Winter Garden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

My mother is 92 and lives at Winter Garden Rehabilitation Center for long-term rehab. This past Saturday the staff organized a trip for the residents out to the Victory Casino boat, and I went down to the port to meet them. I came away genuinely impressed. The staff arranged the transportation and looked after every resident the entire day. They were attentive in all the ways that matter—making sure medications were given on time, that everyone ate, and that no one was ever left sitting alone. Most of the residents use wheelchairs, and the team made sure each person was escorted safely the whole time. I especially want to recognize Andrea, the new Director of Nursing. This was my first time meeting her, and she handled the entire day like a champ—well organized, on top of every detail, and genuinely kind to both her staff and the residents. What stood out most, though, was how much heart the team put into it. They weren’t just supervising—they were out on the dance floor laughing and dancing right alongside the residents, hugging them, joking with them, treating them like family. For a group of folks who don’t always get a day like that, it gave them a real sense of normalcy and joy. They were just as welcoming to me and the other family members who came along. Everything ran on time and went smoothly from start to finish. I’m already hoping to join my mother on the next outing. Hats off to this team—they clearly care about the people they look after.

My experience with this facility was horrible. My mother was admitted over a year ago by my father. I live in CA and every single time I would contact the nurses to find out what my mother status was the nurses will never give me their name they will say "it doesn't matter" They would consent lie and tell me that my father was visiting my mother, but when I contacted someone in higher position to complain they told me that father hasn't been there in 2weeks. I would get my phone call disconnected, or no one would answer the phone. I found out later that they were drugging my mother. When I went to visit my mother, I wasn't aware that she was put on hospice a month prior to her death. When I saw my mother the day before her passing my mother was literally peer bones. Her nurse, which I can't remember her name but did show a picture to Alicia the supervisor to this place told me to write an email which I did. But come to find out this person still works there; no one ever responded to my email. If it was up to me, I would have never put my mother in this place. I would think twice before putting your loved ones in this place. see attachment that I found from the health-inspection