LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Life Care Center of Ocala has received an "A" trust grade, indicating it is highly recommended and performs excellently compared to other facilities. It ranks #67 out of 690 nursing homes in Florida, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 11 in Marion County, meaning only one local option is better. However, the facility is seeing a worsening trend, with issues increasing from 2 in 2023 to 4 in 2024. Staffing is a relative strength, with a good turnover rate of 27%, well below the state average, but RN coverage is only average. Additionally, there have been concerns about food safety practices, such as food being left uncovered and equipment not being cleaned properly, which could pose health risks. Overall, while the facility has strong staffing and a good trust grade, families should be aware of its recent compliance issues.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Florida
- #67/690
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 27% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 21 points below Florida's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Florida facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 41 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Florida. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (27%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (27%)
21 points below Florida average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Aug 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to provide wound care and treatment in accordance with professional standards of practice for 1 of 3 residents reviewed for ski...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the drugs and biologicals used in the facility were stored in accordance with currently accepted professional princi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to use the appropriate infection control standards for residents with central catheters for 1 (Resident #68) of 4 residents re...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
4) Review of Resident #116's MDS Discharge Return Anticipated Assessment, dated 5/31/24, documented Resident #116's discharge location on Section A to home/community.
Review of Resident #116's dischar...
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Mar 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure respiratory care services were provided consistent with professional standards of practice for oxygen administration f...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the equipment was cleaned in accordance with professional standards for food safety.
Findings include:
During an obser...
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Oct 2021
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the drugs and biologicals used in the facility were stored and labeled in accordance with currently accepted professio...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program to help prevent the possible development and transmission of communicabl...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to store and prepare food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety.
Findings:
On 10/11/2021 beginning a...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Florida.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Florida facilities.
- • 27% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 21 points below Florida's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Life Of Ocala's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Florida, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Life Of Ocala Staffed?
CMS rates LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 27%, compared to the Florida average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Life Of Ocala?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA during 2021 to 2024. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Life Of Ocala?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 120 certified beds and approximately 111 residents (about 92% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in OCALA, Florida.
How Does Life Of Ocala Compare to Other Florida Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Florida, LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (27%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Life Of Ocala?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Life Of Ocala Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Florida. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Life Of Ocala Stick Around?
Staff at LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 27%, the facility is 19 percentage points below the Florida average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 22%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Life Of Ocala Ever Fined?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Life Of Ocala on Any Federal Watch List?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF OCALA is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.