RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
River Terrace Health Care Center has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and recommended for families considering options. It ranks #87 out of 505 facilities in Indiana, placing it in the top half, but it is last in Wells County at #4 out of 4, indicating limited local competition. Unfortunately, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of reported issues increasing from 1 in 2024 to 2 in 2025. Staffing received an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars, but has a concerning turnover rate of 68%, significantly higher than the state average of 47%. On a positive note, there have been no recorded fines, and the facility boasts higher RN coverage than 99% of Indiana facilities, which is excellent for resident care. However, there have been specific concerns identified, including a lack of proper labeling for medications, which could risk patient safety, and inadequate monitoring of urinary output for residents with catheters, potentially leading to health issues. Additionally, there were failures to monitor refrigerator temperatures for medications, which could affect their effectiveness. Overall, while there are strengths, potential families should be aware of the concerning trends and specific incidents that need attention.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Indiana
- #87/505
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 68% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Indiana facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 89 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Indiana nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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Licensed Facility · Meets state certification requirements
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No fines on record
This facility meets basic licensing requirements.
The Bad
22pts above Indiana avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
20 points above Indiana average of 48%
The Ugly 4 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
2 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 labeling of open date for 1 of 1 carts reviewed. (Resident 29).
Findings include:
During an observation, on 01/07/25 at...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review the facility failed to document catheter output for 1 of 1 resident reviewed. (Resident 12)
Findings include:
Resident 12's record review began on 1/6/25 at 11:35A...
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Feb 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to ensure refrigerator temperatures were monitored for 1 ...
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Jan 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure adverse side effects of psychotropic medications were monitored for 1 of 5 residents reviewed (Resident 18).
Findings include:
Resid...
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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
- • Grade B+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Indiana.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Indiana facilities.
- • Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • 68% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is River Terrace Health's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Indiana, 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 River Terrace Health Staffed?
CMS rates RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 68%, which is 22 percentage points above the Indiana average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at River Terrace Health?
State health inspectors documented 4 deficiencies at RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER during 2023 to 2025. These included: 4 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates River Terrace Health?
RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility is operated by IDE MANAGEMENT GROUP, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 30 certified beds and approximately 27 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in BLUFFTON, Indiana.
How Does River Terrace Health Compare to Other Indiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Indiana, RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (68%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting River Terrace Health?
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 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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is River Terrace Health Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER 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 Indiana. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at River Terrace Health Stick Around?
Staff turnover at RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER is high. At 68%, the facility is 22 percentage points above the Indiana 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 River Terrace Health Ever Fined?
RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER 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 River Terrace Health on Any Federal Watch List?
RIVER TERRACE HEALTH CARE CENTER 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.