Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility, the

Name: Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility, the
Address: 300 N WASHINGTON ST, Wakarusa, IN, 46573, US
Telephone: 5748624511

300 N Washington St, Wakarusa, IN 46573 · Elkhart County · 133 certified beds · avg 82 residents/day · certified since Oct 1, 1995

Part of chain: INFINITY HEALTHCARE CONSULTING (69 facilities, chain avg rating 2.0★)

1/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

$14,661

Fines, last 3 years

3.01

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★☆☆☆☆1/5 · CMS overall rating: 1/5

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 · Jan 8, 2025 · 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 (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: Jan 28, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (32)

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
Mar 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
Mar 16, 2026	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
Mar 14, 2025	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.
Mar 14, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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
Mar 14, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility's menus did not meet residents' nutritional needs, or were not prepared in advance, followed as written, kept up to date, or reviewed by a dietician.
Mar 14, 2025	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 14, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not honor residents' rights to request, refuse, or stop treatment, to decline participation in medical research, or to make an advance directive — a written statement of their wishes for future medical care.
Mar 14, 2025	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.
Mar 14, 2025	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.
Mar 14, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not try to gradually reduce doses of mood- and mind-altering medications or use non-drug approaches first, as required, or used 'as needed' psychiatric drugs without proper limits.
Mar 14, 2025	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.
Mar 14, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide timely, quality laboratory tests to meet residents' needs.
Mar 14, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for residents with a colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy — surgical openings in the abdomen that let waste leave the body into a pouch. These require regular, skilled attention to stay clean and healthy. · from a complaint
Jan 8, 2025	▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, 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
Jan 8, 2025	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. · from a complaint
Jan 8, 2025	D · Potential for 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
Jan 8, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not properly prepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge. Before a resident leaves, the facility must get them ready and make sure the move is safe and orderly. · from a complaint
Jan 8, 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. · from a complaint
Jan 8, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility used feeding tubes without a valid medical reason or the resident's agreement, or did not provide proper care to residents who have feeding tubes. · from a complaint
Jan 8, 2025	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	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. · from a complaint
Apr 3, 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.
Apr 3, 2024	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 3, 2024	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.
Apr 3, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not make sure residents actually saw their doctor face-to-face at all required visits. Doctors must examine nursing home residents in person on a regular schedule.
Feb 21, 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
Feb 6, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.
Feb 6, 2023	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.
Feb 6, 2023	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.
Feb 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide activities that meet residents' needs and interests. Nursing homes must offer meaningful activity programs, not just leave residents idle.
Feb 6, 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.
Feb 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not try to gradually reduce doses of mood- and mind-altering medications or use non-drug approaches first, as required, or used 'as needed' psychiatric drugs without proper limits.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (4 → 10).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	7	0	E
2024	5	0	D
2025	18	1	J ▲
2026	2	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)

1 fine totaling $14,661.

Date	Type	Amount / length
Jan 8, 2025	Fine	$14,661

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)	3.01	3.42	3.95	bottom 29% in Indiana; bottom 14% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.53	0.62	0.69	bottom 42% in Indiana; bottom 41% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	2.73	3.01	3.50	bottom 37% in Indiana; bottom 17% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.40	0.47	0.48	bottom 48% in Indiana; top 49% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	57.1	45.9	45.8	bottom 19% in Indiana; bottom 21% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	23.1	40.4	42.9	top 20% in Indiana; top 18% 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 3.46, RN 0.60, weekend 3.14. Staffing rating: 2/5.

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: 2/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Partnership

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Johnson Memorial Hospital	Organization	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	100%	03/01/2013
Berkhouse, Steven	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/18/2021
Berkhouse, Steven	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	10/18/2021
Decola, Robert	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	02/16/2019
Dunkle, David	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2019
Dunkle, David	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2019
Dunkle, David	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2019
Miller's Health Systems INC	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2012
Schmidt, James	Individual	Contracted Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	02/04/2019
The Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility, LLC	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	11/01/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

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

"Under what circumstances would you discharge or transfer a resident, and what notice and appeal rights would we have?"
"How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"Who reviews your menus, and can I see this week's menu and join my family member for a meal?"
"Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
"How do you record and honor each resident's treatment wishes and advance directives, and how do staff know about them?"
"How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
"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
Hubbard Hill Estates INC	7.2 mi	Elkhart, IN	★★★★★	5/5
Valley View Healthcare Center	8.3 mi	Elkhart, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Brickyard Healthcare - Elkhart Care Center	8.6 mi	Elkhart, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Restoracy of Goshen, the	8.8 mi	Goshen, IN	★★★★☆	3/5
Signature Healthcare of Bremen	8.8 mi	Bremen, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Elkhart Meadows	9.0 mi	Elkhart, IN	★★★★★	5/5
Riverside Village	9.7 mi	Elkhart, IN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Woodland Manor	9.8 mi	Elkhart, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Brickyard Healthcare - Twelfth Street Care Center	10.8 mi	Mishawaka, IN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Greencroft Healthcare	10.8 mi	Goshen, IN	★★☆☆☆	1/5
Waterford Crossing	10.8 mi	Goshen, IN	★★★★★	4/5
Greenleaf Health Campus	11.4 mi	Elkhart, IN	★★★☆☆	2/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Wakarusa →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 155582.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Waters of Wakarusa Skilled Nursing Facility, the

300 N Washington St, Wakarusa, IN 46573 · 5748624511

Health inspection rating 1/5 · CMS overall 1/5· Fines (3y): $14,661

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Jan 8, 2025 (F-0622, Immediate jeopardy, 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.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "Under what circumstances would you discharge or transfer a resident, and what notice and appeal rights would we have?"
☐ "How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "Who reviews your menus, and can I see this week's menu and join my family member for a meal?"
☐ "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
☐ "How do you record and honor each resident's treatment wishes and advance directives, and how do staff know about them?"
☐ "How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
☐ "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 155582 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)