Worst Nursing Homes in Alaska

Elderly Americans and their families must make the difficult decision of which long-term care facility is right for them. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes provide a good quality of care, leaving older individuals across the country vulnerable to abuse.

At Nursing Home Law Center, we have made it our mission to protect the vulnerable from abuse in long-term care facilities. Use this guide as a resource to find the highest-quality nursing home care in Alaska and learn your rights regarding nursing home abuse. If you or a loved one has been injured while residing in a nursing facility, reach out to our nursing home abuse lawyers for a free consultation and explore your legal options.

How to Identify Poorly Performing Nursing Homes in Alaska?

All healthcare facilities that receive federal funding are required to report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which includes regular inspections. The CMS website details these performance measures. 

Care facilities are given a star ranking based on inspection reports, quality measures, and staffing. Patients and their families can then use the reports to review measures, such as how many patients suffered from pressure ulcers or MRSA infections.

Facilities that have repeatedly failed inspections may be referred to the Special Focus Facilities program, where the government provides additional oversight. There are also Special Focus Candidates, which means that they may need to provide additional performance measures due to poor care. 

Additionally, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services inspects facilities quarterly. If facilities consistently provide low-quality care, they may no longer qualify for government insurance programs or lose their licensing. 

List of Worst Nursing Homes in Alaska: Based on Publicly Available Data

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services currently lists 20 long-term care facilities in Alaska. These five are the worst offenders in terms of low ratings and fines. 

1. Wildflower Court – Juneau, AK – This for-profit facility in the capital city has a 1-star CMS rating, which is much below average [1]. Since 2021, Wildflower Court has received 41 citations, including four infection-related citations, and has been forced to pay $10,400 in fines [2]. Violations included unattended falls, property theft, patients wandering away, and abuse allegations [3].
2. Maple Springs of Palmer – Palmer, AK – Maple Springs of Palmer has a 1-star CMS rating, with the lowest ratings for staffing and health inspections [4]. In the past four years, it has been cited 43 times, including four infection citations, and paid $60,900 in fines [5]. 
3. Providence Seward Mountain Haven – Seward, AK – While this facility has a four-star staffing rating with CMS, its overall ranking is just two stars [6]. Although it has not been forced to pay any fines, Providence Seward Mountain Haven was cited by CMS 26 times from 2020 to 2023. Three of the deficiencies were for infection-related violations [7]. 
4. Prestige Care & Rehab Center of Anchorage – Anchorage, AK – One of two low-ranked facilities in Anchorage, Prestige Care and Rehab has a 2-star CMS rating, mostly due to its 1-star inspection rating [8]. It has been cited for 45 deficiencies, 5 disease-related deficiencies, and $53,400 in fines. CMS also suspended one payment [9]. 
5. Providence Extended Care – Anchorage, AK – With a 2-star rating from CMS, this nursing home has consistently been cited due to its health inspections [10]. Between 2021 and 2024, Providence Extended Care had to pay $481,000 in fines due to 60 total deficiencies, including ones that directly imperiled residents [11]. 

Nursing Homes with Consistently Low Star Ratings

Three facilities have had consistently low ratings and serious deficiencies, including those that have put residents’ lives at serious risk. 

Wildflower Court – Juneau, AK 

Wildflower Court was cited for numerous deficiencies between 2021 and 2024, including failing to respect residents’ rights, provide timely medical care, or ensure that all residents received their medication. In one instance, a resident at high risk for elopement was found wandering because the elopement alarm on their room was disengaged [12].

Maple Springs of Palmer – Palmer, AK

In one incident, a resident broke their leg after falling out of a seatbelt on a shuttle [13]. Nurses also failed to remove a pair of scissors from the room of an individual known for cutting their medical devices, which led to the person cutting their Foley catheter [14]. 

Providence Extended Care – Anchorage, AK

This facility had to pay the most penalties of any of the Alaska nursing homes, with $481,000 in fines between 2021 and 2024 [15]. In one instance, a resident was unable to leave her room for two years due to COVID-19 protocols, and another was covered in feces after staff failed to clean out a colostomy bag when it was filled with stool [16]. 

Common Problems Found of Low Nursing Home Quality in Alaska

An analysis by USA Today found that Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Delaware, Utah, and Washington, District of Columbia, scored the highest for nursing home quality. Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, and West Virginia ranked the lowest in the nation [17].

However, Alaska has far fewer nursing homes than these large states, which means statistics may not tell the whole story. The following factors contribute to poor nursing home quality. 

Inadequate Staffing Levels

Alaska was one of 20 states that sued the Department of Health and Human Services after President Biden signed an order mandating minimum staffing levels in nursing homes [18]. Understaffing can contribute to poor care and increased risks, like unattended falls and infections. 

Negligent Care and Resident Neglect

Neglect in a variety of forms in a long-term care facility, including:

• Failing to offer adequate hydration and nutritious food
• Poor sanitation protocols and lack of personal hygiene
• Failing to assist with activities of daily living like grooming and bathing
• Medication errors, including overmedicating 
• Ignoring resident’s needs, which can lead to accidents

Preventable Injuries

Negligence can result in serious injuries, pressure ulcers, and serious infections as residents do not get the care they need to thrive. For example, if a resident can’t get help going to the restroom, they may try to do it on their own and suffer a serious fall. Improper wound care can lead to sepsis, ulcers, and other complications. 

Abuse of Nursing Home Residents

Poor quality of care can also lead to abuse, including the following types:

• Physical Abuse – Patients may be hit, restrained, or pushed.
• Emotional Abuse – Residents may be yelled at for needing support with daily activities, or they may be made to feel like a burden.
• Sexual Abuse – Caretakers may post sexually degrading images of residents online or sexually assault them.
• Financial Exploitation – Staff may purchase things with the residents’ funds, demand they hand over bank account information, or make unauthorized charges to their accounts. 

Failure to Properly Monitor Residents’ Health Conditions

Residents with chronic illnesses must get regular checkups, and their families should be informed if they begin to show complications. In a neglectful nursing home, residents typically don’t get the follow-up treatment they need to thrive. 

Legal Options for Residents of Poorly Performing Nursing Homes in Alaska

If your loved one has been mistreated in an Alaskan nursing home, help is available. Legal options include:

• Reporting Your Concerns – Every facility is required to have a nursing home administrator who can handle complaints. Email them immediately if you’re concerned about your loved one’s care.
• Filing a Complaint – You can file a complaint on the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services website. 
• File a Lawsuit – Work with an attorney from the Nursing Home Law Center to get expert legal advice. 
• Transfer the Resident – Even if you have to move your loved one several counties over, a higher-quality facility can provide a marked improvement in their condition.

Compensation in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases

You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages in a lawsuit, which can include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Grief

Why Family Members Should Contact a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Securing legal representation is essential in a nursing home neglect case. Nursing Home Law Center can help with the following legal needs:

• Investigating claims
• Accessing facility records related to the abuse
• Speaking to third parties on your behalf
• Navigating state and federal regulations
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Filing paperwork and interviewing witnesses
• Holding facilities accountable in court 

Contact Our Alaska Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Nursing Home Law Center is a leading elder abuse law firm that fights for the rights of Alaskan seniors. We can guide you through the complex legal process, protecting your rights and ensuring your dignity. To schedule a consultation with an experienced Alaskan attorney, call us at (800) 926-7565 or use our online contact form 

References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [2] ProPublica, [3] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [4] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [5] ProPublica, [6] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [7] ProPublica, [8] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [9] ProPublica, [10] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [11] ProPublica, [12] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [13]  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [14] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [15] ProPublica, [16] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [17] USA Today, [18] Becker’s Hospital Review