ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Elk Haven Nursing Home has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is recommended and above average among similar facilities. It ranks #31 out of 653 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the two facilities in Elk County. The facility is improving, with the number of issues decreasing from 3 in 2024 to 2 in 2025. Staffing is a notable strength, boasting a 5/5 rating and a turnover rate of 38%, which is below the Pennsylvania average, suggesting a stable team. However, the home has faced some concerns, including failing to provide necessary non-drug interventions before administering psychotropic medication and not ensuring resident privacy during medical procedures. Additionally, the facility has incurred $8,018 in fines, which is average for the state, and offers more RN coverage than 83% of Pennsylvania facilities, ensuring better oversight of resident care.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Pennsylvania
- #31/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 38% turnover. Near Pennsylvania's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $8,018 in fines. Lower than most Pennsylvania facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 61 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
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (38%)
10 points below Pennsylvania average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Pennsylvania avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
May 2025
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0605
(Tag F0605)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy and clinical records, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide evidence that non-pharmacological interventions (interventions attem...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy and clinical records, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to review and revise comprehensive care plans to reflect the current care and s...
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Jun 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0583
(Tag F0583)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, observations and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide resident privacy during a wound dressing change for one of 22 residents revi...
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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
Based on review of facility policy and clinical records, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to develop and implement a resident centered comprehensive care plan for one of...
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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 review of facility policy and clinical records, observation, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to maintain proper care of respiratory equipment for one of four r...
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Jul 2023
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, and resident and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to maintain a clean homelike environment for one of twenty-four residents (Resident R33).
Findings ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy and clinical records, observations, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide appropriate urinary catheter (tubing inserted into the...
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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
Based on review of facility policy, observations and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to prevent the opportunity for potential unauthorized access of medications on one of s...
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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
- • Grade B+ (88/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Pennsylvania.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • 38% turnover. Below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Elk Haven's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns ELK HAVEN 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 Elk Haven Staffed?
CMS rates ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 38%, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Elk Haven?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME during 2023 to 2025. These included: 8 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Elk Haven?
ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME 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 120 certified beds and approximately 92 residents (about 77% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in SAINT MARYS, Pennsylvania.
How Does Elk Haven Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (38%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Elk Haven?
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 Elk Haven Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, ELK HAVEN 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 Elk Haven Stick Around?
ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 38%, which is about average for Pennsylvania nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Elk Haven Ever Fined?
ELK HAVEN NURSING HOME has been fined $8,018 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Pennsylvania average of $33,159. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Elk Haven on Any Federal Watch List?
ELK HAVEN 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.