The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania, including staffing, COVID-19 infections, historical occupancy levels and recent trends, look at our detailed analysis page.

Nursing Home	Rating
Aventura at Terrace View 108 TERRACE DRIVE OLYPHANT, PA	888.00 Rating Not Available /
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center 246 FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE BEAVER, PA	763.50 /
Oak Ridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center 500 WEST HOSPITAL STREET TAYLOR, PA	405.50 /
Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehab Center 200 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SHENANDOAH, PA	386.00 Rating Not Available /
The Grove at Latrobe 576 FRED ROGERS DRIVE LATROBE, PA	379.00 /
Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation 78 WOODBINE LANE DANVILLE, PA	375.83
Beaver Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center 616 GOLF COURSE ROAD ALIQUIPPA, PA	340.83
The Grove at North Huntingdon 249 MAUS DRIVE NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA	339.50 /
Milford Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center 264 ROUTE 6 & 209 MILFORD, PA	326.00
Mountain City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 403 HAZLE TOWNSHIP BOULEVARD HAZLETON, PA	319.67 /

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

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Pennsylvania

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

If you run into an issue at a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia

Care Pavilion Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (215.333)

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights. (2024-07-02)
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-07-02)

Cheltenham Nursing and Rehab C (206.167)

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments. (2024-05-10)
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services. (2024-04-29)

Cathedral Village (181.333)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-06-18)
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. (2024-06-18)

Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (174.667)

Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted (2024-07-22)
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2024-07-22)

Roosevelt Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (163)

Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted (2024-08-01)
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. (2024-08-01)

Chapel Manor (159.833)

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2024-07-10)
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. (2024-07-10)

Maplewood Nursing and Rehab Center (147.167)

Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason. (2024-05-17)
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2024-03-01)

Accelerate Skilled Nursingandrehabilitation Phila (138)

Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests. (2024-07-21)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-07-08)

Tucker House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (115.333)

Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs. (2024-05-28)
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services. (2024-04-01)

Cliveden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (111.333)

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public. (2024-06-06)
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-01-16)

Worst Nursing Homes in Pittsburgh

Squirrel Hill Wellness and Rehabilitation Center (295.667)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-05-30)
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-05-17)

Baldwin Health Center (262.667)

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. (2024-02-20)
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-02-20)

Pittsburgh Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr (209.167)

Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes. (2024-06-28)
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-06-28)

Burgh Care Center (207.5)

Plan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs. (2024-07-11)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-07-11)

Wecare at Mt Lebanon Rehabilitation and Nrsg Ctr (207.333)

Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions. (2024-08-22)
Ensure the facility is licensed under applicable State and local law and operates and provides services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and codes, and with accepted professional standards. (2024-03-04)

Heritage Care Center (200.667)

Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions. (2024-09-20)
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. (2024-09-20)

Spring Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (149)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2024-08-22)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-08-16)

Southwestern Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (143)

Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2024-04-02)
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-03-05)

Shadyside Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr (129.333)

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2024-09-09)
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs. (2024-09-09)

North Hills Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr (122.667)

Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. (2024-06-17)
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options. (2024-06-17)

Worst Nursing Homes in Allentown

Jewel Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (33.333)

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2023-09-23)
Use approved construction type or materials. (2023-09-23)

Riverton Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (24)

Satisfy building requirements after a repair, renovation, modification, or change of user/occupancy. (2024-03-05)
Meet other general requirements. (2024-03-05)

Good Shepherd Home Raker Center (22)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-11-14)
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2023-11-14)

Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center (18.667)

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. (2023-09-21)
Use approved construction type or materials. (2022-10-23)

Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation (16.667)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-05-14)
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-05-14)

Luther Crest Nursing Facility (13.333)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-07-31)
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector. (2024-07-31)

Cedar Crest Post Acute (6.667)

Use approved construction type or materials. (2023-12-18)
Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation. (2023-12-18)

St Luke's Hospital Sacred Heart Campus Tcf (0.667)

Develop a communication plan. (2022-05-24)
Address patient/client population and determine types of services needed. (2022-05-24)

Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu (0)

Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2024-06-18)
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2022-08-20)

Worst Nursing Homes in Harrisburg

River's Bend Health and Rehab Center (116.667)

Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes. (2024-05-21)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-05-21)

Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (94)

Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements. (2024-08-08)
Use approved construction type or materials. (2024-08-08)

Shawnee Rose Care Center (84)

Establish roles under a Waiver declared by secretary. (2024-04-26)
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP). (2024-04-26)

Amoroso Healthcare and Rehabilitation Woodridge (58)

Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs. (2024-01-30)
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours. (2024-01-30)

Capitol Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (55.333)

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2024-01-29)
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted (2024-01-29)

Saline Care Nursing and Rehab (50.333)

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-05-08)
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. (2024-05-01)

Pruitthealth-Town Center (31.333)

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-09-13)
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2024-09-13)

Woodbriar Nursing Home (30.667)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-09-16)
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2023-09-16)

Homeland Center (12.667)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-01-03)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2023-12-08)

Worst Nursing Homes in Lancaster

Mirage Post Acute (321.333)

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments. (2024-08-20)
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (2024-08-20)

The Ellison John Transitional Care Center (286.5)

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-08-20)
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments. (2024-03-22)

Antelope Valley Care Center (260.167)

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. (2024-09-12)
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. (2024-09-12)

Desert Canyon Post Acute, LLC (221.333)

Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money. (2024-09-13)
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-08-21)

Lancaster Ltc Partners Inc (177.833)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-05-24)
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. (2024-05-24)

Luxe Rehabilitation and Care Center (168.667)

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2024-07-05)
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-07-05)

Millbrook Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (164.333)

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2024-02-05)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2023-12-29)

Rose City Nursing and Rehab at Lancaster (92.333)

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2024-09-03)
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public. (2024-09-03)

Neffsville Nursing and Rehabilitation (90.167)

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2024-02-01)
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2024-02-01)

Buckeye Care and Rehabilitation (75.5)

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2024-08-15)
Properly install and monitor supervisory attachments on automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-08-15)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

See the worst skilled nursing homes in other states: