Page 29 of Best Nursing Homes in New York State

Overview of Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid

Operated by 185 Old Military Road Operating Company LLC, Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid is an SNF on Old Military Road in Lake Placid, New York. The 156-bed community has a 94 percent occupancy, averaging a stay duration of about 209 days, indicating a blend of short-term rehabilitation residents and those needing longer-term skilled nursing. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted to provide flexible coverage routes for families.

The nursing team delivers 3 hours 11 minutes of total care per resident day, backed by registered nurses and nurse aides working in tandem. This level of attentive clinical support anchors the home’s focus on rehabilitation and ongoing skilled care. Clinically, the facility highlights short-term rehabilitation and subacute services, with specialized programs in memory care and long-term care therapy. It also offers respite care and palliative services, making it a versatile option for occupants with varied care needs. Daily life is enhanced by a spacious rehabilitation gym, private resident rooms, a wheelchair-accessible greenhouse, paved walking paths, a chapel, and landscaped grounds. The dining program emphasizes pleasant meals at each service. With a Walk Score of 62, the Lake Placid location is moderately walkable, so some errands are accessible on foot, while most trips need a quick drive.

Inspection surveys by the New York Department of Health have flagged themes around care planning, activities of daily living support, infection control, and life safety protocols. Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid has been responsive to survey findings.

The Brook at High Falls operates as a 28-bed skilled nursing facility at 2150 St Paul Street in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Owner Christina Oropeza oversees the facility through AGA Operating LLC, a for-profit operator.

The 3-star CMS rating positions the community slightly below the New York state average.

Where the facility demonstrates strength is staffing intensity: registered nurses and nursing staff combine for 3 hours 57 minutes of care per resident daily; 13% above New York averages. Weekends show particularly robust RN presence at 47 minutes per day, running 68% above benchmark. Physical therapists deliver 11 minutes per resident daily, 57% above state norms.

Six separate state inspections over four years yielded 15 total health and life safety citations.

The November 14, 2024 complaint investigation identified systemic deficiencies in resident care, facility environment, and safety protocols. Inspectors found failures in activities of daily living assistance, visual privacy safeguarding (missing privacy curtains affecting multiple residents), quarterly care planning compliance, and infection control execution. Significant documentation gaps emerged: staff touched food without gloves; laundry personnel handled soiled linens without protective gowns; resident medical records sat in damaged boxes stored in an unlocked basement electrical room. Environmental violations included missing call bells, absent bathroom soap dispensers, inoperable kitchen equipment, unsafe gas storage, and non-functional door mechanisms.

The facility corrected all citations by late January and early February 2025. No federal fines or Medicare/Medicaid payment denials have been assessed over the past three years.

Occupancy has contracted dramatically to 32%; ranked 426th of 433 New York homes against a state average of 88.3%. The facility draws admissions from Medicare short-stays (1-month average), private-pay brief stays (19 days), and Medicaid long-term residents (2 years), with current census skewed heavily toward Medicaid (45.5%).

Clinical quality measures reveal long-stay weight loss impacts 16.4% of residents at 168% worse than state average, yet fall rates remain zero and depression symptoms absent entirely. Short-stay rehospitalization reached 26.8% against a 20.6% state norm, with emergency department utilization at 19.7%; more than double the 9.7% state figure. The facility’s deficiency rate has averaged 24.7 violations per year since 2021, running 384% above New York averages.

The Brook is structured for Medicare and private-pay short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing stays in a small-scale setting where higher staffing ratios and intensive therapy services support acute clinical recovery.

Operated by Wicker Street, LLC, Elderwood at Ticonderoga is a skilled nursing community located on Adirondack Drive in Ticonderoga, New York. The 84-bed facility serves the region’s post-acute rehabilitation and long-term care needs. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing families with multiple ways to cover short-term recovery care and ongoing skilled nursing. The facility has an occupancy rate of 96%. Residents stay an average of 235 days, including post-hospital rehabilitation patients and long-term residents.

The home has a strong clinical focus on rehabilitation across multiple specialties, including cardiac and orthopedic rehab and long-term care therapy. It also provides general short-term rehab and respite services. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 7 minutes per resident. It is delivered through RN, nurse aide, and LPN/LVN coverage. Residents with more complex medical needs often require frequent assistance, and the facility’s staffing levels can provide that care.

Ticonderoga’s location has a Walk Score of 57, which is moderately walkable. Some errands can be handled on foot, but most trips will involve a car. Families visiting the facility will find a quieter setting with few nearby conveniences.

The New York Department of Health’s state inspections have focused on care documentation practices and regulatory reporting processes. It reviewed clinical record-keeping, nutrition, pharmacy management, and compliance with national safety reporting requirements. Like other nursing homes, the facility is regularly reviewed in these areas as part of the state’s inspection process.

Families considering Elderwood at Ticonderoga should take a thorough tour and ask about current clinical protocols and quality-improvement efforts, which would provide a clearer idea of the facility’s daily care standards.

Overview of Swan Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation

Serving the Long Island area as a center for post-acute rehabilitation and ongoing nursing care, Swan Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility in Patchogue, New York. The home is operated by J+H Operations, LLC under owner Jacob Hager. Families can choose from Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

The facility has a strong rehabilitation focus, with dedicated programs in neuro-rehabilitation, amputee care, cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation, and specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care units. It’s a practical choice for residents recovering from a hospital stay, stroke, or other major health event. Long-term skilled nursing care is also available for those who need ongoing clinical support. The home offers respite care for families seeking temporary relief while a loved one receives professional care.

Nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 14 minutes per resident care each day. Registered nurses provide about 36 minutes of daily care, while nurse aides contribute about 1 hour and 58 minutes of hands-on support. Staff are available 24 hours a day to support residents across all shifts. The community has an occupancy rate of 89%. Residents stay an average of 214 days, including short-term rehabilitation residents and those receiving longer-term care.

State inspections have reviewed environmental conditions, safety practices, and recordkeeping procedures over the years. Most identified issues were isolated and corrected within the required timeframes. Families touring the facility should ask how these areas are managed daily.

Residents can choose from private and semi-private rooms. Each has a flat-screen television, on-site parking, and a modern rehabilitation gym. The dining program offers kosher as well as vegetarian and vegan meal options. Residents also enjoy a variety of recreational activities, complimentary Wi-Fi and phone service, and daily newspapers.

The very walkable location, with a Walk Score of 85, makes visits easier for family members and guests.

Overview of Brookhaven Care Center

Situated on Beaverdam Road, the Brookhaven Care Center functions as a critical 182-bed node within Suffolk County’s geriatric healthcare infrastructure. Managed by Brookhaven Care Center LLC, the facility sustains a robust 96% occupancy rate; prospective visitors should anticipate that vehicular travel serves as the primary means of accessibility.

The center prioritizes long-term residency, with an average length of stay approximating seven months, though it concurrently facilitates short-term rehabilitation. Clinical efficacy is supported by a comprehensive suite of interventions, including bariatric, respiratory, and intravenous therapies, alongside hospice, palliative, and psychological support. While a physician remains on staff, the daily nursing intensity, averaging 2 hours and 34 minutes per resident, coupled with continuous licensed nursing presence, forms the foundation of their therapeutic model.

Beyond the primary nursing wards, the rehabilitation department offers integrated physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Recognizing the demographic plurality of Suffolk County, the staff maintains communication capabilities in ten languages, including Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, and Tagalog. Quality of life is addressed through a holistic array of amenities, ranging from a beauty salon and library to pet therapy and community gardening. These offerings, paired with organized excursions and bespoke nutritional plans, seek to mitigate the often sterile nature associated with long-term care environments.

Regulatory oversight remains the purview of the New York State Department of Health and the Office of Aging and Long Term Care. Analysis of historical inspection data suggests that past administrative friction has centered on the facility’s care planning and documentation processes.

Brookhaven Care Center stands as a multifaceted facility, equipped to manage complex medical requirements for residents across eastern Long Island.

Overview of Elderwood at Amherst

Located in Amherst, in Erie County, New York, Elderwood at Amherst is a 92-bed skilled nursing home. The facility is operated by 4459 Bailey Avenue Operating Company, LLC, and owned by Warren Cole. It specializes in rehabilitation and post-acute care, offering subacute rehabilitation, oncology, and palliative care services. The community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have several ways to cover the cost of short-term recovery and longer-term care needs.

Daily nurse staffing averages over 4 hours per resident, supplemented by nursing aides who provide an additional 3.5 hours of care. This staffing depth can support residents recovering from surgery, acute illness, or medical events that require hands-on rehabilitation. Respite care is also available for families who need short-term placement while managing care at home.

The facility’s current occupancy rate is 89%, and most residents stay for an average of 84 days. Elderwood serves short-term post-acute rehabilitation, and residents stay for ongoing skilled nursing support. The community offers daily housekeeping and laundry services, and complimentary WiFi throughout. A large rehabilitation gym is available for residents receiving therapy services. There are also daily activities and social programming so residents can spend time and build connections with peers.

The Amherst location has a walkability score of 37. Families visiting the facility will likely rely on a car for most trips. The home is located in a quieter area away from the city center.

Operated by Park Terrace Care Center Inc under owner Golda Klein, Park Terrace Care Center is a 200-bed nursing home that provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families multiple ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

Rehabilitation is the home’s primary focus, particularly traumatic brain injury recovery, with state certification in this specialty area. The facility supports both short-term and longer-term rehabilitation. Residents stay an average of 531 days.

Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 3 minutes per resident. This includes 48 minutes of registered nurse care, 2 hours and 41 minutes of nurse aide support, and 32 minutes of licensed practical nurse care.

Clinical services include a doctor on staff, 24-hour nursing care, psychiatry and psychology services, IV therapy, and 24-hour respiratory therapy. Residents also have access to on-site dental, podiatry, optometry, and physiatry services. Social services, family counseling, personalized dietary programs, and recreational activities further support residents.

State inspections have identified operational and care-related issues over the years. The facility has implemented corrective actions. Improvements were confirmed during follow-up inspections.

The neighborhood is somewhat walkable with a Walk Score of 56. Some errands can be done by walking, but many require a car. Families visiting the facility should inquire about staff continuity and care coordination for residents with complex rehabilitation needs.

Overview of Peninsula Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Peninsula Nursing and Rehabilitation Center sits at 50-15 Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway, a 200-bed facility owned by Cardiff Bay Care Center, LLC that’s been Medicare and Medicaid certified since 1973. Occupancy runs at 89 percent, 178 of 200 beds filled.

The neighborhood is very walkable, Walk Score of 74, and Peninsula takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. An active resident and family council keeps residents and their families connected to how the facility runs, not just what happens in their own room.

Two named clinical programs anchor the care here: Cardiac Rehabilitation and Enteral Nutrition Therapy. Beyond the clinical side, there’s a beauty parlor and barber shop, religious services for all denominations, a family and friends transport program, and scheduled pet visitation, plus therapeutic recreation, trips, and organized entertainment rounding out daily life.

Staffing numbers give a real sense of daily care: total nursing time runs 2 hours and 50 minutes per resident, per day, with registered nurses handling 1 hour and 4 minutes of that. Inspections here have revolved around infection prevention and control and environmental and hazardous-materials safety.

All told, Peninsula Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a long-running, large-scale facility built around structured clinical programs and a genuinely broad set of everyday amenities, backed by staffing numbers a family can actually evaluate.

Overview of St Luke Residential Health Care Facility

Owned by Brian Caswell, St Luke Residential Health Care Facility is a skilled nursing home on the banks of the Oswego River in upstate New York. It serves residents in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. It’s operated by St Luke Residential Health Care Facility.

The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several ways to fund post-acute rehabilitation stays and ongoing nursing care. It has 200 beds, with 67% occupancy, so it has the stability of a larger community and the flexibility to adjust admissions and care planning.

Residents typically stay for 308 days, including those recovering from surgery or illness and those remaining for ongoing nursing support. The home focuses on rehabilitation services alongside its full-time nursing care. It’s a good choice for patients moving from a hospital stay or recovering from a significant event. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 23 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses are distributed across shifts to provide continuous care.

The home is very walkable, with a Walk Score of 89. Residents can easily visit family members and run most errands on foot. This area is also near the river and community resources.

St Luke’s program offerings are comprehensive. These include adult day health services for those with ongoing medical needs, home health services extending care beyond the facility, palliative and wound care programs, and enriched living activities to support quality of life. Short-stay rehabilitation and IV antibiotic therapy support acute medical needs, while Community Health and Wellness connects residents with broader local resources.

State health inspections have identified areas for improvement in care delivery, infection control, nutrition management, and safety. However, the facility actively manages its through its corrective action programs.

Verrazano Nursing Home is a highly recommended health care center. The center is licensed by the New York State Department of Health as a Skilled Nursing Facility. It has been a family-run business for over 40 years, providing a close-knit, family-like environment with one-on-one attention.