Polaris Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
21 W Clarke Avenue · Milford, DE · 19963 · 3025037650
100 certified beds For profit - Limited Liability company Chain: Nationwide Healthcare Services
Why this verdict
- Inspection record is far worse than the national median (deficiency count and severity).
- Federal penalties on record: $141,053 in fines in the last 24 months.
- 3 citations involved actual harm to residents.
- Inspection results have improved across recent cycles.
The complete Safety Report — $19
Everything on this page plus the full citation-by-citation history with inspector findings, the complete penalty record, staffing vs benchmarks, side-by-side nearby comparisons, and the printable tour checklist. One PDF, emailed in minutes, yours to keep and share with family.
Red flags
1 immediate-jeopardy citation in prior inspection cycles
Serious past findings — check whether the underlying problems were fixed and stayed fixed.
$141,053 in federal fines in the last 24 months
2 fines — CMS fines are reserved for verified, serious non-compliance.
71% of nursing staff left within a year
High turnover disrupts continuity of care; the national median is 45%.
Score breakdown
Quality-measure stars are deliberately excluded — they're largely self-reported by facilities. Full method.
CMS ratings & staffing
Overall: 2 of 5 Inspections: 2 of 5 Staffing: 2 of 5 Quality measures: 4 of 5
| Total nurse hours / resident-day | 4.32 | 3.48 min · 4.1 strong |
|---|---|---|
| RN hours / resident-day | 0.97 | 0.55–0.75 |
| Weekend hours / resident-day | 3.89 | ≈ weekday level |
| Nursing turnover / year | 71% | median 45% |
| Fines (3-yr window) | 3 · $153,884 |
Inspection citations (67 in the current record)
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Actual harm · G February 11, 2026
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected August 24, 2025 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D February 11, 2026
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Corrected March 17, 2026 · Infection Control
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Potential for harm · D August 11, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Corrected September 11, 2025 · Nursing and Physician Services
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Potential for harm · D August 11, 2025 · found via complaint
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Corrected September 11, 2025 · Quality of Life and Care
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Immediate jeopardy · K January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Pharmacy Service
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Actual harm · G January 28, 2025
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Corrected April 24, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Corrected April 24, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Permit a resident to return to the nursing home after hospitalization or therapeutic leave that exceeds bed-hold policy.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Nursing and Physician Services
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Administration
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Nutrition and Dietary
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025 · found via complaint
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Corrected April 24, 2025 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025
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.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 28, 2025
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Corrected March 18, 2025 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Showing the 25 most recent. The Safety Report includes every citation with full findings.
Federal penalties
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| February 11, 2026 | Fine | $26,685 |
| January 28, 2025 | Fine | $114,368 |
| April 11, 2024 | Fine | $12,831 |
Family & resident reviews — a separate signal, never mixed into the score
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Source: CMS Care Compare (public domain), data as of June 1, 2026 · CCN 085058 · certified since April 18, 2020. The score is a screen, not a verdict on any one resident's experience — read how it's computed, then visit in person.