PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Ponchatoula Community Care Center has an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating excellent quality and high recommendations for care. Ranked #18 out of 264 facilities in Louisiana, they are in the top half, and they lead the way in Tangipahoa County, being ranked #1 out of 6. The facility is improving, having reduced issues from 8 in 2024 to none in 2025, which is a positive trend. Staffing is average with a rating of 3 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 46%, slightly below the state average of 47%, meaning some staff members remain long-term. While there have been no fines, which is encouraging, there is concerningly low RN coverage compared to 98% of other Louisiana facilities, which could affect the level of care. Specific incidents noted include failures in medication storage practices, instances of potential physical abuse between residents, and inaccuracies in resident assessments that could impact care planning. Overall, while there are notable strengths in care quality and improvement trends, families should be aware of the staffing and safety concerns.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Louisiana
- #18/264
- 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 Louisiana facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 7 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Louisiana. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-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 Louisiana avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Aug 2024
7 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
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record reviews, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure each resident had the right to be free from ...
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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
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the MDS assessment accurately reflected the resident's status for 1(#83) of 27 sampled residents by failing to ensure Resident #83 w...
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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 F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure services were provided by failing to follow physician order...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
QAPI Program
(Tag F0867)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Deficiency Text Not Available
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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 interviews, the facility failed to maintain an infection control program to ensure staff performed proper hygiene administering medication for 1 (#12) of 4 (#12, #38, #41, and...
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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 observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure medications were properly stored in 2 (Med Cart 2 and Med Cart 3) of 3 (Med Cart 1, Med Cart 2, and Med Cart 3) medi...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure nurse staffing data requirements were documented on daily postings. This deficient practice had the potential to affe...
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Jun 2024
1 deficiency
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
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure injuries of unknown source without serious b...
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Sept 2023
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure that a resident with an identified mental health diagnosis ...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to maintain accurate records in accordance with accepted professional...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0847
(Tag F0847)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Deficiency Text Not Available
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0637
(Tag F0637)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to ensure a Change in Status Minimum Data Set (MDS) Assessment was co...
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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 Louisiana.
- • 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.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Ponchatoula Community's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Louisiana, 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 Ponchatoula Community Staffed?
CMS rates PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE 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 Louisiana average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Ponchatoula Community?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER during 2023 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm and 2 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Ponchatoula Community?
PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE 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 COMMCARE CORPORATION, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 140 certified beds and approximately 118 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in PONCHATOULA, Louisiana.
How Does Ponchatoula Community Compare to Other Louisiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Louisiana, PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.4, staff turnover (46%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Ponchatoula Community?
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 Ponchatoula Community Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY 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 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 Ponchatoula Community Stick Around?
PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 46%, which is about average for Louisiana 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 Ponchatoula Community Ever Fined?
PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY 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 Ponchatoula Community on Any Federal Watch List?
PONCHATOULA COMMUNITY 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.