Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before 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 Life Care Center Of Columbia during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility did not initiate, complete, or submit required MDS assessments for multiple residents, resulting in numerous overdue or incomplete assessments. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent communication, lack of formal tracking, and unclear responsibilities, leading to delays in updating care plans for residents with complex medical needs.
Surveyors found that food items in the kitchen's freezer, cooler, and dry storage were not consistently sealed, labeled, or dated according to facility policy, with some items stored past their expiration or best by dates. Despite established procedures and regular walkthroughs by the Dietitian, Dietary Manager, and Administrator, multiple violations were observed, including dented cans, opened containers without proper labeling, and perishable items with missing or expired dates.
A resident with multiple complex diagnoses experienced a significant change in condition due to a wound greater than stage 2, but the required significant change MDS and subsequent quarterly MDS assessments were not completed or submitted within the required timeframe. Despite daily review processes, staff interviews revealed ongoing issues with late MDS submissions, resulting in care plans and the kardex not being updated for the resident.
A resident with type 2 diabetes was incorrectly coded on the MDS as having received insulin injections, when in fact only a GLP-1 medication (Trulicity) was administered. Review of orders and MARs confirmed no insulin was ordered or given, but MDS assessments still reflected insulin use due to staff misunderstanding and lack of proper documentation.
Expired medications and biologicals were found on multiple treatment carts in the facility, including Regenecare Wound Gel, Curity Idofoam Packing Strips, and various ointments and creams. These items were verified as expired by nursing staff and removed. Interviews with staff highlighted a need for better adherence to policies and ongoing training to prevent such deficiencies.
The facility failed to maintain essential equipment, with excessive lint in 3 dryers and malfunctioning sinks in the kitchen. Lint build-up was observed on the dryers, and the Maintenance Director was unaware of a sign for daily cleaning. Additionally, 2 sinks were not functioning properly, with one leaking and another constantly running hot water. The Maintenance Director was not informed of these issues, indicating a communication gap in maintenance procedures.
The facility failed to provide a resident-centered activities program for two residents, as required by their policy. One resident, who is non-verbal and bed-bound, had only one documented activity session in three months. Another resident, with no cognitive impairment, had no documented activities in the same period. The Activity Director admitted to visiting residents but did not document these interactions, leading to a lack of evidence of activities being offered.
A resident reported rough handling and threats by nursing staff during a transfer, but the LTC facility delayed reporting the abuse allegation to the state agency. Despite the facility's policy requiring immediate reporting, the incident was reported three days later. Interviews revealed a lack of immediate action and communication among staff, contributing to the delay.
A facility failed to provide timely written notification of a hospital transfer to a resident's personal representative, as required by policy. The resident, with diagnoses including sepsis and cerebrovascular accident, experienced two hospital stays without documented notice. The Social Services Assistant confirmed that while calls were made to the representative, no written notice was mailed, violating the facility's policy.
A facility failed to provide written notification of the bed-hold policy to a resident or her representative during two hospitalizations. Despite the policy requiring notification upon admission and at transfer, there was no documentation confirming this was done. Staff interviews revealed that while the policy was signed at admission, no written documents were mailed during the hospital stays.
A resident, R104, who is dependent on staff for personal care, did not receive adequate ADL care, specifically showers, as per the facility's policy. Despite being cognitively intact, R104 received only two bed baths and two showers in a 30-day period. Interviews revealed inconsistencies in shower provision, with staff citing pain during transfers as a reason for bed baths. Documentation showed only one bath was recorded, contrary to the expectation of daily bed baths.
A resident with no cognitive impairment was not included in the development and implementation of her person-centered care plan, despite facility policies emphasizing resident participation. The resident was not invited to care plan meetings, and there was no documentation to confirm her involvement or awareness of her care plan.
Failure to Complete and Submit Timely Resident Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that comprehensive assessments were initiated, completed, submitted, or exported for all 17 residents reviewed for resident assessments. Multiple Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments, including quarterly, annual, admission, and significant change assessments, were found to be overdue, not started, still in progress, or completed but not exported. Specific examples include assessments overdue by as much as 557 days, assessments sitting in the electronic queue without being exported, and assessments not initiated at all. The residents affected had a range of complex medical conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, fractures, and other chronic illnesses. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of consistent communication and process for tracking and completing MDS assessments. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged chronic issues with late submissions and described reliance on the electronic medical record dashboard and morning meetings to track due assessments. However, there was no formal documentation of submission expectations, and the MDS schedule was not consistently distributed to all relevant staff. Department heads, including the Activities Director and Director of Social Work, reported not receiving regular updates or calendars, leading to delays in completing their portions of the assessments. The deficiency was further compounded by unclear lines of responsibility and insufficient oversight. The Director of Nursing and Administrator were not consistently informed about overdue assessments, and the MDS department was understaffed, with some roles temporarily filled or vacant. Staff interviews indicated that incomplete MDS assessments resulted in care plans not being updated, which could affect the communication of resident needs and interventions to direct care staff. The facility's own policy required adherence to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual, but this was not followed, resulting in a systemic failure to complete and submit required resident assessments in a timely manner.
Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Discard Food Items in Kitchen Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure proper storage, labeling, dating, and discarding of food items in the walk-in freezer, walk-in cooler, and dry storage room. During observations, multiple food items were found to be improperly sealed, lacking open or use by dates, or stored past their expiration or best by dates. Examples included dented cans, opened containers without appropriate labeling, and perishable items with expired or missing dates. These findings were present across all major food storage areas in the kitchen. Facility policies required that all food be stored in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner, with specific instructions for labeling, dating, and discarding food items according to federal, state, and local guidelines. The policies also mandated that opened packages be resealed tightly and labeled with open and use by dates, and that expired or compromised items be removed from use. Despite these policies, surveyors observed several violations, such as opened and unlabeled containers, items with unclear or missing expiration dates, and food products that were not properly sealed or stored. Interviews with the Dietitian, Dietary Manager, and Administrator confirmed that the facility had established procedures for food safety, including regular walkthroughs and the use of a labeling guide. However, the staff acknowledged that items not properly labeled or past their use by dates should be discarded, and that daily checks were expected. The presence of improperly stored and labeled food items indicated that these procedures were not consistently followed, resulting in the cited deficiency.
Failure to Timely Complete and Submit Significant Change MDS Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete and submit a significant change Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment within 14 days after determining a significant change in a resident's physical or mental condition, as required by the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual and facility policy. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including metabolic encephalopathy, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety disorder, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The significant change MDS, triggered by a wound greater than stage 2, was not submitted, nor was the subsequent quarterly MDS, both of which remained in progress past their due dates. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the MDS schedule is reviewed daily in morning meetings, and the electronic medical record system indicates when assessments are due. Despite these processes, the MDS Coordinator acknowledged a chronic issue with late submissions and stated that the facility was not up to date with assessments. The DON and Administrator were only recently notified of the late assessments, and the MDS RN confirmed that the care plan and kardex would not be updated without the completed MDS, leaving floor staff without updated care interventions for the resident.
Incorrect MDS Coding of GLP-1 Medication as Insulin
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for a resident with type 2 diabetes mellitus by incorrectly recording the administration of a glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1), specifically Trulicity (Dulaglutide), as insulin. Review of the resident's orders and Medication Administration Record (MAR) confirmed that there was no order for insulin and no insulin was administered during the relevant look-back periods. Despite this, the MDS assessments for two separate quarters indicated that insulin injections had been given on one day during each look-back period. Interviews with the MDS Coordinators revealed a misunderstanding regarding the classification of Trulicity, with one coordinator confirming it is a GLP-1 and not insulin, while the other was unsure. The coordinators stated that previous training from a former regional MDS Director led them to code Trulicity as insulin, but they could not provide documentation to support this practice. The facility's policy requires that the MDS assessment accurately reflect the resident's status during the observation period, which was not followed in this case.
Expired Medications and Biologicals Found on Treatment Carts
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications and biologicals that were outdated or improperly labeled were removed from the medication carts. During observations, it was found that multiple treatment carts contained expired medications and biologicals, including Regenecare Wound Gel, Curity Idofoam Packing Strips, and various ointments and creams. These items were verified as expired by the nursing staff and were subsequently removed from the carts. The facility's policy requires that outdated or deteriorated medications be immediately removed from inventory and disposed of according to established procedures. Interviews with nursing staff revealed a lack of adherence to the facility's policy regarding the handling of expired medications and biologicals. The unit manager acknowledged the need for staff education on not using partial pieces of sterile dressings and indicated that wound dressings are typically changed by wound nurses during the week. Additionally, a registered nurse emphasized the importance of ongoing training for nurses and the role of certified nursing assistants in promoting wound healing. Despite these acknowledgments, the presence of expired medications and biologicals on the treatment carts indicates a deficiency in the facility's medication management practices.
Deficiencies in Equipment Maintenance and Kitchen Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain essential equipment in safe working order, as evidenced by the excessive lint accumulation in 3 of 3 clothes dryers and malfunctioning sinks in the kitchen. Observations revealed significant lint build-up on the lint baskets, wiring, and upper sides of the dryers, which was confirmed by the Housekeeping Supervisor. The Maintenance Director was unaware of a sign instructing daily lint cleaning and stated that the dryers were cleaned weekly. No lint removal logs were provided, indicating a lack of adherence to the facility's Utilities Management Program, which mandates regular maintenance to prevent fire hazards and code violations. Additionally, the facility did not ensure proper functioning of 2 of 2 sinks in the main kitchen, with one sink constantly running hot water and another leaking into a container with black slime. The Maintenance Director was unaware of these issues, as he relied on verbal reports or work order forms to address maintenance needs. Despite having a system for prioritizing and addressing work orders, the Director was not informed of the ongoing water drainage problems, highlighting a communication gap in the facility's maintenance procedures.
Failure to Provide Resident-Centered Activities Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide an ongoing resident-centered activities program for two residents, R37 and R53, as required by their Therapeutic Activities Program policy. This policy mandates the implementation of a program that incorporates residents' interests, hobbies, and cultural preferences to maintain or improve their physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. R37, who was admitted with diagnoses including sepsis, cerebrovascular accident, major depressive disorder, and neurogenic bladder, is non-verbal, bed-bound, on contact isolation, and receives continuous tube feeding. A review of R37's medical record revealed only one documented activity session in the past three months, where the resident was read to from the Bible for 20 minutes, with no other documentation of activities provided. R53, admitted with diagnoses such as repeated falls, fracture of the right tibia, dementia, depression, and adult failure to thrive, has a BIMS score indicating no cognitive impairment and the ability to make her own decisions. However, a review of R53's medical record showed no documentation of participation in one-to-one or group activities over the last three months. During an interview, the Activity Director admitted to visiting residents' rooms but failed to document these interactions, resulting in a lack of evidence that activities were offered to R37 and R53.
Delayed Reporting of Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse involving a resident, identified as R101, to the state agency within the required time frame. The facility's policy mandates that any alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, or mistreatment must be reported immediately, or within 2 hours if serious bodily injury is involved, and within 24 hours if not. However, the incident involving R101 was reported to the state agency three days after the initial allegation was made. R101, who is cognitively intact and requires assistance for daily activities, reported that during a transfer using a Hoyer lift, the nursing staff was rough and rude, causing him discomfort and distress. He also mentioned that the staff threatened him with losing his private room if he went to the hospital. This incident was initially reported to the facility's administrator by the Rehab Director on behalf of R101, but the report to the state agency was delayed. Interviews with various staff members, including the Social Services Director, Executive Director, Director of Nursing, and others, revealed a lack of immediate action and communication regarding the abuse allegation. The Executive Director and Director of Nursing were aware of the situation but did not ensure timely reporting to the state agency. The accused nurse was suspended, but the facility did not classify the incident as abuse initially, which contributed to the delay in reporting.
Failure to Provide Written Notification of Hospital Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely written notification of discharge to the hospital for a resident's personal representative, as required by their policy. The policy mandates that the facility must notify the resident and their representative in writing, in a language and manner they understand, before a transfer or discharge. This notification should include the reason for the transfer, the effective date, and the location to which the resident is being transferred. However, in the case of the resident identified as R37, who had been admitted with diagnoses including sepsis, cerebrovascular accident, major depressive disorder, and a neurogenic bladder, there was no documentation in the medical record or hard chart to confirm that such notice was provided during two hospital stays. The deficiency was confirmed during an interview with the Social Services Assistant (SSA), who acknowledged that a Notice of Discharge or Transfer was not completed and provided to the resident and the responsible party in a timely manner. The SSA stated that the facility typically calls the personal representative when a resident is sent to the hospital, but no written notice is mailed out. This lack of written notification is a direct violation of the facility's policy and the regulatory requirements for notifying residents and their representatives about transfers or discharges.
Failure to Provide Bed-Hold Policy Notification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide written notification to a resident or her personal representative regarding the duration of the bed hold and reserve bed payment policy during two hospitalizations. The facility's policy requires that the bed-hold policy be communicated upon admission and again at the time of transfer, or within 24 hours in cases of emergency transfer. However, there was no documentation in the medical record or hard chart to confirm that this information was provided to the resident or her representative during her hospital stays. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the Social Services Assistant acknowledged the absence of documentation for the bed-hold policy notification and stated that the personal representative is typically called the next day with the bed-hold payment amount. The Admissions Coordinator confirmed that the personal representative signed the bed-hold policy upon admission, but no written documents were mailed out during the resident's hospitalizations. This lack of documentation and communication led to the deficiency identified by the surveyors.
Deficiency in Providing ADL Care for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care, specifically showers, for a resident identified as R104. The facility's policy states that residents who are unable to perform ADLs should receive necessary assistance to maintain hygiene and grooming. R104, who is cognitively intact but dependent on staff for personal care due to physical limitations, received only two bed baths and two showers within a 30-day period. This is contrary to the facility's policy and the resident's care plan, which indicates a need for regular assistance with ADLs. Interviews with staff and family members revealed inconsistencies in the provision of showers. A CNA claimed to provide showers on specific weekdays, while an LPN noted that R104 often received bed baths due to pain associated with transfers. The family member of R104 expressed difficulty in getting staff to comply with shower requests on weekends. Documentation discrepancies were also noted, with CNA1 indicating that the electronic health record showed only one bath was documented, despite the expectation of daily bed baths. These findings highlight a deficiency in meeting the resident's ADL needs as per the facility's policy and care plan.
Resident Excluded from Care Planning Process
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident, identified as R53, was included in the development and implementation of her person-centered comprehensive plan of care. Despite the facility's policy on person-centered care planning, which emphasizes the resident's right to participate in their care planning process, R53 was not invited to any care plan meetings since her admission. R53, who has a BIMS score of 15 indicating no cognitive impairment, expressed that she was not aware of her care plan or its implementation. The facility's records showed that a care plan conference notification was sent to R53's personal representative, but there was no documentation confirming that R53 herself was invited or that a care plan conference took place. The Social Services Assistant confirmed that while a copy of the invitation is typically hand-delivered to the resident, there was no documentation to verify that R53 received it. The facility's admission packet outlines the resident's rights to be informed and participate in their care planning, which were not upheld in this case.
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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 Columbia
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildewood Downs | 2 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
| Nhc Healthcare - Parklane | 2.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 1 | 0 |
| Rice Estate Rehabilitation And Healthcare | 4.1 mi | ★★★★★ | 3 | 0 |
| Pruitthealth- Blythewood | 4.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
| White Oak Manor - Columbia | 5.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
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