All states › North Carolina › Winnabow › Brunswick Cove Nursing Center
1478 River Road Winnabow, NC 28479 · Brunswick County
CMS certification number 345318 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Brunswick Cove Nursing 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 Brunswick Cove Nursing Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the North Carolina 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 4.14 hours per resident per day at Brunswick Cove Nursing Center, above the North Carolina median of 3.57 (US median: 3.72). About 0.62 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.69 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 69.7% of nursing staff left within a year (North Carolina median 48.5%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there. 3 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Brunswick Cove Nursing Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Brunswick Cove Nursing 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 North Carolina'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 4, 2025 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 20 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 20 citations at Brunswick Cove Nursing Center across 4 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 19 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 (7) and resident assessment and care planning (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment" (tag F0641, level E, July 25, 2024).
February 20, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
December 4, 2025 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
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 safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
July 25, 2024 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
EAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
EEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
EImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
May 25, 2023 · 5 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
ESet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
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.
BElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Questions to ask on a tour of Brunswick Cove Nursing Center
- Nursing staff turnover was 69.7% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 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
8 penalties in the last three years, including $57,151 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2024 | Fine | $4,938 |
| Feb 12, 2024 | Fine | $4,938 |
| Jan 22, 2024 | Fine | $14,814 |
| Jan 8, 2024 | Fine | $4,938 |
| Jan 2, 2024 | Fine | $4,587 |
| Dec 11, 2023 | Fine | $13,762 |
| Nov 6, 2023 | Fine | $4,587 |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Fine | $4,587 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Brunswick Cove Nursing Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 3.5 mi
-
4.1 mi
New Hanover Regional Medical Center WilmingtonEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 24m for patients treated and sent home
- 6.8 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Cypress Pointe Rehabilitation Center · Wilmington · 5 stars · 4.0 mi
- Bradley Creek Health Center · Wilmington · 5 stars · 8.5 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.