WAVERLY HEIGHTS
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Waverly Heights in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, has received a Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility with excellent care standards. It ranks #139 out of 653 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, placing it in the top half, and #16 out of 58 in Montgomery County, meaning only 15 local options are better. The facility is improving, having reduced its number of issues from two in 2024 to one in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a perfect 5-star rating and only a 20% turnover rate, which is well below the state average. While there are no fines reported, recent inspections revealed some concerns, including issues with infection control measures and a failure to notify a resident and their family about a hospital transfer in a timely manner. Overall, Waverly Heights has many strengths but should address these concerns to maintain its high standards.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In Pennsylvania
- #139/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 20% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 28 points below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 144 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Pennsylvania nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Low Staff Turnover (20%) · Staff stability means consistent care
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (20%)
28 points below Pennsylvania average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
No Significant Concerns Identified
This facility shows no red flags. Among Pennsylvania's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Feb 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on a review of facility policy, observation, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to establish...
Read full inspector narrative →
Apr 2024
2 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
Based on the review of clinical records and interview with staff, it was determined that the facility failed to notify the resident and the resident's representative(s) of the transfer to the hospital...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of the clinical records, review of facility policies and interviews with staff, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that a resident was free of significant medication ...
Read full inspector narrative →
Jul 2023
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews with facility staff, review of clinical records and facility documentation, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that two bruises of unknown origin we...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interviews, the review of clinical records and the review of facility documentation, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that a complete and through investigation was complet...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0740
(Tag F0740)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on staff interviews, and the review of clinical records, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that one person who expressed suicidal ideation was assessed and monitored after bot...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on a review of facility documents, observations, and interviews with staff, it was determined that the facility did not establish a system of records of receipt and disposition of all controlled...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility documents, interview with staff and review of policies and procedures, it was determined that the fa...
Read full inspector narrative →
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
- • Grade A+ (95/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Pennsylvania.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
- • 20% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 28 points below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Waverly Heights's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns WAVERLY HEIGHTS an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Pennsylvania, 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 Waverly Heights Staffed?
CMS rates WAVERLY HEIGHTS's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 20%, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Waverly Heights?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at WAVERLY HEIGHTS during 2023 to 2025. These included: 8 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Waverly Heights?
WAVERLY HEIGHTS is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 31 certified beds and approximately 27 residents (about 87% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in GLADWYNE, Pennsylvania.
How Does Waverly Heights Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, WAVERLY HEIGHTS's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (20%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Waverly Heights?
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 Waverly Heights Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, WAVERLY HEIGHTS 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 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Waverly Heights Stick Around?
Staff at WAVERLY HEIGHTS tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 20%, the facility is 26 percentage points below the Pennsylvania 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 20%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Waverly Heights Ever Fined?
WAVERLY HEIGHTS 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 Waverly Heights on Any Federal Watch List?
WAVERLY HEIGHTS 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.