SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Sanctuary at Ohio Valley in Ironton, Ohio, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is recommended and above average in quality. It ranks #2 out of 4 nursing homes in Lawrence County, meaning there is only one local option rated higher, and it sits in the top half of all facilities in Ohio at #333 of 913. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with issues increasing from 1 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a weakness, rated only 2 out of 5 stars and with a turnover rate of 52%, which is close to the state average, suggesting that staff may not be as stable or experienced as desired. On a positive note, the facility has not incurred any fines, which is a good sign, and it offers more RN coverage than average facilities, which helps to catch issues that may be missed by less experienced staff. Some specific incidents noted include concerns about food being served cold, which could affect residents' enjoyment of meals. Additionally, there were issues with ensuring accurate documentation for residents' pre-admission screenings, and one resident did not have a physician's order for necessary oxygen therapy, highlighting potential gaps in care. Overall, while there are strengths to consider, families should weigh the facility's recent issues against its positive aspects when making a decision.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Ohio
- #333/913
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 52% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Ohio facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 31 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Ohio. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 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
Near Ohio avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
5 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 medical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure resident Pre-admission Screening and Resident ...
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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, interview, medical record review and facility policy review the facility failed to ensure Resident #59 had...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0698
(Tag F0698)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, medical record review, and facility policy review the facility failed to ensure Resident #80 had physician o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0699
(Tag F0699)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record reviews and interviews, the facility failed to ensure a resident with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, medical record review and facility policy review the facility failed to ensure Resident #22 and Resident #72...
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Dec 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 medical record review, staff interview, review of the Electronic Information Dissemination and Collection (EIDC) portal...
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Sept 2022
2 deficiencies
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 complete the Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) Id...
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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 observations, interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to administer oxygen as ordered by the physician and ...
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Jan 2020
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0742
(Tag F0742)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview and medical record review, the facility failed to ensure a resident with mental disorders ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview and medical record review, the facility failed to ensure residents who received psychotropic drugs had ...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0804
(Tag F0804)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on resident interview, staff interview and a test tray, the facility failed to ensure food was served at an appetizing temperature. This had the potential to affect all residents except three re...
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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 B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Ohio.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Ohio facilities.
- • 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Sanctuary At Ohio Valley's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Ohio, 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 Sanctuary At Ohio Valley Staffed?
CMS rates SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 52%, compared to the Ohio average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Sanctuary At Ohio Valley?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY during 2020 to 2025. These included: 11 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Sanctuary At Ohio Valley?
SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by AMERICAN HEALTH FOUNDATION, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 93 certified beds and approximately 73 residents (about 78% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in IRONTON, Ohio.
How Does Sanctuary At Ohio Valley Compare to Other Ohio Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Ohio, SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (52%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Sanctuary At Ohio Valley?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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 below-average staffing rating.
Is Sanctuary At Ohio Valley Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY 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 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Ohio. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Sanctuary At Ohio Valley Stick Around?
SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY has a staff turnover rate of 52%, which is 6 percentage points above the Ohio average of 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 Sanctuary At Ohio Valley Ever Fined?
SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY 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 Sanctuary At Ohio Valley on Any Federal Watch List?
SANCTUARY AT OHIO VALLEY 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.