LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Lake Charles Care Center has a Trust Grade of C+, which means it is slightly above average but not particularly outstanding. It ranks #81 out of 264 facilities in Louisiana, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 10 in Calcasieu County, indicating there are only two options better in the area. Unfortunately, the facility is worsening, as the number of issues increased from 4 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is average with a rating of 3 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 56%, which is higher than the state average. While the center has no fines on record, which is positive, it struggles with RN coverage, providing less than 99% of facilities in Louisiana. Recent inspection findings highlight some concerning practices, such as failure to follow proper recipes for preparing pureed foods, which could negatively affect residents' nutrition, and issues with food safety standards, including not labeling food items and maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen. Overall, while there are some strengths like the absence of fines, the facility has significant areas for improvement that families should consider.
- Trust Score
- C+
- In Louisiana
- #81/264
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Louisiana facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 5 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Louisiana. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Above Louisiana average (2.4)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
Near Louisiana avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
8 points above Louisiana average of 48%
The Ugly 13 deficiencies on record
May 2025
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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interviews, the facility failed to implement the comprehensive person-centered care plan...
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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, interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure residents who need respiratory care were pro...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and recipe review, the facility failed to follow the recipe in order to meet the nutritional needs of the residents as evidenced by kitchen staff failing to use the ap...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, policy review, and interviews, the facility failed to maintain professional standards for food service safety by failing to:
1. Label and date food items in the kitchen refrige...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to provide a sanitary and comfortable environment for the residents. This had the potential to affect the 123 Resident that reside in the faci...
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May 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to accurately code the resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for use of antibiotics for 1 (#11) of 63 sampled residents whose records w...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Tube Feeding
(Tag F0693)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interviews, and record review the facility failed to ensure that a resident's enteral feeding was properly labeled for 1 (#71) out of 1 (#71) resident investigated for tube feedi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0838
(Tag F0838)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the facility-wide assessment included a detailed review of f...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to follow the recipe in order to meet the nutritional needs of the residents as evidenced by kitchen staff failing to:
1) Use th...
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Apr 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record reviews and staff interviews, the facility failed to accurately code the residents' Minimum Data Set (MDS) asses...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents identified with Mental Disorder and/or Intellectua...
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Dec 2022
2 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 F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to develop and implement a baseline care plan for Resident #10 that in...
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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
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record reviews, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure medication was properly stored and not avai...
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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
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Louisiana facilities.
- • 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Lake Charles's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within Louisiana, 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 Lake Charles Staffed?
CMS rates LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 56%, which is 10 percentage points above the Louisiana average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Lake Charles?
State health inspectors documented 13 deficiencies at LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER during 2022 to 2025. These included: 13 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Lake Charles?
LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 182 certified beds and approximately 124 residents (about 68% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana.
How Does Lake Charles Compare to Other Louisiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Louisiana, LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER's overall rating (3 stars) is above the state average of 2.4, staff turnover (56%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Lake Charles?
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 Lake Charles Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, LAKE CHARLES 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Louisiana. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Lake Charles Stick Around?
Staff turnover at LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER is high. At 56%, the facility is 10 percentage points above the Louisiana 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 Lake Charles Ever Fined?
LAKE CHARLES 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 Lake Charles on Any Federal Watch List?
LAKE CHARLES 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.