
Report
TheVardellReport
Excel Care at Dover
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
65 North Sussex Street
Dover, NJ 07801

TheVardellReport
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
65 North Sussex Street
Dover, NJ 07801
Life by Vardell Presents
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Across 5 inspections from April 2021 to March 2026, state surveyors documented 36 findings at Excel Care at Dover; 36 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 2 enforcement actions in the window.
* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.
| Year | Inspections | Findings | Of which, actual harm (level G or above) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 19 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Chronology
Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
3 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
17 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $139,113 imposed May 31, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of May 31, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $26,685 imposed December 2, 2025. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of May 31, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
2 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
11 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
3 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.
Context
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
Inspectors cited F600 in May 2024 and March 2026. This citation covers whether residents are protected from abuse and neglect by anyone. None rose above level F (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F609 in May 2024 and March 2026. This citation covers whether suspected abuse, neglect or theft is reported to the authorities on time, with the results of the home’s investigation. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F610 in May 2024 and March 2026. This citation covers how the home responds to and investigates an allegation of abuse, neglect or mistreatment. None rose above level F (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F658 in May 2022 and May 2024. This citation covers whether the home’s services meet professional standards of quality. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F689 in May 2022 and May 2024. This citation covers whether residents are protected from accident hazards and supervised closely enough to prevent accidents, including falls. The most serious of these was recorded at level K (immediate jeopardy). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F755 in March 2024 and May 2024. This citation covers pharmacy services and the licensed pharmacist who oversees them. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F759 in May 2022 and May 2024. This citation covers whether medication errors stayed under 5 percent when inspectors watched medications being given. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F880 in April 2021 and May 2024. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
For Your Next Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
What happened after the abuse or neglect citation, and what changed in training or supervision?
Protection From Abuse and Neglect: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level F.
How are staff trained to report suspected abuse or neglect, and who reports it to the state?
Reporting Suspected Abuse: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
When an allegation is made, who investigates it, and how are residents protected in the meantime?
Investigating Alleged Violations: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level F.
How do you check that nurses and aides follow professional standards, and what happens when they do not?
Professional Standards: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
What changed in fall prevention and supervision after the last citation, and how do you check that it is still working?
Accident Hazards and Supervision: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level K.
How often does the consultant pharmacist review each resident’s medications?
Pharmacy Services: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
How are medication passes checked, and what happens when an error is found?
Medication Error Rate: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?
Infection Control: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?
Insufficient nursing staff was cited in May 2024.
What led to the 2025 fine, and has it been paid?
A $26,685 civil money penalty was imposed December 2, 2025. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. The record holds two enforcement actions in the window.
The Evidence
Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the New Jersey state survey agency.
New Jersey state survey agency
Inspection Apr 22, 2021 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
New Jersey state survey agency
Inspection May 2, 2022 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
New Jersey state survey agency
Inspection Mar 21, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
New Jersey state survey agency
Inspection May 31, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
New Jersey state survey agency
Inspection Mar 6, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 315355
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Record windowApril 22, 2021 – October 1, 2026
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.