All states › New York › Cicero › The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm
5460 Meltzer Court Cicero, NY 13039 · Onondaga County
CMS certification number 335340 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm 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 The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm 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 4.50 hours per resident per day at The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm, above the New York median of 3.57 (US median: 3.72). About 0.65 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 4.21 hours, 6% below its all-week average. 46% of nursing staff left within a year (New York median 38.3%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm: Medicare and Medicaid
The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm 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 May 1, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 30 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 30 citations at The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm across 6 inspection dates, 13 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on May 1, 2026. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (13) and resident rights (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing" (tag F0686, level G, May 1, 2026). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 1, 2026 · 12 citations · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
CHonor 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.
BAllow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
BCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
November 19, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
April 1, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
July 16, 2024 · 7 citations · includes complaint inspection
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 2, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
ERespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
June 10, 2022 · 7 citations
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate care/assistance for a resident with a prosthesis.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Questions to ask on a tour of The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on May 1, 2026 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 July 16, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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 $51,345 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | Fine | $51,345 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm'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 The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
9.4 mi
St Joseph's Hospital Health Center SyracuseEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 46m for patients treated and sent home
- 10.1 mi
-
10.3 mi
University Hospital S U N Y Health Science Center SyracuseEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 51m for patients treated and sent home
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 The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm › All nursing homes in Cicero ›
Compare The Cottages at Garden Grove, a Skilled Nursing Comm with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Elderwood at Liverpool · Liverpool · 3 stars · 5.2 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.