Riverwood Center

Riverwood Center holds an overall 2-star rating from CMS, which places it below average compared to other nursing homes nationwide. That overall rating is a composite of three separate scores, and since the health inspection rating carries the most weight in the formula, a low score there tends to pull the overall number down even when other areas look better.

The health inspection rating of 2 stars is the most pressing concern here. It reflects findings from state inspections, including how many citations the facility received and how serious those violations were. A below-average score in this area means inspectors identified more problems, or more significant ones, than what you would typically see at a comparable facility. On the brighter side, staffing and quality measures both earned 3 stars, meaning Riverwood Center is right around average on both fronts. The staffing score tells you that nurses are spending a reasonable amount of time with residents relative to how many people live there, and the quality measures score reflects middling outcomes across 15 clinical indicators like falls, infections, and pain management. For families, the takeaway is that day-to-day care appears to be in an acceptable range, but the inspection history warrants a closer look before making a decision.

Riverwood Center's staffing numbers fall a bit below what you'd typically see at Florida nursing homes across the state. Residents here receive about 3.31 total nursing hours per day, compared to the Florida average of 3.87, and registered nurse coverage comes in at 0.45 hours per resident daily versus the state average of 0.52. In practical terms, that gap in RN time might not sound like much on paper, but it can translate to nurses carrying heavier workloads throughout a shift, which may affect how quickly staff can respond to individual needs or concerns. It doesn't mean care is poor, but it's a fair question to raise when you visit, especially if your loved one needs closer medical attention or has more complex health needs.

Riverwood Center has a 2-out-of-5-star health inspection rating from the government, which is below average and worth paying attention to. The facility has one penalty on record, with a fine of $34,778 issued as recently as January 2025. A single penalty does not automatically mean a facility is unsafe, but the combination of a below-average inspection rating and a fairly significant recent fine suggests families should ask detailed questions before making a decision. Request the full inspection reports, ask management directly what was cited and how they addressed it, and if possible, visit in person to get a feel for how the facility is run day to day. Families evaluating this facility can compare it to others in Jacksonville on the Jacksonville nursing homes and assisted living page.

1. How many residents does each certified nursing assistant care for during the day shift, and does that ratio change at night or on weekends?
2. How long have your charge nurses and CNAs been working here on average, and what does staff turnover look like over the past year?
3. If my loved one has a concern or feels unsafe, what is the step-by-step process for reporting it, and can you show me where that information is posted for residents?
4. How do you handle a situation where a resident's condition changes overnight, and who makes the call to notify the family?
5. Can you walk me through what a typical weekday looks like for a resident who isn't scheduled for therapy, from the time they wake up to when they go to bed?
6. What were the findings from your most recent state inspection, and is there anything on that report you are currently working to correct?

For more guidance on evaluating facilities, see our guide to questions to ask when choosing a Florida nursing home.