Life Care Center of Banner Elk
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise warm, attentive nursing staff. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 126 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
This facility is highly regarded for its compassionate nursing staff and effective rehabilitation programs, making it a strong candidate for recovery. However, families should be proactive in establishing clear communication channels with nursing leadership, as some reviewers have noted occasional difficulties in reaching staff by phone.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
126 reviews on Google“Life Care Center of Banner Elk is widely praised for its dedicated, compassionate nursing staff and effective rehabilitation therapy services. While many families report a clean and welcoming environment, some reviewers have raised concerns regarding occasional communication gaps, staffing shortages, and the need for facility updates such as newer beds and televisions.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Warm, attentive nursing staff
- Effective rehabilitation therapy
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Professional and helpful administrative staff
Concerns
- Difficulty reaching staff via phone or slow response times (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Outdated equipment (beds and small TVs) (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Occasional understaffing or lack of visibility on the floor (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 130 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1We noticed how much the administration values feedback from families; how do you typically use resident and family input to improve the facility?
- 2With so many people living here, what kind of daily activities or social outings do you have planned to keep residents engaged?
- 3How do you ensure that the nursing team is easily accessible and visible on the floor during the night or weekend shifts?
- 4If an unexpected medical emergency occurs after hours, what is the specific protocol for getting immediate care for a resident?
- 5Are there any upcoming plans to update or upgrade resident room amenities, such as the beds or televisions?
- 6What is the best way for us to stay in quick communication with the nursing staff if we have a question about our loved one's care during the day?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The staff is very kind and compassionate and our friend that we visited commented on the same. She said 'they are good to me here and they take good care of me.'”
“The nursing staff is absolutely the best! Especially Lucas, he has taken care of my mother like she was a member of his family. He is kind and extremely patient.”
“Life Care personnel were all very attentive, professional and really cared for my mom. They were thorough to explain treatment, anticipated timeline for recovery and what to expect.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
11
measures
6
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Life Care Center of Banner Elk has 11 deficiencies across three surveys with all issues reportedly corrected by the facility. The most recurring problems involve resident care quality (including mobility care, bed rail safety, and incontinence care), along with safety infrastructure issues like electrical systems and fire safety barriers. While no complaints were filed by families, the pattern of care quality issues across multiple surveys warrants careful evaluation during your visit.
Aug 6, 2025Routine3
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Aug 21, 2024Routine3
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
May 24, 2023Routine5
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Life Care Center of Banner Elk
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Life Care Centers of America
194 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 3.5/5 · Rank 9 of 194 (Best)
Ownership & Management
Owners
Developers Investment Company INC
Owner · Organization
Preston, Forrest
Owner (parent company)
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
126 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit lcca.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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