Emerald Coast Times

In the fourth quarter of 2023, The Manor at Blue Water Bay stood out as the second largest nursing home in Okaloosa County, tied with three other nursing homes, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It shared its ranking with Emerald Coast Center, Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center, and Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center, LLC.

Data shows that the nursing center had a total of 120 beds available, nine more than the average in Okaloosa County as of the fourth quarter of 2023. They aided an average of 113.1 residents during that period.

The Manor at Blue Water Bay boasted an overall rating of 5 from the CMS, which is higher than the average of 3.1 recorded for nursing homes in Florida.

During the quarter, Crestview Rehabilitation Center, LLC stood out as the largest nursing home in Okaloosa County, with 180 beds available.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, The Manor at Blue Water Bay achieved a zero-incident record for fines and penalties.

In total, there were six for-profit nursing homes in Okaloosa County, Florida.

According to US Census data, in 2020, nearly 1 in 6 Americans were aged 65 years or older. Since 1920, the older population skyrocketed from 4.9 million to 55.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of roughly 1,000%, five times higher than the average growth for the overall U.S. population.

A 2021 study suggests that nearly half of this age group, roughly 28 million individuals, may require long-term services and support. Additionally, the study projects that over a third of them may eventually need nursing home care.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

Rank	Nursing Home	Overall Rating
1	Crestview Rehabilitation Center, LLC	5
2	Emerald Coast Center	1
2	Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center	1
2	Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center, LLC	5
2	The Manor at Blue Water Bay	5
6	Silvercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center	5
6	Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center	5