ANALYSIS
The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania
Discover the worst nursing homes in Pennsylvania, identified for their substandard care, regulatory violations, and overall poor performance.
Finding the Right Nursing Home in Pennsylvania: Why It Matters
When it comes to choosing a nursing home for your loved ones in Pennsylvania, it's crucial to have access to accurate and comprehensive information. Our "Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania" page aims to provide you with insights into the facilities that have fallen short in various aspects of care. Understanding these ratings can help you make more informed decisions and ensure the well-being of those who matter most.
Top Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania
Our state rankings highlight the nursing homes in Pennsylvania that have received the lowest quality scores based on a variety of factors, including health inspections, staffing levels, and resident care. These scores are designed to give you a clear picture of which facilities may require closer scrutiny.
Factors Considered:
- Health and safety inspections
- Staffing ratios
- Resident care and outcomes
- Compliance with federal and state regulations
Our scoring methodology is transparent and designed to provide an unbiased look at each facility's performance. Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.
Nursing Home | Rating |
---|---|
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center 246 FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE BEAVER, PA |
1,349.00 / |
Aventura at Terrace View 260 TERRACE DRIVE PECKVILLE, PA |
816.50 / |
Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing at Pottstown 3031 CHESTNUT HILL ROAD POTTSTOWN, PA |
686.50 / |
Midtown Oaks Health and Rehab Center 1020 GREEN AVENUE ALTOONA, PA |
595.50 Rating Not Available |
Lakewood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center 147 OLD NEWPORT STREET NANTICOKE, PA |
459.25 / |
Wyndmoor Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 8601 STENTON AVENUE WYNDMOOR, PA |
459.00 |
Burgh Care Center 909 WEST STREET PITTSBURGH, PA |
449.75 / |
Kittanning Health and Rehab Center 120 KITTANNING CARE DRIVE KITTANNING, PA |
439.00 |
Rochester Residence and Care Center 174 VIRGINIA AVENUE ROCHESTER, PA |
429.75 Rating Not Available / |
Forest Park Nursing and Rehabilitation 700 WALNUT BOTTOM ROAD CARLISLE, PA |
420.75 / |
Disclaimer: Our rankings are based on data collected from reputable sources, including government reports and independent evaluations. While we strive for accuracy, we encourage you to visit facilities and conduct your own research before making any decisions.
Worst Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania By City
Every city in Pennsylvania has its own set of challenges and standards when it comes to nursing home care. To help you find the information most relevant to your location, we've compiled city-specific rankings of the worst-rated nursing homes. Click on the links below to explore the detailed lists for each city.
Worst Nursing Homes in Philadelphia
- Care Pavilion Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (276.5)
- Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. (2025-04-23)
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2025-04-23)
- Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (250.25)
- Address patient/client population and determine types of services needed. (2025-02-17)
- Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP). (2025-02-17)
- Aristacare at East Falls (232.25)
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2025-03-18)
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2025-03-04)
- Graduate Post Acute (209)
- Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently. (2025-05-20)
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2025-04-29)
- St John Neumann Ctr For Rehab and Healthcare (191.5)
- 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. (2025-05-20)
- Address patient/client population and determine types of services needed. (2025-03-07)
- Cheltenham Nursing and Rehab C (184.25)
- 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. (2025-05-19)
- Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2025-02-26)
- Chapel Manor (164.25)
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2025-05-06)
- Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP). (2025-02-17)
- Maplewood Nursing and Rehab Center (160.25)
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2025-01-31)
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2025-01-05)
- Caring Heart Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (143)
- Allow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care. (2024-10-21)
- Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments. (2024-10-21)
- Roosevelt Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (136.75)
- Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections. (2025-05-28)
- The resident has the right to receive notices in a format and a language he or she understands. (2025-05-28)
Worst Nursing Homes in Pittsburgh
- Burgh Care Center (449.75)
- Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2025-05-15)
- Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2025-05-15)
- Squirrel Hill Wellness and Rehabilitation Center (314.5)
- Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests. (2025-06-13)
- Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. (2025-03-28)
- Heritage Care Center (305)
- Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions. (2025-03-27)
- Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician. (2025-03-27)
- Highland Hills Post Acute (217.5)
- Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted (2025-03-27)
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2025-03-27)
- Little Sisters of The Poor (209.25)
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2025-06-13)
- Provide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life. (2025-06-13)
- Ivy Park Post Acute (206)
- Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs. (2025-01-15)
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-12-03)
- Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (205)
- 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. (2025-05-06)
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2025-05-06)
- Spring Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (198)
- 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. (2025-06-09)
- Notify each resident of certain balances and convey resident funds upon discharge, eviction, or death. (2025-06-09)
- Wecare at Mt Lebanon Rehabilitation and Nrsg Ctr (197.5)
- Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options. (2025-05-21)
- Ensure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident?s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times. (2025-05-21)
- John J Kane Regional Center-Ro (191.25)
- Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2025-05-30)
- Install an approved automatic sprinkler system. (2025-05-30)
Worst Nursing Homes in Allentown
- Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu (131.25)
- Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2025-05-20)
- Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector. (2025-05-20)
- Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center (36)
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2025-06-12)
- Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2024-09-17)
- Good Shepherd Home Raker Center (32)
- Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2024-10-21)
- Encode each resident?s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. (2024-10-21)
- Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation (18)
- 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. (2025-06-17)
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2025-06-17)
- Riverton Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (9)
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2025-02-03)
- 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. (2024-12-31)
- Luther Crest Nursing Facility (7)
- 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 (4)
- Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-11-20)
- Use approved construction type or materials. (2024-11-20)
- Jewel Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (2)
- Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-11-01)
- Use approved construction type or materials. (2024-11-01)
Worst Nursing Homes in Harrisburg
- River's Bend Health and Rehab Center (96)
- Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2025-05-12)
- Meet other general requirements. (2025-05-12)
- Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (92)
- Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2025-05-28)
- Meet other general requirements. (2025-05-28)
- Axiom Healthcare of Harrisburg (88.5)
- Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2025-05-12)
- Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis. (2025-04-28)
- Capitol Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (73)
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. (2025-04-01)
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2025-01-21)
- Amoroso Healthcare and Rehabilitation Woodridge (44)
- Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. (2025-01-21)
- Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation. (2024-12-03)
- Pruitthealth-Town Center (39)
- 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)
- Saline Care Nursing and Rehab (36.75)
- Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2025-05-23)
- Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. (2025-05-23)
- Woodbriar Nursing Home (13)
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2024-11-09)
- Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training. (2024-11-09)
- Homeland Center (13)
- Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2024-10-25)
- 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. (2024-10-25)
Worst Nursing Homes in Lancaster
- Mirage Post Acute (671)
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2025-06-08)
- Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2025-06-08)
- Luxe Rehabilitation and Care Center (448)
- 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. (2025-05-02)
- Allow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care. (2025-05-02)
- Antelope Valley Care Center (402.75)
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2025-06-12)
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. (2025-06-12)
- The Ellison John Transitional Care Center (330.25)
- Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. (2025-05-12)
- Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents. (2025-05-12)
- Desert Canyon Post Acute, LLC (228)
- Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions. (2025-05-18)
- Honor the resident's right to share a room with spouse or roommate of choice and receive written notice before a change is made. (2025-05-18)
- Lancaster Ltc Partners Inc (130.25)
- Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2024-11-05)
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-10-11)
- Millbrook Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (126.25)
- Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2025-05-23)
- Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2025-05-23)
- Rose City Nursing and Rehab at Lancaster (122.5)
- Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment. (2025-06-12)
- Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2025-06-12)
- Buckeye Care and Rehabilitation (90.75)
- Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections. (2025-05-28)
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2025-05-28)
- Lanfair Center For Rehab and Nsg Care Inc (81)
- Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2025-06-03)
- Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function. (2025-06-03)
Related Lists and Resources
While it's important to be aware of the lowest-rated facilities, we also provide resources to help you find the best care available. Check out our other lists to find top-rated nursing homes and facilities that excel in specific areas.
Making Informed Decisions
Understanding our rankings and how they are derived can empower you to make better choices for your loved ones. Remember, a low rating in one area doesn't necessarily mean a facility is entirely unsuitable; it's a starting point for further investigation.
Tips for Evaluating Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania:
- Schedule visits to potential facilities
- Speak with staff and residents
- Review recent inspection reports
- Consider the specific needs of your loved one
Disclaimer: NursingHomeDatabase.com does not have a relationship, either commercial or otherwise, with any of the skilled nursing facilities referred to on this site. This is an independent resource that tries to make more and better information available to the public.
More Resources for Families
Navigating the world of nursing home care can be overwhelming. Here are some resources to help you make the best decisions for your family:
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!
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