These Macon nursing homes are rated some of the worst in GA, according to Medicare

Mona Moore, Chelsea Madden
·6 min read

According to AARP, the U.S. will have more seniors than children by 2030.

“As boomers age through their 60s, 70s, 80s and increasingly beyond, the ‘big bulge’ of the boomer generation will contribute to the overall aging of the U.S. population in coming decades,” said Stella Ogunwole, a demographic statistician with the U.S. Census Bureau. “The older population is becoming even more significant.”

And as the country’s 73 million Baby Boomers age, quality nursing homes will be in demand.

In a state with more than 200 options, which are the best?

Thankfully, medicare.gov has made it simple to see which homes have the best care and which fall short.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services evaluated Georgia nursing homes and rated each based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures like the number of residents in pain or up to date on flu shots.

Here’s a breakdown of the rating criteria:

  • Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards.

  • The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day.

  • Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home.

  • Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards.

  • The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day.

  • Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home.

With that criteria in mind, let’s check out the worst rated nursing homes in the Macon area:

Of the 20 nursing homes reviewed, five were rated “much below average,” four were rated “below average,” seven were rated above average and one facility received the highest rating of much above average, five out of five stars.

Note: To view each home’s report, follow the linked facility names below.

Rated “Much above average” ( 5 stars)

The Lodge - 200 South Kimberly Road, Warner Robins

  • Federal fines in the last three years: 0

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 0

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: One citation on Oct. 20, 2022, for having expired food in the kitchen cooler and failing to keep all hot food served above 135 degrees.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0, but no new inspections from Nov. 2022 to Oct. 2023.

Rated “above average” (4 stars)

Rated “average” (3 stars)

Rated “below average” (2 stars)

Rated “Much below average” ( 1 star)

Pruitthealth - Peake - 6190 Peake Road, Macon

  • Federal fines in the last three years: March 10, 2021, one for $80,733

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 11, most recently on Jan. 6, 2023, cited for not providing prescribed medication until one day after it was prescribed.

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: Three citations on June 30, 2022, including one for not informing patient’s family of room change and one for not informing patient’s ombudsman of patient’s transfer to hospital.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: three, but no new inspections from Nov. 2022 to Oct. 2023.

Fountain Blue Rehab and Nursing - 3051 Whiteside Road, Macon

  • Federal fines in the last three years: Two: $983 on April 19, 2021 and $655 on April 12, 2021

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 0

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: Nine citations on July 16, 2023, including one for failing to keep call buttons within the reach of patients and one for failing to keep track of advanced care plans/DNR directives.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: one, but none in most recent inspection on June 28, 2023.

Cherry Blossom Health and Rehabilitation - 3520 Kenneth Drive, Macon

  • Federal fines in the last three years: 0

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 0

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: 15 citations on Sept. 21, 2023, including one for failing to provide a bariatric wheelchair for a patient to leave room for activities and failure to report allegation of physical abuse to state agencies.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: Provider had no infection control inspections in the past three years.

Pruitthealth - Eastside - 2795 Finney Circle, Macon

  • Federal fines in the last three years: One for $8,762 on Jan. 20, 2022.

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 13 on May 21, 2023, including failing to intervene after a patient’s significant weight drop and failure to provide a treatment plan for patient’s PTSD.

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: 10 citations on May 21, 2023, including failing to ensure that two of four medication carts were locked and secured when left unattended.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: two, but no new inspections from Nov. 2022 to Oct. 2023.

Macon Rehabilitation and Healthcare - 505 Coliseum Drive, Macon

  • Federal fines in the last three years: Five: $8,391 on July 17, 2023; $2,098 on June 12, 2023; $1,748 on June 5, 2023; $3,145 on May 15, 2023; and $8,135 on March 28, 2022.

  • Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: five, but no complaint inspections were conducted between Nov. 2022 and Oct. 2023.

  • Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0

  • Total number of citations for most recent health inspection: 11 citations on July 31, 2022, including failing to ensure resident’s toilet was in good repair, failing to obtain background checks for eight of 11 files reviewed and failing to obtain reference checks for nine of the 11 staff reviewed.

  • Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0, but no new inspections from Nov. 2022 to Oct. 2023.

For detailed list of nursing home reviews, visit Medicare.gov.