Sandia Ridge Center

Sandia Ridge Center sits at 2216 Lester Dr NE in Albuquerque, NM and is a skilled nursing facility operated by Genesis Healthcare, which manages about 200 nursing homes in the country, and this facility has a total capacity of 136 beds, offering both private and semi-private options, all fully air-conditioned. Sandia Ridge Center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances, and is contracted with the VA for certain services, plus serves as a WE HONOR VETERANS partner, recognizing veterans through special care programs, and there's a map available for finding your way around inside, which helps since it's a big building with a lot of hallways and rooms. The Center provides short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay, long-term care, independent and assisted living, memory care, respite care, mental health and recovery, and continuing care for adults 55 and older; it also provides home health care, palliative care, Medicaid HCBS, hospice care, and recovery services, so folks can find many types of support in one spot with a staff that includes attending physicians, registered nurses, a Medical Director named Charlesly Joseph, and senior leaders like Nakiesha Lee, the Administrator, plus a Director of Nursing, a Rehab Director, and an Admissions Director. There are extra services like rehabilitation with physical, occupational, and speech therapies, ACCELerate Rehabilitation for people recovering from surgery or injury, neurorehabilitation, orthopedic rehabilitation (including joint replacement, amputation, and injury therapies), on-site dialysis care, cardiac management, pulmonary care, psychiatric services, wound care, vision and podiatry care, medication management, and mental health support. There's a 24-hour emergency alert and response system and an alarm system for residents with cognitive impairments, and the staff takes care of discharge planning, case management, and dietary and nutrition needs for each individual. The Center has amenities like a dining room, in-room dining for those who need it, beauty salon and barber services, a garden and courtyard, a fireplace in the living room area, recreation activities, cultural and religious programs, phone service, mail and newspaper delivery, a pharmacy service, housekeeping and laundry. They offer scheduled tours so people can view the facility, meet staff, and get a feel for the place, which some find helpful. The Center does have a legal framework for protecting residents with protocols for suspected abuse or neglect, requiring documentation and reporting as per New Mexico statutes and the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. Sandia Ridge Center's history includes health citations and deficiencies involving infections, pressure ulcers, falls, medication errors, and not always securing medications or managing pain well, leading to emotional and physical risks like fear, depression, and injuries. The facility's CMS rating is currently 1 out of 5 stars overall, with low marks for health inspections and staffing, while quality measures get 3 out of 5 stars; it operates as a for-profit corporation and has had violations for not always protecting residents, failing in pain management, and other concerns, though recent customer satisfaction surveys report a 4.3 out of 5 average from 87 ratings. Sandia Ridge offers an online form for questions and provides initial legal consultations free of charge. Visitors can expect both the practical supports of care and the reminders that careful attention to regulations and monitoring still matter in a place this size, and the staff typically try to meet residents' needs with what's available.