Best Assisted Living in Indiana

Overview of The Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility

Administered by David Henke, The Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility is a 133-bed skilled nursing community operated by Johnson Memorial Hospital in Wakarusa, Indiana. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing flexible coverage options for families. Operating for three years, the facility is relatively new and currently serves 78 residents at about 59 percent occupancy. The average stay length is around 146 days, reflecting a blend of short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled care.

Clinically, the community offers 24-hour skilled nursing with therapy services covering physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation. Total nursing care averages about 3 hours 9 minutes per resident day. Beyond basic skilled nursing, the facility provides respite care, psychiatric and psychological services on site, and specialized programming for dementia care spanning early to late stages. The Living Well and In Motion programs support residents in maintaining independence and engagement here. Daily life centers on nutrition and therapeutic support. A registered dietitian designs menus to balance nutrition with resident choice, and mealtime assistance is provided according to personal need. On-site specialists, podiatry, dental, and audiology services reduce the need for off-site appointments. A beauty and barber shop and a secure outdoor patio round out the amenities that support daily living. The neighborhood around Wakarusa is somewhat walkable, with some nearby services reachable on foot and most trips needing a car. Visiting family will find the area tranquil and residential.

Families contemplating The Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility must plan a tour to see the rooms, meet the care team, and get a feel for daily activities and routines.

Overview of Charlestown Place at New Albany

Under Jesse Ray’s administration, Charlestown Place at New Albany is a nursing home operated by Daviess County Hospital on Charlestown Road in New Albany, Indiana. Owned by Chad Mccurdy, it welcomes Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, giving families several ways to finance short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

The 172-bed community opened recently, with occupancy currently at 77 percent. It’s well-positioned in a highly walkable neighborhood, with a Walk Score of 81, so visitors and residents will find most errands and essentials walkable. The average stay length is around 140 days, reflecting a blend of post-acute rehabilitation stays and ongoing nursing care residents. Clinically, the facility spotlights rehabilitation, offering specialized rehabilitation services and respite care alongside its 24-hour nursing staffing. Total nursing care averages 3 hours 56 minutes per resident day, anchored by registered nurses providing 38 minutes of direct care daily, nurse aides supplying 2 hours 19 minutes, and LPNs or LVNs contributing 38 minutes per day. This staffing structure creates a framework for consistent, diligent support and attention all day.

State inspections have surfaced themes around documentation practices and care coordination. Showing responsiveness to identified areas, Charlestown Place at New Albany has worked through compliance investigations and revisit requirements.

When touring, families can ask how the facility manages documentation processes and ensures timely communication with residents’ physicians surrounding condition changes.

Overview of Majestic Care of Bedford

Majestic Care of Bedford is a 190-bed skilled nursing facility in Bedford, Indiana, serving residents in Lawrence County. Occupancy has risen from roughly 30 percent in early 2023 to 55 percent in the latest inspection, trending upward. The facility offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care with 24-hour staffing. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay accepted.

All four CMS sub-ratings fall below Indiana average, producing a 1-star overall rating. Nurse hours of 2h 42m per resident day sit 23 percent below state average, below the national 3.0-hour threshold generally considered a minimum floor, ranking the facility 254th out of 287 Indiana SNFs. Over three years on file, the facility averaged 10.3 deficiencies per year against Indiana’s 4.2 average, with no immediate jeopardy findings, fines, or enforcement actions, and most complaint investigations returning unsubstantiated. The deficiency record is concentrated in documentation failures rather than direct resident harm: transfer and discharge written notice requirements were cited in every annual survey in the window, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and range of motion decline deficiencies appeared in both the 2023 and 2024 surveys. Life safety surveys have cited sprinkler system maintenance and emergency preparedness documentation gaps in 2023, 2024, and 2025. One substantiated complaint in October 2023 found residents using e-cigarettes without safety assessments or care plans and identified unsanitary shower rooms.

The facility’s size of 190 beds, the largest in this batch, orients it toward Lawrence County residents requiring long-term skilled nursing or post-acute rehabilitation where immediate bed availability is a priority.

Overview of Serenity Spring Senior Living at Northwood

Serenity Spring Senior Living at Northwood is a 155-bed skilled nursing and residential care community providing skilled nursing, memory care, rehabilitation, and respite care in Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana. Non-profit and legally operated by Greene County General Hospital, the community welcomes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The inspection record across all four CMS sub-ratings runs below Indiana’s average, producing a 1-star overall rating. Over three years on file, the facility averaged 26 deficiencies annually, 519 percent above the 4.2 state average, with no immediate jeopardy findings, fines, or enforcement actions. The May 2024 recertification was the most significant survey in the window, citing 23 deficiencies including use of physical restraints without physician orders or consent, an unreported abuse allegation involving a CNA forcibly removing a resident’s fingers from a mechanical lift, widespread medication management failures, inadequate dementia-specific training, and an unsafe physical environment. The concurrent June 2024 life safety survey found 16 fire and emergency preparedness deficiencies including obstructed egress routes, sprinkler issues, and oxygen storage hazards near combustibles, all corrected on revisit. The February 2023 annual survey documented a resident who fell nine times during the review period, inadequate fall supervision, respiratory care failures, and the absence of a required dementia unit director. A December 2023 complaint investigation substantiated delayed reporting of an abuse allegation to the state agency. The 1-star staffing sub-rating, reflecting case-mix adjusted hours 60.8 percent below Indiana’s average, and Quality Measures similarly 50.6 percent below state benchmark, compound the inspection picture. Occupancy at 55 percent runs well below Indiana’s 68.1 percent average, with the trend declining.

With current availability reflecting below-average occupancy, the facility is geared toward residents in Dubois County who require long-term skilled nursing or memory care.

Overview of Aperion Care Hanover

Aperion Care Hanover is a 137-bed skilled nursing facility in Hanover, Indiana, offering long-term care, memory care, and short-stay rehabilitation, with a clinical program roster that includes Huntington’s Disease care, psychiatric rehabilitation, post-stroke and cardiac rehab, and hospice and palliative services. The facility is operated by Daviess County Hospital and serves Jefferson County residents. It accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.

The inspection record is a significant consideration for families. Over the past four years, the facility has averaged 33.3 deficiencies per year — roughly seven times the Indiana average of 4.2. Substantiated complaints across the review period involved resident-to-resident sexual abuse, failure to investigate an abuse allegation, dehydration that led to a resident’s hospitalization and death, pest control failures, and recurring medication management issues. No findings of immediate jeopardy or fines appear in the available reports. The most recent standard survey, completed in March 2025, cited 11 deficiencies across medication administration, infection control, environment, and pharmacy services; a subsequent re-inspection found the facility in compliance.

CMS rates the facility at 1 star overall. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 5 minutes per resident per day, 13% below Indiana’s average of 3 hours and 32 minutes — a relevant metric given the facility’s high-acuity program mix. The facility’s occupancy rate is 58%, well below the Indiana average of 68%, suggesting current availability across care levels.

The facility’s specialized programming — Huntington’s Disease care, psychiatric rehabilitation, and a dedicated memory care unit — positions it for residents with complex behavioral or neurological needs who require skilled nursing infrastructure in Jefferson County. However, families should carefully review the facility’s inspection history, staffing levels, and resident safety findings before making a placement decision.

Overview of Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 211-bed skilled nursing facility in Dyer, Indiana, offering 24-hour skilled nursing, post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, and respiratory services, with physical, occupational, and speech therapy available on site. The non-profit community is operated by DLS Financial Consulting, LLC, and it accepts Medicare and Medicaid. The facility carries a 1-star CMS overall rating, driven by an inspection record that stands significantly below Indiana norms. Across the seven-year review window, the facility recorded 79 total citations — roughly 29.8 per year, compared with an Indiana average of 4.2 — placing it 284th out of 288 Indiana skilled nursing facilities in health citations. The most serious finding came in April 2024, when a complaint investigation identified Immediate Jeopardy conditions related to falls and inadequate supervision. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 26 minutes per resident per day, essentially in line with the Indiana average. The facility’s occupancy rate is 57%, below the Indiana average of 68.1%, reflecting current availability across the 211-bed building. It also provides behavioral management and psychological services alongside its clinical care programs. Respite stays are available. Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is best suited for residents in Lake County, Indiana, who require short- to medium-term post-acute care, skilled nursing, or rehabilitation services, with current capacity for Medicare and Medicaid admissions. However, families should review the facility’s extensive inspection history and Immediate Jeopardy findings before making a placement decision.

Overview of Hooverwood

Operated by Hancock Regional Hospital and administered by Robert Newcomer, Hooverwood is a nursing home in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 183-bed facility is on Hoover Road in a car-dependent part of the city. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering rehabilitation services and ongoing skilled nursing care. The community has an occupancy rate of 70%, and residents stay an average of 191 days, including post-acute rehabilitation patients and those receiving longer-term nursing care.

Rehabilitation services are supported by a strong nursing presence throughout the facility. Daily nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 8 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide 36 minutes of care per resident each day, nurse aides contribute another 36 minutes, and LPN/LVN staff add 56 minutes of support. This substantial level of hands-on care reflects the community’s emphasis on nursing-level services.

Residents have access to several specialized programs beyond traditional skilled nursing care. These include the Shalom Sanctuary program for elder abuse support, outpatient therapy and wellness services, private duty services, hospice care, and an assisted living component located within Kraft Commons.

Daily life is enriched through spiritual programming, health and wellness activities, and an on-site beauty salon and barbershop. The dining program features home-cooked kosher-style meals served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with healthy snacks throughout the day.

State inspections have identified concerns involving emergency preparedness, life safety systems, and resident safety practices. These findings highlight areas that have required additional attention from the facility. Families considering Hooverwood should ask about emergency system maintenance, resident safety procedures, and the measures used to support safe daily care.

Overview of Willow Haven Senior Homes

Create meaningful moments in retirement at Willow Haven Senior Homes, a purposely built community in Carmel, IN, focusing on assisted living and memory care. Those with memory-related needs can ease their worries with a compassionate and specially trained team providing exceptional care around the clock. Housekeeping and laundry services are also provided, so residents enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle.

Dedicated to enhancing residents’ cognition and living experiences, a thoughtfully curated calendar of engaging activities and enriching programs is conducted. Mealtimes also foster comfort and satisfy dietary needs with delicious and healthy, chef-prepared dining options. Emergency alert systems, secure communal, and wheelchair-accessible spaces are available for convenience and safety. The community’s top-notch care and well-maintained amenities create the ideal setting for a blissful retirement.

Aperion Care Greenfield in Greenfield, IN, is a well-regarded nursing home that offers assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and memory care. Here, older adults can find a home away from home, accompanied by its supportive and welcoming environment. 24-hour care, medication management, and therapy services are among the high-quality services offered to improve residents’ quality of life. Through personalized care plans, the community strives to meet residents’ unique needs and preferences.

Light exercises, social events, and a variety of activities allow residents to connect with friends and have fun. Wound care, pain management, and hospice care are also available, ensuring residents can age in place. Located near a highway, restaurants, and other shops, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. This nursing home has exceptional standards of care, making it a great choice for senior living in Indiana.