The home failed to provide activities that met all residents’ needs. Cited August 2024 — limited pattern, potential for harm.
View the original federal record
F-Tag 679 — 42 CFR §483.24 — S/S: E
Nursing home report
Life Care Center of Banner Elk
Banner Elk, NC · Medicare-certified · 118 beds
In good standing
For-profitChain member
Data as of July 1, 2026
4 of 5 overall
Life Care Center of Banner Elk has a 4 out of 5 star overall rating, with 4-star health inspections and 3-star staffing and quality measures. It reported 3.18 nurse staffing hours per resident per day versus the 4.1 federal benchmark, no fines in the last 24 months, and recent inspection citations in activities, bowel/bladder and catheter care, and medication storage/labeling.
Facility ratings
Health inspections
Staffing
3.1825 hrs/resident/day
Quality measures
Last inspection: August 6, 2025Penalties, last 24 months: $0
Federal guidance recommends at least 4.1 nursing hours per resident each day. This facility reports 3.1825.
Staffing detail
- Registered nurses
- 0.41
- Licensed practical nurses
- 1.10
- Nurse aides
- 1.67
- Weekend nursing
- 2.96
Hours per resident per day.
Total staff turnover: 18%
Registered nurse turnover: 29%
Resident outcomes
Each measure compares a year ago with the most recent quarter. Green means the facility moved the right way; red means the wrong way.
Negative outcomes
Lower is better — fewer affected residents. A decrease is good (green); an increase is concerning (red).
Long-stay residents on antipsychotic medication
26.5%26.3%No change
Residents with a fall causing major injury
9.1%8.5%Improving
Residents with pressure ulcers (bedsores)
1.6%1.3%No change
Residents with a urinary tract infection
2%0%Improving
Residents who lost too much weight
4.9%4.4%No change
Residents who were physically restrained
0%0%No change
Residents needing more help with daily activities
15%2.4%Improving
Residents whose ability to walk got worse
—4.1%—
Long-stay residents on antianxiety or sleep medication
28.9%28.3%Improving
Short-stay residents newly given an antipsychotic
2.9%0%Improving
Residents with a long-term catheter
0%0%No change
Residents with new or worsening incontinence
15.2%22.3%Worsening
Residents with depressive symptoms
29.5%9.3%Improving
Positive outcomes
Higher is better — e.g. vaccinations. An increase is good (green); a decrease is concerning (red).
Long-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine
—100%—
Long-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine
100%100%No change
Short-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine
—92.4%—
Short-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine
94.2%90.5%Worsening
What the inspectors found
The home failed to provide proper bladder and bowel care, including catheter care and steps to prevent urinary tract infections. Cited August 2025 — isolated incident, potential for harm.
View the original federal record
F-Tag 690 — 42 CFR §483.25(e) — S/S: D
The home failed to properly label and securely store medications and biologicals. Cited August 2025 — isolated incident, potential for harm.
View the original federal record
F-Tag 761 — 42 CFR §483.45(g) — S/S: D
The nursing home failed to provide and carry out an infection prevention and control program to help keep residents from getting or spreading infections. Cited August 2025 — isolated incident, potential for harm.
View the original federal record
F-Tag 880 — 42 CFR §483.80(a) — S/S: D
The home failed to protect residents’ right to organize and take part in resident and family groups. Cited August 2024 — isolated incident, potential for harm.
View the original federal record
F-Tag 565 — 42 CFR §483.10 — S/S: D
Recent history
- STAFFING
Reported nurse staffing was below the federal recommendation of 4.1 hours per resident per day.
- INSPECTION
Health inspection found 3 health deficiencies.
See what inspectors found
- INSPECTION
Health inspection found 3 health deficiencies.
See what inspectors found
- INSPECTION
Health inspection found 1 health deficiency.
See what inspectors found
Operator & ownership
- Ownership
- For profit - Corporation
- Chain
- Part of LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA · 194 homes · 3.4 stars avg
- Occupancy
- 65.7 residents on an average day (56% of 118 beds)
- Resident voice
- Resident council
- Medicare history
- Certified for 44 years
Things at a nursing home change — inspections, staffing, ownership, news.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — public records, updated monthly. GoodStanding presents official records with plain-language summaries. Always visit a facility in person.