Life Care Center Of Banner Elk
Banner Elk, NC · Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home (CCN 345203) · 118 certified beds
Health inspection: 4 · Quality measures: 3 · Staffing: 3
Federal fines: none on current record
Phone: (828) 898-5136 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Life Care Center Of Banner Elk holds a CMS overall rating of 4 stars, above the North Carolina state average of 2.93 stars. Its health inspection rating is 4 stars and its staffing rating is 3 stars.
Life Care Center Of Banner Elk reports 3.18 total nurse hours per resident per day, including 0.41 RN hours per resident per day, with a nursing staff turnover rate of 17.6%. CMS gives the facility a staffing rating of 3 stars.
Life Care Center Of Banner Elk has no federal fines on record, with total fines of $0.00 and zero payment denials reported by CMS. CMS does not display an abuse icon for this facility and it is not part of the Special Focus program.
About this facility
Life Care Center Of Banner Elk is a Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home located in Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina. The facility is certified for 118 beds and reports an average of 65.7 residents. It has been certified since October 1, 1981. Ownership is structured as a for-profit corporation, and the facility is part of the Life Care Centers Of America chain, which includes 194 facilities nationwide with an average chain rating of 3.4 stars.
According to CMS Care Compare data, Life Care Center Of Banner Elk holds an overall rating of 4 stars, which is above the North Carolina state average of 2.93 stars. Its four component ratings are: health inspection rating of 4 stars, quality measure (QM) rating of 3 stars, and staffing rating of 3 stars.
Nurse staffing levels are reported at 3.18 total nurse hours per resident per day, including 0.41 RN hours per resident per day. Nursing staff turnover is reported at 17.6%.
Regarding the penalty record: CMS reports zero federal fines on record, with total fines of $0.00, and zero payment denials for this facility. There is no abuse icon flagged by CMS for this facility, and it is not listed under CMS's Special Focus program, which designates facilities that are persistently underperforming and placed under increased regulatory inspection.
CMS records do not indicate a change of ownership within the past 12 months for this facility. This profile is based on data from CMS Medicare Care Compare.
Questions families ask
What is this nursing home's CMS overall star rating and how does it compare to the state average?
The facility holds a CMS overall rating of 4 stars, which is above the North Carolina state average of 2.93 stars.
Does this facility accept Medicare, Medicaid, or both?
The facility accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.
How well is this facility staffed — nurse hours per resident and turnover?
Total nurse staffing is 3.18 hours per resident per day, including 0.41 RN hours per resident per day, with a nursing turnover rate of 17.6%.
Does this facility have federal fines or penalties on record?
No, CMS reports zero fines, $0.00 in total fines, and zero payment denials for this facility.
Has CMS flagged this facility for abuse or placed it in the Special Focus program?
No, CMS does not display an abuse icon for this facility, and it is not listed in the Special Focus program.
How large is this facility and how many residents live there?
The facility is certified for 118 beds and reports an average of 65.7 residents.
Who owns this facility — and is it part of a chain?
It is a for-profit corporation and part of the Life Care Centers Of America chain, which includes 194 facilities with an average rating of 3.4 stars.
How long has this facility been Medicare/Medicaid certified?
The facility has been certified since October 1, 1981.
What do the four different CMS star ratings mean?
CMS publishes an overall rating plus three component ratings — health inspections, staffing, and quality measures — which combine to form the overall score. This facility's ratings are 4 (health inspection), 3 (quality measures), and 3 (staffing).
Does this facility offer short-term rehabilitation as well as long-term care?
The provided CMS data does not specify service lines; contact the facility at 8288985136 and verify on Medicare Care Compare.
What should I look for when touring this facility?
The data provided does not include tour details; contact the facility at 8288985136 to arrange a visit and verify current conditions on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I verify this facility's current record on Medicare Care Compare?
You can review the facility's current record at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/345203?state=NC.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Aug2026 refresh). Star ratings, staffing hours, and penalty records are CMS's official published measures. Always tour the facility, review the current inspection record, and verify details with Medicare before making care decisions.