AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Autumn Lake Healthcare at Old Bridge has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice for families, though it is not among the very best. It ranks #93 out of 344 facilities in New Jersey, placing it in the top half, and #7 out of 24 in Middlesex County, meaning only six local options are better. The facility is showing improvement, having reduced its issues from 6 in 2023 to 4 in 2024. While staffing has a low rating of 2 out of 5 stars and a concerning turnover rate of 63%, the absence of fines is a positive sign. However, there have been specific incidents of concern, such as not applying necessary support cushions for a resident's wheelchair and failing to adjust medication times for dialysis, which indicates some gaps in care. Overall, while there are strengths, like no fines and an improving trend, families should weigh these alongside the staffing challenges and specific care issues.
- Trust Score
- B
- In New Jersey
- #93/344
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 63% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Jersey facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 30 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for New Jersey. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
17pts above New Jersey avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
15 points above New Jersey average of 48%
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of other facility documentation, it was determined that the facility failed to: a.) consistently follow a physician's order for the applicati...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0698
(Tag F0698)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined that the facility failed to provide care and services in accordance with professional standards by adjusting medication administra...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** COMPLAINT # NJ00169735, NJ00170064 and NJ00170351
Based on observation, interview and record review, it was determined that the ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that all medications were administered without error of 5% or more. During the medication obser...
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May 2023
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review it was determined that the facility failed to provide the resident representa...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review it was determined that the facility failed to provide written notification of the bed hold policy to the resident representative upon emergency trans...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. During the initial facility tour on 5/4/23 at 12:39 PM, the surveyor observed Resident #55 out of bed to a wheelchair inside ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0805
(Tag F0805)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that the resident was pr...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review and policy review, it was determined that the facility failed to a.) failed to sanitize and air-dry steam table pans in a manner to prevent microbial gro...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined that the facility failed to store four of four linen carts in a sanitary manner. This deficient practice was as evidenced by the f...
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Apr 2021
2 deficiencies
MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and review of pertinent facility documents, it was determined that the facility failed to provide written notification to the beneficiary of the potential liability ch...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0885
(Tag F0885)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on interview and review of pertinent facility documents, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure resident representatives were informed of a newly confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis of a ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Jersey facilities.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • 63% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within New Jersey, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge Staffed?
CMS rates AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 63%, which is 17 percentage points above the New Jersey average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE during 2021 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm and 2 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge?
AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 120 certified beds and approximately 108 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey.
How Does Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge Compare to Other New Jersey Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in New Jersey, AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.3, staff turnover (63%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in New Jersey. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge Stick Around?
Staff turnover at AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE is high. At 63%, the facility is 17 percentage points above the New Jersey average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge Ever Fined?
AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Autumn Lake Healthcare At Old Bridge on Any Federal Watch List?
AUTUMN LAKE HEALTHCARE AT OLD BRIDGE is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.