Shore Gardens Data Breach Exposes Personal Info of Residents

Shore Gardens Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, a 149-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Toms River, N.J., disclosed a data breach involving residents' protected health information. The total number of individuals affected has not been publicly disclosed.

The company discovered the breach on Dec. 16, 2025. Shore Gardens posted a notice on its website informing affected individuals about the incident and the steps it has taken in response.

What happened in the Shore Gardens Rehabilitation & Nursing Center data breach

Shore Gardens identified suspicious activity within its systems and launched an investigation. The company brought in independent cybersecurity experts to assess the situation and help contain the threat.

The investigation determined that unauthorized access to the network occurred between Dec. 10 and Dec. 16, 2025. During that window, an unauthorized party gained access to systems that contained residents' sensitive information.

On Dec. 23, 2025, a ransomware group known as Qilin posted a claim on the dark web using the Tor network. The group stated that it had obtained data belonging to Shore Gardens.

The exposed information involved in the breach included residents' first name or initial with last name, Social Security number and date of birth.

Shore Gardens Rehabilitation & Nursing Center's response to the breach

After discovering the suspicious activity, Shore Gardens took steps to contain the incident and secure its network. The center has also implemented additional security protocols, enhanced network monitoring and provided staff training on data security.

Shore Gardens urges individuals to remain vigilant.

The company set up a dedicated toll-free call center for individuals with questions or concerns which can be reached at the number 844-430-3359. The call center is available Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Steps to take if information was exposed

Because this breach involved Social Security numbers and dates of birth alongside names, affected individuals should take prompt action to help protect against potential identity theft. The following steps can help reduce that risk.

• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax (800-349-9960), Experian (866-200-6020) and TransUnion (800-916-8800) to help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened.
• Request free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 877-322-8228 and review them carefully for any unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.
• Monitor financial accounts and statements by regularly checking bank accounts, credit card statements and explanation of benefits documents for any unrecognized transactions or services.
• Report suspected identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a guided recovery plan.
• File a police report if there is any evidence that personal information has been used fraudulently, as this documentation can help when disputing unauthorized activity with creditors.
• Be cautious of phishing attempts that reference Shore Gardens Rehabilitation & Nursing Center or this data breach, as scammers may use the incident to trick individuals into revealing additional personal information.