Worst Nursing Homes in Connecticut

Healthcare facilities like nursing homes are required to give good care to their residents, but many long-term care facilities fail to protect elderly individuals from abuse. Connecticut families looking for nursing homes must do their research to ensure that their loved ones will be safe, and they must know their legal rights. 

If your loved one has been harmed at an abusive health care center, Nursing Home Law Center can help you review your legal options and seek compensation.

Identifying Poorly Performing Nursing Homes in Connecticut

In 2023, Jenna Carlesso and Dave Altimari of The Connecticut Mirror found that the Connecticut State Department of Public Health has been issuing more immediate jeopardy orders due to substandard conditions in nursing homes [1]. The CT Mirror story underscores the importance of using state and federal data to guide long-term care decisions.

Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare Website

Families can use the Nursing Home Compare tool at Medicare.gov to find detailed information about ratings, inspection reports, and staffing levels. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Rating System

CMS provides a five-star rating system for all nursing homes that take federal benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid. These ratings are based on three factors: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures like vaccination rates and patient satisfaction. 

Connecticut Department of Public Health: State Inspection Reports and Complaints

The Connecticut Department of Public Health conducts yearly inspections to ensure that assisted living communities and nursing homes are safe. Families can review these reports and make a complaint if they’re concerned about the life or safety of a nursing home resident.

Special Focus Facilities and Candidates: Identifying Nursing Homes with Serious Deficiencies

CMS identifies nursing homes with a history of quality issues. These are then listed as Special Focus Facilities or Candidates, meaning they require greater government oversight to keep their license. However, not every underperforming nursing home will make this list, so families must review other resources, like inspection reports, to get more details.

List of Worst Nursing Homes in Connecticut

1. Abbott Terrace Health Center – The facility has a pest infestation problem and has denied individuals adequate food [2]. 
2. Apple Rehab Farmington – The staff here were undertrained and did not provide appropriate respiratory care [3]. 
3. Apple Rehab Laurel Woods – One staff member at this East Haven facility held a resident down and forced her to take medication [4]. 
4. Apple Rehab Rocky Hill – Individuals were subjected to abuse and did not receive appropriate incontinence care [5]. 
5. Apple Rehab Saybrook – Apple Rehab did not report potential rights violations to proper authorities [6]. 
6. Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes – This facility has been cited 6 times for abuse [7]. 
7. Apple Rehab Uncasville – One individual escaped the facility, while another was given unmonitored access to knives [8]. 
8. Apple Rehab West Haven  – Staff gave one patient the wrong medication, causing an allergic reaction [9]. 
9. Arden Care Center – An individual escaped the facility and was found six miles away, wandering around the downtown of a large city [10]. 
10. Autumn Lake Healthcare at Madison – Staff did not provide appropriate ulcer care, prevent infections, or offer respiratory support [11]. 
11. Autumn Lake Healthcare at West Hartford – The facility was fined $24,453 for not administering CPR in accordance with a patient’s wishes [12]. 
12. Bayview Health Care – There have been multiple instances of violence and exploitation at the facility [13]. 
13. Beacon Brook Center for Health & Rehabilitation – Staff did not prevent infections, give respiratory support, or inform family members of changes in status [14]. 
14. Cassena Care at Norwalk – Cassena Care was given a $159,803 fine and payment suspension after a resident punched another person in the face [15].
15. Civita Care Center at Danbury – An employee sexually assaulted a vulnerable patient and stole their belongings [16]. 
16. Civita Care Center at Milford – The administration failed to provide treatment plans for all individuals at the center [17]. 
17. Complete Care at Fox Hill – One individual was forcibly restrained during treatment [18]. 
18. Complete Care at Kimberly Hall North – This is a Special Focus Facility candidate due to treatment deficiencies [19]. 
19. Greentree Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – This facility near New London had an immediate jeopardy order in 2018 [20]. 
20. Hewitt Health & Rehabilitation Center, Shelton, CT – One person with incontinence was denied care when a nursing assistant refused to help her [21]. 
21. Laurel Ridge Health Care Center, Ridgefield, CT – A nursing assistant hit a resident after finding them looking through another person’s belongings [22].
22. Litchfield Woods Health Care Center – Individuals here did not receive adequate pain management [23]. 
23. Marlborough Health & Rehabilitation Center – The facility failed to alert authorities after an individual suffered from a black eye and bruising from unknown causes [24]. 
24. Meriden Health and Rehab – Meriden Health failed to investigate alleged sexual abuse [25]. 
25. Montowese Center for Health and Rehabilitation – Montowese has repeatedly failed health inspections [26]. 
26. New Haven Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation – One individual at this New Haven facility was found to be wearing a fouled neckbrace that was seeping fluid due to negligence [27]. 
27. Noble Horizons – Undertrained employees put individuals at risk of serious health complications [28]. 
28. Northbridge Health Care Center – Inadequate supervision and an unsafe environment increased fall risks for individuals here [29]. 
29. Riverside Health & Rehabilitation – Medications were not properly labeled, and individuals suffered from pressure ulcers [30]. 
30. Saint John Paul II Center – The facility has been accused of abusing vulnerable individuals [31]. 
31. Salmon Brook Rehab and Nursing – This facility was given an Immediate Jeopardy warning due to an individual escaping the building multiple times [32]. 
32. Shady Knoll – Staff did not provide adequate nutrition or assistance with daily activities [33].
33. Sharon Center for Health & Rehabilitation – Some individuals here did not receive appropriate screening to ensure that their needs could be met [34]. 
34. Skyview Rehab and Nursing – This is a Special Focus Facility Candidate due to overusing psychotropic medication [35]. 
35. Southport Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation – Individuals were at risk of falls due to numerous fall hazards in the building [36]. 
36. St. Joseph’s Center – Deficiencies noted included rights violations, poor quality of life, and inadequate treatment planning [37].
37. Stone Bridge Center for Health & Rehabilitation – Stone Bridge Center is a Special Focus Facility Candidate due to widespread neglect, including pressure ulcers and open wounds [38]. 
38. The Summit at Plantsville – One individual was punched in the face by a roommate with a history of interpersonal violence [39]. 
39. Valerie Manor – The administration did not have plans in place to deal with allegations of abuse or mistreatment [40]. 
40. Vanderman Place – Those with feeding tubes were not given proper treatment and nutrition [41]. 
41. Villa Maria Nursing and Rehabilitation Community – The management here did not promptly respond to concerns of mistreatment or exploitation [42]. 
42. Wadsworth Glen Health Care and Rehabilitation Center – Multiple individuals were not given appropriate pain management [43]. 
43. West Haven Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation – West Haven Center did not meet professional standards for safety, including appropriate treatment for mentally ill individuals [44]. 
44. Wolcott Hall Nursing Center – Wolcott Hall did not honor peoples’ requests to refuse to request treatment [45].

Common Problems Found in Poorly Rated Nursing Homes

Every health care center must protect its residents, but many do not. These are common issues in Connecticut’s worst nursing homes.

Inadequate Staffing Levels

Nursing homes across the country are struggling with poor staffing, which doesn’t appear to be improving even with changing public policy. The Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and LeadingAge Connecticut sued the government after it passed legislation mandating minimum staff levels, underscoring the severity of the issue [46]. 

Without enough employees to care for everybody, serious injury or even death can occur. In one example, an individual drank bleach and died after being left alone by the nurse supposed to watch him [47]. 

Negligent Care and Resident Neglect

When staff fail to do their job, nursing home residents may suffer from neglect or mistreatment. For example, they may be left alone in their room, denied food, or denied social outlets. 

In some cases, this can even lead to death. In a West Hartford nursing home, staff mistakenly believed that an individual had a DNR order when she did not. The individual died from cardiac arrest [48]. 

Abuse of Nursing Home Residents

Individuals in nursing homes may suffer from numerous types of abuse, including sexual assault, theft of money or personal belongings, physical assault, and emotional abuse. 

Preventable Injuries: Falls, Pressure Sores, and Infections

When individuals aren’t monitored properly, they may fall. For example, they may need to use the restroom in the middle of the night, but team members are too busy talking to their friends to answer a call light. Failing to move regularly could lead to pressure sores and infections.

Failure to Properly Monitor Residents’ Health Conditions

Old age often leads to numerous health conditions which require careful management. When nursing homes fail to monitor these health issues or act quickly when new issues emerge, those under their care could suffer serious complications or even death.

Legal Options for Residents of Poorly Performing Nursing Homes

While the above nursing homes have a history of neglect and abuse, these issues can happen in any facility. Loved ones must take action as soon as possible by following these steps.

Share Your Concerns – Contact the nursing home administration as soon as possible to discuss the issue. Share evidence you’ve gathered, such as photos, videos, and testimonies. 

File a Complaint – Individuals harmed in nursing homes can contact state officials, like the Connecticut Department of Public Health, to request an investigation into the facility.

Contact a Lawyer – Work with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to file a lawsuit against the facility. Attorneys can assist by negotiating with the nursing home’s insurance agency for compensation.

Transfer the Individual – Place your loved one in a new long-term care facility where they can recover from the harm done to them.

Compensation in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases

Damages you can receive in an abuse or neglect case include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Burial expenses for wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Grief

Why You Need an Experienced Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

The Nursing Home Law Center will guide you through the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected and your story is heard. Services we provide include:

• Investigating claims
• Navigating state and federal regulations
• Gathering testimony from expert witnesses
• Reviewing personnel files and inspections
• Negotiating with insurance agencies
• Holding facilities accountable in court

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we are able to win your case.

Contact Our Connecticut Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers for a Free Consultation 

Everyone, regardless of age, deserves to live in dignity. If your loved one’s rights have been violated in a nursing home, legal help is available. Call our Connecticut nursing home abuse attorneys at  (800) 926-7565 or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

References: [1] Connecticut Mirror, [2] ProPublica, [3] ProPublica, [4] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [5] ProPublica, [6] ProPublica, [7] ProPublica, [8] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [9] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [10] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [11] ProPublica, [12] ProPublica, [13] ProPublica, [14] ProPublica, [15] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [16] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [17] ProPublica, [18] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [19] ProPublica, [20] Connecticut Mirror, [21] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [22] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [23] ProPublica, [24] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [25] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [26] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [27] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [28] ProPublica, [29] ProPublica, [30] ProPublica, [31] ProPublica, [32] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [33] ProPublica, [34] ProPublica, [35] ProPublica, [36] ProPublica, [37] ProPublica, [38] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [39] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [40] ProPublica, [41] ProPublica, [42] ProPublica, [43] ProPublica, [44] ProPublica, [45] ProPublica, [46] Connecticut Mirror, [47] Connecticut Mirror, [48] Connecticut Mirror