Emerald Coast Center
114 Third Street SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 · Okaloosa County · 120 certified beds · avg 102 residents/day · certified since Aug 7, 1973
Part of chain: HEARTHSTONE SENIOR COMMUNITIES (8 facilities, chain avg rating 1.9★)
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.
Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Apr 26, 2024 · F-0622 · triggered by a complaint
The facility transferred or discharged a resident without a valid reason, or failed to provide the required documentation and information when moving a resident out.
Why it matters: Improper discharge or transfer can suddenly uproot a resident from their home and care without warning or recourse.
Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Corrected: May 21, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Apr 26, 2024 · F-0623 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not give residents (and their representatives and the ombudsman, a state advocate for residents) proper advance notice before a transfer or discharge, including information about their right to appeal.
Why it matters: Without notice and appeal rights, a resident can be moved out with no warning and no chance to object.
Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Corrected: May 21, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
All citations in the current public record (15)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights. |
| Sep 25, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. |
| Sep 25, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not make sure residents were fully informed about their own health, care, and treatments in a way they could understand. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not allow residents to take their own medications when a clinical review showed they could do so safely. Residents have this right if their care team determines it's appropriate. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not properly complete the required screening (called PASARR) that identifies whether a person entering a nursing home has a mental illness or intellectual disability and needs specialized services. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not properly inform residents or their representatives about arbitration agreements — contracts that give up the right to sue in court — including their right to refuse to sign. |
| Apr 26, 2024 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility transferred or discharged a resident without a valid reason, or failed to provide the required documentation and information when moving a resident out. · from a complaint |
| Apr 26, 2024 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not give residents (and their representatives and the ombudsman, a state advocate for residents) proper advance notice before a transfer or discharge, including information about their right to appeal. · from a complaint |
| Apr 13, 2023 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Apr 13, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not treat residents with respect and dignity, or did not let them keep and use their own personal belongings. |
| Apr 13, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide the care needed to maintain or improve residents' movement and flexibility — such as range-of-motion exercises — leading to avoidable decline. |
| Apr 13, 2023 | B · Minimal risk, repeated | The facility did not coordinate resident assessments with the state's pre-admission screening program for mental illness and intellectual disabilities, or failed to refer residents for the special services they need. |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (6 → 3).
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | F |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 | G ▲ |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 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)
2 fines totaling $17,114.
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2024 | Fine | $8,557 |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Fine | $8,557 |
Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)
| Measure | This facility | Florida avg | U.S. avg | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day) | 3.78 | 4.03 | 3.95 | bottom 41% in Florida; top 49% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.68 | 0.76 | 0.69 | top 48% in Florida; top 38% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 3.65 | 3.68 | 3.50 | top 40% in Florida; top 36% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.48 | top 46% in Florida; top 36% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 42.2 | 41.4 | 45.8 | bottom 50% in Florida; top 42% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 52.4 | 46.0 | 42.9 | bottom 37% in Florida; bottom 32% 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 3.23, RN 0.58, weekend 3.12. 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 - Individual
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearthstone Senior Communities, INC. | Organization | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 100% | 04/01/2009 |
| Consulting Support Services, LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/28/2011 |
| Consulting Support Services, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/08/2025 |
| Facility Support Company, LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 12/13/2010 |
| Facility Support Company, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/19/2025 |
| Garner, Alvin | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
| Hardy-Fauber, Tammy | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/27/2021 |
| Hardy-Fauber, Tammy | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/27/2021 |
| Hearthstone Senior Communities, INC. | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/08/2025 |
| Jaffe, Howard | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
| Kane Financial Services, LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/06/2012 |
| Kane Financial Services, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/19/2025 |
| McKay, Sherri | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
| McKay, Sherri | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
| Omega Healthcare Investors, INC. | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/01/2003 |
| Rombold, Lori | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
| Select Rehabilitation, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/19/2016 |
| Themis Health Management, LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/01/2009 |
| Themis Health Management, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/08/2025 |
| Wyatt, Brian | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/01/2009 |
Questions to ask on your visit
Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.
- "Under what circumstances would you discharge or transfer a resident, and what notice and appeal rights would we have?"
- "If you ever planned to discharge or transfer my family member, how much written notice would we receive and how could we appeal?"
- "Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
- "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
- "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
- "How do you explain health changes and treatment options to residents and their families?"
- "If my family member is able to manage their own medications, would you allow it, and how is that decided?"
- "How do you screen new residents for mental health and disability-related needs, and how do you provide the specialized services they require?"
- "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 | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center | 3.6 mi | Fort Walton Beach, FL | ★★★★☆ | 5/5 | |
| Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center, LLC | 4.2 mi | Fort Walton Beach, FL | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Destination Health and Rehabilitation Center | 8.1 mi | Destin, FL | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Manor at Blue Water Bay, the | 12.4 mi | Niceville, FL | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Grand Boulevard Health and Rehabilitation Center | 17.7 mi | Miramar Beach, FL | ★★★★☆ | 4/5 |
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Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 105265.