All states › Connecticut › Branford › Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills
189 Alps Road Branford, CT 06405 · South Central Ct County
CMS certification number 075296 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Connecticut average of 3.0.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.86 hours per resident per day at Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills, about the same as the Connecticut median of 3.81 (US median: 3.72). About 0.61 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.45 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 51.7% of nursing staff left within a year (Connecticut median 35.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills: Medicare and Medicaid
Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Connecticut's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on February 5, 2026 and found 15 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 42 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 42 citations at Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills across 10 inspection dates, 12 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on October 2, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (19) and resident rights (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level J, October 2, 2024). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 19, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
February 5, 2026 · 15 citations
EProvide appropriate foot care.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure 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.
DProvide special eating equipment and utensils for residents who need them and appropriate assistance.
BHonor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
BHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
August 25, 2025 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
BSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
October 2, 2024 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
August 30, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
July 24, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.
June 5, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 22, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
December 6, 2022 · 14 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DAllow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
January 27, 2020 · 1 citation
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Questions to ask on a tour of Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on October 2, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on May 19, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 51.7% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
1 penalty in the last three years, including $8,021 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2024 | Fine | $8,021 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 0.5 mi
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5.4 mi
Yale-New Haven Hospital New HavenEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 3h 18m for patients treated and sent home
- 5.5 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills › All nursing homes in Branford ›
Compare Ark Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Leeway · New Haven · 5 stars · 5.0 mi
- Evergreen Woods · North Branford · 5 stars · 6.1 mi
- Orange Health Care Center · Orange · 5 stars · 7.9 mi
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at the Willows · Woodbridge · 5 stars · 8.9 mi
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.