Best Nursing Homes in Ithaca, NY

Overview of Kendal at Ithaca

Kendal at Ithaca offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing in Ithaca, NY. Independent living provides a private home with community services and no daily care, while assisted living helps with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medication.

Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Having all three care levels can allow a resident to move to a different level of support without leaving the community, which may suit someone whose needs could grow over time and who prefers a smaller setting.

The community has 48 beds, so staff and residents can get to know each other. Housing includes cottages, apartments, studios, and one bedroom and two bedroom layouts, including options with a den; a studio offers one private living space, while a two bedroom layout can suit a couple moving in together.

A 91 / 100 Walk Score places the area in the walker’s paradise band, meaning daily errands do not require a car and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Pets are allowed, with a dog park providing a designated outdoor area for residents with dogs, while a TV studio, woodshop, aviaries, winemaking, and clay tennis courts provide on site activity spaces; public transportation and walking access to retail offer additional ways to get out.

Rehabilitation services and short term rehab are available for someone who needs a temporary setting for therapy and recovery. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours 23 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated per resident, and payment options are Medicare and private pay, allowing families to use Medicare coverage when applicable or pay directly for care.

Overview of Beechtree Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing

Beechtree Center is a distinguished 120-bed skilled nursing residence and rehabilitation center located in downtown Ithaca, New York. Providing 24-hour skilled nursing care, this community ensures a secure and engaging environment where each resident is treated with utmost dignity and respect. Beechtree Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing takes pride in consistently delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction. The center addresses physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs, striving to create a home-like environment that cares for everyone.
Beechtree embraces the concept of Person-Centered Care, prioritizing the importance of quality of life alongside quality of care. Their devoted staff partners closely with residents and their families, aiming to achieve and maintain the highest quality of life for every individual. From waking up early to choosing the timing of showers or baths, Beechtree endeavors to accommodate individual preferences, allowing residents and staff to make decisions collaboratively. The center also offers restaurant-style dining, serving freshly prepared food, adding to the overall comfort and home-like atmosphere that they provide for seniors.

Overview of Cayuga Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Cayuga Nursing & Rehabilitation Center provides nursing home care, memory care, and skilled nursing in Ithaca, NY. Nursing home care gives residents ongoing nursing and daily support in a residential setting, while memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

Respite care is available for a short stay, which may suit a family whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. The center has 144 beds and offers private and semiprivate rooms. A private room is a single resident’s space, while a semiprivate room is shared.

Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 54 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily hands on nurse time associated with an individual resident. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families those payment routes for care. Short term rehabilitation and rehabilitation services are available, allowing residents to receive rehabilitation care during a temporary stay at the center. A salon and spa support residents’ grooming and personal care needs, and pets are allowed, so residents may keep a pet at the community. Cayuga Ridge operates the center.

Overview of Oak Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center

Located on Hudson Street in Ithaca, New York, Oak Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center is a nursing home offering skilled nursing alongside hospice and palliative care. The home is operated by Oak Hill Operating Company, LLC, under owner Pearl Litkowski. Families can choose from Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover both short-term rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care.

The 60-bed community is close to full, with occupancy around 90%. It’s in a highly walkable part of Ithaca, with a Walk Score of 91. It’s a “walker’s paradise,” which means daily errands rarely require a car.

Clinically, the home focuses on rehabilitation and recovery. Cardiac rehabilitation and orthopedic rehabilitation are its programs alongside general short-term rehab and speech therapy. It also supports residents with more complex medical needs through pulmonary care, cardiac care, stroke recovery, and hospice services. Total nursing care averages about 5 hours and 16 minutes per resident daily. A registered nurse contributes roughly 35 minutes of that time, reflecting a fairly high level of hands-on nursing support.

Residents live in semi-private suites. They have access to a spacious courtyard and patio for time outdoors. Amenities on-site include fine dining options, on-site laundry and housekeeping, and Wi-Fi and cable TV throughout the building.

State inspections have most often centered on routine facility upkeep. These include refuse disposal, food sanitation, and infection control, and there were periodic findings tied to quality-of-care documentation. Most issues identified have been addressed within a couple of months, but a smaller number took longer to resolve. Families touring Oak Hill may want to ask staff how these areas are monitored daily.