St John Specialty Care Center
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 32 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.
- Abuse citation on record
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (25 vs median 8.0)
- High staff turnover (53%)
Bottom 25% in PA · Meets national RN staffing standard · Above average staffing · $13,042 in fines · Abuse citation
What this means for your family
While the physical and occupational therapy departments are consistently praised, the facility is currently experiencing a significant trend of negative reports regarding nursing neglect and hygiene. Families should conduct an unannounced visit to the specific unit their loved one would occupy and ask direct questions about current staffing ratios and response protocols for call lights.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
32 reviews on Google“St. John Specialty Care Center receives highly polarized feedback, with many families reporting severe neglect, poor hygiene, and unprofessional staff behavior. While some rehab and short-term patients praise the physical therapy team and specific nursing staff, numerous long-term care families describe a facility that is understaffed, dirty, and unresponsive to basic patient needs.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Highly skilled physical and occupational therapy teams
- Attentive care from specific nursing staff members
- Modernized independent and assisted living areas
Concerns
- Chronic understaffing leading to slow response times (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Poor facility hygiene and cleanliness (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Unprofessional or dismissive staff attitudes (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Poor quality or unappealing food (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Medication management errors or delays (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 33 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the high volume of physical and occupational therapy success stories here, how do you integrate those therapy teams into the daily routine for residents who need extra support?
- 2I noticed some concerns regarding response times; what specific protocols or call-light systems do you have in place to ensure residents receive timely assistance throughout the day and night?
- 3Could you walk me through your current cleaning schedule and the protocols in place to ensure high standards of hygiene in both resident rooms and common areas?
- 4How does your team handle medication management to ensure accuracy and consistency for residents, and what is the process for notifying family if a change or error occurs?
- 5With the dining experience being a priority for our family, could you tell me how you incorporate resident feedback into the menu planning and meal quality?
- 6What steps are you taking to foster a supportive and professional culture among your staff to ensure that every resident feels heard and treated with dignity?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The Physical Therapy & Occupational therapy staff are exemplary professionals: caring, paying attention to detail & adjusting the program to suit the patient’s individual needs.”
“The nursing staff was lazy, had horrible attitudes & ignored the patients crying for help. Most of the aids, however, were pretty caring but totally overworked.”
“The nursing staff was truly amazing, there wasn’t a single time her call light went unanswered, or a staff member didn’t say hello when they walked by her room.”
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
3
measures
10
measures
3
measures
1
measures
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
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
St John Specialty Care Center has significant recurring issues that raise serious concerns, with families filing multiple complaint reports resulting in 14 violations. The facility shows persistent problems with protecting residents from abuse and neglect, accident prevention and safety hazards, and care planning across multiple surveys from 2023-2024. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the pattern of repeated violations in critical safety areas suggests ongoing systemic challenges that families should carefully consider.
Feb 11, 2026Complaint3
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Dec 3, 2025Complaint1
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Jan 15, 2025Complaint1
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Oct 11, 2024Routine35
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Construction Deficiencies
Meet other general requirements.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
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.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
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
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Provide special eating equipment and utensils for residents who need them and appropriate assistance.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that staff members are educated on resident rights and facility responsibilities to properly care for its residents.
Administration Deficiencies
Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.
Egress Deficiencies
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
Egress Deficiencies
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have power receptacles that are properly grounded.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Jul 9, 2024Complaint2
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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Jun 18, 2024Complaint6
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
St John Specialty Care Center
nonprofit
Ownership & Management
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
32 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit lutheranseniorlife.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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