Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before around December 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Sunnyside Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found multiple unlabeled, undated, and expired medications in medication carts, including insulin pens, eye drops, and inhalers, along with an unlocked cart containing unlabeled medication cups in the top drawer. Staff stated these medications should be dated when opened, kept in labeled containers, and discarded when expired, but several items were not handled that way and one resident was observed reaching for the unlocked cart.
Food storage, dish sanitizing, and food handling practices were not maintained in accordance with standards in the main kitchen. Multiple cooler items were undated or past their best-used-by dates, a box of bananas was stored on the floor, staff washed dishes without sanitizer test strips available to verify the 3-bay sink solution, and an employee used bare hands to scoop and mix chopped hard-boiled eggs.
Menu items were not followed as planned, and the Food Service Director did not order needed foods in time, leading to missing items at meals and non-equivalent substitutions. A planned lunch meal lacked several ordered items, orange juice was replaced with orange-flavored citrus punch without notifying the RD, and residents reported that food sometimes ran out. The food par list and purchase orders did not clearly document needed quantities for several menu items.
Food was not served at palatable and appetizing temperatures during 2 lunch meal observations. A resident’s tray included cold items, a hamburger that was red in the middle, and beverages and salad served above cold-holding temperatures; another resident’s tray included sour-tasting thickened water, cold pureed pork and carrots, and other items served at improper temperatures. Seven residents also reported that hot food was often cold and not flavorful, and the FSD confirmed expected cooking and holding temperatures for hot and cold foods.
Surveyors found the West Unit did not maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment. The dining room had sticky floors with ants, and fruit flies, ants, and spiders were observed throughout the unit, including a fruit fly on a resident’s face and insects near resident rooms. A resident room also had unclean walls and floor areas, and a housekeeper stated the room had not been cleaned in a while.
Failure to update and implement a fall care plan for a resident with dementia/anxiety and repeated unwitnessed falls. The resident had multiple room falls with head and skin injuries, but incident reports did not show whether fall interventions were in place, and the care plan was not revised with new person-centered interventions. Survey observations found the resident in bed with the walker across the room and no fall mats in place despite the existing plan.
Failure to provide consistent communication support for a Spanish-speaking resident. A cognitively intact resident whose preferred language was Spanish was not reliably given interpreter services or an alternate communication method. Staff were observed speaking English to the resident during care, including insulin administration, while the resident tried to communicate in Spanish and appeared upset. The resident reported staff did not explain medications or treatments in a way they could understand, and staff interviews showed inconsistent use of the language line and communication board.
Failure to Provide Needed ADL Hygiene Assistance: A resident with dementia, anxiety, and DM had severe cognitive impairment and required assistance with most ADLs, including set up help for personal hygiene and assistance with bathing and dressing. Surveyors observed long untrimmed fingernails with debris, uncombed hair, and foul breath with debris on the teeth, and the resident said showers were often missed and that they wanted their hair combed, nails cleaned and cut, and teeth brushed. CNAs reported they were busy or that too many showers were scheduled, and an LPN said they were not notified when the shower was not completed.
Unlabeled, Undated, and Unsecured Medications in Cart
Penalty
Summary
Drugs and biologicals were not labeled and stored in accordance with accepted professional principles in the East Hall North medication cart, the [NAME] Hall North medication cart, and the East Hall medication room. During the recertification survey, surveyors found resident medications in the carts without pharmacy labels, opened medications without dates, expired medications, and an unlocked medication cart containing medication cups in the top drawer. The facility policy required medications to be stored in a safe, secure, orderly manner, with incomplete or incorrect containers returned to the pharmacy or destroyed, and prohibited use of outdated or deteriorated drugs or biologicals. On the East Hall North medication cart, surveyors observed multiple unlabeled or undated medications, including Latanoprost eye drops for two residents, artificial tears, Ozempic pens without resident names, a Basaglar insulin pen without a resident name, a Humalog insulin pen for one resident without an open date, and inhalers for two residents that were not dated when opened or had old dispense dates. Staff stated eye drops, insulin pens, and inhalers should be dated when opened and discarded when expired, and that the unlabeled Basaglar pen could not be identified to a resident. On the [NAME] Wing North cart, surveyors found additional unlabeled Basaglar insulin pens, undated Latanoprost eye drops, and inhalers with open dates from March and July 2025. Staff stated these items should have been dated when opened and discarded when expired. Surveyors also observed the [NAME] Wing North cart unlocked with three medication cups in the top drawer containing assorted pills. A resident who wandered was seen reaching for the cart. An LPN stated the cart should always be locked when unattended, but it was left unlocked because staff were busy. The LPN also stated Tylenol and Senna had been placed into unlabeled medication cups as a shortcut because the bottles were too large for the drawer. Another LPN and the ADON stated medication carts should always be locked when unattended and medications should remain in labeled containers so they can be easily identified.
Food Storage, Sanitizing, and Bare-Hand Food Handling Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Food was not stored, prepared, distributed, and served in accordance with professional standards in the main kitchen. During observation, the walk-in cooler contained multiple items that were not properly labeled or dated, including an undated pan of home fries, two bags of coleslaw with a best used by date of 8/25/25, a bag of mixed greens salad with a best used by date of 9/1/2025, an undated container of cottage cheese, three pounds of undated corned beef wrapped in plastic wrap with Tuesday written on it, and an eight-pound block of American cheese dated 9/3/2025. A cardboard box of bananas was also observed placed directly on the floor of the kitchen. The Food Service Director stated that items in the walk-in cooler should be labeled and dated, and that items removed from their original container were only good for three days. Dish sanitation and food preparation practices were also not followed. Staff were observed washing dishes in the 3-bay sink without quaternary test strips available to check the sanitizer solution, and two staff stated they did not test the sanitizer before washing dishes. The Pot and Pan Sink Sanitizing Log documented the water temperature at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 200 parts per million. In addition, a staff member used ungloved hands to scoop chopped hard-boiled eggs from a food processor into a mixing bowl and mixed the eggs with bare hands; the staff member stated this was not sanitary and discarded the mixture. The Food Service Director stated they were unaware staff did not have sanitizer test strips available and that staff should have let them know if they needed them.
Menu Substitutions and Food Ordering Failures
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure resident menus were followed for two of seven meals observed during the recertification and abbreviated surveys. The facility ran out of preplanned menu items and substituted foods that were not nutritionally equivalent. For the 9/9/2025 lunch meal, the preplanned menu called for a cheeseburger on a bun, broccoli salad, banana, and potato tots, with baked chicken as the alternate entree, but the Food Service Director stated they had not ordered apple juice or orange juice because they missed it and had to ask another staff member to purchase items from a local store the morning of the meal. The facility also did not inform Registered Dietitian #5 that orange-flavored citrus punch was substituted for orange juice. Record review showed the Food Service Director did not submit food orders timely to ensure needed items were available, and the week three food par list did not document quantities for several items, including potato tots, pineapple, ketchup, mustard, and product sizes or quantities for orange juice, apple juice, and American cheese. The September 2025 food purchase orders did not document regular orange juice, apple juice, pineapple, or tater tots were ordered. Residents #24, #64, and #66 did not receive food items at meals as planned, and Residents #7 and #48 stated the facility sometimes ran out of food. The facility policy required food orders to be placed according to menu requirements and inventory needs, and substitutions were to be made by the Food Service Manager in conjunction with the Clinical Dietitian and noted on the menu with the reason for the substitution.
Food Served at Improper Temperatures and Not Palatable
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure food was served at palatable and appetizing temperatures for 2 of 2 lunch meal test trays observed. During a meal observation on 9/9/2025, Resident #66’s lunch tray was sampled and found to include assorted juice at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a cheeseburger on bun at 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit with the center of the hamburger red, broccoli salad at 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and potato tots at 111 degrees Fahrenheit and cold. A replacement tray was ordered after the tray was tested for temperature and palatability. During a meal observation on 9/10/2025, Resident #1’s lunch tray was sampled and found to include honey thick water at 58 degrees Fahrenheit and tasting sour, honey thick Heath Shake at 61 degrees Fahrenheit, honey thick cranberry juice at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, pureed roast pork sandwich with gravy at 105 degrees Fahrenheit and cold, pureed carrots at 108 degrees Fahrenheit and cold, and mashed potatoes with gravy at 119 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, seven anonymous residents at the Resident Council Meeting stated the hot food was usually cold and not palatable. Staff interviews confirmed expectations for proper food temperatures, and the Food Service Director stated hot foods should be cooked to specific temperatures, cold foods should be held at 36-41 degrees Fahrenheit, and hamburgers should not be red in the middle.
Unclean Resident Areas and Pest Activity
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for the West Unit. In the [NAME] Unit dining room, surveyors observed sticky floors with ants, and flying insects were seen throughout the unit, including fruit flies in the hall outside room [ROOM NUMBER], a fly on a tray table outside the room, and a fruit fly on a resident’s face in room [ROOM NUMBER]. Staff interviews confirmed that fruit flies, ants, and spiders were present in the facility, and that food was left out, trash was not emptied, and food was not cleaned off floors or nightstands in resident rooms. Room [ROOM NUMBER] was also observed to have unclean walls and floors. Surveyors noted a yellow-white liquid substance on the wall near the window and later observed the same substance still present, along with white spots and a thick white substance on the floor and baseboard. A housekeeper stated resident rooms were cleaned daily but acknowledged they had not cleaned room [ROOM NUMBER] in a while and it was due to be cleaned. The Director of Facilities stated housekeeping staff were responsible for daily room cleaning and wall cleaning, and that pests should be reported for pest control services.
Failure to Update Fall Care Plan After Repeated Unwitnessed Falls
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure a comprehensive person-centered care plan was implemented for a resident at risk for falls. Resident #46 had diagnoses including dementia and anxiety, and the 8/22/2025 MDS documented intact cognition, partial to moderate assistance with most ADLs, and two or more falls since admission or the prior assessment. The comprehensive care plan initiated 2/20/2025 identified the resident as at risk for falls and included interventions such as offering assistance when restless, toileting before naps, educating on call bell use, and using floor mats when in bed. The resident experienced multiple unwitnessed falls in the room, including falls on 7/17/2025, 8/1/2025, and 9/7/2025. The incident reports documented injuries including a 5-centimeter abrasion and hematoma on the top of the head, a 2-centimeter bruise to the occipital area, and skin tears to the right elbow, posterior arm, and left elbow. The reports documented that the medical provider and family were notified, but they did not document whether fall interventions were in place at the time of the incidents. There was no documented evidence of root cause analysis of the falls or of additional person-centered interventions being identified. The care plan was not updated to reflect the resident’s recent falls, and the 9/7/2025 update stated to continue the current plan of care. During survey observations on 9/8/2025 and 9/10/2025, the resident was in bed with the walker on the other side of the room, and there were no fall mats in the room despite the existing plan calling for them. Interviews with nursing leadership stated that the fall situation should be reviewed after each fall and that new interventions should be added, including keeping the room clutter free after the resident tripped over a pillow, but the record did not show that these changes were made.
Failure to Provide Consistent Communication Support for a Spanish-Speaking Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure that Resident #22, whose primary language was Spanish, was consistently provided with translation services or an alternate form of communication to support communication related to daily care and treatment. The resident’s record documented that they were cognitively intact, preferred Spanish, and needed or wanted an interpreter to communicate with health care staff. The care plan identified a communication problem related to Spanish being the resident’s primary language and included use of a language line, but survey observations showed no language or communication board visible in the resident’s room on multiple occasions, and the monthly activities calendar on the wall was in English. During observations, staff communicated with the resident in English while the resident responded in Spanish and appeared upset or unable to make needs understood. When staff were clearing the resident’s bed and moving boxes, the resident was crying, waving their arms, and pointing at the boxes while speaking rapidly in Spanish, but nursing staff did not attempt to assess what the resident needed. On another occasion, an LPN told the resident in English to go to their room and followed them to administer insulin without attempting to communicate in the resident’s preferred language or using an alternate communication method. A CNA later stated the resident had a communication board, and the board was found under towels in the room. In an interview using a Spanish interpreter, Resident #22 stated staff did not communicate in a way they could understand and did not tell them what medications they were taking or what staff were doing during treatment. The resident said they became very upset and cried because they thought staff were kicking them out of the facility. Staff interviews showed inconsistent use of the language line and communication tools: one CNA said the translator device was not available, an LPN said the language line was not always used for routine medications, and a PA stated the language line was used depending on the situation and was not used for medication reviews or laboratory findings. The report also states that staff sometimes relied on nodding or assumed understanding rather than using the resident’s preferred language.
Failure to Provide Needed ADL Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not ensure that a resident who was unable to independently carry out activities of daily living received the necessary services to maintain good nutrition, grooming, and personal and oral hygiene. Resident #66 had diagnoses including dementia, anxiety, and diabetes, and the 6/17/2025 MDS documented severe cognitive impairment and a need for partial/moderate assistance with most ADLs. The resident’s care plan and Resident Care Profile documented a need for set up assistance with personal hygiene and assistance of one for bathing and dressing, with interventions including assistance with hygiene and functional mobility. During observations on 9/8/2025, 9/9/2025, and 9/11/2025, Resident #66 was noted to have long, untrimmed fingernails with brown and black debris underneath, uncombed hair, and foul breath with white debris on the bottom front teeth. The resident stated they were unsure when their shower was scheduled, said they often did not receive weekly showers, and wanted their hair combed, nails cleaned and cut, and teeth brushed; they also stated they did not believe they had a toothbrush, and none was observed in the resident’s drawers. CNAs stated hygiene care should include showers, oral care, hair combing, and nail care, but one CNA said they were busy and did not provide oral care or nail care, and another said the resident’s shower was not completed because there were too many showers scheduled and they did not notify the nurse. An LPN stated they were not notified that the shower was not completed, and another LPN stated that when care plans document set up assistance, staff should prepare the resident with items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush.
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Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near East Syracuse
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing | 2.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 22 | 2 |
| Jewish Home Of Central New York | 5.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 19 | 0 |
| Bishop Rehabilitation And Nursing Center | 6.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 6 | 0 |
| Nottingham R H C F | 7.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 7 | 0 |
| Elderwood At Liverpool | 7.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 15 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 2026) and official state health department websites.