FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Forest Hills Care Center has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes, though there may be areas for improvement. It ranks #279 out of 594 facilities in New York, placing it in the top half, and #34 out of 57 in Queens County, meaning only a few local options are better. Unfortunately, the facility's trend is worsening, with issues increasing from 3 in 2021 to 9 in 2023. Staffing is a strength, with a turnover rate of 25%, significantly lower than the state average, though their RN coverage is average. On the downside, recent inspections revealed problems such as food safety concerns, where staff failed to follow proper hand washing protocols during food preparation, and the survey results were not easily accessible to residents and families. Additionally, some residents reported issues with broken window blinds affecting their comfort.
- Trust Score
- B
- In New York
- #279/594
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 25% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 23 points below New York's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New York facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 33 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for New York. 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
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (25%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (25%)
23 points below New York average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Near New York average (3.1)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Dec 2023
9 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0561
(Tag F0561)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review conducted during the Standard survey completed on 12/21/2023, the facility did not ensure t...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interviews conducted during the Recertification survey conducted from 12/18/2023 to 12/...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations and interviews conducted during the Recertification survey from 12/18/2023 to 12/21/2023, the facility did...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0773
(Tag F0773)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews and record review conducted during the Recertification survey 12/18/2023-12/21/2023, the facility did not promptly notify the ordering physician, physician assistant,...
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CONCERN
(D)
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, interviews, and record review conducted during the Recertification survey of 12/18/2023 through 12/21/2023, the facility did not ensure that food was stored, prepared, distribute...
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CONCERN
(D)
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, record review, and interviews conducted during the Recertification survey from 12/18/2023 to 12/21/2023, the facility did not ensure infection control practices were maintained. ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations and interviews conducted during the Recertification survey, the facility did not ensure that a safe, functional, and comfortable environment was provided for residents, staff, an...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0577
(Tag F0577)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations and interviews conducted during the Recertification survey, the facility did not ensure that the survey results were posted in a place readily accessible to residents, family mem...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** During multiple observations from 12/18/23 to 12/21/23, Rooms 318, 319, 320 and 320 were observed with window blinds with open s...
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Oct 2021
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview during the Re-certification survey, the facility did not ensure a resident wa...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, record review, and interviews conducted during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure infection control practices were maintained. Specifically, 1- oxygen tubin...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interviews, and record review conducted during the Recertification and Complaint survey, the facility did not ensure food was prepared in accordance with professional standards o...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "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 York facilities.
- • 25% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 23 points below New York's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Forest Hills's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within New York, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is Forest Hills Staffed?
CMS rates FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 25%, compared to the New York average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Forest Hills?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER during 2021 to 2023. These included: 12 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Forest Hills?
FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 100 certified beds and approximately 88 residents (about 88% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in FOREST HILLS, New York.
How Does Forest Hills Compare to Other New York Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in New York, FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER's overall rating (3 stars) is below the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (25%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Forest Hills?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Forest Hills Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in New York. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Forest Hills Stick Around?
Staff at FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 25%, the facility is 20 percentage points below the New York average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 15%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Forest Hills Ever Fined?
FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER 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 Forest Hills on Any Federal Watch List?
FOREST HILLS CARE CENTER 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.