Rockaway Care Center
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 92 Google reviews

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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (14 vs median 6.0)
- High RN turnover (52%)
Bottom 25% in NY · Below recommended RN staffing · $135,193 in fines
What this means for your family
While the recreation and therapy departments are frequently praised for their dedication, the facility suffers from recurring reports of neglect and poor hygiene. We strongly advise families to conduct unannounced visits at different times of the day and specifically monitor the cleanliness of the resident's room and their personal care needs.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
92 reviews on Google“Rockaway Care Center receives highly polarized reviews, with some families praising the facility as clean and attentive, while others report severe neglect and unprofessional behavior. Common criticisms include long wait times for assistance, poor food quality, and persistent issues with broken elevators. Families should be aware that experiences appear to vary significantly depending on the specific staff members involved.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Professional and caring recreation staff
- Clean and well-maintained lobby areas
- Helpful and welcoming front desk receptionists
- Effective physical therapy department
Concerns
- Neglect and hygiene issues (soiled bedding, delayed assistance with toileting) (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Rude, impatient, or unprofessional staff behavior (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
- Persistent elevator malfunctions causing long wait times (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Poor food quality and inadequate portion sizes (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 94 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1We've heard wonderful things about your recreation team; could you tell us more about the daily activities and social events available for residents?
- 2How does the nursing team ensure that residents receive timely assistance with personal care and hygiene throughout the day?
- 3With the recent focus on improving care standards, what specific steps is the facility taking to enhance medication management and communication with families?
- 4Can you describe the process for managing medical emergencies and how the clinical staff handles physician updates?
- 5We noticed the lobby is very well-maintained; how does the facility approach cleanliness and upkeep in the resident living areas and private rooms?
- 6What improvements have been made recently regarding the dining experience, specifically in terms of food variety and portion sizes?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The recreation staff is AMAZING! They go above and beyond for the residents.”
“The lobby area was immaculate as was the entranceway into the facility. Upon arrival the next day, the Front Desk Staff attending the Desk in the morning were the same as those the night before.”
“I was left sitting in a feces filled diaper for three hours. The staff doesn't care about the patients comfort. Being left in a dirty diaper for hours is the norm.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Total nursing hours are below minimum, though RN coverage is adequate. This may mean fewer aides for daily tasks like bathing and mobility.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
5
measures
8
measures
4
measures
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families have filed multiple complaints triggering nine deficiencies, indicating ongoing concerns about care planning, physical restraint use, and safety monitoring. The facility shows recurring problems with care planning development, infection control, and building safety issues across multiple surveys from 2019 to 2025. While most deficiencies have correction dates, recent complaints suggest persistent quality issues that warrant careful consideration during any visit.
Dec 11, 2025Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Dec 10, 2025Routine14
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Administration Deficiencies
Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Environmental Deficiencies
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Administration Deficiencies
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Dec 10, 2025Complaint3
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Apr 25, 2025Complaint6
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Jul 27, 2023Routine11
Construction Deficiencies
Use approved construction type or materials.
Egress Deficiencies
Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper power supply for life support equipment.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have properly installed hallway dispensers for alcohol-based hand rub.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Administration Deficiencies
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Jul 27, 2023Complaint2
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Apr 25, 2025
$135,193
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Rockaway Care Center
for profit
Ownership & Management
Owners
Melnicke, Michael
Owner
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
92 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit rockawaycarecenter.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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