EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is recommended and above average compared to other facilities. It ranks #27 out of 505 in Indiana, placing it in the top half, and is #1 out of 12 in Elkhart County, indicating it is the best option locally. The facility is improving, having reduced issues from 5 in 2024 to 3 in 2025, and has a staff turnover rate of 46%, which is slightly below the state average, suggesting a stable workforce. There have been no fines recorded, which is a positive sign, though RN coverage is average, meaning there may be some room for improvement in nursing oversight. However, there are some concerns: the facility has had issues with medication management, failing to date multi-dose medication containers, and maintaining cleanliness in resident areas. Additionally, there were reports of a resident not receiving timely assistance with personal care, such as shaving and nail care, which raises concerns about the attention to individual resident needs. Overall, while there are strengths, families should consider these weaknesses when researching this nursing home.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Indiana
- #27/505
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 46% 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 ○ Average
- Each resident gets 33 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Indiana. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Indiana avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 14 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
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 provide Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for a depen...
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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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to follow the plan of care for a resident who required t...
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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
2. During an observation on 1/24/2025 at 2:54 P.M., the linen cart in the 500 hall's cover was on top of the cart exposing the clean linens and an opened container of micro kill bleach wipes with a wi...
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Jan 2024
5 deficiencies
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
Based on record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure a person-centered care plan was developed for 1 of 26 residents whose care plans were reviewed. (Resident 12)
Finding ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, observation, and record review, the facility failed to ensure residents received showers or complete bed bat...
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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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure Oxygen usage signage was posted outside reside...
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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 and interview, the facility staff failed to perform proper hand hygiene when preparing medications for administration to residents, for 2 random infection control observations dur...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to date multi-dose medication containers when opened, for 2 of 3 medication carts observed. (100 hall & 600 hall)
Findings include:
1. During a...
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Nov 2022
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the appropriate financial liability notification forms were provided to 2 of 3 residents who were reviewed for the ABN (Advanced Ben...
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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
2. During a random observation on 10/27/2022 at 11:40 A.M., Resident 72 had a flat affect.
During an interview, 10/27/2022 at 11:40 A.M., Resident 72 cried when asked how she was feeling, and indicat...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review and interview, the facility failed to provide showers timely for 2 of 3 residents reviewed for ADL's (activities of daily living). (Resident 30 & 60)
Findings inclu...
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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
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to have an appropriate diagnosis for the use an Antipsychotic medication for 2 of 5 residents reviewed for unnecessary medication. (Resident 1...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interview, the facility failed to keep medication storage carts secured/locked when visu...
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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 F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure resident rooms and common areas were maintained...
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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 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.
- • 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION 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 East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Staffed?
CMS rates EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 46%, compared to the Indiana average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center?
State health inspectors documented 14 deficiencies at EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER during 2022 to 2025. These included: 14 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center?
EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by AMERICAN SENIOR COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 152 certified beds and approximately 97 residents (about 64% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in ELKHART, Indiana.
How Does East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Compare to Other Indiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Indiana, EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (46%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center?
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 East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION 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 East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Stick Around?
EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 46%, which is about average for Indiana nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Ever Fined?
EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION 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 East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Any Federal Watch List?
EAST LAKE NURSING & REHABILITATION 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.