Nursing homeActive
Polaris Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center
21 W Clarke Avenue, Milford, DE 199633025037650100 certified beds · 94 residentsFor profit - Limited Liability companyMedicare and Medicaid
Surveys on file
5
since 2024
Deficiencies
67
● 1● 62● 4
Penalties · 3 yrs
$153,884
3 fines
Last survey
2026-02-11
Standard
CMS overall
2 / 5
stars as published by CMS
CMS overall 2/5
Health 2
Staffing 2
Quality 4
Star ratings as published by CMS · CMS’s caveats
Survey history
Source: CMS · Delaware Division of Health Care Quality · data as of 2026-08-01| Date | Kind | Deficiencies | Official record | Archived PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-11 | Standard | 061 | CMS-2567 (Care Compare) | — |
| 2025-08-11 | Complaint | 020 | CMS-2567 (Care Compare) | — |
| 2025-01-28 | Standard | 0372 | CMS-2567 (Care Compare) | — |
| 2024-07-09 | Complaint | 020 | CMS-2567 (Care Compare) | — |
| 2024-04-11 | Standard | 1151 | CMS-2567 (Care Compare) | — |
Counts by class: paperwork · standard · harm.
Deficiencies
CMS · Delaware Division of Health Care Quality publishes each citation’s tag, official description and scope/severity letter. The surveyor’s written findings are in the Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567) for each survey, linked above.
F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Scope/severity GHarm
Care planningFalls
Isolated; actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy.Corrected 2025-08-24Record 085058-20260211-F689
F552Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F552
F582Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F582
F610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.Scope/severity DStandard
Abuse & neglect
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F610
F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F656
F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F695
F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Scope/severity DStandard
Infection control
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2026-03-17Record 085058-20260211-F880
F726Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.Scope/severity DStandard
Staffing
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-09-11Record 085058-20250811-F726
F791Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-09-11Record 085058-20250811-F791
F697Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.Scope/severity GHarm
Care planning
Isolated; actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F697
F760Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.Scope/severity KHarm
Medication
Pattern; immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F760
F561Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F561
F567Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F567
F578Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F578
F580Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F580
F585Honor 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.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F585
F609Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.Scope/severity DStandard
Abuse & neglect
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-04-24Record 085058-20250128-F609
F610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.Scope/severity DStandard
Abuse & neglect
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-04-24Record 085058-20250128-F610
F622Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F622
F625Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F625
F626Permit a resident to return to the nursing home after hospitalization or therapeutic leave that exceeds bed-hold policy.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F626
F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Scope/severity EStandard
Care planningRecords
Pattern; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F656
F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F657
F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F658
F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F677
F684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F684
F688Provide 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.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F688
F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningFalls
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F689
F690Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F690
F692Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F692
F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F695
F710Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.Scope/severity DStandard
Staffing
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F710
F730Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.Scope/severity DStandard
Staffing
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F730
F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Scope/severity DStandard
Medication
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F755
F758Implement 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.Scope/severity DStandard
Medication
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F758
F761Ensure 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.Scope/severity DStandard
Medication
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F761
F773Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.Scope/severity DStandard
Records
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F773
F791Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F791
F805Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.Scope/severity DStandard
Food & nutrition
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F805
F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Scope/severity DStandard
Food & nutrition
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F812
F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-04-24Record 085058-20250128-F842
F941Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.Scope/severity DStandard
Records
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F941
F942Ensure that staff members are educated on resident rights and facility responsibilities to properly care for its residents.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F942
F944Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.Scope/severity DStandard
Records
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F944
F945Include as part of its infection prevention and control program, mandatory training that includes written standards, policies, and procedures for the program.Scope/severity DStandard
Infection control
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F945
F946Provide training in compliance and ethics.Scope/severity DStandard
Records
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F946
F947Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.Scope/severity DStandard
Staffing
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F947
F949Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.Scope/severity DStandard
Records
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2025-03-18Record 085058-20250128-F949
F660Plan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-08-26Record 085058-20240709-F660
F745Provide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-08-26Record 085058-20240709-F745
F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Scope/severity GHarm
Care planningFalls
Isolated; actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy.Corrected 2022-10-24Record 085058-20240411-F689
F550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F550
F552Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F552
F558Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F558
F582Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.Scope/severity DStandard
Dignity & rights
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F582
F609Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.Scope/severity DStandard
Abuse & neglect
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F609
F641Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F641
F645PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual DisabilitiesScope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F645
F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F656
F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planningRecords
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F657
F686Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F686
F690Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F690
F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Scope/severity DStandard
Care planning
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F695
F756Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.Scope/severity DStandard
Medication
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F756
F758Implement 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.Scope/severity DStandard
Medication
Isolated; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F758
F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Scope/severity EStandard
Food & nutrition
Pattern; no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F812
F584Honor 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.Scope/severity BPaperwork
Dignity & rights
Pattern; potential for minimal harm.Corrected 2024-06-03Record 085058-20240411-F584
Penalties & enforcement
| Date | Action | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-11 | Civil money penalty | $26,685 | CMS · Penalties |
| 2025-01-28 | Civil money penalty | $114,368 | CMS · Penalties |
| 2024-04-11 | Civil money penalty | $12,831 | CMS · Penalties |
Staffing
CMS Payroll-Based Journal · PBJ, as published Aug 2026 · explainerRN hours per resident day0.76
Facility
Delaware
National
Delaware 0.97 · National 0.69
Total nurse hours per resident day3.96
Facility
Delaware
National
Delaware 4.35 · National 3.86
Weekend total nurse hours3.67
Facility
Delaware
National
Delaware 3.89 · National 3.42
Total nursing staff turnover68%
Facility
Delaware
National
Delaware 41% · National 46%
Registered nurse turnover79%
Facility
Delaware
National
Delaware 41% · National 43%
Quality measures
CMS MDS quality measures · 2025Q2-2026Q1 · definitions| Measure | Facility | Delaware | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers lower is better | 5.3% | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury lower is better | 0.6% | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication lower is better | 7.8% | 10.7% | 15.4% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection lower is better | 1.0% | 2.1% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained lower is better | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased lower is better | 13.7% | 12.7% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight lower is better | 10.7% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication lower is better | 35.7% | 21.8% | 19.5% |
Figures verbatim from CMS, with the state and national figures from the same release. The direction that counts as better is CMS’s own and is stated on every row.
Ownership
As reported to CMS (Provider Enrollment)| Entity | Role | Interest | Since | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelley, Leah Individual | 5% OR GREATER DIRECT OWNERSHIP INTEREST | 5% | — | — |
| Gelley, Meir Individual | 5% OR GREATER DIRECT OWNERSHIP INTEREST | 95% | — | — |
| Nationwide Healthcare Services Organization | OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL | NOT APPLICABLE | — | — |
| Gelley, Meir Individual | W-2 MANAGING EMPLOYEE | NOT APPLICABLE | — | — |
Part of a chain
Nationwide Healthcare Services — 7 facilities
Ownership as reported to CMS/state. CMS ownership data has known gaps; merges between entities are published only after human review.
Cost context
County figures from public surveys. Not this facility’s price. Nursing-home rates are not published by CMS or Delaware.
No county cost figures on file for Sussex.
Nearby nursing homes
| Facility | Distance | Last survey | Deficiencies · 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford Center Milford | 0.4 mi | 2026-03-09 | 0564 |
| Delaware Veterans Home Milford | 2.3 mi | 2026-03-12 | 0132 |
| Delaware Bay Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center Georgetown | 14.9 mi | 2025-10-22 | 0244 |
| Bay Terrace Rehabilitation And Health Center Dover | 17.7 mi | 2026-04-23 | 1352 |
| Center At Eden Hill, LLC Dover | 18.0 mi | 2026-05-22 | 0110 |
Watch this facility
One email when a new survey, harm-class deficiency, penalty, Special Focus change or ownership change is recorded. Nothing else, ever.
Sources & provenance
| Section | Agency · dataset | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|
| Facility, ratings | CMS Provider Data · Nursing Home Provider Information | 2026-08-01 |
| Surveys | CMS · Survey Summary | 2026-08-01 |
| Deficiencies | CMS · Health Deficiencies (CMS-2567 findings via Care Compare) | 2026-08-01 |
| Penalties | CMS · Penalties | 2026-08-01 |
| Staffing | CMS · Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ, as published Aug 2026) | 2026-08-01 |
| Quality measures | CMS · MDS Quality Measures | 2026-08-01 |
| Ownership | CMS · Ownership | 2026-08-01 |