Life Care Center of Puyallup

Name: Life Care Center of Puyallup
Address: 511 10TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST, Puyallup, WA, 98372, US
Telephone: 2538457566

511 10th Avenue Southeast, Puyallup, WA 98372 · Pierce County · 102 certified beds · avg 94 residents/day · certified since Jan 1, 1989

Part of chain: LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA (194 facilities, chain avg rating 3.4★)

2/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

4.14

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★★☆☆☆2/5 · CMS overall rating: 2/5

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 10, 2026 · F-0686

The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.

Why it matters: Bedsores are painful, can become deeply infected, and in serious cases can be life-threatening.

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: Jun 16, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (38)

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 1, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint
Apr 10, 2026	▲ G · Actual harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Apr 10, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Apr 10, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have a working program to monitor how antibiotics are used. Tracking antibiotic use helps make sure these drugs are given only when needed and remain effective.
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide required paperwork or notices about a resident's needs, their right to appeal a transfer or discharge, or the facility's bed-hold policy (how long a bed is saved during a hospital stay).
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have a licensed pharmacist review each resident's complete medication regimen and medical chart every month, or did not follow its own rules for reporting medication problems.
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide or arrange dental services for its residents. Nursing homes are responsible for making sure residents can get dental care.
Dec 17, 2025	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. · from a complaint
Dec 17, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide timely, quality laboratory tests to meet residents' needs. · from a complaint
Dec 17, 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
Jul 9, 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. · from a complaint
Jul 9, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. · from a complaint
Jun 18, 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. · from a complaint
Apr 28, 2025	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. · from a complaint
Feb 27, 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.
Feb 27, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Feb 27, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Feb 27, 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.
Feb 27, 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.
Feb 27, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate pain management for a resident who needed it.
Feb 27, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep its building and grounds safe, functional, clean, and comfortable for residents, staff, and visitors.
Feb 27, 2025	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	The facility did not make its inspection results easy for residents to see, or made it hard for residents to contact advocacy agencies like the ombudsman.
Feb 27, 2025	B · Minimal risk, repeated	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.
Jan 9, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Jan 9, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not keep residents' medications free from unnecessary drugs. Residents should only take medicines they truly need, at the right dose, for a clear reason.
Jan 9, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not give residents proper notice about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about charges the resident might owe for services that aren't covered.
Jan 9, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including safe support for residents' daily living needs.
Jan 9, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.
Jan 9, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration.
Jan 9, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail.
Nov 29, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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. · from a complaint

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (9 → 13).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	1	0	E
2024	7	0	E
2025	16	0	D
2026	14	1	G ▲

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	Washington avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	4.14	4.24	3.95	top 39% in Washington; top 34% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.88	0.91	0.69	top 46% in Washington; top 22% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.53	3.69	3.50	top 42% in Washington; top 41% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.68	0.67	0.48	top 45% in Washington; top 17% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	35.5	45.1	45.8	top 24% in Washington; top 25% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	36.8	45.4	42.9	top 36% in Washington; top 41% 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 4.47, RN 0.95, weekend 3.80. Staffing rating: 4/5.

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: 3/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: 3/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Limited Liability company

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Cross, Cindy	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	10/26/1995
Life Care Centers of America, INC.	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/1996
Nimz, Paul	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	07/30/2015
Thurmond, Joan	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	09/21/2000

Questions to ask on your visit

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

"How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
"Tell me about this abuse or neglect citation — what happened, and what specific changes did you make afterward?"
"Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
"Who oversees antibiotic use here, and how do you decide when an antibiotic is really needed?"
"What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
"What written notices do we get before any transfer or discharge, and what is your bed-hold policy?"
"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?"
"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
Rainier Rehabilitation	0.5 mi	Puyallup, WA	★★★★★	5/5
Puyallup Post Acute	0.9 mi	Puyallup, WA	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Life Care Center of South Hill	1.0 mi	Puyallup, WA	★★★★★	4/5
Linden Grove Health Care Center	2.0 mi	Puyallup, WA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5	abuse
Heartwood Extended Healthcare	5.7 mi	Tacoma, WA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Avalon Healthcare - Tacoma	6.6 mi	Tacoma, WA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Tacoma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center	7.1 mi	Tacoma, WA	★★★★★	4/5
Avamere at Pacific Ridge	7.2 mi	Tacoma, WA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Canterbury House	7.7 mi	Auburn, WA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Washington Soldiers Home	7.9 mi	Orting, WA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Alaska Gardens Health and Rehabilitation	8.1 mi	Tacoma, WA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Garden Terrace Healthcare Center of Federal Way	8.2 mi	Federal Way, WA	★★★★★	3/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Puyallup →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 505324.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Life Care Center of Puyallup

511 10th Avenue Southeast, Puyallup, WA 98372 · 2538457566

Health inspection rating 2/5 · CMS overall 2/5· Fines (3y): $0

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Apr 10, 2026 (F-0686, Actual harm, one-off): The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
☐ "Tell me about this abuse or neglect citation — what happened, and what specific changes did you make afterward?"
☐ "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
☐ "Who oversees antibiotic use here, and how do you decide when an antibiotic is really needed?"
☐ "What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
☐ "What written notices do we get before any transfer or discharge, and what is your bed-hold policy?"
☐ "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?"
☐ "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 505324 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)