CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Camellia Gardens of Life Care has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes. It ranks #118 out of 353 facilities in Georgia, placing it in the top half, and is the best option out of four in Thomas County. The facility's trend is stable, maintaining five issues from 2023 to 2025, which suggests consistency in performance. Staffing is a strength, with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of only 25%, significantly lower than the state average. However, it has $10,615 in fines, which is concerning as it exceeds fines from 75% of Georgia facilities and points to some compliance issues. Specific incidents reported by inspectors include a failure to maintain a clean environment in several resident rooms, with noted paint chips, scuff marks, and exposed drywall. Additionally, there were issues with medication administration, as staff did not follow physician orders for pain management for some residents and made errors in medication delivery. While the facility offers good RN coverage, it's crucial for families to weigh these strengths against the noted concerns when considering this nursing home.
- Trust Score
- B
- In Georgia
- #118/353
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 25% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 23 points below Georgia's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ○ Average
- $10,615 in fines. Higher than 61% of Georgia facilities. Some compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 39 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Georgia. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (25%) · 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 (25%)
23 points below Georgia average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Georgia average (2.6)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
May 2025
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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 facility policy, the facility failed to provide interventi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0692
(Tag F0692)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, record review and review of facility's policy titled Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), the f...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations and interview, the facility failed to provide housekeeping and/or maintenance services to maintain a clean...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and review of the facility's policies titled Administration of Medications and Pain Assessmen...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, record reviews, and review of facility's policies titled Administration of Medications, Nasal...
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Mar 2023
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0554
(Tag F0554)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, resident and staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility's policies titled, Self-Administ...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, resident and staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Resident Self-Adm...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Indwelling Urinary Cather (Foley) Mana...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Observations conducted during the survey period on revealed disrepair of baseboard in bathroom and scuffed walls behind the h...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview and review of facility policy titled Eyedrop Administration, Use of Linen cart, and Laundry Services-General Policy, the facility failed to ensure nursing staff perform...
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Feb 2022
1 deficiency
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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to follow up timely in getting a Physician's Order fo...
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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
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • 25% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 23 points below Georgia's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • $10,615 in fines. Above average for Georgia. Some compliance problems on record.
About This Facility
What is Camellia Gardens Of Life Care's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE 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 Camellia Gardens Of Life Care Staffed?
CMS rates CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 25%, compared to the Georgia average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Camellia Gardens Of Life Care?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE during 2022 to 2025. These included: 11 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Camellia Gardens Of Life Care?
CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE 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 83 certified beds and approximately 70 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in THOMASVILLE, Georgia.
How Does Camellia Gardens Of Life Care Compare to Other Georgia Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Georgia, CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE's overall rating (3 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (25%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Camellia Gardens Of Life Care?
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 Camellia Gardens Of Life Care Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE 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 Camellia Gardens Of Life Care Stick Around?
Staff at CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 25%, the facility is 20 percentage points below the Georgia 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 17%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Camellia Gardens Of Life Care Ever Fined?
CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE has been fined $10,615 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Georgia average of $33,185. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Camellia Gardens Of Life Care on Any Federal Watch List?
CAMELLIA GARDENS OF LIFE CARE 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.