Coronavirus Update
View All UpdatesGenesis HealthCare Announces Resident and Staff COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rates
To date, 84% of skilled nursing residents and 61% of skilled nursing staff have been vaccinated; Staff acceptance rates far exceed national average as reported by CDC read more
Southern Ocean Center
1361 Route 72 West, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Thank You for your interest in Southern Ocean Center. We are located at 1361 Route 72 in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Our Skilled Nursing Facility is situated in a rural beach community of Southern New Jersey, in Ocean County. We are geographically located 5 miles east of Long Beach Island, 30 miles north of Atlantic City, NJ, 80 miles south of New York City, NY and 50 miles west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Whether you are looking for ShortStay Rehabilitation after a hospital stay or require LongTerm Care, our dedicated team can provide the care you need. Our great reputation in the community and with local area physicians is based upon a 15 year history of exceptional nursing care and rehabilitative services. We are proud to offer the following unique programs and services: Rehabilitation Services offered 7 days per week, Post-hospital Care including Transitional Care designed to meet the needs of patient's discharged from the hospital but not ready to go directly home. Southern Ocean Center is certified with the Medicare and Medicaid programs and credentialed with most third-party insurance and managed care plans. Additionally, we accept private payments by credit card.
Dementia Care Education by Genesis HealthCare is recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association® for incorporating the evidenced-based Dementia Care Practice Recommendations in the following topic areas: Alzheimer’s and dementia, person-centered care, assessment and care planning, activities of daily living, and behaviors and communication.
Services
- ShortStay care
- Transitional Care Unit
- LongTerm care
- Cardiac Management Program
- Palliative care
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Orthopedic Rehabilitation - including joint replacement, injuries and amputation
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
- On-site Nurse Practitioner
- Attending Physicians
- Registered Nurses
- IV Therapy
- Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
- Audiology care
- Colostomy care
- Dental care
- Personal care
- Physiatry services
- Podiatry care
- Psychiatric services
- Vision care
- Wound care
- X-ray
- Hospice care
- Pain management
- Case management
- Dietary and nutrition needs management
- Discharge planning
- Individual treatment plans
- Medication management
- 24-hour emergency alert and response system
- Cultural, educational, religious and social activities
- Recreation activities
- Vitality to You
Amenities
- Private and Semi-Private Rooms
- Fully air conditioned
- Individual climate control
- Activity room
- Beautiful Garden(s) / Courtyard(s)
- Beauty Salon / Barber Services
- Cable Television
- Comfortable common and lounge areas to gather with friends and family
- Dining Room
- In-room dining options
- Private dining rooms for family gatherings
- Restaurant-Style Dining
- Alarm system to aid in the security of residents with cognitive deficits
- Complimentary laundry facility on-site
- Computer with internet access
- Housekeeping
- Laundry facility on-site
- Mail and Newspaper Service
- Pets Permitted
- Pharmaceutical delivery service
- Phone service
- Telephone
- Wireless Internet

John Myers
Center Executive DirectorJohn has been with Genesis HealthCare since 2009. He has worked at centers in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. John is a graduate of the Leadership Development Program. He obtained his Bachelors in Public Health Administration from Stockton University in New Jersey. Since 1998, John has served in many different roles within the skilled nursing care setting before becoming a License Nursing Home Administrator.

Dr. Harry Larkin
Medical DirectorDr. Harry Larkin has been in practice at Island Medical on Long Beach Island since 1991. He attended UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed his residency in family medicine at Virtua Hospital - Mt. Holly, NJ. Dr. Larkin serves as the Chairman of the Dept. of Family Practice at Southern Ocean Medical Center. In addition, he is Assistant Medical Examiner for Ocean County, NJ. Dr. Harry Larkin has been the Medical Director at Southern Ocean Center - Genesis HealthCare since 2010.

Jacquie Thompson, RN, BSN
Center Nurse ExecutiveJacquie has been in nursing for 24 years. Her previous experience includes working in acute care, hospice and psychiatric setting.

Patty Bennert
Admissions DirectorPatty has been working at Southern Ocean Center as the Admissions Director since 2000. Prior to that she worked in several other nursing facilities in Ocean County as the Admissions Director. She has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare field.

Noelle Bailey, MPT
Director of RehabilitationNoelle has been a Physical Therapist since 2002 after graduating from The University of Scranton with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Health Sciences and a Master’s in Physical Therapy. Past work experience includes the dual role of PT/Clinical Education Coordinator within the acute rehab setting where she organized and supervised the student internship programs from various universities. She is a credentialed clinical instructor through the APTA. Noelle’s past experience also includes the leadership role of PT/Director of Rehabilitation within the sub-acute setting. She joined the Southern Ocean Center family in June 2018.
Kind and compassionate
The professional care and the kind-heartedness and compassion delivered by all your staff on a daily basis is one to be applauded. I cannot thank them enough and I am so grateful for the attention and protection my mother receives at Genesis.
Hard working
So much hard work the staff is doing, we really appreciate all you do - especially now.
Safety first approach
I thought I would take a moment to commend the staff on all the work they are doing during this pandemic to keep the residents/patients safe. Everyone is doing a great job and it is really appreciated.
FIVE-STAR treatment
I just wanted you to know that my family and I will never forget the love and gentle care your staff gave my mom. I will miss talking with the residents, but I know they are getting the FIVE-STAR treatment my mom received. Be well.
Great
Chrissy the nurse was great. Keely and Maria the nurse practitioners were great.
Good people
I thought the PT was excellent. I like the people. They were good, intelligent and helpful They were good people, they were nice. I don't know how they do that job because I couldn't do it.
Facility is run well
They've been very good to my mother. The facility is run well.
Note from our Medical Director
Southern Ocean Center has been under very strict quarantine in the midst of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. We are pleased now that the pandemic has for the moment become very quiet in our center. Caregivers and staff remain constantly vigilant for the protection of all. Personal protective equipment (PPE) remains available to all staff and patients/residents at the Center. Strict isolation protocols continued to be followed for the protection of the patients/residents. We are hopeful that the next phase will allow us to continue to protect our patients/residents and staff but allow a more humane visitor policy. Patient care and safety continue to be the primary focus of all of us here at Southern Ocean Center.
- Dr. Harry Larkin, Medical Director at Southern Ocean Center
Exceptional
They did a good job with communication in handling the COVID. They keep me informed. Its exceptional. The staff does work together as a team. John Meyers the executive director, he works great and is an outstanding leader.
- Anonymous
Compassionate Care
I am making very good progress. Please know that my stay at Southern Ocean Center, was a pleasant one. I cant thank you enough for the compassionate care I received.
- Anonymous
Wonderful staff
I wish that they could find some ways to let immediate family members to see their loved ones just a little bit more. The staff have been wonderful.
Nice, professional and friendly
They have been wonderful so far. They have always been nice, professional and friendly.
Good staff
I have a good relationship with the staff.
Excellent staff and food
The staff is excellent so is the food. My room was kept nice and clean.
Helpful and considerate
They're all very helpful and considerate I believe that it was an enjoyable stay.