Optima Care Castle Hill

Name: Optima Care Castle Hill
Address: 615 23RD ST, Union City, NJ, 07087, US
Telephone: 2013480818

615 23rd St, Union City, NJ 07087 · Hudson County · 215 certified beds · avg 134 residents/day · certified since Aug 1, 1995

Part of chain: OPTIMA CARE (8 facilities, chain avg rating 3.0★)

1/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

$8,281

Fines, last 3 years

4.09

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★☆☆☆☆1/5 · CMS overall rating: 2/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Immediate jeopardy, one-off · Jan 15, 2026 · F-0689 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.

Why it matters: This is one of the most common citations and directly relates to falls and injuries, which can be devastating for older adults.

Severity (J): Inspectors found a situation that put a resident's life or safety in immediate danger, affecting one or a few residents. The facility must fix it immediately — these citations often come with large fines.

Corrected: Jan 16, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (32)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jan 15, 2026	▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. · from a complaint
Dec 4, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not respond appropriately to alleged violations, such as reports of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. Facilities must investigate every allegation and protect residents while they do. · from a complaint
Mar 10, 2025	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft to the proper authorities quickly enough, or did not report the results of its investigation. · from a complaint
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not respond appropriately to alleged violations, such as reports of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. Facilities must investigate every allegation and protect residents while they do. · from a complaint
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not create and follow a basic care plan covering a new resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of admission. The first days are when a new resident is most vulnerable.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own. · from a complaint
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide the care needed to maintain or improve residents' movement and flexibility — such as range-of-motion exercises — leading to avoidable decline.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Mar 10, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail.
Mar 10, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not make reasonable adjustments to fit each resident's individual needs and preferences — things like call buttons within reach, preferred wake-up times, or accessible room setups.
Mar 10, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not enter each resident's assessment information into the required format and send it to the state within 7 days of completing the assessment, as the rules require.
Mar 10, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.
Feb 10, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Aug 30, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep its building and grounds safe, functional, clean, and comfortable for residents, staff, and visitors. · from a complaint
Jan 13, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	When a resident had a planned discharge, the facility did not make sure the necessary information was communicated to the resident and to the doctors or facility taking over their care.
Jan 13, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not employ enough qualified food and nutrition staff, including a qualified dietician, to properly run its food service.
Jan 13, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not give residents proper notice about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about charges the resident might owe for services that aren't covered.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not create and follow a basic care plan covering a new resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of admission. The first days are when a new resident is most vulnerable.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop a resident's complete plan of care within 7 days of the full assessment, or the plan wasn't prepared, reviewed, and updated by a team of health professionals as required.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility allowed residents to lose the ability to do daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and eating — when there was no medical reason for the decline. Good care helps residents keep the abilities they have.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents' medications free from unnecessary drugs. Residents should only take medicines they truly need, at the right dose, for a clear reason.
Jan 13, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility's medication error rate was 5 percent or higher — meaning too many doses were given incorrectly, such as the wrong drug, dose, or time.
Jan 13, 2023	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	The facility was not properly licensed, or did not operate in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and accepted professional standards.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections stayed about the same across the last two inspection cycles (13 → 15).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	13	0	E
2024	1	0	D
2025	17	0	F
2026	1	1	J ▲

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

1 fine totaling $8,281.

Date	Type	Amount / length
Jan 15, 2026	Fine	$8,281

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	New Jersey avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	4.09	3.88	3.95	top 28% in New Jersey; top 36% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.00	0.67	0.69	top 13% in New Jersey; top 16% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.73	3.53	3.50	top 27% in New Jersey; top 32% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.79	0.50	0.48	top 12% in New Jersey; top 12% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	42.2	39.7	45.8	bottom 41% in New Jersey; top 42% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	57.6	37.7	42.9	bottom 14% in New Jersey; bottom 24% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 3.60, RN 0.88, weekend 3.29. Staffing rating: 4/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Limited Liability company

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Mendel, Eric	Individual	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	100%	07/26/2022
Domingo, Margot	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Domingo, Margot	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Emm Healthcare Group LLC	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Mendel, Eric	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Mendel, Eric	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Shiftster LLC	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022
Shukla, Paresh	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/26/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"If someone reports suspected abuse or neglect here, what happens in the first 24 hours?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
"When abuse or theft is suspected, who do you notify, how fast, and how do you inform the family?"
"What does the care plan for a brand-new resident cover in the first 48 hours, and who writes it?"
"How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection	Flags
Manhattanview Ctr for Rehabilitation and Healthcar	0.4 mi	Union City, NJ	★★★★☆	4/5
Optima Care Fountains	1.6 mi	Secaucus, NJ	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Harbour View Senior Living Corp	1.9 mi	North Bergen, NJ	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Hoboken University Medical Center Tcu	1.9 mi	Hoboken, NJ	★★★★★	4/5
Optima Care Harborview	2.0 mi	Jersey City, NJ	★★★☆☆	2/5
Complete Care at Harborage LLC	2.8 mi	North Bergen, NJ	★★☆☆☆	1/5	abuse
Alaris Health at Hamilton Park	2.8 mi	Jersey City, NJ	★★★★☆	4/5
Peace Care St Joseph's	2.8 mi	Jersey City, NJ	★★★★☆	3/5
West Village Rehabilitation and Nursing Center	3.1 mi	New York, NY	★★★★★	4/5
Hudsonview Health Care Center	3.2 mi	North Bergen, NJ	★★★★★	4/5
The Riverside	3.3 mi	New York, NY	★★★★★	4/5
Upper East Side Rehabilitation and Nursing Center	3.7 mi	New York City, NY	★★★★★	4/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Union City →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 315344.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Optima Care Castle Hill

615 23rd St, Union City, NJ 07087 · 2013480818

Health inspection rating 1/5 · CMS overall 2/5· Fines (3y): $8,281

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Jan 15, 2026 (F-0689, Immediate jeopardy, one-off): The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "If someone reports suspected abuse or neglect here, what happens in the first 24 hours?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
☐ "When abuse or theft is suspected, who do you notify, how fast, and how do you inform the family?"
☐ "What does the care plan for a brand-new resident cover in the first 48 hours, and who writes it?"
☐ "How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 315344 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)