Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge

After my mother's passing at St. Mary's Asbury Ridge 10 months ago I had no intention of posting a review, but the recent review (a week ago) of a daughter's experience with her mother's care at St. Mary's has rekindled my heartache and now compels me to do so. My 96 year old mother was a resident (July-Oct, 2025) in the skilled unit. Absolutely there were a "small group" of wonderful hard-working nurses and CNAs that provided kind, compassionate, dignified, and professional care to my mother along with the fantastic ancillary/support staff, but sadly based on my experiences and my opinion, many of the direct care staff were inattentive, uninterested, and unaccountable. My mother was visually/physically impaired but alert/oriented. Often times her call bell was not within her reach, forcing her to call me via her speed-dial telephone to ask me to contact the nurse's station for assistance (I live 2.5 hours away). This was verified by my mother, by a family visitor, and by honest feedback from a few staff members who occasionally witnessed these episodes and would step in to help. At times my mother would be told, "I'll be back" but would wait over 30 minutes for someone to return to assist her, if they returned at all. I observed this in person and also while I was on the telephone with her. My mother received Hospice care nearly two weeks before she passed away. There were instances where my mother's comfort medications weren't given to her consistently because the medication order had been written "as needed", relying on the judgment of the nurse who was caring for my mother during each shift. Several times this resulted in my mother becoming restless and struggling with her breathing. Once in particular I even had to contact the emergency after-hours Hospice nurse who advocated for my mother to receive her comfort medications from an evening shift nurse. A very compassionate LPN who had been trying to educate other staff on the need for my mother to receive her comfort medications on a consistent basis encouraged Hospice to order the comfort medications as "scheduled" to ensure my mother's comfort. Three days before her passing my mother was finally comfortable, calm, peaceful, and free of struggle. There were also ongoing issues with my mother not having her incontinence brief changed when needed, particularly during the last several weeks of her life when she was too weak to advocate for herself. During those weeks when I visited, I would at times find her in a wet and/or soiled brief, even up to the last 24 hours of her life while she was still putting out urine. I do understand that most facilities have staff shortages and most likely these care issues would have happened at other skilled facilities. However, I had expected better from St. Mary's and this haunts me to this day. I will end by saying that no matter which skilled facility your loved one may be in, it is VERY important that someone who knows the loved one be physically present on a daily basis (if possible) to make sure they are receiving the care they need.

My mother was a resident for 6 months before she passed in February 2026. It saddens me to only give 3 stars because there are nurses and staff who genuinely care about the residents. Aides that go above and beyond nurses who never stop never sit God bless you! You know who you are . however they are out shined by the ones who shouldn’t be working with the elderly. Be aware of the call lights once the light has been turned off in a residence room. the timer stops at that time. It is documented behind the nurses station. Once the light is shut off in the residents room that’s the time document. However I can’t even count how many time’s we as a family witnessed this with my mom and the other residents. The light is turned off and my mom and others are told ok I’ll be back. Not to return for sometimes 45 mins. That is not how that works. The light stays on til the resident is taken care of. So you have an accurate time of how long your loved one waited for help of any kind. I watched a kitchen staff who was bringing my mother’s lunch accidentally spill her water all over the tray. She went back to the kitchen and returned with a new tray. Moved my mother’s lunch over but whipped off the utensils with the lunch ticket on her tray. I had to ask her to get new ones. Aides and nurses who see a person in need just walk by without as much as a side glacé as if they aren’t even there. My family walked into my mothers room only to find her in her wheelchair unlocked and up across the dresser scared and desperately trying to move herself but couldn’t because she was to weak and confused. Locking a wheelchair is the first thing you are taught to do. My mother at the end was in hospice as a family we chose to use upmc hospice as you are alowed to choose whom ever you want. We came to find out because lecom now owned st marys that is not what they wanted.staff were accused of pushing upmc on us instead of using lecom hospice so imagine not only are we losing our mother. the higher ups aren’t the least bit understanding of it. It is a familys choice who they want to use at this time. How Lovely to think money money money instead of care at this time in my mom’s life. The night nurse the evening before my mother passed was called into her room for more pain meds. By me as I and my sister were staying all night. only for the nurse to walk into the room and rudely say to me “ I was just in here 45 mins ago I WILL BE BACK in 15 mins. I called her hospice team right away as my mother was in horrible pain as we were in her last hrs now. who in return offered to do a verbal ok to give my mother the pain meds as needed. The nurse refused to even speak on the phone. I get it we are in a nursing home they have to follow protocol however this nurse was cold. Even while giving my mom her meds. Didn’t talk to her didn’t say I’m giving you meds now. As she should have because my mother was still aware at this time. we as a family needed understanding and my mother needed to be comfortable as this was the end of her life now. All I can say is a nursing home that is so beautiful, so clean is only comforting for a day. These residents are people with family they had a life before they needed to be somewhere for someone to help them in their golden years. To watch them be ignored or invisible to the staff was disrespectful and those staff members should be ashamed of themselves. Caretakers have a hard job I know I am one and I do it 24/7. If it’s to much for you find another career this one is not for you and these people deserve better that you. Short staffed doesn’t help but unfortunately it does happen. That is every nursing home sadly. The story’s I shared there is no reason for. As I said there are some 10 star nurses and aides at st Mary’s.. but make your presence known while your loved one is in any nursing home. You are all they have.

I toured Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge and looked at a couple of other semi-private rooms, but I prefer the private room. It has a Catholic atmosphere now because it has a chapel, and it was owned by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. However, it's been sold to another company. They have everything there. There's a small kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and sitting area. There was a small microwave and refrigerator. The food was nothing to brag about. My husband was in rehab 2 or 3 years ago, and everything was delightful. We liked the food and everything, but it's not very good right now. They take very good care of that building, and I got a brochure of activities and things they do daily.