HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Hickory House Nursing Home in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families seeking care. It ranks #52 out of 653 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 20 in Chester County, meaning only two local options are better. The facility is improving, with the number of issues declining from five in 2024 to four in 2025. Staffing is rated 4 out of 5 stars, but the turnover rate of 55% is average, which might indicate some instability. There have been no fines, which is a positive sign, and the nursing home has more RN coverage than many facilities, helping to catch potential issues. However, there are concerns regarding the care provided. There were instances where the staff failed to thoroughly investigate incidents involving residents, and there were missed medication doses for some residents without notifying the physician. Additionally, there was a report of a resident feeling mistreated by a staff member, which was not properly addressed according to facility policies. Overall, while Hickory House has many strengths, families should weigh these concerns carefully when considering this nursing home for their loved ones.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Pennsylvania
- #52/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 55% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 47 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Pennsylvania. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Pennsylvania avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
7 points above Pennsylvania average of 48%
The Ugly 13 deficiencies on record
Jun 2025
4 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 upon review of facility policy and procedure and review of facility documentation, it was determined the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse for one of one resident reviewed (Reside...
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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 upon review of facility policy and procedure and review of facility documentation, it was determined the facility failed to investigate an allegation of abuse for one of one resident reviewed (R...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of clinical records and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure physician's orders were followed for three of three residents reviewed. (Resident 40, Res...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, observations, and resident interview, it was determined the facility failed to follow a physician's order for oxygen therapy for one of four residents reviewed (Reside...
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May 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical records review, facility documentation review, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to provide appropriate assessment and supervision to prevent a fall fo...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on a review of the facility's policy, observation, clinical records review, and resident and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure a physician order for Oxygen us...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on facility policy and procedure review, clinical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility failed to ensure residents did not receive unnecessary medications for one of s...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy and procedure review, clinical record review, and staff interviews, it was determined the facility fail...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on clinical records review and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to follow the physician's orders and notify the physician of missed medications for three of the 24 res...
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Sept 2023
1 deficiency
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
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that physician orders were followed and insulin administration was given timely for three of f...
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Jun 2023
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based upon clinical record review, it was determined the facility failed to follow physician orders for medication administration for two of 18 residents reviewed (Resident 22 and Resident 63).
Findin...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to provide respiratory care consistent with professional standards of practice, for one of 32 re...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure the physician provided a clinical rationale for declining a consultant pharmacist recommendation for one of five r...
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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
- • Grade B+ (80/100). 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.
- • 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • 55% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Hickory House's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME 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 Hickory House Staffed?
CMS rates HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 55%, which is 9 percentage points above the Pennsylvania average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Hickory House?
State health inspectors documented 13 deficiencies at HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME during 2023 to 2025. These included: 13 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Hickory House?
HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME 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 LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 110 certified beds and approximately 103 residents (about 94% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in HONEY BROOK, Pennsylvania.
How Does Hickory House Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (55%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Hickory House?
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 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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Hickory House Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME 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 Hickory House Stick Around?
Staff turnover at HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME is high. At 55%, the facility is 9 percentage points above the Pennsylvania 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 Hickory House Ever Fined?
HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME 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 Hickory House on Any Federal Watch List?
HICKORY HOUSE NURSING HOME 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.