Mcdowell Healthcare Center
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise compassionate end-of-life care. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 11 Google reviews

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What this means for your family
While some families report positive experiences with end-of-life care, the facility has significant red flags regarding patient safety and responsiveness. If you are considering this location, we strongly advise you to ask for their specific fall-prevention protocols and to observe how staff handle communication during your initial tour.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
11 reviews analyzed“McDowell Healthcare Center receives highly polarized feedback, with some families praising the compassionate end-of-life care while others report severe neglect and safety concerns. Critical issues include frequent patient falls, significant weight loss, and a lack of oversight regarding theft of personal belongings among residents. Communication is a recurring pain point, with multiple reviewers noting that staff are unresponsive to phone calls and concerns.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Compassionate end-of-life care
- Warm bedside manner for some residents
- Southern hospitality
Concerns
- Poor communication and unresponsive phone lines (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Neglect regarding fall prevention and patient safety (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the recent feedback regarding communication, what is the best way for our family to stay in regular contact with the nursing team and receive timely updates?
- 2With the facility's focus on compassionate end-of-life care, how do you ensure that same level of personalized attention and warmth is provided to residents during their daily routines?
- 3I noticed the staffing rating is currently at three stars; how does the leadership team ensure that residents receive consistent supervision, particularly regarding fall prevention and safety monitoring?
- 4Could you walk us through the protocol for medical emergencies and how quickly families are notified if a resident experiences a change in health status?
- 5We appreciate that the facility has begun engaging with online feedback; how are you using that input to improve the overall resident experience and day-to-day operations?
- 6What kind of daily activities or social programs are currently in place to keep residents engaged and connected with the community?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“They treat you like family while you are with your loved ones.This place will always hold a special place in my heart.”
“Almost every day I got calls from them saying he fell. I had begged them to take extra precaution due to the fact he was a great fall risk. Each time he fell, they brushed it off.”
“It's 11:05 AM and the phone rings and rings and rings so, if you're expecting to get a hold of someone at this facility, I wouldn't waste my time.”
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
4
measures
2
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families have filed reports triggering inspections here, indicating ongoing concerns about care quality. The facility shows recurring problems with resident rights protections, care planning and assessments, and medication management across multiple surveys. While most deficiencies have correction dates, the pattern of repeated issues in core care areas and family complaints suggests persistent challenges in maintaining consistent standards of care.
Feb 26, 2026Routine4
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
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
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Aug 7, 2024Routine26
Smoke Deficiencies
Construct fire resistant interior walls.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Smoke Deficiencies
Construct fire resistant interior walls.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
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
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
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.
Administration Deficiencies
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
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
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
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.
Administration Deficiencies
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Aug 7, 2024Complaint2
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 treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Sep 12, 2023Complaint3
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Apr 18, 2023Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Permit a resident to return to the nursing home after hospitalization or therapeutic leave that exceeds bed-hold policy.
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.
Aug 24, 2022Routine18
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
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
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 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 a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
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 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.
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
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
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 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 a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
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 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.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Mcdowell Healthcare Center
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Communicare Health
122 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.8/5 · Rank 21 of 121
Ownership & Management
Owners
Wv Amfm Op Co., LLC
Owner · Organization
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
11 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit communicarehealth.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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