Eckerd Living Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Eckerd Living Center in Highlands, North Carolina has received a Trust Grade of A, indicating excellent quality and highly recommended care. It ranks #28 out of 417 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and is the best option out of two in Macon County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with the number of issues increasing from 1 in 2023 to 2 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a 5/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 33%, which is lower than the state average, indicating that staff stay long-term and are familiar with residents. Notably, there have been no fines reported, and the facility boasts more RN coverage than 96% of North Carolina facilities, which is beneficial for catching potential issues. On the downside, recent inspections revealed several concerns, such as failure to properly sanitize dishware and maintain kitchen cleanliness, which could affect food safety for residents. Additionally, there was a lapse in submitting staffing data to the appropriate authorities, and the dumpster area was found to be unkempt, indicating potential neglect in maintaining hygiene standards. Families should weigh these strengths and weaknesses when considering Eckerd Living Center for their loved ones.
- Trust Score
- A
- In North Carolina
- #28/417
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 33% turnover. Near North Carolina's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 64 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 ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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4-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 (33%)
15 points below North Carolina average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
13pts below North Carolina avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Feb 2025
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Garbage Disposal
(Tag F0814)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation and staff interview the facility failed to contain trash when the dumpster doors were not closed and failed to keep the area around the trash compactor free from accumulated trash...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure dishware was air dried prior to stacking for use and f...
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Sept 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Data
(Tag F0851)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review and staff interview, the facility failed to submit the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) for the 3rd quarter in the fiscal year (FY) 2023.
The findings included:
Review of the Centers...
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Mar 2022
3 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 review and staff interviews the facility failed to accurately code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) for 1 of 2 residen...
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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 record review and staff interviews the facility failed to refer a resident to screen for a Level II Preadmission Screen...
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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 record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to develop a care plan for a resident with a diagnosis of diabe...
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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 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.
- • 33% turnover. Below North Carolina'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 Eckerd Living Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Eckerd Living Center 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 Eckerd Living Center Staffed?
CMS rates Eckerd Living Center's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 33%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Eckerd Living Center?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at Eckerd Living Center during 2022 to 2025. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Eckerd Living Center?
Eckerd Living 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 HCA HEALTHCARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 80 certified beds and approximately 47 residents (about 59% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Highlands, North Carolina.
How Does Eckerd Living Center Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, Eckerd Living Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (33%) 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 Eckerd Living 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 Eckerd Living Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Eckerd Living 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 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 Eckerd Living Center Stick Around?
Eckerd Living Center has a staff turnover rate of 33%, 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 Eckerd Living Center Ever Fined?
Eckerd Living 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 Eckerd Living Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Eckerd Living 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.