LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation has a Trust Grade of C+, which means it is slightly above average but still has room for improvement. It ranks #134 out of 353 nursing homes in Georgia, placing it in the top half of facilities statewide, but it is the second-best option in Sumter County, with only one other local facility available. The facility's performance is worsening, with reported issues increasing from 1 in 2022 to 5 in 2024. Staffing is a concern, with a low rating of 1 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 55%, which is average for the state. Importantly, there have been no fines, indicating good compliance overall. However, there are specific areas of concern, such as the failure to maintain proper infection control practices, evidenced by unlabeled and unbagged personal care equipment in shared bathrooms, and inadequate care planning for some residents that could affect their daily living activities. While there are positive aspects, such as no fines and decent health inspection ratings, families should weigh these against the staffing issues and the recent spike in compliance problems.
- Trust Score
- C+
- In Georgia
- #134/353
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 55% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Georgia facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 15 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Georgia. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Near Georgia average (2.6)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
Near Georgia avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
7 points above Georgia average of 48%
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Mar 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on staff interviews, and record review the facility failed to ensure a Preadmission Screening/Resident Review Level II referral was made to ensure that individualized care and services were offe...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Care Plan-Comprehensive the fa...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, staff interviews, and record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Tracheostomy Care, the fac...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, clinical record review, and review of facility policy titled, Depression - Clinical Protocol, the fac...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY**
Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain an effective infection control program related to l...
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May 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review, staff interviews, and review of the facility policy titled, Infection Control Recommendati...
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May 2019
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, staff interview and a review of the facilities Patient's Plan of Care procedural guidelines, the facilit...
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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, staff interview, and policy review the facility failed to label and date food items upon receipt. This had the potential to effect 78 of 88 residents that receive an oral diet.
F...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Georgia facilities.
- • 55% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within Georgia, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation Staffed?
CMS rates LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 55%, which is 9 percentage points above the Georgia average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION during 2019 to 2024. These included: 8 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation?
LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 100 certified beds and approximately 51 residents (about 51% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in PLAINS, Georgia.
How Does Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation Compare to Other Georgia Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Georgia, LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION's overall rating (3 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (55%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Georgia. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation Stick Around?
Staff turnover at LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION is high. At 55%, the facility is 9 percentage points above the Georgia average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation Ever Fined?
LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION 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 Lillian Carter Health & Rehabilitation on Any Federal Watch List?
LILLIAN CARTER HEALTH & REHABILITATION 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.