Best Nursing Homes in Winston-Salem, NC

Overview of Arbor Acres

Situated in the heart of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Arbor Acres is a distinguished continuing care retirement community. This tranquil haven provides a spectrum of living options, spanning independent living, assisted care, memory care, and skilled nursing, designed to cater to diverse senior needs.

Within the rare and beautiful setting of Arbor Acres, residents find a place to reside and a canvas where purpose, creativity, and motivation flourish. Life at Arbor Acres shines brilliantly, fostering an environment where friendships blossom and the art of living is embraced. All are welcome to experience the exceptional lifestyle offered at Arbor Acres, where each resident is invited to savor the richness of their journey in this vibrant and thriving community.

Overview of Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation Center

The sister nursing center of The Oaks, Oaks Forest is where residents thrive with the support of quality services for skilled nursing and rehabilitation. It offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere where residents and staff are encouraged to create friendships and build a mutual level of trust with each other. Specializing in short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and long-term living– the nursing home aim to enhance the quality of life for its residents by ensuring that seniors can satisfy their holistic wellness.

As a proud member of the Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, expect Oak Forest to provide a list of comprehensive amenities and services that help make the lives of its residents hassle-free. These include 24-hour licensed supervision, medication services, balanced meals provided, engaging activities scheduled, and specialized programs available.

Overview of Mill Creek Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation

The sister home of Willow Valley Center, Mill Creek, is also the premier health and rehabilitation center. A comprehensive community that presents a resort-like lifestyle with world-class hospitality offered to each unique individual with personal needs. The health and rehabilitation center’s nursing approach is focused on comprehensive therapies that contribute to a speedy recovery. Mill Creek is known for its world-class hospitality balanced with small-town charm.

The elegant nursing home creates an atmosphere where residents thrive and are enriched with quality skilled nursing care. With an emphasis on skilled nursing and rehabilitation specialty with long-term and short-term care services. Amenities include a library, a courtyard, a family visitation room, daily meals provided, and a hair salon.

Overview of Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem

Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem is a senior living community situated in a prime Winston-Salem, North Carolina location, offering a personalized lifestyle where residents can enjoy time with friends and neighbors doing what brings them joy. The community provides room rates starting at $3,040 per month and is committed to championing residents’ quality of life, providing empathy, support, education, and comfort. With around-the-clock, relationship-based care, Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem delivers a tailored experience to meet each individual’s unique needs and preferences, infusing their days with a healthy dose of fun.

The community features a beautifully decorated environment that welcomes pets with open arms and lots of love, offering a wide range of engaging activities such as balloon volleyball, water pong, music and manicures, and brain games on the porch. Residents can participate in passion-driven, resident-inspired clubs, including walking, card playing, baking, and crafting, while enjoying a diverse menu with options like high fiber, high calcium, low sodium, low fat, or vegetarian meals. Conveniently located in Winston-Salem, NC, on the corner of Reynolda and Polo roads, Brighton Gardens of Winston-Salem is near Reynolda Gardens, movie theaters, shopping, and dining, with residents frequently enjoying community outings to nearby shopping, dining, museums, Salem Lake, and Quarry Park. The community is also close to medical support at Forsyth Hospital and Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, ensuring comprehensive care for its residents.

Peace Haven Assisted Living offers a cozy, home-like environment for its residents. Residents live their best lives because of excellent services that help a speedy recovery. Essential services include housekeeping, restaurant-style dining, social activities, and scheduled transportation.

Overview of Willow Valley Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation

Willow Valley Center is Winston-Salem’s premier health and rehabilitation center. A comprehensive community that presents a resort-like lifestyle with world-class hospitality offered to each unique individual with personal needs. The health and rehabilitation center’s nursing approach is focused on comprehensive therapies that contribute to a speedy recovery. Willow Valley is known for its world-class hospitality balanced with small-town charm.

The elegant nursing home creates an atmosphere where residents thrive and are enriched with quality skilled nursing care. With an emphasis on skilled nursing and rehabilitation specialty with long-term and short-term care services. Amenities include a library, a courtyard, a family visitation room, daily meals provided, and a hair salon.

Overview of Homestead Hills Assisted Living

Homestead Hills Assisted Living is a 66-bed community at 2101 Homestead Hills Drive, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. It provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services; operates 24/7; and holds a 3-star state rating tied for 40th of 138 North Carolina facilities. A 6X National Award winner designation reflects prior operational achievements. Current occupancy is 30 percent (20 of 66 beds) significantly below the state average of 76.4 percent.

Staff training, medication management, and building safety represent Homestead Hills’ persistent compliance challenges. Over five years and across seven inspections, the facility averaged 9.6 deficiencies annually, 85 percent above North Carolina’s 5.2-deficiency benchmark. The October 26, 2023 annual survey identified five deficiencies consolidating longstanding gaps in medication aide preparation and health professional competency. Five of six medication aides failed to complete required medication clinical skills checklists or medication aide training verification; four of six staff lacked competency validation for licensed health professional support tasks spanning fingerstick blood sugar checks, insulin injections, inhalation medications, and oxygen administration.

Two residents were not tested for tuberculosis upon admission; one resident’s required licensed health professional evaluation was not completed within 30 days. Three residents did not receive ordered medications for blood pressure regulation, antipsychotic therapy, and heart-rate management.

Medication aide deficiencies recur across the facility’s history. August 2015 substantiated complaint investigation documented seven deficiencies that parallel current findings: five of six staff lacked competency validation for blood glucose checks, insulin injections, oxygen administration, and nebulizer use; four of six had not received diabetic care training before administering insulin; three of five medication aides hired after October 2013 had not completed required 15-hour medication administration training or clinical skills validation. Additional deficiencies in that investigation included two residents not receiving ordered therapeutic diets (no concentrated sweets, mechanical soft), inadequate infection control for shared glucometers affecting three residents, inadequate restraint documentation for one resident, and absent annual infection control training for three staff.

Building and fire safety deficiencies span July 2015 through August 2019. July 2015 construction survey documented nine deficiencies including failed fire alarm components, unsecured oxygen cylinders (projectile hazards), wedged fire doors, breached fire-rated construction, unsealed gas and electrical ceiling penetrations, dragging or difficult-to-open exit doors, non-latching interior doors, and inadequate mechanical ventilation. September 2015 follow-up found five uncorrected deficiencies: continued oxygen cylinder storage hazards, fire-rated construction breaches, missing sprinkler escutcheon plates, unsealed ceiling penetrations, and non-functional laundry ventilation. July 2017 cited 13 violations spanning missing fire inspection reports, bathrooms used for storage, poor furniture and plumbing maintenance, unsecured oxygen cylinders, non-functional emergency lighting, improperly propped doors, fire-resistant ceiling breaches, difficult egress doors, misaligned kitchen hood suppression heads, missing ansul system documentation, and absent bathroom exhaust ventilation.

August 2019 identified eight deficiencies: particulate buildup on return-air grilles, non-illuminated exit signs, non-functional emergency lights, missing sprinkler escutcheons, wedged fire doors, non-latching doors, stored items blocking sprinkler coverage, and non-operational janitorial exhaust.

September 2021 documented one capacity violation: 20 residents occupied a Special Care Unit licensed for 18 beds. The facility offers wellness programs, full-time activity coordination, fine dining with flexible menus, concierge and salon services, housekeeping, transportation, and 24-hour emergency call systems. No fines or license suspensions appear in the record.

Families should ask about corrective actions taken following the October 2023 medication administration and staff competency deficiencies.

Overview of Southfork

Southfork is a 78-bed nursing home at 1345 Jonestown Road, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. The facility provides 24-hour skilled nursing and secured living services; accepts Medicaid and respite care. A 3-star state rating places it tied for 40th of 138 North Carolina homes. Current occupancy is 60 percent (47 of 78 beds) which is below the state average of 76.4 percent.

Systemic failures in staffing, housekeeping, medication management, and resident care define Southfork’s regulatory record. The August 1, 2025 annual inspection found seven deficiencies that consolidate longstanding operational gaps. Aided residents in the Assisted Living unit experienced staffing shortages in 7 of 9 sampled shifts, with documented gaps ranging from 1 to 11.5 hours per shift; inadequate staffing led to delayed call bell responses and insufficient assistance for three sampled residents, violating their right to dignity and respect. Kitchen housekeeping was substandard: brown and black grease buildup contaminated floors; ice for resident consumption was stored uncovered.

Water was not served with meals to 31 of 37 assisted living residents, which is a violation of nutrition standards. Medication management failed for two residents: one did not receive ordered sertraline (six scheduled doses were not given), and documentation of insulin aspart administration proved inaccurate for another resident, with doses recorded as given but held.

Physical plant and fire safety deficiencies cluster across seven years, reflecting systemic maintenance failures. July 2023’s eleven citations encompassed automatic door closers removed from smoke barrier walls, emergency release switch covers screwed shut, absent fire and building inspection documentation, a bathroom converted to storage with 30 cardboard boxes, non-functional wanderer alarms, unsafe exterior premises (water damage, trip hazards), deteriorated furnishings and peeling ceilings, improper oxygen bottle storage, missing quarterly fire rehearsal records, compromised fire-resistant ceiling assemblies with bent sprinkler deflectors and electrical hazards, and absent exhaust ventilation. September 2017 and November 2019 surveys documented overlapping violations: improper corridor door latching, obstructed egress, dust and odor accumulation, inadequate grab bars in resident bathrooms, failed emergency lighting, missing fire extinguisher documentation, and gaps in fire-resistant construction. July 2015 identified eight deficiencies including code non-compliance on special locking arrangements with staff unaware of emergency override procedures; missing sanitation and fire safety reports; poor housekeeping with spider webs in 12 percent of bedroom closets; uncovered oxygen cylinders; improperly maintained fire doors; and non-functional exhaust in designated areas.

November 2023 and June 2024 follow-up surveys identified bent sprinkler deflectors impairing fire suppression capability. December 2022 and October 2019 annual inspections documented failure to implement physician orders (blood pressure, weight, and laboratory monitoring) and failure to serve mandated milk quantities to Special Care Unit residents.

Over seven years and across ten inspections, Southfork averaged 7.9 deficiencies annually, 52 percent above North Carolina’s 5.2-deficiency benchmark. The facility operates restaurant-style dining, entertainment and library rooms, outdoor common areas, transportation, housekeeping, and 24-hour staffing. No fines or license suspensions appear in the record.

Families should verify corrective actions taken following the August 2025 medication documentation, staffing hours, kitchen sanitation, and resident dignity deficiencies.