Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates

619 Laurel Lake Drive, Columbus, NC 28722 (828) 894-5500
Non profit - Corporation 16 Beds ACTS RETIREMENT-LIFE COMMUNITIES Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
95/100
#77 of 417 in NC
Last Inspection: November 2024

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

Willowbrooke Court SC Center at Tryon Estates has an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility with top-tier care. It ranks #77 out of 417 nursing homes in North Carolina, placing it well within the top half, and is the best option among the three facilities in Polk County. The overall trend is stable, with only one issue reported in both 2022 and 2024. Staffing is a strong point, boasting a perfect 5/5 star rating with only an 11% turnover rate, significantly lower than the state average. However, there have been some concerns, such as the failure to discard spoiled food and expired nutritional supplements, which could potentially affect residents’ health. Overall, while the facility excels in staffing and quality of care, families should be aware of the food safety issues that have been identified.

Trust Score
A+
95/100
In North Carolina
#77/417
Top 18%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Holding Steady
1 → 1 violations
Staff Stability
✓ Good
11% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 37 points below North Carolina's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 73 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of North Carolina nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★★
5.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2022: 1 issues
2024: 1 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Low Staff Turnover (11%) · Staff stability means consistent care
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover is low (11%)

    37 points below North Carolina average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.

The Bad

Chain: ACTS RETIREMENT-LIFE COMMUNITIES

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record

Nov 2024 1 deficiency
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 and staff interviews, the facility failed to discard food items with signs of spoilage and liquid nutritional supplements that were past the expiration date in 1 of 1 walk-in coo...

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Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to discard food items with signs of spoilage and liquid nutritional supplements that were past the expiration date in 1 of 1 walk-in cooler and label and date prepared food items in 1 of 1 reach-in cooler. These practices had the potential to affect food and drink items served to the residents. Findings included: a. An initial observation of the walk-in cooler on 11/18/24 at 8:50 AM revealed the following: a) A bag of fresh parsley dated 10/2024 that had a dark brown, slimy substance on some of the parsley leaves. b) A tray containing 30, eight-ounce cartons of liquid nutritional supplements with an expiration date of 11/01/24. During an interview on 11/18/24 at 8:50 AM, the Nutrition Services Manager confirmed the bag of fresh parsley had visible signs of spoilage on some of the leaves, the nutritional supplements were past the expiration date and stated both should have been removed from the cooler and discarded. The Nutrition Services Manager stated that all dietary staff were responsible for checking the cooler and discarding any food items with signs of spoilage or past the expiration date. During an interview on 11/19/24 at 4:54 PM, the Administrator revealed she expected dietary staff to check the coolers and discard any items that were expired or had visible signs of spoilage. b. An initial observation of the reach-in cooler on 11/18/24 at 8:57 AM revealed an unlabeled and undated clear storage container with plastic wrap covering the top that was half-way filled with a white liquid mixture with brown specks throughout the liquid. During an interview on 11/18/24 at 8:57 AM, the Nutrition Services Manager revealed the liquid in the container was a mixture for making French Toast. She was unsure when the mixture was prepared and stated the container should have been labeled with the name of the product, date prepared and use by date. During an interview on 11/19/24 at 4:54 PM, the Administrator revealed she expected dietary staff to label and date all prepared food items stored in the kitchen coolers and/or refrigerators.
Apr 2022 1 deficiency
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 observations and staff interviews the facility failed to remove an expired medication prior to being prepared for resid...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations and staff interviews the facility failed to remove an expired medication prior to being prepared for resident administration on 1 of 2 medication carts reviewed for medication storage (Willowbrooke Medication Cart). Findings included: During an observation on [DATE] at 9:22 AM Nurse #1 removed a package of carvedilol (medication used to lower blood pressure) from the medication cart and compared the label to the Medication Administration Record then removed one tablet from the package into a small cup being used to prepare medications for administration. During an interview on [DATE] at 9:22 AM Nurse #1 was asked to review the expiration date on the package of carvedilol and revealed the medication had expired on [DATE]. Nurse #1 removed the medication from the cup she was preparing and appropriately discarded it. Nurse #1 stated she should have reviewed the expiration date before preparing to administer the carvedilol. An interview was conducted with Director of Nursing (DON) on [DATE] at 11:06 AM. The DON revealed third shift checked the medication carts for expired medicine three times a week, but she didn't know the exact date when the Willowbrooke Cart was last checked. The DON stated reviewing expiration dates was part of the check before administering medications to residents and would expect Nurse #1 to check the expiration date on the label prior to removing it from the package. An interview was conducted on [DATE] at 11:07 AM with the Administrator. The Administrator stated he would expect Nurse #1 to review the medication label for the expiration date and not remove the medicine as if ready to administer when the medication had expired.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • Grade A+ (95/100). Above average facility, better than most options in North Carolina.
  • • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
  • • Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within North Carolina, 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 Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates Staffed?

CMS rates Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 11%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates?

State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates during 2022 to 2024. These included: 2 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates?

Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by ACTS RETIREMENT-LIFE COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 16 certified beds and approximately 8 residents (about 50% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Columbus, North Carolina.

How Does Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (11%) 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 Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates?

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 Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates 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 North Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.

Do Nurses at Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates Stick Around?

Staff at Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 11%, the facility is 35 percentage points below the North Carolina 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 Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates Ever Fined?

Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates 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 Willowbrooke Court Sc Ctr At Tryon Estates on Any Federal Watch List?

Willowbrooke Court SC Ctr at Tryon Estates 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.