Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
The next survey window likely opens around September 2026
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 Union County Nursing Home during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Failure to Implement Hearing Aid Care Plan: A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, and significant hearing loss was repeatedly observed without hearing aids in place, despite a care plan and MD order for staff to insert the hearing aids daily and ensure they were charged nightly. The resident stated she was deaf and asked staff to help place the hearing aids, while an LPN later acknowledged they were still on the bedside drawer. The family reported staff often forgot to insert and remove the hearing aids as expected.
A resident with bilateral hearing loss, dementia, and cognitive communication deficit did not have her bilateral hearing aids inserted as ordered, even though the MAR showed the task as completed. Surveyors repeatedly observed the charged hearing aids on the bedside table while the resident said she was deaf and asked staff to place them in. An LPN initially stated the aids were in, then acknowledged they were not, and the DON stated that a checked MAR task indicates completion.
An LPN used the same BP cuff and pulse oximeter on two residents without sanitizing the equipment between uses. The same LPN administered PEG tube feeding and meds to a resident on EBP while wearing gloves only and no gown. Two CNAs also provided Foley catheter care to another resident without gowns, despite posted EBP signage and staff interviews confirming gowns were expected for high-contact care and shared equipment should be sanitized between residents.
The facility failed to follow a puree recipe, affecting the nutritional value of pureed country-fried steak for six residents on a pureed diet. The Dietary Manager in Training prepared the food without a recipe, using broth and water, contrary to facility guidelines. Interviews with staff confirmed the improper preparation method, and the lack of orientation for the DMIT was noted.
The facility did not follow its policy on labeling and dating food items in the kitchen's walk-in freezer. Two open boxes of cookie dough were found without labels indicating when they were opened or should be discarded. This failure to adhere to safe food handling procedures had the potential to impact 96 residents receiving oral diets, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
The facility failed to maintain proper medication storage on three of six carts due to missing end-of-shift controlled medication count signatures. Observations showed missing signatures on the narcotic count sheets for Pink A, Pink B, and Blue C Halls. Interviews with nursing staff confirmed the absence of signatures, which are necessary to validate the controlled substances count. The DON verified the missing signatures and attributed them to oversight by the responsible nurses.
The facility did not include stop dates for PRN psychoactive medications lorazepam and trazodone for two residents, contrary to facility policies and CMS regulations. One resident received trazodone for insomnia without a stop date, and another was prescribed lorazepam for agitation without a stop date. The consultant pharmacist was aware of the requirement but lacked documentation of communication with the physician to amend the orders. The DON confirmed the absence of stop dates and recommendations.
Two residents in the facility did not receive adequate denture care, as revealed through observations, interviews, and record reviews. One resident, with severe cognitive impairment, had dentures left in her mouth without proper cleaning, leading to mouth pain. Another resident, with Alzheimer's, received oral care infrequently. Staff interviews highlighted inconsistencies in charting oral care, with many instances of blanks or '9's indicating care was not attempted or documented. The DON acknowledged the oversight, emphasizing the need for daily oral care.
A facility failed to follow infection control protocols, including hand hygiene during catheter care, maintaining isolation precautions, and disinfecting a PICC line connector. A resident with a urinary catheter did not receive proper hand hygiene from staff, a resident on isolation had their room door left open, and a PICC line was not disinfected before IV antibiotic administration.
Failure to Implement Hearing Aid Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement the comprehensive care plan for one resident with bilateral hearing loss, receptive expressive language disorder, dementia, and cognitive communication deficit. The resident’s quarterly MDS showed severe cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 04 and moderate hearing difficulty with use of hearing appliances. The care plan identified that the resident had moderate hearing difficulty, that the speaker must adjust voice tone and speak distinctly, and that the resident’s daughter reported 80% hearing loss and lip-reading ability. The physician also ordered nursing staff to insert the hearing aids daily and ensure they were on the charger every night, two times a day. During observations, the resident was repeatedly found without hearing aids in place, with the charged hearing aids sitting on the bedside drawer. The resident stated she was deaf, asked staff and the surveyor to place the hearing aids in, and said staff needed to help her get them in. Staff were observed leaving the room while the hearing aids remained unused, and an LPN later acknowledged that the hearing aids were not in the resident’s ears but were on the bedside drawer. The resident’s family member stated that staff were supposed to place the hearing aids in the morning and remove them at night, but they often forgot to do so, and said this concern had been discussed in interdisciplinary team meetings.
Hearing Aids Not Applied as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that one resident with bilateral hearing loss, dementia, and cognitive communication deficit had bilateral hearing aids applied as ordered by the physician. The resident’s record showed a BIMS score of 04, moderate hearing difficulty, and a care plan that included providing hearing aid care and storage as ordered. The physician ordered nursing staff to insert the hearing aids daily and ensure they were on the charger every night, twice a day, and the MAR showed the task was documented as completed without omissions. Surveyors observed the resident multiple times lying in bed without the hearing aids in place, while the hearing aids remained fully charged on the bedside table. During these observations, the resident stated she was deaf, asked the surveyor to place the hearing aids in, and said staff needed to help her get them in. An LPN responsible for the resident stated she communicated by speaking loudly and coming close, initially said the hearing aids were in, then acknowledged they were on the bedside table and could not explain why the task had been documented as completed when it had not been done. The DON stated that if a task is checked off on the MAR, it indicates the task has been completed.
Failure to Follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions and Equipment Disinfection
Penalty
Summary
Infection prevention and control practices were not followed for four residents during observed care and medication administration. The facility’s policies on Cleaning and Disinfection of Resident-Care Items and Equipment and Enhanced Barrier Precautions stated that reusable resident-care items are to be cleaned and disinfected between residents and that gowns and gloves are required for high-contact care activities for residents on enhanced barrier precautions, including device care and enteral feeding. During observation, an LPN checked the blood pressure of one resident and then another resident using the same blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter without cleaning or sanitizing the equipment before or after either use. The LPN confirmed the equipment was not sanitized between residents and stated the wipes were missing from the basket attached to the machine. The same LPN later administered a bolus feeding and medications via PEG tube to a resident with dysphagia, gastrostomy status, and an order to remain on enhanced barrier precautions while wearing gloves only and not a gown. When asked about the posted signage, the LPN stated a gown should have been worn but could not explain the purpose of the precaution. Catheter care was also observed for a resident with diagnoses including UTI, obstructive uropathy, BPH, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease stage 4, and acquired absence of kidney, with an indwelling Foley catheter documented in the record and care planned for catheter-related needs. Two CNAs provided the catheter care without wearing gowns. One CNA stated the infection control nurse had told them gowns were not needed, while the other stated gowns were required for close-contact care. In interview, the Unit Manager/Infection Preventionist RN and DON stated that enhanced barrier precautions are used for high-risk activities such as wound care, urinary catheter care, enteral feeding, and central line care, and that staff were expected to don gowns for high-contact care and sanitize shared equipment between each resident use.
Failure to Follow Puree Recipe Affects Nutritional Value
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a puree recipe was followed to maintain the nutritional value of pureed country-fried steak for six residents on a pureed diet. During an observation, the Dietary Manager in Training (DMIT) was seen preparing pureed foods without a recipe, using broth and several cups of water, which is against the facility's guidelines. The DMIT, who had been working at the facility for only three days, stated she did not receive orientation but had on-the-job training. The facility's document titled Texture Modification Inservice explicitly states that large amounts of liquids or thickeners should not be added to purees as it can impact the nutritional value and quality of the food. Interviews with the Registered Dietitian (RD) and the Dietary Manager (DM) confirmed that there is a recipe for pureed food, but it was not provided to the DMIT. The DM stated that water should not be used in preparing pureed food as it diminishes the nutritional value. The District Manager also confirmed that pureed food should not be prepared with water and mentioned plans to provide an in-service to staff. The Administrator reiterated that kitchen staff should not use water when preparing pureed food, highlighting a lack of adherence to established guidelines.
Failure to Label and Date Food Items in Freezer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its policy on safe food handling procedures, specifically regarding the labeling and dating of food items stored in the kitchen's walk-in freezer. During an observation, it was found that two open boxes of cookie dough, containing approximately 60 and 80 cookies respectively, were not labeled with an opened or discard date. This oversight was confirmed by the Registered Dietitian and the Dietary Manager. The facility's policy clearly states that all food items should be appropriately labeled and dated, either by manufacturer packaging or staff notation, to ensure safe food handling practices. The deficiency had the potential to affect 96 residents who received an oral diet from the kitchen, posing a risk of foodborne illness.
Medication Cart Signature Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly maintain and store medications on three of six medication carts, as evidenced by missing end-of-shift controlled medication count signatures. Observations revealed that the controlled substance books on the medication carts for Pink A Hall, Pink B Hall, and Blue C Hall had missing signatures on the End of Shift Controlled Drug Count sheets. Specifically, the Pink A Hall sheet was missing five signatures, the Pink B Hall sheet was missing ten signatures, and the Blue C Hall sheet was missing three signatures. Interviews with nursing staff, including an RN and LPNs, confirmed the absence of signatures, which are required to validate the count of controlled substances at the beginning and end of each shift. The Director of Nurses (DON) verified the missing signatures and acknowledged that the purpose of the narcotic count and signing the sheets is to ensure the accuracy of the controlled substances count on each cart. The DON stated that the missing signatures were likely due to oversight by the nurses responsible for those shifts. The facility's policy requires that the narcotic sheets be removed and reviewed at the end of each month, and any missing signatures are addressed by identifying the responsible nurse and providing education. However, the report does not mention any corrective actions taken to address the deficiency after the incident.
Failure to Implement Stop Dates for PRN Psychoactive Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement stop dates for PRN psychoactive medications, specifically lorazepam and trazodone, for two residents, which is a requirement under the facility's policies and CMS regulations. For one resident, diagnosed with spondylosis, delusional disorder, and vascular dementia, trazodone was prescribed as needed for insomnia without a stop date, and it was administered sporadically over several months. The facility's records did not show any recommendations regarding the duration of this PRN medication. Another resident, with diagnoses including major depressive disorder and mild pain, was prescribed lorazepam as needed for agitation, also without a stop date. Despite the consultant pharmacist's awareness of the requirement for stop dates on PRN orders, there was no documentation of communication with the physician to amend the orders. The Director of Nursing acknowledged the absence of stop dates and recommendations for these medications.
Inadequate Denture Care for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate denture care for two residents, R26 and R78, as observed through family and staff interviews, record reviews, and policy examination. R26, who was severely cognitively impaired and required substantial assistance with grooming, did not have her oral care needs addressed in her care plan. Observations and family interviews revealed that R26's dentures were often left in her mouth without proper cleaning, leading to complaints of mouth pain. The facility's records showed inconsistent documentation of oral care, with several days marked as not attempted or not charted. R78, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and requiring total assistance with oral care, also experienced inadequate denture care. Family interviews indicated that oral care was performed infrequently, approximately once a week. Observations confirmed that R78's oral care was not consistently provided, and the facility's records reflected numerous days without any charting or attempts at oral care. Interviews with CNAs and the LPN/UM revealed a lack of clarity and consistency in charting oral care, with many instances of blanks or '9's indicating that care was not attempted or documented. The DON acknowledged that oral care should be completed daily and as needed, but the lack of documentation suggested oversight. This deficiency in providing necessary oral care had the potential to cause discomfort and impact the residents' nutrition and hydration intake.
Infection Control and Hand Hygiene Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to proper hand hygiene protocols during perineal and catheter care for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a urinary catheter. During an observation, a CNA and an RN Educator provided perineal and catheter care but did not perform hand hygiene after removing gloves and before donning new ones. This oversight occurred despite the facility's policy requiring hand hygiene before and after glove use. The RN Educator confirmed the lapse in hand hygiene and acknowledged the need for compliance monitoring. In another instance, a resident on enteric contact isolation for a history of Clostridium difficile had their room door left open, contrary to isolation protocols. An LPN administered medication without initially donning PPE and had to leave the room to retrieve a stethoscope, further breaching isolation procedures. The LPN acknowledged the need for the door to be closed and the importance of adhering to isolation precautions. Additionally, a resident with a PICC line for IV antibiotic administration did not receive proper disinfection of the needleless connector. An RN administered the antibiotic without cleaning the connector after removing the cap, contrary to the facility's policy. The LPN/UM confirmed that the connector should be disinfected even if a cap is present, highlighting a failure to follow aseptic technique guidelines.
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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 Blairsville
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatuge Regional Nursing Home | 12.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 9 | 0 |
| Clay County Health And Rehabilitation | 13.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 11 | 0 |
| Murphy Rehabilitation & Nursing | 15.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
| Friendship Health And Rehab | 19.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 5 | 0 |
| Pruitthealth - Blue Ridge | 20.6 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.