All states › Ohio › Cincinnati › Cottingham Retirement Community
3995 Cottingham Drive Cincinnati, OH 45241 · Hamilton County
All 70 nursing homes in Cincinnati, OH (70 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 365652 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Cottingham Retirement Community 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 Cottingham Retirement Community as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Ohio 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 3.03 hours per resident per day at Cottingham Retirement Community, below the Ohio median of 3.58 (US median: 3.72). About 0.64 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.75 hours, 9% below its all-week average. 43.2% of nursing staff left within a year (Ohio median 48.9%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Cottingham Retirement Community: Medicare and Medicaid
Cottingham Retirement Community 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 Ohio'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 12, 2026 and found 8 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 Cottingham Retirement Community across 7 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on August 25, 2026 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were infection control (6) and quality of life and care (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail" (tag F0700, level J, August 25, 2026). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 25, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
JTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
February 12, 2026 · 9 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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 and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
December 29, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 10, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.
December 11, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 19, 2022 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy
JImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
FHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
EProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
May 2, 2019 · 3 citations
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Questions to ask on a tour of Cottingham Retirement Community
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 25, 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 December 11, 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
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 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Cottingham Retirement Community
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 1.7 mi
-
4.1 mi
Bethesda North Hospital CincinnatiEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 35m for patients treated and sent home
-
4.6 mi
West Chester Medical Center West ChesterEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 39m 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
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Compare Cottingham Retirement Community with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Chesterwood ATC · West Chester · 5 stars · 4.2 mi
- MCV Health Care Facilities · Mason · 5 stars · 4.7 mi
- Twin Lakes · Cincinnati · 5 stars · 4.7 mi
- Maple Knoll Village · Cincinnati · 5 stars · 4.8 mi
Other Lionstone Care nursing homes in Ohio
- The Gardens at St Henry · Saint Henry · 5 stars
- Greenbriar Nursing Center · Eaton · 5 stars
- Alois Alzheimer's Care Center · Cincinnati · 4 stars
- Arlington Pointe Care Center · Middletown · 4 stars
- Covenant Village Care Center · Cincinnati · 4 stars
- Ohio Valley Manor Care Center · Ripley · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 28 Lionstone Care 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.