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 Nhc Healthcare, Sparta during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors observed unsanitary conditions in the kitchen, including food debris on floors and equipment, improper storage and labeling of dry goods, and failure to maintain safe food temperatures during meal service. Kitchen equipment was found with visible residue, and food items such as no bake cheesecake were served above safe temperature ranges, with staff unaware of proper storage requirements.
Two residents with severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances were involved in a physical altercation at the nurses' station, where one slapped the other and received a slap in return. The incident was witnessed, reported, and both residents were assessed with no injuries found. The facility failed to prevent physical abuse between residents as required by policy.
The facility did not document whether several residents had advance directives or their decisions regarding advance care planning, living wills, or power of attorney in their medical records. This was found for multiple residents with a range of medical conditions and cognitive abilities, as confirmed by the DON during interviews and record reviews.
A resident with multiple medical conditions, including severe cognitive impairment and a history of respiratory issues, was found to have a nebulizer with mask and tubing in their room that was undated and not stored in a plastic bag as required by facility policy. The equipment was observed uncovered and hanging on the wall on two separate occasions, and the DON confirmed the improper storage during the survey.
Surveyors observed that the kitchen's dry goods storage area had a door propped open with a fan and a partially used, unsealed bag of brown sugar, with a housefly present near the opening. Neither the Dietary Manager nor the RD could state when the last pest control visit occurred, and the facility's pest control policy was not effectively followed, creating the potential for pest contamination affecting all residents.
Sanitation and Food Safety Deficiencies in Dietary Department
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment and did not ensure that kitchen equipment was kept in a clean condition, as observed during a survey. Food debris was found on the floor and around the garbage disposal in the dishwashing room, with broken tiles and discoloration on the wall near the dishwasher. In the dry goods storage area, a partially used bag of brown sugar was left unsealed and undated, with a housefly observed on the bag, indicating a risk of contamination. The dietary manager acknowledged that the bag should have been sealed and dated, but could not confirm the last pest control visit. Multiple pieces of kitchen equipment, including the stove, steamer, and deep fryer, were found with visible food debris and residue, despite claims of daily cleaning and weekly deep cleaning. Additionally, improper food storage and labeling practices were noted, such as an unlabeled container of employee food in a nourishment room refrigerator. During a pre-plating temperature check for lunch service, no bake cheesecake scoops were found to be at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, above the recommended safe temperature, and were left uncovered on a cart during distribution. The registered dietitian incorrectly believed the cheesecake could be served at room temperature, despite product labeling that required refrigeration after mixing.
Failure to Prevent Resident-to-Resident Physical Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's right to be free from physical abuse by another resident. According to the facility's policy, all residents are to be protected from abuse, including physical abuse, and any alleged incidents must be immediately investigated with measures taken to protect the alleged victim. On the date of the incident, two residents with severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances were observed at the nurses' station when one resident slapped the other as he moved in front of him. The second resident responded by slapping back with his fist. Both residents were separated and assessed, with no apparent injuries noted. The facility's documentation and investigation confirmed that the altercation was witnessed and reported to the state agency. The incident involved residents with diagnoses such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia with agitation, and delusional disorders. Despite the facility's policy requiring immediate protection and increased supervision of residents during such incidents, the altercation occurred, indicating a failure to prevent physical abuse between residents. Staff interviews were limited due to the time elapsed since the incident, and no lingering psychosocial effects were noted for either resident.
Failure to Document Advance Directive Decisions in Medical Records
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to document whether five residents had advance directives or their decisions regarding advance care planning, living wills, and power of attorney in their medical records. This deficiency was identified through a review of facility policy, medical records, and staff interviews. The facility's policy required that all information regarding advance directives be included in the Patient Rights booklet and documented in the medical record. However, for the five residents reviewed, there was no documentation of their advance directive status or related decisions. The affected residents had various medical conditions, including displaced fracture, diabetes with neuropathy, COPD, chronic kidney disease, dementia, hypothyroidism, anxiety, discitis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, dysphagia, chronic respiratory failure, metabolic encephalopathy, atrial fibrillation, adult failure to thrive, and heart failure. Cognitive assessments showed that some residents were severely impaired, while others had moderate or intact cognition. Despite these varying levels of cognitive function and complex medical histories, the facility did not record any information about their advance directives in the medical records, as confirmed by the Director of Nursing.
Failure to Properly Store and Date Nebulizer Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident by not following its own infection control policy regarding the storage and dating of respiratory therapy equipment. Specifically, a nebulizer with mask and tubing was found in the resident's room undated and uncovered, not stored in a plastic bag as required by facility policy. This was observed on two separate occasions, with the equipment hanging on the wall near the resident's bed. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including dementia, anxiety, major depressive disorder, psychotic disorder with delusions, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and was care planned for respiratory function at risk for compromise. The resident had a physician's order for nebulizer treatments as needed, which had been discontinued prior to the observations. The Director of Nursing confirmed the improper storage and lack of dating of the nebulizer equipment during the surveyor's visit.
Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control system in the kitchen, as evidenced by observations and review of facility policy and documentation. During an inspection of the dry goods storage area, the door was found propped open with a large industrial fan, and a partially used commercial-sized bag of brown sugar was left unsealed, with the end of the bag folded over and creating an air gap. A housefly was observed crawling on the outside of the bag near the opening, indicating a potential for contamination. The facility's policy requires preventive measures to deny pests access, eliminate food sources, and work with a pest control operator, but these measures were not effectively implemented. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Registered Dietitian revealed that neither could recall the last visit from the pest control technician to the kitchen. The partially used bag of brown sugar was later removed from the dry goods room, but the initial failure to properly seal food items and prevent pest access was not addressed at the time of observation. This deficiency had the potential to affect all residents of the facility due to the risk of pest contamination in the kitchen environment.
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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 Sparta
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Care Center Of Sparta | 2.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Generations Center Of Spencer | 12 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 0 |
| Wharton Nursing Home | 14.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Nhc Healthcare, Cookeville | 15.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Grandview Post Acute | 15.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 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.