Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and generally recommended for families seeking care. It ranks #8 out of 33 nursing homes in Vermont, placing it in the top half of facilities in the state, and is #2 out of 3 in Windham County, indicating only one local option is better. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with issues increasing from 1 in 2022 to 4 in 2024. While staffing is decent with a 3/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 40% (lower than the state average of 59%), there are some concerns about care. Notably, the facility failed to ensure proper food safety, resulting in unsanitary conditions in the kitchen, and a resident dependent on assistance was found on the floor due to inadequate monitoring. On a positive note, the facility has not incurred any fines, which suggests compliance with regulations. Overall, families should weigh these strengths and weaknesses carefully.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Vermont
- #8/33
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 40% turnover. Near Vermont's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Vermont facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 37 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Vermont. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover below average (40%)
8 points below Vermont average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Vermont avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 5 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based upon observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide Activities of Daily Living [ADL] care and assistance to maintain good nutrition for 1 dependent resident [Res.#39] ...
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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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review the facility failed to provide services that included supervision, monitoring, and ADL (Activities of Daily Living) care necessary to prevent a fall from a wheelch...
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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 upon observation and interview, the facility failed to meet food service safety requirements.
Findings include:
1.)
Per observation on 9/8/24 at 9:30 PM and again on 9/11/24 at 9:45 AM, a fan ...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on interviews, observation, and record reviews, the facility failed to support the resident's right to file grievances anonymously for 5 out of 5 residents in the sample (Resident's #5, #26, #55...
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Jul 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to ensure that a resident with pressure ulcers receives necessary treatment and services, consistent 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
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Vermont.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Vermont facilities.
- • Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Vermont, 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 Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R Staffed?
CMS rates Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 40%, compared to the Vermont average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R?
State health inspectors documented 5 deficiencies at Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R during 2022 to 2024. These included: 4 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R?
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R 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 NATIONAL HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 80 certified beds and approximately 77 residents (about 96% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Brattleboro, Vermont.
How Does Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R Compare to Other Vermont Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Vermont, Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (40%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R?
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 Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R 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 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Vermont. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R Stick Around?
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R has a staff turnover rate of 40%, which is about average for Vermont 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 Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R Ever Fined?
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R 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 Pine Heights At Brattleboro Center For Nursing & R on Any Federal Watch List?
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing & R 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.