Life Care Center of Kona
Meets baseline Medicare standards with room for improvement. A tour and talking to current residents' families is the best next step.
based on 21 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
The facility has a strong reputation for effective rehabilitation therapy, making it a potential candidate for post-acute recovery. However, given the recent reports of significant understaffing and slow response times, families should conduct a site visit during off-hours to observe staff availability firsthand.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
21 reviews on Google“Life Care Center of Kona receives high praise for its rehabilitation services, with multiple families highlighting the effectiveness of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. However, recent feedback indicates significant concerns regarding staffing levels and slow response times to patient needs, suggesting a potential decline in care quality compared to earlier years.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Highly skilled rehabilitation therapy team
- Attentive and caring nursing staff
- Clean and comfortable facility environment
Concerns
- Understaffing leading to slow call button response times (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 23 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the facility's focus on rehabilitation, how do you ensure that residents receiving therapy also stay engaged with the broader community and daily social activities?
- 2I noticed that response times can sometimes be a challenge; what specific protocols or technology do you have in place to ensure call buttons are answered promptly during peak hours?
- 3With a 2-star rating in health inspections, what specific steps is the leadership team currently taking to address these areas and improve the quality of care?
- 4I see that the facility occasionally responds to feedback online; how do you incorporate family input and concerns into your ongoing operational improvements?
- 5How does the nursing team coordinate with the rehabilitation staff to ensure that a resident's medical needs are consistently met while they are undergoing intensive therapy?
- 6What is your protocol for managing urgent medical changes during the evening or weekend hours when fewer administrative staff are on-site?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The physical and occupational therapists were first rate, the nurses were attentive and the aides were over the top kind and caring.”
“He received excellent, personalized care, and the speech, physical and occupational therapists were absolutely phenomenal.”
“This facility is dangerously understaffed. My mother was admitted needing critical care... On numerous occasions, it took over an hour for anyone to respond after my mother pressed the call button.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Total nursing hours are below minimum, though RN coverage is adequate. This may mean fewer aides for daily tasks like bathing and mobility.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
9
measures
7
measures
1
measures
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
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 Kona has concerning patterns with 51 deficiencies across three surveys, including families filing complaints that triggered additional inspections. The facility shows persistent issues with nursing staff training, medication management, and food safety that repeat across multiple years. While all deficiencies report correction dates, the recurring nature of problems in these critical care areas suggests ongoing challenges with maintaining consistent quality standards.
Sep 25, 2024Routine12
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Sep 25, 2024Complaint3
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Sep 21, 2023Routine16
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Administration Deficiencies
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
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.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Egress Deficiencies
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Sep 21, 2023Complaint2
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Jun 9, 2022Routine18
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Egress Deficiencies
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Perform COVID19 testing on residents and staff.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Sep 21, 2023
$27,612
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Life Care Center of Kona
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Life Care Centers of America
194 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 3.5/5 · Rank 97 of 194
Ownership & Management
Owners
Lay, Lisa
Owner
Swanker, Richard
Owner
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
21 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit lcca.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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