Nursing Homes in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford has 12 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 1,776 beds. The city average CMS rating is 2.6 stars, which is at Illinois's state average of 2.5 stars. 1 facility earns a B grade or better and is recommended for family consideration.
Compare 12 nursing homes · data
See the 1 recommended nursing homeWorth Considering
1
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.06 vs state
Total Beds
1,776
across 12 facilities
High Risk Facilities
4
0 under CMS review
2 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
37 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
3
exceed staffing threshold
25% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
✓ Start your search here
Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Rockford
Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital -snf
Explore Nearby Cities
Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital -snf
★★★★★ · 90/100 · 17 beds
Fairhaven Christian Ret Center
★★★★★ · 65/100 · 96 beds
Willows Health Center
★★★★★ · 63/100 · 50 beds
Amberwood Care Centre
★★★★★ · 60/100 · 135 beds
Alpine Fireside Health Center
★★★★★ · 50/100 · 66 beds
River Bluff Nursing Home
★★★★★ · 40/100 · 304 beds
Alden Debes Rehab & Hcc
★★★★★ · 8/100 · 268 beds
Alden Park Strathmoor
★★★★★ · 8/100 · 189 beds
Rock River Health Care
★★★★★ · 1/100 · 130 beds
The Citadel At Saint Anne Place
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 179 beds
Pa Peterson At The Citadel
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 129 beds
Forest City Rehab & Nrsg Ctr
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 213 beds
Showing 1–10 of 12 facilities
All 12 Nursing Homes in Rockford
A-ZWant to learn more about nursing home care in Rockford?
Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Rockford
When it comes to nursing home care in Rockford, IL, families need to be discerning. The standout is MERCYHEALTH JAVON BEA HOSPITAL -SNF, boasting a Grade A and a stellar 5-star CMS rating. However, options are limited, with only four out of twelve facilities meeting acceptable standards. Overall, the market is concerning due to the prevalence of serious issues at many facilities.
In addition to MERCYHEALTH JAVON BEA HOSPITAL -SNF, families should consider WINDY CITY REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER, which has a clean record with zero fines in 3 years and is known for its attentive staff. Another option worth visiting is RIVER BLUFF NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER, which is well-staffed and has a good reputation for quality care. However, if you’re looking for a wider range of better choices, you may want to explore facilities in nearby cities.
Conversely, there are several facilities to avoid, starting with ROCK RIVER HEALTH CARE, which has faced abuse citations and accumulated $72K in fines. ALDEN DEBES REHAB & HCC and ALDEN PARK STRATHMOOR both carry a dismal Grade F and hefty fines of $151K and $165K, respectively. Always take the time to visit facilities in person, paying attention to cleanliness and staff interactions, as these factors can significantly impact your loved one's care.
Rockford at a Glance
Good News
- • 3 facilities with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • 4 community-run facilities (non-profit)
- • 3 facilities have more nurses than required
- • 2 facilities earned 5-star CMS rating
Be Aware
- • 4 facilities have serious problems—check before visiting
- • 2 facilities with critical staffing shortages
- • Some facilities have less nurse time than recommended
- • 2 facilities with abuse citations
What's Changing
- → 12 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Rockford is stable
Questions Rockford Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Rockford avg is 0.62 hrs (37 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
3 of 12 Rockford facilities have zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—4 local facilities have serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois's Winnebago County seat, has 12 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 1,776 beds. Families have solid options to choose from.
Rockford vs. Illinois: Near State Average
Rockford nursing homes perform near the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 2.58 stars is close to Illinois's statewide average of 2.52 stars.
1 of 12 facility earns a B grade or better. Families should still research carefully, as 4 facilities have significant concerns.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Rockford, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: A Significant Concern in Rockford
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Rockford facilities average 0.62 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Rockford resident receives approximately 37 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
3 Rockford facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Rockford has 4 non-profit nursing homes and 8 for-profit facilities. 7 of 12 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Illinois cities for additional options. The following Illinois cities offer multiple nursing home options:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Rockford, Illinois?
Rockford has 12 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 1,776 beds. The city average CMS rating is 2.6 stars, which is above Illinois's state average of 2.5 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Rockford?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Rockford include:
- • Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital -snf — Grade A, 90/100 Trust Score
- • Fairhaven Christian Ret Center — Grade C+, 65/100 Trust Score
- • Willows Health Center — Grade C+, 63/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Rockford nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 4 facilities in Rockford as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Rockford Nursing Homes
Rockford offers typical nursing home options for the state. Focus your search on the 1 facility graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing. Avoid the 4 high-risk facilities flagged in our analysis.