Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation has received a Trust Grade of F, which indicates significant concerns about the facility's operations and care quality. They rank #102 of 417 nursing homes in North Carolina, placing them in the top half, and #1 out of 4 in Caldwell County, meaning they are the best option locally despite their poor grade. Unfortunately, the facility is worsening, with issues having increased from 1 in 2024 to 2 in 2025. Staffing is an average strength, with a turnover rate of 32%, significantly below the state average of 49%, but they have less RN coverage than 78% of other facilities, which could impact care. On the downside, the facility has been fined a total of $51,188, indicating some compliance issues, and there have been serious incidents of physical abuse reported, including one case where a staff member punched a resident, leading to significant injuries and hospitalization.
- Trust Score
- F
- In North Carolina
- #102/417
- Safety Record
- High Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 32% turnover. Near North Carolina's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $51,188 in fines. Lower than most North Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 23 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for North Carolina. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (32%)
16 points below North Carolina average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
14pts below North Carolina avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Above median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
May 2025
2 deficiencies
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 staff, Nurse Practitioner and Medical Director interviews, the facility failed to maintain a complete...
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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 observations, record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to clean and disinfect an individually assigned glucometer per manufacturer recommendations and the facility also failed ...
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May 2024
1 deficiency
1 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review, and resident, staff, NP and Law Enforcement Detective interviews the facility failed to pr...
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Sept 2022
6 deficiencies
2 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews the facility failed to protect a resident from verbal and physical abuse when Nurse ...
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CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Abuse Prevention Policies
(Tag F0607)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to intervene to stop verbal and physical abuse and/or failed t...
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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** 4. Resident #44 was admitted on [DATE] with diagnoses which included osteomyelitis (infection of the bone), muscle wasting and a...
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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 observation and staff interviews, the facility failed to discard an expired medication available for use in 1 of 5 medi...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record reviews and interviews the facility's Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) committee failed to m...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
MDS Data Transmission
(Tag F0640)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to complete a discharge Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment withi...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • 32% turnover. Below North Carolina's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • Multiple safety concerns identified: 3 life-threatening violation(s), $51,188 in fines. Review inspection reports carefully.
- • 9 deficiencies on record, including 3 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
- • $51,188 in fines. Extremely high, among the most fined facilities in North Carolina. Major compliance failures.
- • Grade F (34/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
About This Facility
What is Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered 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 Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation Staffed?
CMS rates Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 32%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation during 2022 to 2025. These included: 3 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death), 5 with potential for harm, and 1 minor or isolated issues. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.
Who Owns and Operates Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation?
Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation 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 SANSTONE HEALTH & REHABILITATION, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 120 certified beds and approximately 108 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Granite Falls, North Carolina.
How Does Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (32%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "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 Immediate Jeopardy citations.
Is Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 3 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in North Carolina. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.
Do Nurses at Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation Stick Around?
Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation has a staff turnover rate of 32%, which is about average for North Carolina 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 Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation Ever Fined?
Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation has been fined $51,188 across 1 penalty action. This is above the North Carolina average of $33,591. Fines in this range indicate compliance issues significant enough for CMS to impose meaningful financial consequences. Common causes include delayed correction of deficiencies, repeat violations, or care failures affecting resident safety. Families should ask facility leadership what changes have been made since these penalties.
Is Hickory Falls Health And Rehabilitation on Any Federal Watch List?
Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation 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.