Manhattan voters named Northern Manhattan Rehabilitation and Nursing Center the city’s best rehabilitation center. Its leaders say the difference is in the little things, and they are inviting neighbors in for a December food drive.
For years, when New Yorkers voted for the best rehabilitation center in the city, the honor went to facilities in other parts of town. This year it came to Harlem.
Northern Manhattan Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, on East 125th Street, was named Best Rehabilitation Center in New York City in Schneps Media’s City’s Best awards. The title was decided by votes from Manhattan residents who chose it as their preferred rehabilitation center.
“In previous years, facilities like Hebrew Home and Upper East Side Rehab have received this honor. It’s nice to finally see this part of the city represented,” said Ben Steinman, vice president of business development, marketing and admissions for Northern Care Group, which operates the center. “Harlem offers great care too.”
The little things
Steinman says the center’s difference begins with understanding what a patient is going through. “We understand how difficult the transition into a nursing or rehabilitation facility can be,” he told The Harlem Times. “We really try to focus on the little things and make sure people feel comfortable and cared for during their stay.”
Many patients come for rehabilitation and are suddenly learning that they need help with things they have done on their own all their lives. “That can be frustrating and emotional,” Steinman said, “and it’s why customer service and the way we treat people are so important to our team.”
Some of that care has a name and a job title. The center employs a full-time concierge who handles the non-nursing side of daily living, and its doctors keep an on-call cell phone line open through the day and into the evening so families can ask questions about their loved ones.
A building made new
Since 2022 the center has renovated its subacute rehabilitation units and updated floors throughout the building. Over the past year, work has continued on the lobby and the rehabilitation gym, and a large recreation room is expected to be finished by spring. The center also cares for patients with more complex needs, including respiratory patients and those who require dialysis.
“For some patients, they’re only with us for a few weeks of rehab before going home. For others, this may become their long-term home,” Steinman said.
What every family should know
Asked what families should keep in mind when choosing care for a parent, Steinman began with geography. “The biggest thing families should know is that they don’t have to leave their neighborhood to find great care,” he said.
His advice applies to any facility a family is weighing: visit, ask questions, meet the staff and get a feel for the place. “How are patients treated? Are families able to communicate with the team? Does the building feel comfortable and welcoming?”
An open door this December
This December the center will host a food drive for local food pantries, collecting donations in front of the building on East 125th Street. It also welcomes volunteers who want to spend time with its seniors.
“We want Northern Manhattan to be more than just a nursing and rehabilitation center,” Steinman said. “We want to be a positive part of the Harlem community.”
In his dialogue On Old Age, Cicero wrote that the crown of old age is the respect it commands. Respect is not only a feeling. It is a concierge who notices the small things, a doctor who answers the phone at night, a lobby rebuilt so a family walks in with less fear. Those who raised Harlem deserve to be cared for in Harlem. Think positively, and visit.
Sources and attribution. Quotations are from Ben Steinman’s written answers to The Harlem Times (November 3, 2026). The Schneps Media City’s Best honor is as announced by Northern Care Group. All other text is by The Harlem Times.
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