Nursing Homes in Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-barre has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 286 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.0 stars, which is at Pennsylvania's state average of 3.0 stars. 1 facility earns a B grade or better and is recommended for family consideration.
Compare 3 nursing homes · data
See the 1 recommended nursing homeWorth Considering
1
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
286
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
0
0 under CMS review
0 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
70 min
RN time per resident daily
Meets CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
1
exceed staffing threshold
33% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
✓ Start your search here
Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Wilkes-barre
Heinz Transitional Rehabilitation Unit
Explore Nearby Cities
Heinz Transitional Rehabilitation Unit
★★★★★ · 93/100 · 44 beds
Riverstreet Manor
★★★★★ · 50/100 · 122 beds
Embassy Of East Mountain
★★★★★ · 45/100 · 120 beds
Showing 1–3 of 3 facilities
All 3 Nursing Homes in Wilkes-barre
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Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Wilkes-barre
WILKES-BARRE, PA offers a mixed bag when it comes to nursing home care. The standout is HEINZ TRANSITIONAL REHABILITATION UNIT, which boasts a Grade A and an impressive 5-star CMS rating with a score of 93. However, overall options are limited, and while no facilities have major red flags, families may want to consider alternatives in nearby cities for more robust choices.
If you're looking for facilities worth your time, definitely visit HEINZ TRANSITIONAL REHABILITATION UNIT for its excellent care and clean record with zero fines. Another option is EMBASSY OF EAST MOUNTAIN, but with a Grade D, you should be cautious and weigh your options carefully. Unfortunately, the lack of well-staffed or non-profit options means families may need to broaden their search to nearby areas for better alternatives.
On the flip side, skip EMBASSY OF EAST MOUNTAIN due to its poor Grade D rating. Facilities with failing grades can indicate deeper issues with care quality. Always visit any facility you consider and pay attention to staff interactions with residents; good care is often reflected in the staff’s demeanor and engagement with their residents.
Wilkes-barre at a Glance
Good News
- • 3 facilities with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • 1 community-run facility (non-profit)
- • 1 facility has more nurses than required
- • 1 facility earned 5-star CMS rating
Be Aware
- • Always check recent inspection reports before visiting
What's Changing
- → 3 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Wilkes-barre is stable
Questions Wilkes-barre Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Wilkes-barre avg is 1.16 hrs (70 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
3 of 3 Wilkes-barre facilities have zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—0 local facilities have serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania's Luzerne County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 286 beds. Families have solid options to choose from.
Wilkes-barre vs. Pennsylvania: Near State Average
Wilkes-barre nursing homes perform near the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.00 stars is close to Pennsylvania's statewide average of 3.00 stars.
1 of 3 facility earns a B grade or better. Families should still research carefully, as quality varies by facility.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Wilkes-barre, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: Meeting Standards in Wilkes-barre
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Wilkes-barre facilities average 1.16 RN hours per resident day, which meets the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Wilkes-barre resident receives approximately 70 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
1 Wilkes-barre facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Wilkes-barre has 1 non-profit nursing homes and 2 for-profit facilities. 1 of 3 facility is chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Pennsylvania cities for additional options. The following Pennsylvania cities offer multiple nursing home options:
- Philadelphia — 47 facilities
- Pittsburgh — 26 facilities
- Erie — 14 facilities
- Lancaster — 10 facilities
- York — 10 facilities
- Scranton — 9 facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania?
Wilkes-barre has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 286 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.0 stars, which is above Pennsylvania's state average of 3.0 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Wilkes-barre?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Wilkes-barre include:
- • Heinz Transitional Rehabilitation Unit — Grade A, 93/100 Trust Score
- • Riverstreet Manor — Grade C, 50/100 Trust Score
- • Embassy Of East Mountain — Grade D, 45/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Wilkes-barre nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 0 facilities in Wilkes-barre as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Wilkes-barre Nursing Homes
Wilkes-barre offers typical nursing home options for the state. Focus your search on the 1 facility graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing.