Buena Vida Estates
Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care & Skilled Nursing · Melbourne, FL
Buena Vida Estates
Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care & Skilled Nursing · Melbourne, FL
Overview of Buena Vida Estates
Buena Vida is the sole Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Brevard, fostering a strong sense of security among residents who know their future is well cared for. For over four decades, Buena Vida has established a well-earned reputation as the premier senior living community in Brevard County.
Here, senior residents experience the joy of maintaining independent and healthy lifestyles, forming enduring relationships, and participating in fulfilling programs. Most significantly, they relish the peace of mind of knowing that their evolving care needs will be consistently and expertly met. Nestled within a serene campus enveloped by live oak trees, Buena Vida enjoys proximity to an array of shopping centers and venues renowned along the East Coast. As the exclusive not-for-profit 501(c)(3) CCRC in the area, Buena Vida prides itself on delivering top-tier services and exceptional care within a welcoming and amicable atmosphere.
15 years in operation
A community with a solid operating history and experience delivering ongoing care.
Walk Score: 69 / 100 Rank #223 / 1427Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 223rd out of 1,427 homes we track in Florida for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Florida facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Florida that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
Emergency SystemsYes
Safety Features24-hour security with nightly patrol, personal 24-hour emergency response.
Transportation
Housekeeping
Fitness Center
Wi-Fi
Emergency Call System
Chapel
Complimentary Daily Breakfast
Themed Parties
Specific ProgramsActivities & Programs, Dining Experience, Medical Care, Non-Denominational Chapel, Hurricane Preparedness
Religious ServicesOn-site, non-denominational chapel services
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed
Housing Options: Private Rooms
Building Type: 3-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Living Spaces & Floor Plans for Buena Vida Estates
Places of interest near Buena Vida Estates
2129 W New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32904 — 1.72 miles to nearest hospital (Kindred Hospital Melbourne)
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Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the FL Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.
The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
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CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
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Care Types in This Table
NH (Nursing Home):
24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility):
Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
RC (Respite Care):
Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
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Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
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Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
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Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
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This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
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CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
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CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
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CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
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CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
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Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
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Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
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Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
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A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the state average. See the benchmark below for the typical score in this state; higher is better.
This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score.
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Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
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Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
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Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
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Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
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Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
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Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
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The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
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What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Florida average is: 72.3% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Care Center of Melbourne | NH SNF | Melbourne | 120
Facility
120
FL AVG
88
Rank
#253 / 1,058 |
97.4%
Facility
97.4%
FL AVG
87.4
Rank
#6 / 121 | +11% | 3.74
Facility
3.74
FL AVG
4.04
Rank
#134 / 180 | -11% | -7% | $0
Facility
$0
FL AVG
$78.9k
Rank
#1 / 183 | - | 12
Facility
12
FL AVG
19.7
Rank
#50 / 179 | 4.0
Facility
4.0
FL AVG
4.5
Rank
#77 / 179 | - | 117 | - |
39
Facility
39
FL AVG
42
Rank
#744 / 1,427 | Dana Delena | $15.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$15.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
FL AVG
$14.6M
Rank
#63 / 159 | $8.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$8.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
FL AVG
$9.5M
Rank
#83 / 159 | 54.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
54.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
FL AVG
72.3%
Rank
#85 / 159 | 105291 | ||||
| West Melbourne Health and Rehabilitation Center | NH MC PC SNF | West Melbourne | 180
Facility
180
FL AVG
88
Rank
#56 / 1,058 | - | - | 4.64
Facility
4.64
FL AVG
4.04
Rank
#41 / 180 | -11% | +15% | $0
Facility
$0
FL AVG
$78.9k
Rank
#1 / 183 | - | 34
Facility
34
FL AVG
19.7
Rank
#163 / 179 | 4.9
Facility
4.9
FL AVG
4.5
Rank
#116 / 179 | 2 | 25 | C+ |
79
Facility
79
FL AVG
42
Rank
#114 / 1,427 | Denise Caiati | $17.0MFiscal year ending 05/2024
Facility
$17.0MFiscal year ending 05/2024
FL AVG
$14.6M
Rank
#49 / 159 | $10.8MFiscal year ending 05/2024
Facility
$10.8MFiscal year ending 05/2024
FL AVG
$9.5M
Rank
#46 / 159 | 63.6%Fiscal year ending 05/2024
Facility
63.6%Fiscal year ending 05/2024
FL AVG
72.3%
Rank
#55 / 159 | 105376 | ||||
| Indian River Center | NH MC PC RC SNF | Melbourne | 179
Facility
179
FL AVG
88
Rank
#75 / 1,058 |
94.6%
Facility
94.6%
FL AVG
87.4
Rank
#35 / 121 | +8% | 4.03
Facility
4.03
FL AVG
4.04
Rank
#87 / 180 | -19% | 0% | $74.4k
Facility
$74.4k
FL AVG
$78.9k
Rank
#161 / 183 | - | 16
Facility
16
FL AVG
19.7
Rank
#78 / 179 | 3.2
Facility
3.2
FL AVG
4.5
Rank
#48 / 179 | 3 | 169 | - |
34
Facility
34
FL AVG
42
Rank
#850 / 1,427 | Cazzie King | $19.2MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$19.2MFiscal year ending 09/2023
FL AVG
$14.6M
Rank
#31 / 159 | $8.8MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$8.8MFiscal year ending 09/2023
FL AVG
$9.5M
Rank
#75 / 159 | 45.6%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
45.6%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
FL AVG
72.3%
Rank
#134 / 159 | 105673 |
Financial Assistance for
Nursing Home in Florida
Buena Vida Estates is located in Melbourne, Florida.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions about Buena Vida Estates
What neighborhood is Buena Vida Estates in?
Buena Vida Estates is in the Cannova Park neighborhood of Melbourne.
Is Buena Vida Estates in a walkable area?
Buena Vida Estates has a walk score of 69. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
How long has Buena Vida Estates been in business?
Buena Vida Estates has been operating for approximately 15 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
Are pets allowed at Buena Vida Estates?
Yes, Buena Vida Estates allows residents to bring their pets.
Are there photos of Buena Vida Estates?
Yes — there are 7 photos of Buena Vida Estates in the photo gallery on this page.
What is the address of Buena Vida Estates?
Buena Vida Estates is located at 2129 W New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32904.
What is the phone number of Buena Vida Estates?
(321) 724-0060 will put you in contact with the team at Buena Vida Estates.
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