Brickyard Healthcare - Valparaiso Care Center

Name: Brickyard Healthcare - Valparaiso Care Center
Address: 251 STURDY RD, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, US
Telephone: 2194626158

251 Sturdy Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46383 · Porter County · 85 certified beds · avg 78 residents/day · certified since Oct 3, 1972

Part of chain: BRICKYARD HEALTHCARE (23 facilities, chain avg rating 2.7★)

4/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

3.19

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

All citations in the current public record (14)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility gave residents unnecessary mind-altering (psychotropic) medications, or used drugs in a way that restrained residents by dulling their ability to think, move, or function.
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives.
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop a resident's complete plan of care within 7 days of the full assessment, or the plan wasn't prepared, reviewed, and updated by a team of health professionals as required.
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide or obtain x-rays and other imaging tests when ordered, or did not promptly tell the ordering doctor the results. · from a complaint
Jul 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint
Oct 4, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not give residents the required written notice of their rights, the facility's rules, the services offered, and what those services cost.
Oct 4, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away.
Oct 4, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Oct 4, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Dec 15, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft to the proper authorities quickly enough, or did not report the results of its investigation.
Dec 15, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Dec 15, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Dec 15, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility's medication error rate was 5 percent or higher — meaning too many doses were given incorrectly, such as the wrong drug, dose, or time.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (4 → 6).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2023	4	D
2024	4	D
2025	6	D

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Indiana avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	3.19	3.42	3.95	bottom 42% in Indiana; bottom 21% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.76	0.62	0.69	top 21% in Indiana; top 30% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	2.81	3.01	3.50	bottom 46% in Indiana; bottom 21% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.68	0.47	0.48	top 15% in Indiana; top 17% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	36.8	45.9	45.8	top 22% in Indiana; top 28% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	13.3	40.4	42.9	top 8% in Indiana; top 7% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 3.42, RN 0.82, weekend 3.02. Staffing rating: 3/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 2/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Engels, Erin	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/25/2014
Fenoughty, Deanna	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/10/2023
Gentry, Mark	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	01/12/2022
Starkey, Tyler	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	08/01/2020
Sydow, Tiffany	Individual	Contracted Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	10/17/2022
Valpariaso Operating LLC	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	09/01/2012
Waite, John	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	08/01/2020
Whicker, Timothy	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	01/12/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
"Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
"Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"If a doctor orders an x-ray, how soon does it happen and when does the doctor see the results?"
"How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
"Can I get a written copy of resident rights, house rules, and a full list of services and charges today?"
"If my family member falls or their condition changes, exactly when and how will I be notified?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection
Life Care Center of the Willows	1.3 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Avalon Springs Health Campus	2.1 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★★★★☆	3/5
Valparaiso Care & Rehabilitation	2.2 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Life Care Center of Valparaiso	3.1 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★★★★★	4/5
Ignite Medical Resort Chesterton	8.2 mi	Chesterton, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center	9.2 mi	Chesterton, IN	★★★☆☆	2/5
Chesterton Manor	9.4 mi	Chesterton, IN	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center	10.1 mi	Portage, IN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Miller's Merry Manor	10.4 mi	Portage, IN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Crown Point Health Campus	12.0 mi	Crown Point, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Valparaiso →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 155137.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Brickyard Healthcare - Valparaiso Care Center

251 Sturdy Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46383 · 2194626158

Health inspection rating 4/5 · CMS overall 4/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
☐ "Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
☐ "Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "If a doctor orders an x-ray, how soon does it happen and when does the doctor see the results?"
☐ "How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
☐ "Can I get a written copy of resident rights, house rules, and a full list of services and charges today?"
☐ "If my family member falls or their condition changes, exactly when and how will I be notified?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 155137 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)