does, but I know that caring personnel, concern for residents, and the desire to do the right thing exist here.
Cathy, Sunnyvale

I can’t say enough positive things about this facility. My mother in law has been here long-​term, about two years now. I have nothing negative to say. They take excellent care of her… even when she’s a little «difficult» to deal with. The staff is excellent… hard workers dedicated to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.

I wish that I could not give any stars to this horrible Skilled Nursing Facility.
Do not jeopardize the health and privacy of your loved one, there
are much better skilled nursing facilities.
The facility was absolute nightmare experience for my mother and husband (they were both operated on the same day).
This list of problems at the facility is a long one.
When my husband arrived there from the hospital he was told that they did not have his pain meds and that he would need to wait until the next morning for pain meds. We told them that we would need to transport my husband back to hospital immediately because he had to have pain meds, and they found some short acting pain meds that brought his pain down to a 6 or 7 (on a scale of 1 to 10). The facility blamed the hospital for the pain meds snafu. The staff ar Cedar were not all concerned.
This was just beginning of the nightmare.
My husband was in bed that it did not have a curtain that closed properly there was a gap. When he needed to use the commode or plastic urinal, the visitors for the patient in the next bed would look into my husbands room as they walked by. He had zero privacy and once again the staff could care less. This same problem was listed in the medicare audit from last the Fall of 2014. It had been months since the audit and the curtain had not been fixed. They simply do not care.
I finally called the director of nursing after an attempt to fix the curtain failed.
They finally fixed the curtain three days after my husband arrived. By that time I was already visiting other SNF’s in the area.
My mom and husband were not recovering, their pain was not being properly managed, they were not being eating properly because the food was most part inedible, they were both depressed and begged to me to find another facility. A friend who is doctor visited and saw the meal and commented that you cannot get well eating this because there is no protein.
The staff were very slow to respond to their requests (when they pushed the button) for pain.
One day my husband excruciating pain and he pressed the button for help, it took 45 minutes for staff t respond and then it took more time for the meds to work.
I asked a staff person for some ice that mom needed for her constant back pain
and the staff person got a plastic bag from the bottom of a trash can which he told me is where they always get their plastic bags. I complained to Cynthia the director of nursing that my mom had surgical wounds on her back and asked if their staff ha heard of infection control? Cynthia ignored the plastic trash bag incident and mentioned that they had small white ice bags that are purchased for such needs and they do not use trash bags.
My mom is a stoic type who rarely cries and she was crying in pain a lot
and they refused to address her pain problems. I was asked by an RN if mom had an anxiety disorder because she was crying so much and they asked about giving her medication for an anxiety problem that she did not have.
My husband had zero wound care at Cedar Crest
I had both my mom and husband moved to a dramatically better Skilled Nursing
Facility (Manor Care in Sunnyvale) and they both started to recover, superior nursing care and better meals, proper pain mgmt and excellent PT and OT therapies. Manor Care immediately began to treat my husband’s wound. They also have wonderful recreation pgms.

Much deserving of a fair and honest review. First of all, the staff and the entire team at Cedar Crest deserves all the kudos that they receive from the residents, family and guests.
Why do I say this? I have an un-​biased opinion since after caring and watching over a family member since 2001 until 2013 — I have been to A LOT of Skilled Nursing Facility and Rehabilitation Centers from way up North in San Francisco and all the way through the Peninsula areas. Hands-​On Approach where all the staff takes owndership and demonstrates a lot of patience, love, understanding are honest & true to providing care.
If you get a chance to see the facility and the wonderful well-​kept patio, it is truly a sight to see.
Very positive and encouraging environment for the residents and everyone!
Cheers!
«The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.» — E. Roosevelt

Positives
1. No smell of bodily functions and no smell of disinfectant; rooms were clean
2. All med’s were given on time
3. Patients were dressed and out of bed if they were able, even if they were just sitting in chairs in their rooms
4. Mom was «kept clean»
5. Mom never experienced pressure sores in the 2 months she was at Cedar Crest
6. Scott the Director of Food Services went above and beyond to get Mom to eat; he offered to personally go to the supermarket to pick up foods she liked; he prepared special meals; he was simply superb
7. Maritas, a nurse, was superb — always smiling, always able to get Mom to take her medications, gently persuading and cajoling; she was very caring and aware of her patients’ needs
8. The support staff were pleasant and greeted you with a smile
9. Cedar Crest promptly called if there was a problem so the family could help resolve it (Mom refusing medication, Mom becoming dazed and confused, Mom falling out of chair onto the floor, etc)
10. Homey furnishings in public areas
11. Had excellent Inspection ratings by the state of California and good Unilocal ratings.
Negatives
1. Ignored 1″ deep wound on leg that was constantly weeping. They may have dressed it but they never treated it or consulted a wound care specialist. Why did we not know? Because there was always a bandage on it. Recommendation for future: always ask when the next dressing will be applied and actually LOOK at the wound. Measure the size of the wound and monitor changes. Ask what is being done for it. Let the staff know you are WATCHING.
While at Cedar Crest nothing, Mom developed massive swelling of her legs and constant «weeping». Nothing was done to prevent or alleviate the condition. The day Mom was released from Cedar Crest, we took her to her doctor. The doctor immediately prescribed lasix to reduce the edema and suggested elevating her legs. Her legs have shrunk from 3x to 1.5x the size of normal and the weeping has finally stopped within just 10 days. But we are still working hard every single day to stave off infection and heal the wound.
2. During the same visit to Mom’s doctor I asked that Mom be given fewer daily pills. At Cedar Crest, they increased the number of prescription medications by 5 or 6 a day, approx double what she’d been taking. When Mom’s doctor saw the list of what they added, she immediately gave orders to discontinue every one of them. Mom is no longer drowsy and dopey.
3. The aides didn’t respond to Mom’s calls when she needed to go to the bathroom. They said «Just go in your diaper». Mom knew when she needed to go, she just needed help walking to the bathroom. Once Mom was out of Cedar Crest and at a place where they respond to the call button, Mom’s been able to go to the toilet like a regular person.
4. Poor communication from social worker during discharge process. Made unilateral decisions and did not consult with family when engaging outside services. All of the recommendations for outside services (home health care nurse, physical therapist, oxygen provider, etc) had poor online consumer ratings.
We selected our own services, all of which we have been pleased with. Selecting our own service providers seemed to create unnecessary friction. This still puzzles me.
5. Activities director said she would engage my Mom in activities. Never saw her again after the initial meeting.
Summary
1. Sad to say, this was one of the best facilities we saw (!).
2. With ²⁰⁄₂₀ hindsight,
I would probably have put Mom in an excellent board & care NOT a nursing home
I would have LOOKED at the wound with my own eyes
I would have questioned whether she really needed each medication that was added to her daily regimen
I would have questioned whether she actually needed constant oxygen

Earlier this year my Dad was at a different skilled nursing facility in the Palo Alto community. We had to remove him as we were not satisfied with the overall service and condition of the facility. We spent considerable time looking for a more suitable facility in our general area. Someone from our church suggested Cedar Crest and we called to arrange a tour. We were graciously greeted and met by Javier and decided to relocate Dad to Cedar Crest. On the morning that we arrived with Dad we received a full staff greeting that shall forever hold a special place in our memories. The entire staff, especially Scott the Head Cook were remarkable. The CNNs, RNs, social services staff, the activities director and the medical records manager were attentive, available and responsive. In all fairness to the staff, my Dad as well as my husband and myself are rather demanding and to their credit they were always eager to listen and provide solutions to some rather unique requests. George, the receptionist always greeted us with a smile and seemed to know where my Dad was whenever he was not in his room. This was very comforting and reassuring. The reception area was always well maintained and attended. The dining room/​activities room was pleasant, bright and cheery. The Rehab staff was professional, friendly, considerate and flexible. I would highly recommend this facility. Areas that could increase their rating: More scheduled interaction with the Medical Staff. We were unable to determine when the Doctor was available for consultation for serious medical issues. Also, an additional quiet room with minimal business services would be nice. The dining/​recreation room was pretty much always in use and left no place for guests/​residents to visit outside of the patient rooms. Residents appeared to sit around in the hallway when they needed air outside of their rooms. A sitting room would address this more adequately.

My mom is at Cedar Crest now recovering from a broken hip. Was worried about someone else caring for her because my brother and I have been doing it for the past 20 years by ourselves. My mom also has Amnesia caused by Viral Encephalitis and has severe short term memory loss. Not only does the staff here work hard to rehabilitate patients, they really understand the memory issues and answer her questions often of where she is and why she is here. My standards are very high when it comes to taking care of my mom. Cedar Crest cares about their patients well being and the old stigma of skilled nursing homes is where people come to die is not true here, they come here to live and get back to living life.

My Dad is at Cedar Crest, and is so happy to be getting the excellent care he receives. The entire staff is so friendly, warm, and helpful. They work very hard. Our family is so grateful to them. It’s amazing how much he’s improved since he got there. The atmosphere is also friendly. I see a lot of residents talking to each other. I recommend Cedar Crest to anyone who is looking for a good place for rehabilitation or nursing care.

Our family is extremely grateful to Cedar Crest. Our father stayed with them twice, once for a 3 month rehab stay two years back, and again this fall until he passed away last week. The compassion and care provided to him by the nursing staff and their assistants was wonderful… with many instances of them going the extra mile to improve his comfort or happiness. The management staff was endlessly patient and supportive with our questions as we navigated through the complexities of Medicare, Medical, and VA coverage questions… as well as the more gut-​wrenching decisions about when and how to move my father to comfort care for his remaining days. The highlight of his time with them was his visits to the physical therapy team. And as he neared the end, he came to think of his beautiful room looking out on the courtyard as his own. He loved the view and the sunshine. And just a few days before he passed, the staff made a personal visit to his room with a Veteran’s Day thank you that filled his heart with pride and brought the biggest smile to his face. With grateful hearts, we thank Cedar Crest for their love, support, partnership, and care.

«Eek! Methinks not.» is right! My dad recently stayed here after breaking his hip. This was his 2^nd stay at Cedar Crest & believe me when i say, it wouldn’t have been if El Camino hadn’t effed up in sending him there w/​o the family’s involvement!
The problem we had w/​the first time was the food. They could never seem to understand that my dad is a diabetic & IDK… maybe he shouldn’t be served CAKE or Cookies! or greasy foods or meals that contain tons of carbs!
The problem w/​the 2^nd visit is much MUCH worse unfortunately. I swear i think i should have reported or sued them for elder abuse but i really dont know how to pursue something like that.
Grant it, my dad isn’t the «best» or «easiest» or sometimes even the «nicest» patient, but by no means does he deserve to be left on a bedpan for 45 mins & ignored. When his real nurse came around to check his hip replacement incision, she discovered what the attendee (or nurses assistant) had done & had to pull the bedpan away from him which tore his skin causing a bed sore & another point for infection. Finding this out actually brought me to tears.
The office personnel & administrators are nice enough, but I swear it feels/​sounds like some of them are trying to feed you a load of … dirty laundry!
The physical therapy people are great & managed to get my resistant & difficult dad up & out of the bed. They are truly wonderful.
The nursing staff, for the most part, are very nice & attentive & they saw to my dads needs (after the incident). We’ll miss a few of them b/​c they really were so cool. I wish i could remember their names as i would surely give personal props to them — but its really only a hand full of individuals who obviously take pride in their work.
Dont get me wrong — I understand how challenging it can be & that being a nurse or assistant in a care facility is totally hard! I know i couldnt do it & I’m very grateful for those who can. But we will never come here again. Should he need to be placed in a «skilled nursing facility» or «rehabilitation facility» in the future, we’ll take our business elsewhere & i strongly suggest you do the same!

My father was there for 4 weeks when the business office called to let us know that they could ask for one more week from Medicare. «Superb! Extra PT time for dad! «At the end of the 5^th week, Cedar Crest stated «You owe us $ 1,100, how do you want to pay?» Thats right, no inclination that the bill would fall upon us.
The initial «welcome to Cedar here is our plan» was for only 15 minutes. Everyone but the nutritionalist/​cook spoke English as a Second Language. We did not understand most of what was said especially from the head of the business department. I pondered why is she in this position. If she is wonderful as «behind the scenes» then I understand; however, please, please have someone else with a grasp of english to do the talking. My parents are immigrants and they understood less than me (American born chinese).
The «Activity Room» has old wallpaper and floors. There are a limited amount of old tables and chairs. Unfinished art is shoved to the corner of the room. The piano states «DO NOT PLAY» The TV is very large box. There isn’t an organized place for art supplies or anything used for an «activity room.» Again that was in quotes because it really is a place for some patients to sit when eating a meal. Even the bingo ball spinner is old and probably not sterilized. It would cost very little to update the room to show the patients some dignity. I recommend flat screen TVs, Cabinets, Games/​Cards, musical instruments…
Positives:
I verbalized the above to an employee and she agreed to pass on my concerns. today is April 2, 2012.
The therapists are diligent, hard working people and they are friendly. They always knew his name. One even came out to the house checked it and recommended items to have the house be safe before my father came home.
The backyard is large with plenty of seating (hardly anyone goes outside). The parking is not a problem.
Two patients to a room — better than others that we toured.

Went to visit a dear friend yesterday evening only to discover she wasn’t there. The young man at the front desk of course told me he couldn’t reveal any information about her.
For a moment my mind thought the worst, ‘oh my God, she has died’…I shook that off and told the young man, «she’s probably gone home.» I raced over to her house praying of course for her well being all the way there. Sure enough my dear sweet 83 year old friend ‘Pauline’ was at home and doing well. Thank you Jesus!
She told me that she got excellent care while at Cedar Crest and for that alone this facility gets my five star rating * * * * * ! ! ! ! !
Facility was clean, uplifting in atmosphere, patients in the lobby smiled when I wished them a ‘Happy New Year’ and the facility had a normal building smell. Cedar Crest did not have the typical nursing/​rehab/​old folks stench that every other nursing rehab center that I’ve visited has had and this is saying a lot since my ministry is prayer and I have visited many rehab facilities to visit and pray for people.
Your facility and the care my friend received has given me a new insight to the fact that there are nursing/​rehab centers that do care for the elderly and they don’t just leave them to die.
Thank you Cedar Crest for taking good care of my friend!

I work in the Healthcare industry. I work with every nursing home in the Bay Area. All of them that are medicare certified by law must provide the same services. There are a select few that go above and beyond the services mandated by Medicare guidelines. I know for a fact that Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehab is by far in the top 3 of all the Rehabilitation centers. They continually make sure that the patient is given a choice when it comes to their after-​care and always try to ensure that the patient is provided with continuity of care. If I was looking for a nursing home for my mother, Cedar Crest would be at the top of the list.

My mom was a PT at numerous convalescent hospitals, and my dad was (near the end) resident at a few. Cedar Crest is FABULOUS.
The staff took the time to talk with me, BEFORE my dad went there; they covered likes, dislikes, long-​term prognoses. They worked with him to find foods he’d actually enjoy (and then the chef modified them to stay within dad’s diabetic guidelines). After a week of care, I met with EVERYONE who interacted with my dad, and they were without exception attentive and helpful.
Dad was sent there for ‘palliative’ care («he’s dying soon; keep him comfy»). He was so uplifted by the environment, he decided he wanted to get better! The team @ Cedar Crest modified his care orders right away, and he started on PT the next day.
My dad died in the middle of the night. When I went in the next day to collect his things, several nurses and aides hugged me.
Someday, when I need the help, I hope I find a place as wonderful as Cedar Crest was for my dad.

I have a very disturbing story which should make anyone thinking of having their loved ones taken care of at Cedar Crest think twice.
First off, I’m not a patient/​client. I have no affiliation with Cedar Crest at all except for my experience with an ethically questionable employee who took advantage of my kindness. I work at an ob/​gyn office as a receptionist. At 8:30am a caretaker came in with an old woman in a wheelchair to see a doctor who was in the office next door. I looked up the suite number for the man and figured that was it. No, a few minutes later he comes back in and says that the office is closed so there must have been a mix up with the scheduling. He tells me that he’s called someone at Cedar Crest to come pick up the patient and that he has to leave. So, he asks me to look after her for about 10 to 15 minutes. I agree, even though I’m uncomfortable with the situation but only because someone was supposed to be coming so soon. The main issues I had were 1: I have no idea how to care for elderly patients in the event something does happen, 2: I had to get my own office ready for the day, 3: the patient was a total liability to the office. If something happened to her it would rest on our shoulders and that is a very risky responsibility to take on for someone that has absolutely no connection with the patient whatsoever. Especially because the woman kept falling asleep in her wheelchair and falling forward which made me worry that she was going to fall completely out of her wheelchair. But again, I’m a nice person and 10 to 15 minutes seemed manageable. Besides that, he said that if I couldn’t watch her then he’d have to leave her in the hallway. He gives me no information about the patient, not even her name, but he at least gives me his card and walks out.
30 minutes later no one has shown up. I call the employee, Adam Coroza, and all he says is to call Cedar Crest. So I ask him for the patients name and call. The receptionist has no idea what I’m talking about and he had never called them to have someone pick her up. So he completely lied to me. So I asked her to please send someone immediately. Then I call Adam back and tell him that Cedar Crest has no idea what I’m talking about and that he has to come pick her up immediately. All he says is that someone should be there.
Well, finally, 1 ½ hours later. Yes, 1 ½, at 10am, a person from the doctors office next door comes to pick her up for her appointment at 10am. So basically, he completely lied to me in order to get me agree to look after this woman by saying that it would only be 10 or 15 minutes when really he knew that it would be 1 ½ hours.
What kind of place just drops off a patient at a random doctor’s office, saddling them with a huge amount of responsibility and liability, by lying to the staff? I mean, dropping a patient off at a random doctor’s office is bad enough. But lying in order to do it? And besides that, if I had said no, he said he was going to leave her in the hallway. That man was willing to leave this poor old woman in the hallway for 1 ½ hours as well?!? You have GOT to be kidding me. It is one thing to do a favor for someone but it is quite another to be completely taken advantage of, which is what this man did. Furthermore, Cedar Crest should have sent someone to pick this woman up immediately when I called. It’s their responsibility to look after this woman, to be her caretakers, and instead they let her sit in a stranger’s office for over an hour? That’s ridiculous. All I know is, I was taken advantage of. I also know that I would NEVER, EVER want a family member to be treated the way this poor woman was and if you don’t either then I strongly suggest you stay away from Cedar Crest.
I know that this is just one experience but the fact is I’m writing about it because it’s the worst. I worked at a cardiologists office previous to this job and we always had issues with Cedar Crest taking ridiculously long to pick up their patients, or forgetting all together. So I am not giving Cedar Crest one star based solely on this one experience.

My sister has been at Cedar Crest for about 3 months now, recovering from a serious stroke which left her paralyzed on one-​side, unable to speak, read or write (stroke at 47yrs). We moved her from TX to CA and she’s sooooooo happy at Cedar Crest.
The directors, staff, nurses, rehab specialists and other residents have been wonderful to her. She is regaining movement in her paralyzed side now, walking better, recognizing letters/​words, writing in pre-​school books, solving puzzles, walking-​walking-​walking, eating healthy food and truly being taken care of by all.
I’m grateful to Tracie Murray and Donna Cedervall for their help in moving her from TX and making her feel so loved. And equally grateful to Manju Puri, head of rehab, and her staff for the endless love, support and hard work they give my sister.
I can’t imagine a better place to have my sister rehabilitate back into a new and productive life. I give Cedar Crest and my sister’s positive attitude all the credit in the world!!! BLESSINGS!

The first review is not true about Cedar Crest. I’ve worked there last year and our staff is fully capable of caring for our residents. They are a passionate group of people and dedicate their hours day and night to ensure that the residents are getting the best care they can get.
There is never a time without a caretaker or nurse nearby to watch the residents and visitors during any activity. The facility is carefully guarded and we do not want any mishaps to go on. Yes there are three doors, but two of them lead to the garden which is secure and harmless. There is a sitting area and some tables for people to have their meals outside. The third door is the front door which the secretary keeps an eye on.
We have never had any reports of anyone «escaping». Your loved ones are in fact safe here and I would trust these nurses and caretakers to keep them stable and healthy.

Caution !!
before placing a loved one in Cedar Crest.
Supervision of your loved one is nonexistent !
There are 3 doors that lead to the outside. They are never locked.
The main lobby is not staffed after 7:30pm.
Anyone can walk in or out unchallenged.
This may be one of the top rated centers in Sunnyvale.
But please watch over your loved one. The staff has no clue what is going on.