Total staff
13
Employees
13
Contractors
0
Mostly short-term rehab stays
Most residents typically stay for a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on.
Forest at Duke
CMS overall rating
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
Forest at Duke
CMS overall rating
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
Forest at Duke accepts Medicare and private pay.
Overview of Forest at Duke
Nestled within Durham, North Carolina, Forest at Duke emerges as an esteemed independent living community guided by an unwavering mission. Forest at Duke is dedicated to fostering a compassionate and responsible community that champions the autonomy of retirement-age residents. Every abode within the premises, whether independent living or private suites and rooms within the cutting-edge Health & Wellness Center, is meticulously designed to envelop residents in spacious, comfortable, and elegant living. Their commitment thrives by enhancing their capacity to lead lives imbued with purpose, vitality, wellness, and security.
Forest at Duke presents an array of choices, offering five distinctive floor plans for apartment living and six additional options for cottages and individual homes. Encompassing a lush expanse of 47 acres, the campus is thoughtfully adorned with evergreen trees, imbuing the grounds with year-round hues of natural beauty. Experience Forest at Duke—a harmonious fusion of independence, elegance, and wellness set amidst the serenity of Durham’s landscape.
Quality ratings
The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
Staffing hours breakdown
Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.
Total nursing care / resident
This home is ranked 17th out of 90 homes in North Carolina for nurse hours. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
This home is ranked 17th out of 90 homes in North Carolina for nurse hours. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
5h 23m per day
Rank #17 / 90Nurse hours — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 17th out of 90 homes in North Carolina for nurse hours. Shows adjusted nurse hours per resident per day benchmarked to the North Carolina average, with a ranking across 90 North Carolina SNFs. More hours mean more direct care. The national average is about 3.5 hrs; below 3.0 is a red flag.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
vs North Carolina avg
+35%
Standout metric
Weekend Total Nursing is +57% above state avg
| Staff type | Hours / Day / Resident | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Weekend Total Nursing
Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.
| 5h 15m per day | ▲ 57% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 25m per day |
Capacity and availability
This home usually has availability
Occupancy rate
65.9%
Rank #166 / 264Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 166th out of 264 homes in North Carolina for occupancy rate. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the North Carolina average, with its Statewide rank out of 264. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Avg. Length of Stay
355 days
Walk Score: 42 / 100 Rank #210 / 572Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 210th out of 572 homes in North Carolina for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average Walk Score across North Carolina SNFs. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.
About this community
AccreditationsCARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), Leading Age
Art Studio
Auditorium
Club Room
Community Garden
Fitness Center
Gift Shop
Greenhouse
Group Exercise Studio
Hair Salons
Hot Tub
Indoor Saline Swimming Pool
Library
Living Room
Native Plants Pollinator Garden
Pond
Recreational Trikes
Transportation Services
Woodshop
ActivitiesThe Forest at Duke offers 400+ monthly opportunities to keep doing, contributing, and achieving.
Specific ProgramsFitness, Dining at The Forest, Programs and Activities, Off Campus Residency, Expansion – The Terraces, The Cohen Center for Health, Clinic, Therapy Services, The Forest at Home, Grantee Program, Community Partners, Making a Difference, Awards and Recognition, Newsroom
Touring HoursMonday-Friday: 8am-5pm, Saturday: 9am-3pm, Sunday: Closed
Food DescriptionDining at The Forest offers lots of delicious options. Choose from one of our four dining venues and enjoy an extensive, delectable menu at each.
Staffing Data
Reporting period: July 1 – September 30, 2025 (Q3 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.
Staff to resident ratio
4.33 : 1
141% more staff per resident than North Carolina average
Avg staff/day
2
Average shift
4.2 hours
48% worse than North Carolina average
Total staff hours (quarter)
709
Nursing staff breakdown
Q3 2025 · Jul 1 – Sep 30
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering July 1 – September 30, 2025.
Registered Nurse
Manages medical care and health needs.
RN Staff
All 2 RN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
2
All 2 RN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
2
Average shift length
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
4 hours
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
4 hoursLicensed Practical Nurse
Assists with medical care and medications.
LPN Staff
All 5 LPN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
5
All 5 LPN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
5
Average shift length
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
2.9 hours
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
2.9 hoursCertified Nursing Assistant
Helps with daily care and mobility.
CNA Staff
All 6 CNA Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
6
All 6 CNA Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
6
Average shift length
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
3.9 hours
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
3.9 hoursContractor staffing
Q3 2025 · Jul 1 – Sep 30
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering July 1 – September 30, 2025.
Total hours from contractors
0% — all staff are direct employees this quarter
Staff by category
Q3 2025 · Jul 1 – Sep 30
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering July 1 – September 30, 2025.
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 6 | 0 | 6 | 497 | 70 | 82% | 3.9 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 5 | 0 | 5 | 165 | 47 | 55% | 2.9 |
| Registered Nurse | 2 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 12 | 14% | 4 |
6 Certified Nursing Assistant
% of Days
82%
5 Licensed Practical Nurse
% of Days
55%
2 Registered Nurse
% of Days
14%
Penalties and fines
Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.
Source: CMS Penalties Database
No penalties in the past 3 years
No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.
Quality of care over time
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
Short-stay resident measures
Pneumococcal Vaccine
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
25% better than North Carolina averageNorth Carolina average: 79.9%
Antipsychotic medication increase
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
0.0%
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
0.0%
100% better than North Carolina averageNorth Carolina average: 1.5%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
Breakdown by payment type
Medicare
52% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
Typical stay
1 - 2 months
Private pay
48% of new residents, often for short stays.
Typical stay
3 - 4 years
Facility Characteristics
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)
Total residents
3
Medicare
3
100% of residents
Programs & Services
Residents Group
Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
CCRC
Part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community offering multiple care levels
Active Resident Council
Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.
Data sourced from CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics quarterly report. Payer mix reflects the current resident census by primary payment source.
Financial Trends
Historical financial and operational data for Forest at Duke based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.
Occupancy Rate
65.9%
↓ 3.2pp vs 2022
Net Income
-$2.7M
↑ ~$753.1K vs 2022
Total Payroll
$14.3M
↑ ~$2.0M vs 2022
Profit Margin
-9.9%
↑ 3.5pp vs 2022
Finances and operations
Voluntary non-profit community
Home revenue
$32.3M
Operating deficit
-$2.7M
Voluntary non-profit community
Home revenue
$32.3M Rank #21 / 97Revenue — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 21st out of 97 homes in North Carolina for revenue. Shows this facility's annual revenue compared to the North Carolina SNF average. Higher revenue generally means more resources for staffing and capital — read alongside Payroll %.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Operating deficit
-$2.7M
Payroll costs
The portion of the home's budget spent on staff, including nurses, caregivers, and other employees who support care and operations.
Rank #18 / 97Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 18th out of 97 homes in North Carolina for payroll. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the North Carolina average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
$14.3M
The portion of the home's budget spent on staff, including nurses, caregivers, and other employees who support care and operations.
Rank #18 / 97Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 18th out of 97 homes in North Carolina for payroll. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the North Carolina average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Other operating costs
All remaining costs needed to run the home, such as food, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and administrative expenses.
$20.7M
All remaining costs needed to run the home, such as food, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and administrative expenses.
Total costs
$35.0M
Who this home usually serves
Show admissions and discharges
TYPE OF STAY
Financial Assistance for
Nursing Home in North Carolina
Forest at Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions about Forest at Duke
Is Forest at Duke in a walkable area?
Forest at Duke has a walk score of 42. Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.
What is the occupancy rate at Forest at Duke?
Forest at Duke's occupancy is 65.9%.
Are there photos of Forest at Duke?
Yes — there are 7 photos of Forest at Duke in the photo gallery on this page.
What is the phone number of Forest at Duke?
(919) 490-8000 will put you in contact with the team at Forest at Duke.
Is Forest at Duke Medicare or Medicaid certified?
Yes — Forest at Duke is a CMS-certified provider of Medicare and Medicaid.
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