UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
United Zion Retirement Community has received a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is recommended and performs above average compared to other facilities. It ranks #135 out of 653 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, placing it in the top half of the state, and #16 out of 31 in Lancaster County, indicating only 15 local options are better. The facility is showing improvement, with issues decreasing from 2 in 2024 to none in 2025. Staffing is a strong point with a 5/5 rating and a turnover rate of just 22%, significantly lower than the state average, which suggests that staff are experienced and familiar with the residents. However, there have been some concerning incidents; one resident sustained a fall due to inadequate supervision, resulting in a hospital transfer for a fracture, and there were failures to complete a physician's discharge summary and to attempt non-drug interventions before administering anxiety medication. Overall, while there are notable strengths, families should be aware of these weaknesses when considering this facility.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Pennsylvania
- #135/653
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 22% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 26 points below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ○ Average
- $7,443 in fines. Higher than 54% of Pennsylvania facilities. Some compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 57 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Pennsylvania. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 3 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (22%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover is low (22%)
26 points below Pennsylvania average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
The Ugly 3 deficiencies on record
Jul 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0661
(Tag F0661)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on a review of clinical records and interview with staff, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure a physician's discharge summary was completed prior to or at the time of discharge ...
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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
Based on clinical records review and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure non-pharmacological interventions were attempted, and documented indication was provided befo...
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Sept 2023
1 deficiency
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record and facility documentation review, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to e...
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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+ (88/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Pennsylvania.
- • 22% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 26 points below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 3 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is United Zion Retirement Communi's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Pennsylvania, 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 United Zion Retirement Communi Staffed?
CMS rates UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 22%, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at United Zion Retirement Communi?
State health inspectors documented 3 deficiencies at UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI during 2023 to 2024. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm and 2 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates United Zion Retirement Communi?
UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 59 certified beds and approximately 55 residents (about 93% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LITITZ, Pennsylvania.
How Does United Zion Retirement Communi Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (22%) 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 United Zion Retirement Communi?
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 United Zion Retirement Communi Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI 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 Pennsylvania. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at United Zion Retirement Communi Stick Around?
Staff at UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 22%, the facility is 24 percentage points below the Pennsylvania 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. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 18%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was United Zion Retirement Communi Ever Fined?
UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI has been fined $7,443 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Pennsylvania average of $33,153. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is United Zion Retirement Communi on Any Federal Watch List?
UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNI 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.