All states › Indiana › South Bend › Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center
5024 Western Avenue South Bend, IN 46619 · St. Joseph County
All 10 nursing homes in South Bend, IN (10 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 155831 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center 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 Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Indiana average of 3.2.
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 4.30 hours per resident per day at Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center, above the Indiana median of 3.60 (US median: 3.72). About 0.31 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.77 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 49.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Indiana median 45.5%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center 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 Indiana'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 August 8, 2025 and found 3 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 19 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 19 citations at Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center across 5 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. 3 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on August 8, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (7) and nutrition and dietary (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services" (tag F0740, level G, August 8, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
March 19, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 8, 2025 · 3 citations, includes actual harm
GEnsure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
August 12, 2024 · 8 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
November 29, 2023 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
July 14, 2023 · 6 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
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.
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.
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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on August 8, 2025 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 August 8, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- 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 $10,839 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2024 | Fine | $10,839 |
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 Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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5.4 mi
Memorial Hospital of South Bend South BendEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 25m for patients treated and sent home
-
5.9 mi
Saint Joseph Reg Medical Ctr South BendEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 15m for patients treated and sent home
- 9.3 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 Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center › All nursing homes in South Bend ›
Compare Briarcliff Health & Rehabilitation Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- West Bend Nursing and Rehabilitation · South Bend · 5 stars · 2.2 mi
- The Milton Home · South Bend · 5 stars · 5.5 mi
- Cardinal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center · South Bend · 5 stars · 6.2 mi
- Miller's Merry Manor · New Carlisle · 5 stars · 8.1 mi
Other Sterling Healthcare nursing homes in Indiana
- Asbury Towers Health Care Center · Greencastle · 5 stars
- The Milton Home · South Bend · 5 stars
- Vernon Health & Rehabilitation · Wabash · 3 stars
- South Shore Health & Rehabilitation Center · Gary · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 5 Sterling Healthcare nursing homes ›
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.