Worst Nursing Homes in New Jersey

The right nursing home can bring joy and comfort to your loved one, but the wrong nursing home can leave a vulnerable senior with trauma and injuries that are sometimes fatal.

Nursing home - dark hallway

It is crucial to have the right information when choosing a nursing home for your loved one. Knowing which facilities are the worst-rated in New Jersey can help you make an informed decision, which will help you keep your loved one safe and well cared for.

Nursing Homes With an Overall One Star in New Jersey

Medicare’s Five-Star Quality Rating System assigns star ratings to all Medicare-funded facilities, with the goal of giving families a clear idea of the quality of care their loved ones might receive at each facility.

A five-star rating represents excellent care, and one star signals serious deficiencies. This overall score is based on a facility’s performance across three categories:

  • Health inspections: Health inspection ratings reflect adherence to federal health and safety standards.
  • Staffing: Staffing ratings measure the time staff members spend with residents and how consistent and skilled the staff is.
  • Quality measures: Quality measures reflect how effectively facilities manage resident care.

New Jersey is home to 49 nursing home facilities with an overall one-star Medicare rating:

  • Abigail House for Nursing & Rehabilitation
  • Allegria at the Fountains
  • Aristacare at Cherry Hill
  • Big Oak Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • The Buckingham at Norwood
  • Canterbury at Cedar Grove
  • CareOne at Middletown
  • Careone at Oradell
  • Complete Care at Brakeley Park, LLC
  • Complete Care at Brick LLC
  • Complete Care at Burlington Woods, LLC
  • Complete Care at Chestnut Hill LLC
  • Complete Care at Fair Lawn Edge
  • Complete Care at Kresson View, LLC
  • Complete Care at Linwood, LLC
  • Complete Care at Orange Park
  • Complete Care at Prospect Heights LLC
  • Cornell Hall Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Cranford Park Care
  • Crystal Lake Healthcare and Rehabilitation
  • Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
  • Dwellside Care and Rehabilitation
  • Elmwood Hills Healthcare Center LLC
  • Excel Care at Dover
  • Hammonton Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
  • Laurel Brook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Little Brook Nursing and Convalescent Home
  • Llanfair House Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Manahawkin Health and Rehabilitation Center
  • Meadowbrook Respiratory and Nursing Center
  • Medford Care Center
  • Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Mohawk Meadows
  • Mount Holly Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
  • New Vista Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • Optima Care Fountains
  • Our Lady’s Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
  • The Palace Rehabilitation and Care Center
  • Premier Cadbury of Cherry Hill
  • River Front Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center LLC
  • Riverview Estates Rehab and Senior Living Center
  • Rose Mountain Care Center
  • Shore Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
  • Sinai Post Acute Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
  • Spring Creek Healthcare Center
  • St Mary’s Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
  • Tallwoods Care Center
  • Troy Hills Center

One Star for Health Inspections

Medicare’s health inspection rating reflects how well a nursing home meets federal health and safety standards. These standards include areas such as staffing, medication management, protection from nursing home abuse, and food preparation.

State inspectors visit nursing homes at least once a year. They observe care practices, review records, and interview staff and residents. Inspectors issue a citation if a facility fails to meet standards. The rating is based on the facility’s three most recent health inspections and complaints from the last three years.

There are 80 nursing homes with a one-star rating for health inspections in New Jersey:

  • Abigail House for Nursing & Rehabilitation
  • Abingdon Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Accelerate Skilled Nursing and Rehab Piscataway
  • Alaris Health at Belgrove
  • Alaris Health at Cedar Grove
  • Alaris Health at St Mary’s
  • Allaire Rehab & Nursing
  • Alliance Care Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
  • Aristacare at Cedar Oaks
  • Aristacare at Cherry Hill
  • Ashbrook Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Atlas Post Acute at Woodbury Country Club
  • Atlas Rehabilitation & Healthcare at Washington
  • Autumn Lake Healthcare at Berkeley Heights
  • Avalon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Avant Rehabilitation and Care Center
  • Belle Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
  • Big Oak Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • The Buckingham at Norwood
  • Canterbury at Cedar Grove
  • CareOne at Hanover Township
  • CareOne at Middletown
  • CareOne at Oradell
  • CareOne at Wall
  • Complete Care at Brakeley Park, LLC
  • Complete Care at Burlington Woods, LLC
  • Complete Care at Chestnut Hill LLC
  • Complete Care at Fair Lawn Edge
  • Complete Care at Kresson View, LLC
  • Complete Care at Prospect Heights LLC
  • Complete Care at Shorrock
  • Complete Care at Voorhees, LLC
  • Cornell Hall Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Cranford Park Care
  • Crest Pointe Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Crystal Lake Healthcare and Rehabilitation
  • Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
  • Elmwood Hills Healthcare Center LLC
  • Excel Care at Dover
  • Excel Care at Manalapan
  • Forest Hills Center for Rehabilitation and Healing
  • Greenwood House Home for the Jewish Aged
  • Hammonton Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
  • The Health Center at Galloway
  • Homestead Rehabilitation & Health Care Center
  • Laurel Brook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Little Brook Nursing and Convalescent Home
  • Livingston Post Acute Care
  • Llanfair House Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Manahawkin Health and Rehabilitation Center
  • Masonic Village at Burlington
  • Meadowbrook Respiratory and Nursing Center
  • Meadowview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
  • Medford Care Center
  • Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Mohawk Meadows
  • Morristown Post Acute Rehab and Nursing Center
  • Morris View Healthcare Center
  • Mount Holly Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
  • New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home Menlo
  • New Vista Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • Optima Care Fountains
  • The Palace Rehabilitation and Care Center
  • Plaza Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center
  • Preakness Healthcare Center
  • Premier Cadbury of Cherry Hill
  • Redbank Center for Rehabilitation and Healing
  • River Front Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center LLC
  • Riverview Estates Rehabilitation and Senior Living Center
  • Roosevelt Care Center
  • Rose Mountain Care Center
  • Shore Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
  • Sinai Post Acute Nursing and Rehab Center
  • South Jersey Extended Care
  • Spring Creek Healthcare Center
  • Stratford Manor Rehabilitation and Care Center
  • The Elms Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Cranbury
  • Troy Hills Center
  • Voorhees Pediatric Facility
  • Wynwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

One Star for Staffing

Medicare’s staffing rating assesses whether a facility has sufficient staff members to meet the necessary levels of care for its residents. It’s based on two components: the number of hours of care provided by nursing staff per resident per day and the types of staff providing the care, such as registered nurses and certified nurse aides. Staff turnover also plays a role in the rating.

In New Jersey, there are 45 nursing homes with a one-star rating for staffing:

  • Acclaim Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
  • Allegria at the Fountains
  • Anchor Care and Rehabilitation Center
  • Aristacare at Cherry Hill
  • Aristacare at Whiting
  • Arnold Walter Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • Ashbrook Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Aspen Hills Healthcare Center
  • Atlas Post Acute at Woodbury Country Club
  • Autumn Lake Healthcare at Salem County
  • Avant Rehabilitation and Care Center
  • Big Oak Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • The Buckingham at Norwood
  • Canterbury at Cedar Grove
  • Clover Rest Home
  • Complete Care at Arbors
  • Complete Care at Bayshore LLC
  • Complete Care at Bey Lea, LLC
  • Complete Care at Brick LLC
  • Complete Care at Fair Lawn Edge
  • Complete Care at Holiday City
  • Complete Care at Laurelton, LLC
  • Complete Care at Linwood, LLC
  • Complete Care at Phillipsburg, LLC
  • Complete Care at Shorrock
  • Complete Care at Shrewsbury LLC
  • Complete Care at Wayne Hills Rehabilitation & Respite Center
  • Dwellside Care and Rehab
  • Excel Care at Wayne
  • Homestead Rehabilitation & Health Care Center
  • Llanfair House Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Meadowbrook Respiratory and Nursing Center
  • Our Lady’s Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
  • Premier Cadbury of Cherry Hill
  • Skilled Nursing at Fellowship Village
  • Spring Hills Post Acute Hamilton
  • St Catherine of Siena
  • St Mary’s Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
  • Tallwoods Care Center
  • The Elms Rehab and Healthcare Center of Cranbury
  • Trenton Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
  • Valley View Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • The Venetian Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • Waterfront Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Wynwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

One Star for Quality Measures

Medicare’s quality measures rating evaluates how well a nursing home performs in key areas of resident care. It reflects aspects of health and well-being, such as whether residents are receiving necessary vaccinations, experiencing pain, or losing weight.

Nine nursing home facilities in New Jersey have a one-star ranking for quality measures:

  • Allegria at the Fountains
  • Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
  • Complete Care at Orange Park
  • Lincoln Park Care Center
  • Little Brook Nursing and Convalescent Home
  • Llanfair House Care & Rehabilitation Center
  • New Vista Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • Sinai Post Acute Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
  • United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen

Legal Issues

The following are some recent examples of nursing home lawsuits against New Jersey care facilities. This is just a snapshot of the many allegations facilities have faced for physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.

Abigail House for Nursing & Rehabilitation

In May 2020, the family of a resident at Abigail House for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Camden filed a lawsuit against the facility for its alleged involvement in her death. The lawsuit claimed that the facility provided negligent care to the resident, which resulted in her drastic health decline, septic shock, and death.

Abigail House has also received 23 recent health citations—significantly higher than the state average of eight.

CareOne at Madison Avenue

In May 2024, a resident at CareOne at Madison Avenue in Morristown sued the facility after she fell twice while under its care. Her lawsuit alleged that the facility was negligent in responding to her falls and in hiring and supervising its staff.

Common Issues in Low-Rated Nursing Homes

New Jersey’s lowest-rated nursing homes often show consistent patterns that compromise residents’ safety and dignity. These patterns include understaffing, failure to provide individualized care, and inadequate infection control. If you notice these issues, it’s crucial to look out for potential mistreatment and report suspected nursing home abuse immediately.

Understaffing and Its Consequences

One of the clearest warning signs of a poorly run facility is a chronic staff shortage. Overburdened staff are more prone to making serious mistakes, such as administering the wrong dosage or failing to notice a health decline until it’s too late. In some cases, residents may go hours without assistance and suffer bedsores or preventable falls simply because there weren’t enough qualified staff available.

Failure To Develop Individualized Care Plans

A nursing home is not a one-size-fits-all operation. Each resident requires a unique care approach to provide the best possible outcomes. However, many New Jersey facilities lack individualized care plans. As a result, residents may receive unnecessary treatments in lieu of the treatments they really need.

Inadequate Infection Control Measures

Infections can move quickly through nursing homes. Facilities must identify outbreaks early and take measures to control them by performing testing, providing masks, and isolating infected residents. Unfortunately, many substandard facilities in New Jersey fall short in meeting these standards. This can cause many residents to suffer preventable illness or death.

Legal Support for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse

The worst nursing homes in New Jersey often fail to provide attentive, dignified care. This results in worse health outcomes and even preventable deaths for many residents. At NursingHomesAbuse.org, we’re committed to helping families hold negligent facilities accountable by providing quality legal help and resources.

We can connect you with trusted nursing home abuse lawyers who focus specifically on these types of cases. If your loved one shows signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact us today for a free, confidential consultation about your rights and options.

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr. Patricia Shelton, MD

Picture of a woman smiling

Education:

  • University of Washington, Doctor of Medicine – MD. June 2008
  • University of Washington, Bachelor of Science – BS, Jun 2003

Background:

Neuroscience and Medicine

Career:

  • Dr. Shelton primarily writes content for health-related websites, but has also written test prep materials, white papers, published research articles, court documents, and more.
  • Dr. Shelton teaches anatomy and physiology at the college level for the National Institutes of Health.

Do You Need Help?

Legal Help

Icon of love

Nursing Home Abuse Should Have Consequences.

Fact Checked

Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.