Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center sits at 9150 McMahon NW in Albuquerque and serves seniors who need both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, taking in about 113 residents with 120 beds on hand, and you'll find both private and semi-private rooms that are all air-conditioned and set up for comfort, with things like cable TV, in-room dining, activity rooms, a beauty salon, and internet access, and there's always a helping hand with things like housekeeping, laundry, and transportation. The center provides a wide mix of healthcare services including skilled nursing, post-hospital rehab, hospice, palliative care, respite care, medication management, and case management, plus there's a focus on heavier needs like orthopedic rehab, wound care, and chronic illness care thanks to on-site medical staff like doctors, a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, and a medical director with specialties in internal medicine and long-term care.
Many say the staff are caring and the center feels friendly and homelike, with activities that aim to keep people busy like religious services, cultural groups, and educational programs, and there's even pet therapy, a safe smoke-free environment, and a bit of a relief knowing visitors can overnight in special guest accommodations. Skies Healthcare is known as a Medicare and Medicaid certified facility and offers payment through most private insurances, and it has the only Tier 4 recognition from the AHCA in New Mexico, which stands out, but it's also faced some serious challenges, like 82 documented health deficiencies in recent inspection reports including issues with residents' privacy for phone and mail (F0576), food safety and appeal (F0804), and two past infection-related deficiencies, so there are real concerns about past and current care. The nurse turnover is pretty high at 54.4% and nurse staffing averages about 3.02 nurse hours per resident per day, and there have been repeat problems tied to chronic understaffing, medical malpractice, and several reports of abuse and neglect, with outside groups connected to holding the facility accountable for residents' rights.
Wendy Graves manages the place along with Dr. Lisa S. Noya who's qualified in elderly medical care, and the direct owners are Summit Care LLC, but there are many indirect owners including Genesis Healthcare and a bunch of healthcare investment firms, and the center is part of larger groups like the New Mexico Health Care Association, giving access to resources and educational training for staff. Skies also offers many therapies, such as physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, contract rehab, and pain management, with extra options like interpreter services, pharmacy delivery, and both mail and newspaper service, so there's a lot to choose from day-to-day, and folks can take part in recreational and social activities in lounges or common rooms or outdoors when possible. Even though you'll hear some call Skies a safe and friendly place, anyone thinking about staying should weigh its history of health violations, high staff turnover, and past deficiencies along with its range of services and activities.
