Page 30 of Best Senior Communities in Indiana

Overview of Vernon Health & Rehabilitation

Vernon Health & Rehabilitation is a 71-bed skilled nursing facility located on South Vernon Street in Wabash, Indiana. Owned by Vernon Manor Children’s Home and operated by Putnam County Hospital under administrator Monti Montgomery, this community has been open for one year. It focuses on skilled and intermediate pediatric care and rehabilitation services for children and young adults. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, maintaining a 66 percent occupancy rate with an average resident stay of 150 days.

Daily care includes an average of 3 hours and 37 minutes of direct nursing time per resident, split among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. On-site features include a music therapy center, an animal therapy center, an activity room, an accessible playground, and an enclosed courtyard. The daily routine incorporates schooling, community outings, religious services, gardening, and art programs. Practical details include medically tailored meals, flat-screen televisions, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, and laundry services.

The neighborhood is car-dependent, with a walkability score of 26 out of 100. State records indicate that the facility’s citations-per-inspection rate is zero. Families can contact the administrative team directly to discuss the pediatric enrollment process, tour the therapy spaces, or ask about the on-site educational programming.

Overview of The Waters of Dunkirk Skilled Nursing Facility

The Waters of Dunkirk Skilled Nursing Facility is a 46-bed skilled nursing community in Dunkirk, Indiana, offering 24-hour skilled nursing care alongside memory care, rehabilitation services, respite care, comprehensive wound care, and respiratory services. The facility is operated by The Waters of Dunkirk Skilled Nursing Facility LLC under the umbrella of Johnson Memorial Hospital and governed by Jay County. It accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay.

The inspection record shows a pattern that families should weigh carefully. Over four years of available data, the facility averaged 8.8 deficiencies per year — roughly double Indiana’s average of 4.2. Standard inspections in February 2023, June 2024, March 2025, and April 2025 resulted in 27 citations, with recurring issues in life safety code compliance, food service sanitation, and resident notification practices.

Three complaints were substantiated: a dietary deficiency in early 2023; a June 2023 finding that medication was administered by an unlicensed individual; and a December 2024 complaint in which a resident sustained an ankle fracture due to inconsistent transfer practices. No fines or enforcement actions were listed. A June 2025 re-inspection found the facility in full compliance with life safety requirements.

On staffing, the facility’s 3-star Quality Measures and 17.6% above-average staffing rating reflect positively on resident care outcomes, though total nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 57 minutes per resident per day, which is 17% below Indiana’s average — a gap worth noting for residents with high daily care needs. The facility’s occupancy rate of 80% is well above the state average of 68%, indicating steady local demand. The facility also operates an on-site Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program, as well as wound care and respiratory services for residents with complex clinical needs.

The Waters of Dunkirk is best suited for residents in Jay County seeking skilled nursing or post-acute care who require specialized wound or respiratory management. However, families should review the compliance record in light of the recent life-safety remediation.

Overview of Miller’s Merry Manor

Miller’s Merry Manor is a 107-bed nursing home in Walkerton, Indiana, owned by Anna Foster and run by Johnson Memorial Hospital under administrator Rayne Wise. The facility takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and stays about 51 percent full. Residents stay here for an average of 127 days, which covers a mix of short-term rehab patients and long-term residents.

Daily nursing care averages 3 hours and 21 minutes per resident. That includes 43 minutes from registered nurses, 59 minutes from licensed practical nurses, and 2 hours and 25 minutes from nurse aides. This team handles specialized memory care, adult day services, hospice, and a post-hospital rehab program that works directly with local hospital discharge planners. The building offers both shared and private rooms, restaurant-style dining, a beauty salon, religious services, and a wheelchair-accessible van for outings.

The neighborhood has a walkability score of 56 out of 100, so some local errands can be done on foot. For regulatory oversight, state records show the facility’s recent recertification survey came back with zero citations. Families can call the admissions office to check on open rooms, ask about the hospital discharge process, or set up a time to see the building.

Overview of Kingston Care Center of Fort Wayne

Kingston Care Center of Fort Wayne is a 137-bed, privately owned skilled nursing and memory care community at 1010 W. Washington Center Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The facility serves Allen County residents across a continuum of care, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehabilitation, with 24-hour nursing coverage and respite care. It is operated by Kingston Care Center of Fort Wayne, LLC.

Over four years of inspection data, Kingston has recorded 10.3 deficiencies per year — roughly 145% above Indiana’s average of 4.2. An immediate jeopardy finding in February 2023 involved a morphine overdose that caused respiratory distress and required emergent treatment. A separate substantiated verbal abuse complaint from May 2023 led to the staff member’s separation. No fines or license actions appear in the available reports. The most recent standard inspection, completed in June 2025, found the facility fully in compliance with no deficiencies cited — a meaningful shift from prior years.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars overall, in line with the Indiana average. Its below-average Health Inspection rating reflects the deficiency history above. Staffing is 17.6% above the state average, with nurse staffing averaging 3 hours and 29 minutes per resident per day — a figure that supports the facility’s rehabilitation and post-acute caseload, which includes physical therapy hours that are more than double the state benchmark.

Quality Measures performs 23.5% above the Indiana average, and the short-stay rehospitalization rate of 19.6% is 13% lower than the state figure. The facility’s occupancy rate is 75%, exceeding Indiana’s average of 68.1%.

Kingston Care Center fits residents pursuing short-term post-acute rehabilitation or needing a structured memory care setting, with a payer mix and staffing model oriented toward Medicare and Medicaid residents in Fort Wayne’s Allen County. However, families should review the facility’s prior medication-related Immediate Jeopardy finding with its more recent compliance improvements.

Overview of Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center

The 100-bed campus at Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center provides skilled care at 780 Dickinson Road in Chesterton, Indiana. Owned by Steven Dobben and managed by administrator Carol Whitehead alongside Riverview Hospital, the building operates at an 88 percent occupancy rate and accepts Medicare and private pay. Stays here average 111 days, which aligns with the facility’s design as a destination for short-term post-acute recovery and medical rehabilitation.

The nursing staff provides about 3 hours and 9 minutes of direct care to each resident every day. Most of that hands-on help comes from nurse aides, who cover 2 hours and 8 minutes, while registered nurses pitch in for 42 minutes, and licensed practical nurses handle the remaining 47 minutes. Together, they take care of physical rehab therapy, pass out daily medications, and help out with everyday tasks like bathing and dressing. Visitors have it pretty easy when they come to see family, since the neighborhood scores a 73 for walkability and lets you wrap up most quick errands on foot.

Inside, the building has fully furnished suites, a bistro, a library, a salon, and an outdoor courtyard. On the regulatory side, past state inspections focused mostly on building codes and emergency plans, and the team fixed those issues to keep the facility in compliance.

Families can call the front desk to see which rooms are open, ask how the physical rehab therapy is set up, or come take a look around. The business office can also explain how the insurance coverage works and help you get started on the intake paperwork.

Overview of Wesley Manor Health Center

Wesley Manor Health Center is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Frankfort, Indiana. The community is on North Main Street in a very walkable area, so most errands can be completed on foot. Wesley Manor Inc. owns the 376-bed facility, while Woodlawn Hospital operates it under the administration of Gary Waymire. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for arranging care.

The recently established community provides both skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation services, with 24-hour staffing. Residents stay an average of 250 days. The population includes those completing rehabilitation after a hospital stay and those requiring ongoing nursing support. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 37 minutes per resident. Registered nurses and nurse aides provide care around the clock, helping support the facility’s medical and rehabilitation programs. Respite care is also available for families needing temporary care coverage.

Life at the community focuses genuine hospitality. Meals are served in a bright dining room where freshly prepared dishes are available. There are also accommodations for different dietary preferences. Residents can join at social events, educational programs, wellness activities, and community celebrations throughout the year. A dedicated spiritual life program is also available to support residents’ personal beliefs and values.

The range of amenities is extensive. Residents have access to an 18-hole golf course, greenhouse and gardens, an art studio, woodshop, library, fitness center, bowling alley, and indoor swimming pool. Additional on-site features include salon services, recreational rooms and lounges, a general store, and a chapel. These amenities exist to support recovery, social connection, and everyday enjoyment for both short-term and long-term residents.

State inspections have tracked the facility’s compliance over time. Earlier reviews identified areas requiring attention, while the most recent inspection found the community in full compliance with no deficiencies. Families considering Wesley Manor Health Center should take a tour of the facility to explore its care programs, amenities, and daily environment firsthand.

Overview of Brickyard Healthcare – Brookview Care Center

Brickyard Healthcare – Brookview Care Center is a 136-bed nursing home on East 21st Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owned by Brookview Operating LLC and run by Hendricks County Hospital under administrator Patricia Aldridge, the facility currently runs at a 53 percent occupancy rate with 72 active residents. It accommodates Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Stays average 148 days, which reflects a population focused primarily on short-term rehabilitation alongside long-term nursing care.

A neighborhood walkability score of 61 out of 100 means visitors can manage some basic errands on foot when coming to the campus. Inside the building, the daily care structure delivers an average of 3 hours and 34 minutes of direct nursing time per resident. This total time is divided among registered nurses providing 42 minutes, licensed practical nurses providing 56 minutes, and nurse aides handling 3 hours and 8 minutes of care. This team handles the facility’s clinical routines, physical therapy protocols, and daily personal care assistance.

Prospective residents can get in touch with the admissions office to check room availability, ask about the rehabilitation schedules, or schedule a time to see the building. The front office staff can also explain billing options and assist with the necessary enrollment paperwork.

Overview of The Waters of Fort Wayne Skilled Nursing Facility

The Waters of Fort Wayne Skilled Nursing Facility is a 77-bed county-operated skilled nursing and rehabilitation community at 5544 E State Blvd in Fort Wayne, Indiana, providing short-term and long-term care, memory care, and respite services under the Memory Springs and In Motion programs. The facility accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, with the resident census predominantly Medicaid.

CMS rates the facility at 3 stars overall. Since 2022, the facility has accumulated 34 deficiencies across 26 inspections — roughly 8.5 per year, more than double Indiana’s state average of 4.2. Substantiated complaints include a 2024 verbal abuse finding that led to two staff terminations, a 2023 citation for inadequate dementia care interventions, and recurring fall prevention deficiencies. A September 2024 life safety survey identified 15 deficiencies across emergency preparedness, fire suppression, and physical plant compliance; a follow-up visit found the facility in substantial compliance. No fines or license actions appear in the available record.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 7 minutes per resident per day, placing the facility 185th out of 287 Indiana SNFs — below both the state and national benchmarks. The facility’s occupancy rate is 48%, well below Indiana’s average of 68.1%, indicating current availability across bed types.

The Waters of Fort Wayne is best suited for residents in Allen County who require county-funded long-term care or post-acute rehabilitation, with dedicated programming for memory care and wound and respiratory management through its named clinical tracks. However, families should carefully review the facility’s inspection history, staffing levels, and prior abuse-related findings before making a placement decision.

Lincoln Hills of New Albany is a 156-bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility in New Albany, Indiana, serving Floyd County residents. The community offers skilled nursing, memory care, rehabilitation, and respite care along with on-site kidney dialysis, an uncommon amenity in Indiana SNFs. Accepted: Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Staffing and quality measures sit above Indiana average, at 4-star sub-ratings each; nurse hours of 3h 41m per resident day rank 70th among 287 Indiana facilities. The inspection record is more complex. Over four years on file, the facility averaged 13 deficiencies annually, 210 percent above Indiana’s 4.2 average. One immediate jeopardy finding appears in the window: a July 2023 complaint investigation tied to failure to recognize and respond to a resident’s respiratory deterioration, with the resident dying before emergent care was initiated. A September 2024 annual survey cited a Stage 4 pressure ulcer and narcotic documentation discrepancies across six residents. A December 2023 substantiated complaint found behavioral care plans inadequate for a dementia resident with documented wandering and aggression. Life safety surveys in September 2023 and October 2024 produced 12 and 11 deficiencies respectively, concentrated in sprinkler, egress, and generator maintenance, all corrected on revisit. The health inspection sub-rating of 26.7 percent below Indiana average reflects this history. Meanwhile, occupancy at 81 percent runs above the Indiana average of 68.1 percent.

Amenities contain a secured outdoor courtyard, beauty salon and barber services, and on-site podiatry, dental, audiology, and optometry services. For residents managing end-stage renal disease alongside skilled nursing needs, the on-site dialysis program is a defining differentiator.

The facility fits residents in Floyd County requiring long-term skilled nursing, memory care, or dialysis-integrated care in a larger community setting near New Albany.

Operated by Rush Memorial Hospital and administered by Khushali Shuh, Lodge of the Wabash is a skilled nursing facility in Vincennes, Indiana. The community opened recently and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several options for arranging care. The 117-bed facility has an occupancy rate of 39%, so there’s more availability and individualized attention during admission.

The facility primarily serves residents who need both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care. Residents stay an average of 331 days, including post-acute recovery patients and those requiring ongoing nursing support. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 28 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses provide care around the clock to deliver consistent hands-on support.

Rehabilitation and restorative care are central parts of daily life within the community. There are structured programs and staffing for residents recovering from surgery, illness, and hospitalization, as well as those requiring long-term skilled nursing services.

Dining features chef-prepared, dietitian-approved meals. There are also alternate selections available at every meal and snacks throughout the day. Residents also have access to private rooms, a beauty salon, library services, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor garden and patio. Housekeeping and maintenance teams support the community’s daily operations.

State inspections have reviewed medication management, infection control practices, fall prevention measures, respiratory care, and memory care standards. The facility addressed concerns identified during those reviews and has resolved all Life Safety Code and licensure deficiencies. As a result, the community achieved compliance with fire safety standards and Medicare and Medicaid requirements.

Located in an area with a Walk Score of 82, the facility is in a highly walkable part of Vincennes where visiting family members and staff can complete many errands on foot.