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 Westward Heights Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with dementia was sent to the hospital after agitation and elevated blood glucose, and the facility then issued an involuntary discharge and refused to accept the resident back. Facility notes cited suicidal ideation and combative behavior, while hospital psychiatry documented that inpatient psych care was not needed and later noted the resident was calm, pleasant, and improved after medication changes. The resident’s representative said the resident stabilized quickly, and hospital staff said facility staff did not reassess the resident before refusing return.
The facility failed to ensure proper infection control practices during meal service, as a CNA was observed assisting residents with eating and handling food without performing hand hygiene between residents. The CNA touched residents and their wheelchairs, and handled food items with ungloved hands, contrary to the facility's hand hygiene policy. The DON and infection preventionist confirmed the need for hand hygiene and glove use during meal service.
A facility failed to perform a gradual dose reduction (GDR) for a resident receiving trazodone for insomnia, despite recommendations from a pharmacist. The resident, who was cognitively intact, showed no documented episodes of restlessness. The physician declined GDR recommendations, citing clinical contraindications without providing specific documentation. The facility's policy emphasizes appropriate dosing and minimizing adverse effects, but these guidelines were not followed.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment inappropriately touched another resident with severe cognitive impairment in a dining room. The incident was witnessed by a CNA who intervened immediately. Both residents have dementia and did not seem to understand the incident. The RN followed the facility's abuse reporting policy, and the resident who initiated the contact was placed under increased supervision.
A resident experienced a delay in receiving a physician-ordered hip x-ray due to miscommunication and transportation issues within the facility. The x-ray, ordered on 10/26/24, was not completed until five days later, as confirmed by staff interviews.
Failure to Allow Resident Return After Hospitalization
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was allowed to return after an acute hospital transfer. The resident had been admitted to the facility with dementia and was transferred by EMS after increased agitation, elevated blood glucose, and insulin administration. Facility documentation shows the IDT met with management and decided to issue an involuntary discharge notice because the resident’s clinical or behavioral status was said to endanger others in the facility and because the resident’s needs could not be met there. The note states the facility contacted the ER, the resident’s spouse, the state ombudsman, a Utah psychiatric skilled nursing facility, and the medical director while discussing discharge and placement options. The facility documented that it told the hospital and the spouse that the resident was no longer a resident and would not be accepted back. The Social Services Transfer/Discharge Plan and Notice to Resident listed the transfer reason as suicidal ideation/combative behavior and was mailed after the transfer. Hospital psychiatry documentation, however, stated the resident did not need inpatient psychiatric treatment and could be discharged when medically stable. An addendum later stated the current facility did not want to accept the resident back because of recent behavioral changes and that the resident would not be safe without placement, recommending transfer to a memory care unit. Hospital records showed the resident was placed on 1-to-1 observation, then removed from 1-to-1 after stabilization, and later was calm, pleasant, and cooperative. Additional hospital notes stated the resident had worsening dementia and acute metabolic encephalopathy that improved after clonidine was stopped, and that the resident had been appropriate and cooperative in the hospital. The resident’s representative stated the resident stabilized within a day after medication changes and later was placed in another LTC facility, while hospital staff stated facility staff did not reassess the resident at the hospital. Facility leadership confirmed the resident was not reassessed because the resident had already been discharged from the facility as a resident.
Inadequate Infection Control During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement proper infection prevention practices during meal delivery and assistance, as observed in two out of three meal observations in the main dining room. During one observation, a CNA assisted a resident with eating dinner and was seen touching the resident's shoulder, arm, and wheelchair wheel without performing hand hygiene. The CNA then moved to another resident, touching their hamburger with ungloved hands, cutting it, and handing it to the resident. The CNA continued to handle the resident's food, including a French fry, without washing her hands until after the meal service. In another observation, the same CNA assisted a resident by cutting their food and then touched the resident's shirt. The CNA proceeded to deliver meals to other residents, touching their wheelchairs and handling their food without performing hand hygiene between residents. The facility's Director of Nursing, infection preventionist, and dietary director confirmed that hand hygiene should occur between residents if contact occurs, and gloves should be worn when touching residents' food items. The facility's hand hygiene policy requires washing hands before and after resident contact and after handling potentially contaminated items.
Failure to Perform Gradual Dose Reduction for Antidepressant Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a gradual dose reduction (GDR) was performed for a resident reviewed for unnecessary medications. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a mental status score of 14 out of 15, had diagnoses including end-stage renal disease and insomnia. The resident was receiving trazodone, an antidepressant, for insomnia. Despite the absence of documented episodes of restlessness, the physician repeatedly declined pharmacist recommendations for a GDR, citing clinical contraindications without providing specific resident information. The physician's rationale included concerns about potential impairment of the resident's function or psychiatric instability, but these were not substantiated with detailed documentation. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed the lack of unsuccessful GDR attempts and the absence of specific documentation justifying the continued use of trazodone. The facility's policy on psychoactive medication management emphasizes the importance of seeking appropriate doses and minimizing adverse consequences, suggesting tapering when clinical conditions improve or stabilize. However, the facility did not adhere to these guidelines, as evidenced by the lack of documented attempts to reduce the medication dose or explore non-pharmacological interventions.
Failure to Protect Resident from Abuse by Another Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's right to be free from physical abuse by another resident. The incident involved two residents with cognitive impairments, one with severe and the other with moderate impairment, both diagnosed with non-Alzheimer's dementia. During the incident, one resident was observed rubbing the shoulder of the other and then placing a hand in the groin area. This inappropriate contact was witnessed by a CNA who immediately intervened by redirecting and separating the residents. The CNA noted that both residents, due to their dementia, did not seem to understand what had occurred, and there were no changes in demeanor observed in the affected resident. The RN on duty was informed of the incident by the CNA and followed the facility's policy for reporting abuse, which included notifying the social services director. The RN confirmed that the residents were separated and that the resident who initiated the contact was placed under increased supervision. Despite the incident, no immediate effects were noted on the resident who was touched, although the RN acknowledged the difficulty in assessing the impact due to the resident's dementia.
Delay in X-ray Due to Miscommunication and Transportation Issues
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide care in accordance with physician's orders and professional standards of practice for a resident with a change in condition. The resident had a physician's order for a hip x-ray dated 10/26/24, but due to miscommunication and transportation issues within the facility, the x-ray was not completed until 11/13/24, five days after it was ordered. The delay was attributed to a miscommunication between the facility scheduler and transportation, as confirmed by interviews with the social services staff and the administrator.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
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Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 10 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
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Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Lander
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Skilled Nursing Community At Wlrc | 1.1 mi | ★★★★★ | 6 | 0 |
| Morning Star Care Center | 14.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Wind River Rehabilitation And Wellness | 22.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 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.