The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Florida

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Florida

Every year, thousands of seniors, their families, and friends are faced with the difficult decision of choosing a skilled nursing facility, either because someone is recuperating after a hospital visit or for end-of-life care. This is usually an issue that arises suddenly, and the decision makers are not equipped with the right knowledge and information to make a good decision. Not knowing how to decide, they turn to others for recommendations. Word of mouth, along with geography, are constantly cited as the most important factors in choosing a skilled nursing facility. Choosing a facility with such limited information can lead to significant problems. Not all skilled nursing facilities are the same and the people that you trust to recommend a facility may not know enough about the facility and the alternatives to be a competent guide.

Providing the type of care that residents of skilled nursing facilities require is very difficult. The range of issues that are being treated is vast and the needs cover both people recuperating and recovering as well as those facing end-of-life issues. Residents require significant help with basic daily activities as well as supplemental needs like oxygen and 24/7 monitoring.

To help people who are facing this difficult situation, we have compiled a list of the worst Florida skilled nursing facilities and the the best skilled nursing facilities. (We have also compiled the best and worst nursing homes by city for most cities in the United States, links are shown at the bottom on this page.) The lists are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (“CMS”) and include information gathered from detailed annual inspections, monthly reporting, complaint histories, deficiency reports and much more.

The list below calls out the worst skilled nursing facilities in Florida. For the most part these facilities should be avoided. All the facilities have issues with cleanliness and safety and a large number of the facilities have been flagged by CMS as locations where abuse has either occurred or is highly likely.

Avoiding these facilities may not always be an option either because of geographic, monetary, or occupancy constraints. However, being in a bad nursing home does not mean that the resident will not improve. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we encourage you to visit often and to ask that friends and other family visit too. It is well documented that positive outcomes for skilled nursing residents is highly correlated with the number and diversity of people visiting the resident. Being there, getting to know the staff, showing the staff that the resident has people that care about him or her is critical. There may not always be a better option, but your direct involvement can make a difference.

To see a more detailed analysis of the performance on skilled nursing facilities in Florida, including staffing, COVID-19 infections, historical occupancy levels and recent trends, look at our detailed analysis page.

Nursing Home	Rating
Groves Center 512 S 11TH ST LAKE WALES, FL	695.00 /
Gulf Shores Care Center 220 NINTH STREET PORT SAINT JOE, FL	670.17
Gulf Coast Village 1333 SANTA BARBARA BLVD CAPE CORAL, FL	575.50 Rating Not Available /
The Bristol Care Center 1818 E FLETCHER AVE TAMPA, FL	530.00 /
Lake Mariam Health and Rehabilitation Center 1801 N LAKE MARIAM DR WINTER HAVEN, FL	475.50 /
Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Tampa 4411 N HABANA AVE TAMPA, FL	452.33 Rating Not Available
Siesta Key Health and Rehabilitation Center 4602 NORTHGATE COURT SARASOTA, FL	364.50 Rating Not Available
Capri Health and Rehabilitation Center 1450 EAST VENICE AVENUE VENICE, FL	355.67 /
Clearwater Center 1270 TURNER ST CLEARWATER, FL	343.33
Abbey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 7101 DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ST N SAINT PETERSBURG, FL	338.00 /

Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Florida

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Florida. These rankings are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid measures ("CMS"), including the CMS 5-Star Rating System and the Health Inspection Scores. The list of the Worst Skilled Nursing Facilities in Florida is based on the weighted overall health inspection score which is a composite of CMS's three most recent skilled nursing home inspection scores weighted to give the most recent inspection more importance.

The CMS 5-Star Rating System rates skilled nursing facilities from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest. The rating system also rates Florida nursing homes across five different dimensions including overall rating, health inspection rating, quality measures rating, overall staffing rating, and RN staffing rating (RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse).

In addition to the 5-Star Rating System, CMS provides numerical metrics that summarize:

Health Inspection Domain. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys for each nursing home, results from any complaint investigations during the most recent three-year period, and any repeat revisits needed to verify that required corrections have brought the facility back into compliance. CMS calculates a weighted deficiency score based on points assigned to health deficiencies identified in each active provider’s current health inspection survey and the two prior surveys (including revisits), as well as deficiency findings from the most recent three years of complaint investigations. More recent surveys are weighted more heavily than older surveys: the most recent period (cycle 1) is assigned a weighting factor of 1/2, the previous period (cycle 2) has a weighting factor of 1/3, and the second prior survey (cycle 3) has a weighting factor of 1/6. The weighted time period scores are then summed to create the survey score for each facility.
Staffing Domain. Using multiple reporting methods, CMS calculates the amount of time that the nursing staff spends with residents. This is measured across multiple dimensions, one each for three different levels of nursing, including Registered Nurses (“RNs”), Licensed Practical Nurses (“LPNs”), and Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”), plus one metric that totals all contributions. These metrics are expressed in hours per resident per day. CMS also provides state-level and national averages for the metrics to allow for additional comparisons.
Quality Measures Domain. A set of quality measures (QMs) has been developed from MDS-based indicators to describe the quality of care provided in nursing homes. These measures address a broad range of functioning and health status in multiple care areas. The facility rating for the QM domain is based on performance on a subset of 11 (out of 18) of the QMs. Ratings for the QM domain are calculated using the three most recent quarters for which data are available. This time period specification was selected to increase the number of assessments available for calculating the QM rating, increasing the stability of estimates and reducing the number of facilities that do not have enough data to report QM ratings.
Abuse Flag. Abuse is always a concern in skilled nursing facilities. To highlight the issue, CMS has extracted this feature as its own flag. Facilities with an actual abuse event or where the potential for abuse has been shown for the past two years are flagged. The Health Inspection Score is capped at 2-stars for nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse.

Skilled nursing facilities that are new and do not have at least two surveys completed are not rated by CMS. These facilities may have health inspection scores that can be used to evaluate the facility.

One complication in Florida nursing home inspections is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although inspections should be performed every 12 months, COVID has decreased this frequency. While CMS admits that only in “rare cases” do these inspections increase to 15 months, our analysis suggests that this time frame may be even longer. This report shows that the time between inspections is now just under 500 days (more than sixteen months). There are now hundreds of skilled nursing homes in the United States that have not been inspected in more than 24 months. This list shows the skilled nursing homes with the longest period since being inspected. According to the CMS data, these homes have not been inspected since 2018!

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Florida

Abuse is always going to be an issue with skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing facility residents need help with so many basic things and they are suffering, confused, and frustrated. If you are the friend or relative of a nursing home resident, we guarantee that you will be constantly fretting about whether your loved one is receiving proper and timely care. Abuse feels like a violation of your trust, but it happens. CMS actively monitors nursing homes not just for actual abuse but also for indicators that suggest that abuse might be occurring. Homes where abuse has either occurred or might be occurring are flagged. A very high percentage of the worst skilled nursing facilities in Florida have been flagged for abuse. We have marked these facilities both on the list of the worst skilled nursing facilities and on the detailed page for each of the facilities.

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Florida

If you run into an issue at a Florida nursing home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the issue is reported. First, speak with the immediate staff. If the problem is not solved, speak with a director or administrator, doctor, or any other employee of a high level.

As required by Medicare and Medicaid, reports and complaints must go through a grievance procedure. Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a grievance is “an expression of dissatisfaction (other than an organization determination) with any aspect of the operations, activities, or behavior of a Medicare health plan, or its providers, regardless of whether remedial action is requested”. All grievances must be filed in writing or verbally within 60 days of the event prompting the grievance.

To report a Florida nursing home for quality of care, go through a grievance procedure through your Medicare or Medicaid plan. You can also go through the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIO). These groups serve to help with complaints made regarding the quality of care by Medicare providers. You can also choose to go through both Medicare and a BFCC-QIO.

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Florida Cities

All of the following nursing homes have been given a Weighted Health Inspection Score by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, nursing homes in Florida go through an unannounced inspection performed by independent state examiners. These examiners look at factors such as cleanliness, hazards, and safety to perform the inspection. Points are given to nursing homes based on their deficiency in a certain category. Thus, a higher Weighted All Cycles Score means more problems and lower quality of care.

The list below ranks the homes with the highest (worst) weighted scores. The score is shown next to the facility name. The list also shows the two most recent deficiencies for each of the nursing homes.

Worst Nursing Homes in Miami

Gardens Nursing and Rehab Center (317.5)

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2024-10-31)
Meet other general requirements. (2024-10-31)

South Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (156)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-08-26)
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2024-08-26)

Pines Nursing Home (110.167)

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-01-23)
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube. (2024-01-23)

Miami Nursing Center, LLC (102.167)

Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-09-03)
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-09-03)

Coral Reef Subacute Care Center LLC (84)

Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment. (2024-02-18)
Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition (2024-02-18)

Azure Shores Rehab (75.333)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-10-31)
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2024-10-31)

Unity Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (71.833)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-03-21)
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-03-21)

Sierra Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (53.333)

Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-08-18)
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2024-08-18)

University Health and Rehabilitation Center (49.333)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-02-10)
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2024-02-10)

Shoreside Health and Rehabilitation Center (44.667)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2024-07-06)
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater. (2024-07-06)

Worst Nursing Homes in Tampa

The Bristol Care Center (530)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-01-12)
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. (2024-01-12)

Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Tampa (452.333)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-09-17)
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2024-06-16)

Aspire at The Bay (188.333)

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2024-07-26)
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-07-26)

Carrollwood Care Center (122.333)

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. (2023-03-23)
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2023-03-23)

Whispering Oaks (98)

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-09-24)
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2023-09-22)

Concordia Village of Tampa (81.833)

Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2024-07-12)
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests. (2024-05-10)

Aspire at Fletcher (80.833)

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2024-08-11)
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2024-08-11)

Excel Care Center (64.667)

Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months. (2024-02-14)
Encode each resident?s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. (2024-02-14)

Bayshore Pointe Nursing and Rehab Center (54.667)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2023-10-08)
Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged. (2023-10-08)

Gandy Fl Opco, LLC (51.333)

Have properly installed hallway dispensers for alcohol-based hand rub. (2023-04-06)
Establish roles under a Waiver declared by secretary. (2023-04-06)

Worst Nursing Homes in Orlando

Orlando Health and Rehabilitation Center (253.667)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2024-09-22)
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2024-04-08)

Bedrock Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Orlan (132.167)

Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. (2024-09-07)
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2024-09-07)

Aspire at Rosewood (117.667)

Let each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records. (2024-08-02)
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2024-08-02)

South Orange Health and Rehabilitation Center (92.333)

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-08-10)
Encode each resident?s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. (2023-08-10)

Lotus Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (77.333)

PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2024-11-22)
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2024-11-22)

Palm Garden of Orlando (76.167)

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-10-24)
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. (2024-10-24)

Courtyards of Orlando Care Center and Rehab (72.5)

Notify each resident of certain balances and convey resident funds upon discharge, eviction, or death. (2024-09-05)
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2024-04-21)

Delaney Park Health and Rehabilitation Center (63.667)

Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2024-07-05)
Encode each resident?s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. (2024-07-05)

Solaris Healthcare College Park (47.333)

Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2023-10-14)
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-10-14)

Conway Lakes Health and Rehabilitation Center (38)

Provide doctor's orders for the resident's immediate care at the time the resident was admitted. (2024-09-22)
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2024-09-22)

Worst Nursing Homes in Jacksonville

Arcadia Care Jacksonville (217.667)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-09-08)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2024-09-08)

Palm Garden of Jacksonville (191.5)

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-10-04)
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit. (2024-10-04)

Ascension Living St. Catherine Laboure' Place (147)

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2024-05-24)
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system. (2024-02-23)

Twin Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center (143.167)

Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating. (2024-10-18)
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-10-18)

The Grove Health and Rehab Ctr (139.167)

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2024-09-27)
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-09-27)

Premier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (119.5)

Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements. (2024-07-19)
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2024-07-19)

Woodland Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation (116)

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2024-06-21)
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. (2024-06-21)

Fouraker Hills Rehab and Nursing Center (113.667)

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (2024-08-15)
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-02-12)

Cedar Hill Nursing and Rehab Center (92)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-09-23)
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2024-09-23)

Riverwood Center (89)

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2024-03-11)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-03-11)

Worst Nursing Homes in Sarasota

Siesta Key Health and Rehabilitation Center (364.5)

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2024-09-06)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-09-06)

The Meadows Center For Nursing and Healing (207.667)

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals. (2024-11-03)
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-11-03)

Crescent Health and Rehabilitation Center (134)

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2024-10-11)
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-10-11)

Sarasota Health and Rehabilitation Center (108.833)

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-08-19)
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. (2024-08-19)

Brookdale Palmer Ranch Snf (107.333)

Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector. (2023-06-11)
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP). (2023-06-11)

Springs at Lake Pointe Woods (91.5)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-09-19)
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. (2024-06-07)

Aspire at Sarasota (89.667)

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords. (2024-03-13)
Follow proper procedures when the automatic sprinkler systems was out of service for more than 10 hours. (2024-03-13)

Birchwood Health and Rehabilitation Center (72)

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (2023-11-12)
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2023-11-12)

Aspire at Beneva (68)

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-12-02)
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-12-02)

Creekside Health and Rehabilitation Center (61.667)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-10-18)
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs. (2022-09-11)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

See the worst skilled nursing homes in other states: