Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before around November 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 Life Care Center Of Banner Elk during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with an indwelling urinary catheter for obstructive uropathy was left without a required anchoring device, despite physician orders and care plan instructions. Staff removed the soiled device and did not promptly replace it, and communication lapses among nursing staff led to a delay in addressing the issue. The absence of the anchoring device was confirmed through observation and interviews, with facility leadership acknowledging the deficiency.
A nurse left a cup containing multiple medications unattended at the bedside of a moderately cognitively impaired resident with diabetes, hypertension, and depression. The nurse became distracted and did not ensure the resident took the medications, contrary to facility policy requiring direct observation or removal of medications if not taken.
A Treatment Nurse and a Nurse Aide failed to don gowns while providing wound care to a resident with a pressure ulcer, despite facility policy requiring Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for such cases. The absence of EBP signage and PPE outside the resident's room, combined with miscommunication among staff, led to the resident not being placed on EBP as required.
The facility failed to organize group outings for residents despite repeated requests documented in Resident Council Minutes. Residents expressed feelings of confinement and disconnection due to the lack of outings. The Activities Director and Administrator cited transportation and staffing issues as barriers, although the facility had available vehicles and no special credentials were needed to drive them.
The facility failed to resolve a grievance from the Resident Council regarding transportation for group outings. Residents requested day trips, but the facility lacked a van driver. The Activities Director explored alternatives, but faced accessibility and cost issues. The Administrator, as the Grievance Official, did not ensure communication of a resolution to the residents, and the grievance remained unresolved.
The facility failed to conduct necessary bed rail assessments for two residents, leading to inappropriate use of bed rails. One resident, with a history of falls and dementia, had bed rails in use without an assessment since admission. Another resident, with Alzheimer's, had outdated evaluations and no consent for bed rail use, yet bed rails were observed in use. Staff interviews and observations highlighted the lack of proper documentation and assessment, with the DON acknowledging a system glitch affecting assessment scheduling.
Failure to Secure Indwelling Catheter Tubing with Anchoring Device
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary obstruction, who had an indwelling urinary catheter, was not provided with an anchoring device for the catheter tubing as ordered by the physician and outlined in the care plan. The resident reported that the catheter tubing was sometimes pulled during care, and direct observation confirmed the absence of an anchoring device. Staff interviews revealed that a nurse aide noticed the missing device and informed a nurse, who had previously removed the soiled anchoring device but was unable to find a replacement. The nurse stated she reported the need for a new device to another nurse, but this was not recalled by the recipient, and the device was not replaced in a timely manner. Further interviews with nursing staff and facility management confirmed that all residents with indwelling urinary catheters should have anchoring devices in place to prevent pulling and trauma, unless otherwise care planned. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the necessary devices should be accessible to staff and that the lack of an anchoring device was not excusable, even on a busy hall. The deficiency was based on the failure to secure the catheter tubing as required, resulting in the resident being left without the prescribed anchoring device for a period of time.
Medications Left Unattended at Bedside
Penalty
Summary
A nurse failed to ensure that medications were administered under direct observation, resulting in medications being left unattended at the bedside of a resident. The resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired and had diagnoses including diabetes with polyneuropathy, hypertension, and depression, was found with a medication cup containing six pills of various shapes and sizes on his overbed table. The resident was unsure what the pills were or why they were there. The nurse responsible stated that she had brought the medications to the resident earlier in the morning but became distracted by the resident's roommate and did not confirm that the resident had taken the medications. Facility policy, as confirmed by the DON and Administrator, requires nurses to remain with residents until all medications are taken or to remove the medications from the room if the resident does not wish to take them at the scheduled time. In this instance, the nurse did not follow this protocol, resulting in the medications being left unattended in the resident's room.
Failure to Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its infection control policy regarding Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for a resident with a pressure ulcer. According to the facility's policy, EBP, including the use of gowns and gloves, should be used during high-contact care activities for residents with chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers. During an observation, a Treatment Nurse and a Nurse Aide provided wound care to a resident with an unstageable pressure ulcer without donning gowns, and there was no signage or PPE supplies outside the resident's room to indicate EBP was required. The staff performed hand hygiene and changed gloves multiple times during the procedure but did not use gowns as required by policy. Interviews with the involved staff revealed that the Treatment Nurse did not believe EBP was necessary due to the absence of significant wound drainage, and the Nurse Aide assumed EBP was not needed because there was no signage. The Infection Preventionist acknowledged that the resident should have been placed on EBP when the pressure ulcer was identified, attributing the failure to a miscommunication with the Treatment Nurse. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that EBP should have been implemented when the pressure ulcer was first identified, but it was delayed due to uncertainty about the wound's status and a lapse in communication.
Failure to Provide Group Outings for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide group activities outside of the facility for residents who expressed a desire for such outings. This deficiency was identified through record reviews, facility activity calendars, and interviews with residents and staff. The Resident Council Minutes from July 2023 to July 2024 documented multiple requests from residents for group outings, such as trips to see the changing leaves, visits to stores, and dining at restaurants. Despite these repeated requests, there was no documented response or action taken by the facility to arrange these outings. Interviews with residents revealed their dissatisfaction and feelings of confinement due to the lack of outings. Residents expressed that not being able to participate in group outings made them feel like they were in prison and disconnected from society. The residents, who were cognitively intact, emphasized the importance of engaging in group activities and going outside for fresh air. The facility's proximity to local amenities such as restaurants, stores, and parks highlighted the feasibility of organizing such outings, yet no efforts were made to address the residents' requests. The Activities Director and Administrator acknowledged the residents' requests but cited transportation and staffing issues as barriers to organizing group outings. The facility had a transportation van and a bus, but the lack of a driver and sufficient staff to assist residents during outings were mentioned as challenges. The Maintenance Director confirmed the availability of the vehicles and stated that no special credentials were needed to drive them. Despite these resources, the facility did not take action to facilitate the requested outings, resulting in the deficiency.
Failure to Resolve Resident Council Grievance on Transportation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to resolve grievances raised by the Resident Council regarding transportation for group outings. During the June 2024 Resident Council meeting, residents expressed a desire to go on day trips, but the facility did not have a van driver available. The Activities Director (AD) attempted to find alternative transportation options, such as contacting local rafting companies and a local transportation agency, but faced challenges due to accessibility issues and high costs. Despite these efforts, the grievance was not resolved, and the residents were not informed of any concrete resolution or action plan. Interviews with the AD, Social Services Director, and Administrator revealed a lack of follow-through and communication regarding the grievance. The Administrator, who was the Grievance Official, acknowledged that the facility had not been able to arrange transportation due to staffing constraints and cost issues. The grievance was logged, but there was no documentation of a resolution or communication with the residents about the outcome. The Administrator admitted that the residents should have been informed that the grievance could not be resolved at the time, and efforts to hire a van/bus driver were ongoing.
Failure to Conduct Bed Rail Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete necessary bed rail assessments for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. Resident #3, who was admitted with a history of repeated falls and dementia, had not undergone a bed rail assessment since admission. Despite this, observations revealed that bed rails were in use, and staff interviews confirmed the resident's need for assistance with mobility and daily activities. The Director of Nursing acknowledged a system glitch that prevented the automatic scheduling of these assessments, which should have been conducted quarterly. Similarly, Resident #45, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, had an outdated evaluation indicating that bed rails were not needed. However, observations showed that bed rails were in use without a current assessment or signed consent in the medical record. Staff interviews revealed a lack of clarity regarding the necessity of bed rails for this resident, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that quarterly assessments were not completed as required. This oversight resulted in the inappropriate use of bed rails without proper documentation or consent.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
All 10 risk areas, ranked with evidence
Repeat citations, what's rising near you, and quality measures — ranked so department heads know exactly where to look first.
Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 40 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
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.
Illustrative
A prioritized, do-first checklist
Every risk area becomes concrete audit steps drawn from real citations at facilities like yours — run them this week, before your window opens.
Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Banner Elk
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Foley Center At Chestnut Ridge | 10.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| The Waters Of Roan Highlands,llc | 10.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 1 | 0 |
| Glenbridge Health And Rehabilitation | 12.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 10 | 0 |
| The Greens At Spruce Pines | 20.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Lenoir Health And Rehabilitation Center | 21.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 14 | 0 |
Every risk area ranked, a do-first checklist, and your local survey patterns
Built specifically for Life Care Center Of Banner Elk.
100% money-back within 48 hours.
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.