Long-Term Nursing & Memory Care
Nursing Home & Memory Care in Jacksonville, FL | River Garden
River Garden Hebrew Home has provided skilled nursing care and memory care to Jacksonville families for more than 80 years. As a 180-bed, not-for-profit skilled nursing facility in Mandarin, River Garden is recognized as the number one nursing home in Florida by Newsweek, rated 5 stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and has earned the Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long Term Care eleven times.
River Garden serves people of all faiths with the same high standard of care — informed by Jewish values of dignity, compassion and respect for every person.
Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care
Long-term skilled nursing at River Garden is designed for seniors who require continuous clinical oversight, complex medication management or support with daily activities due to a chronic or progressive condition. Residents receive 24-hour licensed nursing care, physician coordination and individualized care plans developed in partnership with their family.
What Long-Term Nursing Care at River Garden Includes
- 24-hour licensed nursing staff on every unit
- Individualized care plans reviewed regularly with the resident and family
- Physician and specialist coordination
- Wound care, medication administration and chronic condition management
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy available on campus
- Registered dietitian-supervised nutrition and therapeutic diets
- Daily activities, religious programming and social engagement
- Pastoral care and chaplain services
- Hospice-compatible care for end-of-life comfort
Who Qualifies for Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care
Long-term skilled nursing care is appropriate for individuals whose medical or functional needs exceed what can be safely managed at home or in an assisted living setting. Common qualifying conditions include advanced heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson’s disease, the aftermath of stroke, advanced diabetes with complications, end-stage renal disease, and moderate to advanced dementia with behavioral or safety concerns.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services define skilled nursing care as care that requires the skills of licensed nursing or rehabilitation professionals — not care that can be provided by a non-licensed caregiver. When a physician determines that this level of oversight is medically necessary on a daily basis, long-term skilled nursing placement is typically indicated.
Paying for Long-Term Care
River Garden is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Private pay options are also available. River Garden’s admissions team can help families understand coverage options, navigate the application process and plan for the transition.
Medicaid covers long-term skilled nursing care for eligible individuals who meet both clinical and financial criteria. In Florida, Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care is administered through the Agency for Health Care Administration and requires a clinical assessment confirming the need for a nursing facility level of care. River Garden’s admissions team works directly with families navigating this process.
Memory Care at River Garden
River Garden’s memory care unit offers specialized residential care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The unit is designed specifically to support residents who need structured daily programming, a secure environment and nursing oversight from staff trained in dementia care.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease — a number projected to grow significantly as the population ages. In Florida, more than 580,000 people are currently living with Alzheimer’s, making access to high-quality, specialized memory care a critical need throughout the state and across Northeast Florida.
What Makes River Garden's Memory Care Different
Memory care at River Garden is not a general nursing unit with a locked door — it is a dedicated program with specifically trained staff, purpose-built daily programming and a care philosophy grounded in preserving quality of life at every stage of cognitive decline.
- Dedicated memory care unit with 24-hour licensed nursing
- Staff trained specifically in Alzheimer’s and dementia care
- Structured daily routines that support cognitive function and reduce anxiety
- Secure, calm environment designed for residents with memory impairment
- Family education and support resources
- Regular reassessment and care plan updates as needs evolve
When to Consider Memory Care
Families often ask how to know when it is time to transition to memory care. Some of the signs that indicate a higher level of support may be needed include: frequent wandering or becoming disoriented at home, difficulty managing medications safely, significant changes in behavior or personality, caregiver exhaustion, and safety concerns that cannot be addressed with in-home support.
River Garden’s admissions team is available to discuss a specific situation confidentially and help families understand all of their options.
What the CMS 5-Star Rating Actually Measures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publish a five-star quality rating for every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country through the Nursing Home Care Compare tool. The rating is calculated across three domains: health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. A five-star overall rating — the highest possible — indicates performance in the top tier nationally across all three categories.
Staffing is among the most clinically significant components of the rating. CMS measures total nursing hours per resident per day, with a specific focus on registered nurse hours. Higher staffing levels correlate with better clinical outcomes, fewer adverse events and higher resident satisfaction. River Garden’s 5-star staffing rating reflects a consistent investment in licensed nursing coverage that exceeds what many facilities provide.
The Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long Term Care is Florida’s highest recognition for skilled nursing facilities. It is awarded by the Agency for Health Care Administration to facilities that demonstrate sustained deficiency-free operations over time. Earning it eleven times reflects a level of sustained quality that is rare in any market.
Why Families Choose River Garden
- Ranked the number one nursing home in Florida by Newsweek
- 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- 11-time recipient of the Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long Term Care
- Fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
- Not-for-profit mission — every person receives the same quality of care regardless of financial resources
- 80 years of service to the Jacksonville community
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a nursing home and assisted living?
A nursing home — also called a skilled nursing facility — provides 24-hour licensed nursing care for residents with medical needs that require continuous clinical oversight. This includes wound care, IV therapy, complex medication management and rehabilitation. Assisted living provides personal care assistance — help with bathing, dressing and medication reminders — in a more residential setting and is appropriate for individuals who do not require continuous clinical nursing supervision. River Garden is a licensed skilled nursing facility, not an assisted living community. If you are uncertain which level of care is appropriate for a specific situation, River Garden’s admissions team can help you understand the clinical criteria.
Does River Garden accept Medicare and Medicaid?
Yes. River Garden is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A covers short-term skilled nursing care following a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient nights, for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid covers long-term nursing care for eligible individuals who meet both clinical and financial criteria. River Garden also accepts private pay. The admissions team can help families understand what coverage applies to a specific situation and connect them with resources for Medicaid planning if needed.
Can family members visit residents?
Yes. River Garden welcomes family visits. The admissions team can share current visiting policies and hours when you contact us.
How do I begin the admissions process?
Contact River Garden’s admissions team at 904.260.1818 to begin a conversation. The team will discuss the specific situation, review any medical documentation, and guide the family through each step of the process. For hospital discharges, River Garden works directly with hospital case managers and discharge planners to coordinate same-day admissions when needed.
Does River Garden serve people of all faiths?
Yes. River Garden serves people of all faiths and backgrounds. While River Garden is a Jewish agency and maintains an environment supportive of Jewish identity and values, the vast majority of residents and services reflect the full diversity of the Jacksonville community.
References
- Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Nursing Home Care Compare. medicare.gov/care-compare
- Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long Term Care. ahca.myflorida.com
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Nursing Care Center Accreditation. jointcommission.org
Ready to Learn More?
To learn more about long-term nursing care or memory care at River Garden, contact the admissions team at 904.260.1818 or visit rivergarden.org/contact. Tours are available by appointment.