Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
Past the typical resurvey interval — a standard survey could occur at any time
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 Okeechobee Health Care Facility during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to ensure timely meal delivery due to inadequate kitchen staffing, causing residents to wait for extended periods and become agitated or disinterested in eating. Observations and interviews revealed consistent delays in meal cart deliveries, affecting residents' overall dining experience and care routines.
The facility failed to provide foods prepared in a safe and sanitary manner, with issues including improper cooling of gravy, used ice in a hand washing sink, food residue on equipment, a malfunctioning pellet warmer, and improper handling of leftovers. Staff were also observed using disinfectant wipes incorrectly and handling open foods while wearing watches.
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink were palatable, attractive, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature for nine residents. Multiple interviews and observations revealed that meals were often served cold, late, and lacked seasoning. Staff noted a decline in food quality and variety since a change in ownership, and kitchen equipment used to keep food warm was not functioning properly.
The facility failed to provide timely and proper care for three residents. One resident did not receive the full dose of Paxlovid due to a delay in physician sign-off, another experienced untreated edema despite weekly assessments, and a third resident did not receive timely treatment for constipation, with staff unaware of the facility's protocol.
The facility failed to develop and incorporate an integrated care plan for a resident under hospice care. Despite being on hospice since admission, staff were unaware of the resident's hospice status, and there was no collaborated hospice care plan. The facility also lacked timely and consistent hospice documentation.
The facility failed to post nurse staffing information daily as required. This deficiency was confirmed during multiple tours of all units on different days. The Staffing Coordinator admitted that the information had not been posted for about a year and could not provide an explanation.
Inadequate Kitchen Staffing Leads to Delayed Meal Deliveries
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate kitchen staff to provide timely meal delivery as per schedule, affecting multiple residents. Observations revealed that meal carts were consistently delivered late, causing residents to wait for extended periods before receiving their meals. This delay was particularly evident in the A-Unit and Gardens dining room, where residents were observed becoming bored, anxious, or falling asleep while waiting for their food. The late meal deliveries were attributed to a lack of sufficient kitchen staff, as confirmed by the Food Service Manager and other staff members during interviews. Specific instances included residents in the Gardens dining room waiting over an hour for lunch, with the first food cart arriving at 1:04 PM instead of the scheduled 12:12 PM. Similar delays were observed during dinner, with the final cart arriving at 7:02 PM, well past the scheduled time. Staff members reported that these delays caused residents to become agitated and disrupted their care routines. Additionally, residents on the C-Wing reported receiving their meals late, with breakfast and lunch arriving significantly later than scheduled. Residents expressed frustration with the late meal deliveries and the quality of the food service. One resident with a diagnosis of malnutrition reported that the food was always served late, while another resident with moderate cognitive impairment complained about receiving incorrect food orders and insufficient portions. The facility's administration acknowledged the staffing issues and the impact on meal delivery times, indicating a need for more dietary staff to meet the residents' needs.
Food Safety and Sanitation Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide foods prepared in a safe and sanitary manner in accordance with professional standards for food safety. During an initial kitchen tour, several deficiencies were observed, including used ice in the hand washing sink, food residue on produce slicers and the underside of a stand mixer, and improper cooling of gravy. Additionally, a hand washing sink in the dishwashing area was obstructed and lacked soap, and personal items were found on a cart with single-use gloves. These observations were acknowledged by the Consultant Dietitian and the Food Service Manager. Further inspections revealed additional issues, such as a malfunctioning pellet warmer, the absence of metal-stemmed probe thermometers in unit pantries, and improper handling of leftovers intended for future meals. The Consultant Dietitian was also observed using disinfectant wipes incorrectly, and staff were seen handling open foods while wearing watches. Discrepancies in portion sizes for regular and pureed diets were also noted. These findings were again acknowledged by the Consultant Dietitian and the Food Service Manager.
Facility Fails to Ensure Palatable and Properly Tempered Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink were palatable, attractive, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature for nine residents. The policy review indicated that food should be delivered promptly and at the proper temperature, but multiple interviews and observations revealed significant issues. Residents and staff reported that meals were often served cold, late, and lacked seasoning. Specific complaints included cold steak fries, tough meat, and inconsistencies in food preparation, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with one side toasted and the other not. Staff also noted a decline in food quality and variety since a change in ownership, with repetitive meals and a need to add salt and pepper to improve taste. Several residents with diagnoses such as malnutrition, hypertension, and dementia expressed concerns about the food quality and temperature. One resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired, stated that the food was terrible and often served cold. Another resident, who was cognitively intact, voiced similar concerns about the food always being cold. Additional interviews with residents revealed that the food was consistently served cold for all three meals, and one resident mentioned having to reheat their food and receiving dinner as late as 8:00 PM. Observations in the kitchen and during meal service further confirmed these issues. Test trays and food carts showed that the food lacked seasoning and was served cold. The pellet plates used to keep food warm were cold to the touch, and the pellet warmer in the kitchen was not functioning properly, displaying an error message that staff ignored. These deficiencies in food service and preparation led to widespread dissatisfaction among residents and staff, highlighting a significant lapse in the facility's adherence to its own policies and guidelines.
Failure to Provide Timely and Proper Care for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely and proper care and services for three residents. For Resident #10, the nursing staff did not administer the full dose of Paxlovid as prescribed. The medication was delayed due to a medication-to-medication interaction that required physician sign-off, which was not completed promptly. As a result, the resident received only 5 out of the 10 scheduled doses of Paxlovid, with no rationale documented for the missed doses. Resident #82, who had a history of coronary artery disease and heart failure, experienced recurring edema. Despite weekly assessments indicating the presence of edema, the condition was not consistently monitored or treated. The resident reported swollen feet, and observations confirmed moderate edema. However, staff failed to address the edema until it was brought to their attention by the surveyor, leading to a delay in treatment. Resident #85, who was always incontinent of bowel movements, did not receive timely treatment for constipation. The resident had not had a bowel movement for five days, yet the 'as needed' medication for constipation was not administered. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and adherence to the facility's protocol for managing constipation, resulting in the resident's condition being overlooked for an extended period.
Lack of Integrated Hospice Care Plan for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and incorporate an integrated care plan for hospice services for a resident, identified as Resident #506, who was under hospice care. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including Atherosclerotic Heart Disease, Hypertensive Heart Disease with Heart Failure, and Essential Hypertension. Despite being on hospice care since 07/14/23, the facility did not have an integrated hospice care plan, and the last hospice documentation was dated 10/23/23. Interviews with various staff members revealed a lack of awareness and coordination regarding the resident's hospice status and care plan, with some staff unaware that the resident was on hospice care at all. The MDS Coordinator and other staff acknowledged the absence of a collaborated hospice care plan for the resident, and the hospice documentation was not consistently provided or updated in a timely manner. During interviews, staff members including a CNA, LPN, RN Team Leader, and the MDS Coordinator demonstrated a lack of knowledge about the resident's hospice status and the necessary care plans. The RN Team Leader and DON confirmed that hospice staff visited the resident regularly, but the documentation was not always timely or consistent. The MDS Coordinator also confirmed that the resident's MDS was updated to reflect hospice care, but there was still no integrated hospice care plan in place. The Administrator verified that Resident #506 was the only resident on hospice services in the facility and acknowledged the lack of timely hospice documentation. The Administrator provided recent hospice documentation to the surveyor and confirmed that the MDS for the resident was updated. However, the deficiency remained that there was no integrated hospice care plan for the resident, and the facility failed to ensure proper coordination and documentation of hospice services.
Failure to Post Nurse Staffing Information Daily
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to post nurse staffing information daily as required. Upon entering the facility on 04/22/24 at 8:30 AM, the survey team noted that the nurse staffing information was not posted. This deficiency was confirmed during multiple tours of all units of the facility on the same day at approximately 1:30 PM and again on 04/23/24 at 6:45 AM and 12:30 PM. During an interview on 04/24/24 at 2:45 PM, the Staffing Coordinator admitted that the nurse staffing information had not been posted for about a year and could not provide an explanation for this lapse.
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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 Okeechobee
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardie R Copas State Veterans Nursing Home | 20.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Glades Health Care Center | 27.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 13 | 0 |
| Port St Lucie Rehabilitation And Healthcare | 29 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Palm Garden Of Port Saint Lucie | 30.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Tiffany Hall Nursing And Rehab Center | 30.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 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.