Erie County’s 18 long-term care facilities exhibited a significant performance gap in federal evaluations released Monday, April 27, 2026. While several nursing homes achieved top honors, two local facilities received the lowest possible score of one star from Medicare.
The latest data from Medicare and U.S. News awarded five-star ratings to Manchester Commons, Parkside at Elmwood Gardens, and Saint Mary’s at Asbury Ridge. Additionally, Medicare granted five stars to Forestview Skilled Nursing Center and Sarah Reed Senior Living, while U.S. News gave its top rating to the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.
Discrepancies appeared in 10 of the 18 facilities reviewed due to differing evaluation criteria. U.S. News prioritized nurse staffing levels, patient outcomes, and staff turnover, whereas Medicare focused on state health department inspections and quality measures alongside staffing data.
One notable disparity involved the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, which earned five stars from U.S. News but only two stars from Medicare. The lower Medicare rating followed a $176,348 fine issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in May 2023 after an equipment malfunction injured two residents.
Medicare also identified Corry Manor and Greenfield Healthcare and Rehabilitation as the only two facilities in the county to receive a single star. Conversely, U.S. News assigned a minimum of two stars to every facility within Erie County during the same period.
“Nursing home rankings are a good place to start but shouldn’t be the only determinant,” said Ray Maholtz, director of the Erie County Area Agency on Aging. He noted that these ratings represent a specific window of time rather than day-to-day functions.
Medicare officials recommend that families visiting facilities look for warning signs such as slow staff response times, strong odors, or unsupervised residents. Proactive planning is encouraged to ensure bed availability and reduce stress during the transition from hospital to long-term care.