Federal inspection record · CMS data as of October 1, 2026
Rockaway Care Center
353 Beach 48th Street, Far Rockaway, NY · (718) 471-5000
- Certified beds
- 228
- Residents per day
- 209
- Ownership
- For-Profit
- Chain
- No chain reported
- Medicare / Medicaid
- Medicare + Medicaid
- Certified since
- November 1, 1976
1
How this home got 1 star
The overall rating isn't an average. CMS starts from the inspection rating and nudges it at most two steps. Here is the arithmetic for this home, using CMS's own rules.
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Health inspections
★★★★★starting point
Everything starts from what state inspectors found on site. This is a ranking against other homes in New York.
-
Staffing
★★★★★no change
Only a 5-star staffing rating adds a star, and only a 1-star rating removes one. Ratings of 2 to 4 change nothing.
-
Quality measures
★★★★★no change
Same rule: 5 stars adds one, 1 star takes one away. These measures are mostly reported by the home itself.
-
Overall
★★★★★1 of 5
Matches the rating CMS publishes on Care Compare.
2
Where it sits among New York homes
Rockaway Care Center carries 120.75 inspection points. That is fewer than 11% of New York's 589 rated homes.
Inspectors' citations earn points by how serious and how widespread they were (the grid below). CMS then ranks every home in New York: the 10% with the fewest points get 5 stars, the 20% with the most get 1 star, and the middle 70% split evenly into 2, 3 and 4.
- 5★ 0–12 pts
- 4★ 12–27 pts
- 3★ 27–46 pts
- 2★ 46–82 pts
- 1★ over 82 pts
Bars show every rated home in New York by its weighted inspection score. CMS recalibrates the cut points monthly but holds a home's rating until its own score changes, so a home can sit just outside today's band.
3
What inspectors found
32 health citations on record since 2021. Each one gets a letter: the row says how badly residents were affected, the column how many.
Immediate jeopardyResidents at risk of serious injury or death
Actual harmA resident was hurt
Potential for harmNo one was hurt, but could have been
Minimal harmPaperwork-level problems
Read the rows, not the total. Most citations nationwide are a D: one problem, nobody hurt. Rows G–I mean a resident was harmed; J–L mean inspectors found residents in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Small numbers in each cell are the inspection points CMS assigns per citation. Those points are what the state curve above ranks.
Harm and immediate-jeopardy citations (2)
-
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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J
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Everything else, by area of care
Resident Assessment and Care Planning5D
- D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
- D
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
- D
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
- D
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
- D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care5D
- D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
- D
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
- D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
- D
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.
- D
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Nursing and Physician Services3E
- E
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
- E
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
- D
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Nutrition and Dietary3E
- E
Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
- D
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
- D
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Administration3E
- E
Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
- D
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
- D
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
Infection Control3E
- E
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation3D
- D
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
- D
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
- D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Pharmacy Service2F
- F
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
- E
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Resident Rights2D
- D
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
- D
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Environmental1E
- E
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Inspection history
2025-12-10
17 health deficiencies · 1 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (4 deficiencies)
2023-07-27
10 health deficiencies · 6 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Freedom from Abuse and Neglect and Exploitation (2 deficiencies)
2021-07-12
5 health deficiencies · 4 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Resident Assessment and Care Planning (2 deficiencies)
4
Nursing time per resident, per day
Each resident here gets about 3 h 19 min of nursing staff time a day, 41 min of it from a registered nurse.
This home
3 h 19 min
New York average
3 h 41 min
U.S. average
3 h 54 min
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Nurse aide
Turnover: 47% of nursing staff and 54% of registered nurses left in the past year.
Reported hours from payroll data the home submits to CMS, divided by its daily resident count. Not adjusted for how sick residents are.
5
Fines and payment denials
$135,193 in federal fines on record over the past three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-25 | Fine | $135,193 |
6
Resident outcomes
Quality measures compared with state and national averages. Most come from assessments the home itself reports.
| Measure | This home | State | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days0.8 pts better | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days1.1 pts worse | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine30.6 pts worse | 61.2% | 91.8% | 93.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine11.1 pts worse | 84.1% | 95.2% | 95.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury2.5 pts better | 0.6% | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms0.9 pts better | 19.2% | 20.1% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight0.7 pts worse | 6.4% | 5.7% | 5.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication1.5 pts worse | 14.7% | 13.2% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication6.4 pts worse | 20.1% | 13.7% | 15.4% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained0.6 pts worse | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened4.6 pts better | 6.5% | 11.1% | 12.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased7.3 pts better | 6.4% | 13.7% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder0.2 pts better | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection0.7 pts better | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence3.7 pts better | 14.9% | 18.6% | 18.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers2.1 pts worse | 8.6% | 6.5% | 4.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine68.2 pts worse | 9.4% | 77.6% | 82.3% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit5.3 pts worse | 14.7% | 9.4% | 11.8% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication0.5 pts better | 0.6% | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine61.9 pts worse | 17.0% | 78.9% | 80.1% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission1 pts worse | 21.6% | 20.6% | 23.4% |
·
Who owns and runs it
5 owners and managers reported to CMS. The last column counts how many nursing homes each one is tied to.
Show ownership list
| Name | Role | Share | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melnicke, Michael | 5% Or Greater Direct Ownership Interest · Individual | 100% | 9 facilities |
| Jaffa, Rosalie | W-2 Managing Employee · Individual | 0% | 1 facilities |
| Sirkis, Avrom | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 3 facilities |
| Sirkis, Avrom | Operational/Managerial Control · Individual | 0% | 3 facilities |
| Sterling National Bank | 5% Or Greater Mortgage Interest · Organization | 0% | 1 facilities |
·
Fire safety
11 life-safety citations (sprinklers, exits, alarms). These don't count toward the star rating.
Construction3E
- E
Use approved construction type or materials.
- E
Use approved construction type or materials.
- D
Use approved construction type or materials.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems3E
- E
Have proper power supply for life support equipment.
- D
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
- D
Have proper power supply for life support equipment.
Egress2E
- E
Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
- D
Have exits that are accessible at all times.
Smoke2E
- E
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D
Have properly installed hallway dispensers for alcohol-based hand rub.
Emergency Preparedness1B
- B
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
·
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