All states › New York › Buffalo › Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns
300 Dorrance Avenue Buffalo, NY 14220 · Erie County
All 8 nursing homes in Buffalo, NY (8 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 335663 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns 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 Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the New York average of 3.1.
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 3.60 hours per resident per day at Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, about the same as the New York median of 3.57 (US median: 3.72). About 0.49 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.19 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 42.4% of nursing staff left within a year (New York median 38.3%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns: Medicare and Medicaid
Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns 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 New York'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 December 9, 2025 and found 10 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 22 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 22 citations at Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns across 5 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 21 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and nutrition and dietary (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift" (tag F0725, level F, December 9, 2025).
April 30, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
December 9, 2025 · 10 citations
FProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
FEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHonor 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.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
January 27, 2025 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
April 26, 2024 · 2 citations
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
CEnsure the facility is licensed under applicable State and local law and operates and provides services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and codes, and with accepted professional standards.
January 30, 2023 · 6 citations
EMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Questions to ask on a tour of Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns
- What do families most often ask you about before moving in?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
1.1 mi
Mercy Hospital BuffaloEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 5h 7m for patients treated and sent home
-
3.5 mi
Kaleida Health BuffaloEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 50m for patients treated and sent home
- 4.1 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 Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns › All nursing homes in Buffalo ›
Compare Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility · Lackawanna · 5 stars · 0.6 mi
- Fox Run at Orchard Park · Orchard Park · 5 stars · 5.8 mi
- Autumn View Health Care Facility · Hamburg · 5 stars · 6.9 mi
- St Catherine Laboure Health Care Center · Buffalo · 5 stars · 7.0 mi
Other Sapphire Care Group nursing homes in New York
- Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Goshen · Goshen · 5 stars
- Sapphire Nursing at Meadow Hill · Newburgh · 4 stars
- South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center · Freeport · 2 stars
- Fishkill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing · Beacon · 2 stars
- Sapphire Nursing at Wappingers · Wappingers Falls · 2 stars
- Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing of Center · Flushing · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 8 Sapphire Care Group 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.