Life Care Center of St Louis

Name: Life Care Center of St Louis
Address: 3520 CHOUTEAU AVE, Saint Louis, MO, 63103, US
Telephone: 3147712100

3520 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103 · St. Louis City County · 100 certified beds · avg 92 residents/day · certified since Apr 6, 1995

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

3/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

$15,646

Fines, last 3 years

3.91

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★★★☆☆3/5 · 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)

▲ Immediate jeopardy, one-off · Oct 21, 2024 · F-0684 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.

Why it matters: Care that strays from doctor's orders or ignores the resident's wishes can lead to declining health and avoidable harm.

Severity (J): Inspectors found a situation that put a resident's life or safety in immediate danger, affecting one or a few residents. The facility must fix it immediately — these citations often come with large fines.

Corrected: Sep 16, 2024 (Past Non-Compliance)

All citations in the current public record (37)

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
Jan 16, 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.
Jan 16, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not make sure its nurse aides had the skills needed to care for residents, including training in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Jan 16, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not honor residents' right to make their own choices about their daily lives, such as when to wake up, what to eat, or how to spend their time.
Jan 16, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not honor residents' right to manage their own money and financial affairs.
Jan 16, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.
Jan 16, 2026	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. · from a complaint
Jan 16, 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. · from a complaint
Oct 21, 2024	▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, 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 23, 2024	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	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.
Apr 23, 2024	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not enter each resident's assessment information into the required format and send it to the state within 7 days of completing the assessment, as the rules require.
Apr 23, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not update each resident's care assessment at least once every 3 months. These regular check-ins keep the resident's care plan matched to their current condition.
Apr 23, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not observe each nurse aide's job performance or provide regular training as required.
Apr 23, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not post its nurse staffing information every day. Nursing homes must publicly display how many nurses and aides are on duty each day.
Apr 23, 2024	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 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not fully assess residents on time — a complete assessment of health, abilities, and needs is required when a resident is first admitted and at least once every 12 months after that.
Apr 23, 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.
Apr 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not properly plan a resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs after leaving. · from a complaint
Apr 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility allowed residents to lose the ability to do daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and eating — when there was no medical reason for the decline. Good care helps residents keep the abilities they have.
Apr 23, 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.
Apr 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not help a resident get vision and hearing services — such as eye exams, glasses, hearing tests, or hearing aids.
Apr 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication.
Apr 23, 2024	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.
Feb 14, 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. · from a complaint
Feb 14, 2024	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
Mar 30, 2022	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.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not properly notify residents about the balance of money it holds for them, or failed to return those funds when a resident was discharged, evicted, or died.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, 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.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not give the resident or their representative written notice of how long it would hold the resident's bed during a hospital stay or approved leave.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide activities that meet residents' needs and interests. Nursing homes must offer meaningful activity programs, not just leave residents idle.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Mar 30, 2022	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Mar 30, 2022	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.
Mar 30, 2022	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.
Mar 30, 2022	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication.
Mar 30, 2022	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.
Mar 30, 2022	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not make sure its staff were vaccinated for COVID-19 in accordance with the federal requirements in effect at the time.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (14 → 7).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2022	13	0	E
2024	17	1	J ▲
2026	7	0	E

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)

1 fine totaling $15,646.

Date	Type	Amount / length
Oct 21, 2024	Fine	$15,646

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

Measure	This facility	Missouri avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	3.91	3.66	3.95	top 37% in Missouri; top 43% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.45	0.49	0.69	top 44% in Missouri; bottom 29% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.47	3.22	3.50	top 35% in Missouri; top 43% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.23	0.33	0.48	bottom 40% in Missouri; bottom 19% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	66.4	56.0	45.8	bottom 23% in Missouri; bottom 9% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	50.0	47.8	42.9	top 46% in Missouri; bottom 39% 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 3.54, RN 0.40, weekend 3.14. 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: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Individual

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Crooks, Joanna	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	08/19/2009
Crooks, Joanna	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	08/19/2009
Cross, Cindy	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/28/1993
Life Care Centers of America, INC.	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	03/23/1995
Preston, Forrest	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	02/01/1994
Preston, Forrest	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/28/1993
Preston, Forrest	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	02/01/1994
Swanker, Richard	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	04/01/2011
Thurmond, Joan	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	08/01/2002

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 make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
"What specific training do your nurse aides complete in dementia care and abuse prevention, and how often is it refreshed?"
"What choices do residents have over their daily schedule, like meal times, bathing, and activities?"
"How are residents' personal funds handled here, and what records can families review?"
"Where do you post your latest state inspection results and the ombudsman's contact information?"
"Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
"How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
"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
Beauvais Rehab and Healthcare Center	1.3 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	2/5	abuse
Bernard Care Center	1.4 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Grand Manor Health Care Center	1.4 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Blue Circle Rehab and Nursing	1.8 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★★☆☆☆	1/5
Magnolia Wellness Center	3.0 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	1/5	abuse
Delhaven Manor	3.0 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★★★☆☆	2/5
Pine Grove Manor	3.2 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Lansdowne Village	3.4 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Oak Park Care Center	3.5 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★★★☆☆	4/5
Carrie Elligson Gietner Health Care Center	4.0 mi	Saint Louis, MO	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
St Louis Altenheim	4.3 mi	Saint Louis, MO		—/5
Monarch Springs Wellness & Rehabilitation	4.5 mi	University City, MO	★★☆☆☆	3/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Saint Louis →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 265610.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Life Care Center of St Louis

3520 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103 · 3147712100

Health inspection rating 3/5 · CMS overall 4/5· Fines (3y): $15,646

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Oct 21, 2024 (F-0684, Immediate jeopardy, 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.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
☐ "What specific training do your nurse aides complete in dementia care and abuse prevention, and how often is it refreshed?"
☐ "What choices do residents have over their daily schedule, like meal times, bathing, and activities?"
☐ "How are residents' personal funds handled here, and what records can families review?"
☐ "Where do you post your latest state inspection results and the ombudsman's contact information?"
☐ "Can you tell me what this citation involved and what steps you took to bring care back up to standard?"
☐ "How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
☐ "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 265610 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)