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
5 of 5 overall
Life Care Center of Banner Elk has an overall 5-star rating, with strong health inspection and quality ratings but a low 2-star staffing rating; reported nursing hours are 2.97 per resident per day versus the 4.1 federal benchmark. It had $0 in fines in the last 24 months, though recent inspection citations included activities, continence/catheter care, and medication storage.
Facility ratings
Health inspections
Staffing
2.9726 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 2.9726.
Staffing detail
- Registered nurses
- 0.39
- Licensed practical nurses
- 0.98
- Nurse aides
- 1.60
- Weekend nursing
- 2.75
Hours per resident per day.
Total staff turnover: 25%
Registered nurse turnover: 56%
Resident outcomes
How often residents experience these outcomes, with the direction over the past year.
Long-stay residents on antipsychotic medication
29.9%Improving
Residents with a fall causing major injury
7.5%Worsening
Residents with pressure ulcers (bedsores)
2.2%Worsening
Residents with a urinary tract infection
0.5%Steady
Residents who lost too much weight
4.7%Steady
Residents who were physically restrained
0.4%Improving
Residents needing more help with daily activities
11.9%Worsening
Residents whose ability to walk got worse
6.4%Steady
Show all measures
Long-stay residents on antianxiety or sleep medication
24.9%Improving
Short-stay residents newly given an antipsychotic
2.1%Improving
Residents with a long-term catheter
0%Steady
Residents with new or worsening incontinence
15%Improving
Residents with depressive symptoms
26.5%Improving
Long-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine
100%Steady
Long-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine
100%Steady
Short-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine
92.4%Steady
Short-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine
91.7%Improving
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.
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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 · 3.5 stars avg
- Occupancy
- 68.3 residents on an average day (58% 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.