HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Hickory Creek at Winamac has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and recommended for families seeking care. It ranks #152 out of 505 facilities in Indiana, placing it in the top half, and it is the best option among the three facilities in Pulaski County. However, the facility is worsening, with issues increasing from three in 2022 to four in 2024. Staffing is a concern, with a below-average rating of 2 out of 5 stars and RN coverage not consistently meeting required hours, potentially affecting all residents. On a positive note, there have been no fines on record, indicating compliance with regulations, but there were specific incidents found, such as improper sanitization of food temperature probes and failure to prepare pureed food to the correct consistency, which could affect residents' dietary needs. Overall, while there are strengths in compliance and quality measures, families should be aware of the staffing issues and recent findings that raise concerns.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Indiana
- #152/505
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 22% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 26 points below Indiana's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Indiana facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 37 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Indiana. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (22%) · 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 (22%)
26 points below Indiana average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0805
(Tag F0805)
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 food was prepared in form to meet individual n...
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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 ensure infection control practices and standards were maintained, related to staff touching pills during medication administr...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure there were 8 hours of consecutive RN (Registered Nurse) coverage for 9 out of 20 days reviewed. This had the potential to affect all...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. On 9/5/24 at 11:58 a.m., [NAME] 2 was observed checking temperatures of the meal being served for lunch. She began by washing...
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Aug 2022
3 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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure a Physician's order was in place for a wound t...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
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 ensure an intervention was in place for the treatment...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure there were 8 hours of consecutive RN (Registered Nurse) coverage in the facility for 8 out of 16 days reviewed. This had the potenti...
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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.
- • 22% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 26 points below Indiana'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 Hickory Creek At Winamac's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered 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 Hickory Creek At Winamac Staffed?
CMS rates HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 22%, compared to the Indiana average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Hickory Creek At Winamac?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC during 2022 to 2024. These included: 6 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Hickory Creek At Winamac?
HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC 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 AMERICAN SENIOR COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 36 certified beds and approximately 26 residents (about 72% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in WINAMAC, Indiana.
How Does Hickory Creek At Winamac Compare to Other Indiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Indiana, HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (22%) 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 Hickory Creek At Winamac?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Hickory Creek At Winamac Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC 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 4-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 Hickory Creek At Winamac Stick Around?
Staff at HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 22%, the facility is 24 percentage points below the Indiana 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.
Was Hickory Creek At Winamac Ever Fined?
HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC 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 Hickory Creek At Winamac on Any Federal Watch List?
HICKORY CREEK AT WINAMAC 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.