LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Life Care Center of La Center has earned a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is considered excellent and highly recommended for families seeking care. With a state ranking of #18 out of 266 facilities in Kentucky, they are in the top half, and they are the only option in Ballard County, making them a prominent choice locally. The facility is improving, having reduced issues from three in 2019 to none reported in 2024, which is promising. Staffing is a strong point, with a 4/5-star rating and a turnover rate of 36%, well below the state average, suggesting that staff are stable and familiar with the residents. It is noteworthy that there were no fines on record, however, past inspections revealed concerns such as improper food storage practices and delays in updating care plans, which families should consider when evaluating overall care quality.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Kentucky
- #18/266
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 36% turnover. Near Kentucky's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kentucky facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 35 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Kentucky. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (36%)
12 points below Kentucky average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
10pts below Kentucky avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Dec 2019
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Review of the medical record for Resident #51 revealed the facility admitted the resident on 10/23/19 with diagnoses that inc...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
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 it was determined the facility failed to ensur...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0679
(Tag F0679)
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 facility policy review it was determined that the facility failed to ensure ...
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Sept 2018
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview, record review and review of facility policy, it was determined the facility failed to ensure the comprehensive care plan is reviewed and revised by an interdisciplinary team compos...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0661
(Tag F0661)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and facility policy review, it was determined the facility failed to complete a discharge sum...
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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 interview, record review, and facility policy review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure supervision and a...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0744
(Tag F0744)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia, receives the appropriate treatment and servic...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0806
(Tag F0806)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, and facility policy review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure one (1) resident not in the selected sample of sixteen (16) received foods t...
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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
Based on observation, interview, and facility policy/audit review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure food was stored, prepared, distributed and served in accordance with professional sta...
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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 A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Kentucky.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kentucky facilities.
- • 36% turnover. Below Kentucky's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Life Of La Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Kentucky, 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 Life Of La Center Staffed?
CMS rates LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 36%, compared to the Kentucky average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Life Of La Center?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER during 2018 to 2019. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Life Of La Center?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER 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 70 certified beds and approximately 59 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LA CENTER, Kentucky.
How Does Life Of La Center Compare to Other Kentucky Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Kentucky, LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (36%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Life Of La 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 Life Of La Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA 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 Kentucky. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Life Of La Center Stick Around?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 36%, which is about average for Kentucky 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 Life Of La Center Ever Fined?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA 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 Life Of La Center on Any Federal Watch List?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF LA 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.