Illinois average 10.4
Last Health inspection on Aug 2025
Operating as a two-story nursing home at 707 West Riverside Boulevard in Rockford’s West Riverside Boulevard neighborhood, Rock River Healthcare manages 130 beds across nursing home, memory care, hospice, and respite care units. Owner SMF Healthcare LLC has operated the facility for 31 years under Administrator Judith Zbinden. The community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents and currently operates at 56.9% occupancy; notably below the Illinois state average. The average resident stay spans 131 days.
The facility holds a 2-star overall CMS rating, 36.5% below state average. Health inspection performance is 2 stars, 34.2% below the Illinois benchmark.
Staffing carries a 1-star rating, 39.9% below state standard. Adjusted nursing hours total only 2 hours per resident daily; ranked 154th of 167 facilities statewide and representing 49% below state average. Registered nurses provide 28 minutes per resident daily (36% below state average), while weekend RN coverage drops to 10 minutes (71% below state norm). The staff-to-resident ratio of 0.78:1 underperforms the state average of 1.80:1 by 56%, indicating critically low staffing levels.
Quality Measures rate 1 star, 37.3% below state average. Pressure ulcer prevalence reaches 11.8% in long-stay residents; 124% worse than state benchmark. Depressive symptoms affect 87.3% of long-stay residents, 82% above state rates. Hospitalization rates run 92% worse than peers at 3.94 per 1,000 resident days.
Short-stay rehabilitation shows concerning outcomes: emergency department visits hit 27.1%; 94% worse than state average and return to home rate reaches only 30.3%, 40% below state norm.
Inspection findings show 38 regulatory deficiencies since 2022 (443% above state average of 7), including substantiated physical abuse between residents, medication administration errors leading to seizure events, widespread wound and pressure ulcer care failures, dehydration from missed hydration orders, and unauthorized searches and confiscation of resident belongings. One prior inspection identified immediate jeopardy conditions.
Federal fines total $72,000 with one 7-day Medicare/Medicaid payment denial imposed in 2023.
Walk score of 60 reflects moderate walkability; the nearest hospital sits 3.53 miles distant.
Rock River Healthcare’s profile reflects severe staffing constraints, substantially elevated regulatory compliance violations, and quality outcomes significantly below state standards across clinical and safety domains.
Illinois average 10.4
Last Health inspection on Aug 2025
Illinois average 36.8
Illinois average 3.68
Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.
24 of 44 citations resulted from standard inspections; and 20 of 44 resulted from complaint investigations.
Illinois average: 0.7
Illinois average: 3.6
Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.
Manages medical care and health needs.
Assists with medical care and medications.
Helps with daily care and mobility.
Total hours from contractors
560 contractor hours this quarter
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 31 | 0 | 31 | 11,670 | 92 | 100% | 7.2 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 9 | 0 | 9 | 3,339 | 92 | 100% | 8.9 |
| Registered Nurse | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2,858 | 92 | 100% | 8.5 |
| Other Dietary Services Staff | 3 | 0 | 3 | 812 | 92 | 100% | 5.9 |
| Dietitian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 501 | 63 | 68% | 8 |
| Administrator | 1 | 0 | 1 | 496 | 62 | 67% | 8 |
| RN Director of Nursing | 1 | 0 | 1 | 480 | 60 | 65% | 8 |
| Diagnostic X-ray Services Staff | 1 | 0 | 1 | 472 | 61 | 66% | 7.7 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 464 | 58 | 63% | 8 |
| Occupational Therapist | 1 | 0 | 1 | 173 | 13 | 14% | 13.3 |
Includes penalties issued in 2023-2024
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 (Data as of Jan 2026)
Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.
4 penalties in the past 3 years
Multiple penalties were reported in the last 3 years.
Last updated: Jan 2026
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
20% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
72% of new residents, often for short stays.
7% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)
Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.
Historical financial and operational data for Rock River Healthcare from 2011–2023, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.
Key figures below are for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.
Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.
No pets allowed
Building Type: Two-story
Residents typically stay for brief periods, with frequent admissions and discharges throughout the year.
Most new residents arrive under private pay (72% of admissions), and a typical private pay stay runs around 5 - 6 months.
Coverage residents most often arrive under.
Coverage residents most often leave under.
3.5 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Rockford's city center to Rock River Healthcare's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 3.53 miles to nearest hospital (UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital)
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Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), 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.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
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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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 Illinois average is: 60.5% 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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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amberwood Care Centre | NH HOS MC PC RC SNF | Rockford | 135
Facility
135
IL AVG
85
Rank
#61 / 418 |
90.7%
Facility
90.7%
IL AVG
75.8
Rank
#26 / 151 | +20% | 2.41
Facility
2.41
IL AVG
3.10
Rank
#113 / 152 | -40% | -22% | $0
Facility
$0
IL AVG
$151.3k
Rank
#1 / 153 | 43
Facility
43
IL AVG
36.8
Rank
#106 / 153 | 3.1
Facility
3.1
IL AVG
3.7
Rank
#48 / 153 | - | 122 | - |
47
Facility
47
IL AVG
52
Rank
#356 / 634 | Todd Stern 2015 Trust | $12.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$12.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$13.2M
Rank
#58 / 134 | $6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$7.4M
Rank
#67 / 134 | 53.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
53.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
60.5%
Rank
#62 / 134 | 145908 | ||||
| River Bluff Nursing Home | NH HOS MC PC SNF | Rockford (Ruby) | 304
Facility
304
IL AVG
85
Rank
#1 / 418 |
50.1%
Facility
50.1%
IL AVG
75.8
Rank
#140 / 151 | -34% | 3.88
Facility
3.88
IL AVG
3.10
Rank
#41 / 152 | -33% | +25% | $10.2k
Facility
$10.2k
IL AVG
$151.3k
Rank
#69 / 153 | 30
Facility
30
IL AVG
36.8
Rank
#72 / 153 | 3.0
Facility
3.0
IL AVG
3.7
Rank
#39 / 153 | 2 | 152 | - |
33
Facility
33
IL AVG
52
Rank
#470 / 634 | County Of Winnebago | $12.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$12.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
IL AVG
$13.2M
Rank
#59 / 134 | $9.3MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$9.3MFiscal year ending 09/2023
IL AVG
$7.4M
Rank
#28 / 134 | 72.7%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
72.7%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
IL AVG
60.5%
Rank
#18 / 134 | 145771 | ||||
| Citadel PA Peterson | NH HOS MC PC RC SNF | Rockford | 129
Facility
129
IL AVG
85
Rank
#68 / 418 |
92.7%
Facility
92.7%
IL AVG
75.8
Rank
#21 / 151 | +22% | 3.04
Facility
3.04
IL AVG
3.10
Rank
#56 / 152 | -24% | -2% | $21.2k
Facility
$21.2k
IL AVG
$151.3k
Rank
#79 / 153 | 63
Facility
63
IL AVG
36.8
Rank
#133 / 153 | 2.6
Facility
2.6
IL AVG
3.7
Rank
#24 / 153 | 4 | 120 | - |
31
Facility
31
IL AVG
52
Rank
#487 / 634 | - | $14.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$14.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$13.2M
Rank
#48 / 134 | $7.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$7.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$7.4M
Rank
#60 / 134 | 49.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
49.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
60.5%
Rank
#82 / 134 | 145751 | ||||
| Rock River Healthcare | NH HOS MC RC SNF | Rockford | 130
Facility
130
IL AVG
85
Rank
#67 / 418 |
56.9%
Facility
56.9%
IL AVG
75.8
Rank
#134 / 151 | -25% | 2.15
Facility
2.15
IL AVG
3.10
Rank
#135 / 152 | +9% | -31% | $72.3k
Facility
$72.3k
IL AVG
$151.3k
Rank
#111 / 153 | 44
Facility
44
IL AVG
36.8
Rank
#109 / 153 | 2.4
Facility
2.4
IL AVG
3.7
Rank
#19 / 153 | 4 | 74 | - |
60
Facility
60
IL AVG
52
Rank
#234 / 634 | Smf Healthcare LLC | $6.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$13.2M
Rank
#121 / 134 | $3.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$3.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$7.4M
Rank
#128 / 134 | 47.8%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
47.8%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
60.5%
Rank
#92 / 134 | 145818 | ||||
| Alden Park Strathmoor | NH HOS MC RC SNF | Rockford | 189
Facility
189
IL AVG
85
Rank
#33 / 418 |
82.1%
Facility
82.1%
IL AVG
75.8
Rank
#64 / 151 | +8% | 2.57
Facility
2.57
IL AVG
3.10
Rank
#88 / 152 | +18% | -17% | $115.3k
Facility
$115.3k
IL AVG
$151.3k
Rank
#118 / 153 | 28
Facility
28
IL AVG
36.8
Rank
#64 / 153 | 3.5
Facility
3.5
IL AVG
3.7
Rank
#71 / 153 | 4 | 155 | - |
33
Facility
33
IL AVG
52
Rank
#470 / 634 | Nikolina Kuljanin | $14.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$14.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$13.2M
Rank
#45 / 134 | $6.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
$7.4M
Rank
#65 / 134 | 46.5%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
46.5%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IL AVG
60.5%
Rank
#100 / 134 | 145259 |
Rock River Healthcare is located in Rockford, Illinois.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Illinois.
Rock River Healthcare has a walk score of 60. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
Rock River Healthcare's occupancy is 54.2%.
Rock River Healthcare has been operating for approximately 31 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
No, Rock River Healthcare has a no-pet policy.
Rock River Healthcare is registered as a for-profit in IL.
Rock River Healthcare has had 38 reported deficiencies since 2022 according to records from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Rock River Healthcare is located at 707 W Riverside Blvd, Rockford, IL 61103.
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