Caritas Center

In addition to performing well overall, this facility also earned a nearly flawless inspection report. As a result, it received one of our best grades in that area with a grade of A+. Our inspection ratings weigh a host of factors included in a facility's inspection reports. One of the most important criteria we consider is the quantity and severity of deficiencies. Places with better grades in this area typically have few of these severe deficiencies. While this facility had a few deficiencies on its government inspection report, none were serious based on CMS' deficiency scale. Finally, this facility had no substantiated complaints this year from residents, which is an excellent sign.

One of the other reasons we graded this facility so highly is that it earned a very impressive nursing grade. In that area, we gave this nursing home an A. Nursing ratings are largely tied to a nursing home's level of nurse staffing. This nursing home provides 0.6 hours of nursing care per resident per day. Finally, our nursing grades also factor in quality-based assessments, such as avoiding major falls. This nursing home performed well in this area. Avoiding major falls is typically a good indicator that a place has reliable quality controls in place. Major falls can many times be avoided if more nurses aids and better safety protocols are in place.

Contributing to its remarkable assessment, this facility also was given an excellent short-term care grade, with a grade of A. With our short-term care grade, we attempt to create a sound barometer for rehabilitation services. In this process, we analyze a nursing home's level of skilled nursing services, including both registered nurses and physical therapy, as well as respiratory therapy. Fortunately, it appear that this nursing home has registered nurses on staff. Not all nursing homes employs these skilled professionals. On the other hand, based on the data they provided, it does not look like the facility employs physical therapists. Finally, we considered the number of residents that ultimately were able to return home from this nursing home. We found that 0 percent of this facility's residents returned home.

In the final category, we awarded this facility a grade of A+ for our long-term care grade. This wrapped up an elite profile. Facilities that receive this type of score in this category tend to provide consistent around the clock care to make sure residents are well cared for. After we finished looking at the amount of care provided by nurses, we turned to the nursing home's vaccination records. This nursing home vaccinated 100 percent of its residents against pneumonia, which is what we like to see. Pneumonia is too frequently a deadly illness for nursing home patients so we like it when a facility doesn't take any chances. Finally, this nursing home was able to limit hospitalizations. It had less than one hospitalization per one thousand long-term resident days, which is a remarkably low number.