Our Boca Raton nursing home abuse attorneys often get asked, ‘What are the best nursing homes in Palm Beach County’? Unfortunately, we have sued just about every facility in the county, so no nursing home is perfect. However, there are certain Palm Beach facilities that consistently receive high star rankings from Medicare.
As of the time of this post, there are three 5-star nursing homes with 99+ beds in Palm Beach County. These facilities, MorseLife, ProMedica Prosperity Oaks, and Terraces of Lake Worth Care Center, have all been rated as “much above average” facilities by Medicare on their Care Compare website. It is important to note that Medicare ratings change frequently, and that these ratings are only as current as this post.
How Medicare Rates Nursing Homes
Medicare bases their overall ratings of nursing homes on three factors: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. State inspectors conduct yearly inspections of nursing homes for compliance with Medicare and Medicaid regulations. A nursing home may also be inspected based on a complaint from a resident, or for compliance with infection control and prevention standards.
During these inspections, surveyors look for any signs of unhealthy living conditions, instances of abuse or neglect, infection outbreaks, and more. If a nursing home receives a 5-star rating from Medicare, it generally means that the facility has little to no deficiencies in staffing levels and resident care. A 5-star rating from Medicare is considered “much above average.” Nursing homes can receive ratings between 1 to 5 stars depending on how well they score in health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
MorseLife
MorseLife, also known as the The Joseph L. Morse Health Center, Inc., is a non-profit nursing home located in West Palm Beach, Florida. This 230-bed facility can be found at 4847 Fred Gladstone Drive. MorseLife accepts both Medicare and Medicaid, as well as some other insurances. As of the time of this post, MorseLife has received an overall rating of 5-stars from Medicare. They have also received 5-stars in all three subcategories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
MorseLife received one health citation in the past three years, which is much lower than the average number of health citations in Florida during the same time frame: 5.7. Additionally, MorseLife has received zero complaints resulting in complaint inspections in the past three years. US News & World Report named MorseLife one of the nation’s best nursing homes in 2021. Only 15% of nursing homes nationwide receive this designation. MorseLife has also been a recipient of the Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Long-term Care Excellence since 2009.
Despite the overwhelmingly good ratings, there have been prior lawsuits filed against MorseLife for nursing home negligence.
ProMedica Prosperity Oaks
ProMedica Prosperity Oaks, which previously went by the name of Heartland Health Care Center – Prosperity Oaks, is located at 11375 Prosperity Farms Road in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. ProMedica Prosperity Oaks is listed as a non-profit, 120-bed facility. As of this post, ProMedica Prosperity Oaks has earned a 5-star rating from Medicare. The facility has scored 5-stars in the staffing and quality measures subcategories and 3-stars in health inspections. Furthermore, ProMedica Prosperity Oaks received zero complaint inspections between July 2021 and June 2022.
Despite its high ratings, ProMedica Prosperity Oaks has faced lawsuits in the past alleging resident neglect.
Terraces of Lake Worth Care Center
Terraces of Lake Worth Care Center, also known by their legal business name of Terraces Facility, Inc., is a for-profit nursing home in Lake Worth, Florida. The 99-bed facility is located at 1711 6th Avenue South. The nursing home accepts both Medicare and Medicaid. As of the time of this post, Terraces of Lake Worth Care Center has been given a 5-star rating from Medicare.
The facility earned 5-stars in staffing and quality measures, and 4-stars in health inspections. There have been no complaints resulting in complaint inspections at the facility in the past three years. Also, the facility has received two health citations in the past three years, which is much lower than the U.S. average of 8.3.
Terraces of Lake Worth clearly is a well regarded facility, yet even this nursing home has been sued for negligence allegations.
Takeaway on the Best Nursing Homes in Palm Beach County
The above nursing homes certainly fare better than their competitors in survey inspections and overall care performance. However, star ratings do not determine a nursing home’s quality. If you are searching for the best Palm Beach nursing home for your parent, make sure to visit the facility and interview staff.
Additionally, a 5 star facility is not immune from dropping the ball. Even the best skilled nursing facilities in Palm Beach County can be negligent, leading to bed sores, broken hips, and wrongful death.
Medicare’s star rating system is flawed, but it is a good starting point when shopping around for the right facility. Ultimately, on site visits are the best way to make sure you feel comfortable with your loved one’s nursing home.
