Tsali Care Center
On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.
based on 21 Google reviews

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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Special Focus Facility (under heightened CMS scrutiny)
- Low overall rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (33 vs median 4.0)
Below average in NC · Meets national RN staffing standard · Above recommended total nurse staffing · $205,165 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS)
What this means for your family
Tsali Care Center is highly regarded for its cleanliness and professional, welcoming staff, making it a strong candidate for those prioritizing a well-maintained environment. While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, families should schedule a tour to observe daily interactions firsthand, as the majority of feedback comes from short-term visitors rather than long-term residents.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
21 reviews on Google“Tsali Care Center is consistently praised by visitors for its cleanliness, efficient digital check-in process, and friendly, attentive staff. Families frequently report that their loved ones appear well-cared for and comfortable, with several reviewers noting the absence of unpleasant odors or disorganization.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Friendly and helpful nursing staff
- Efficient digital check-in process
- Safe and secure environment
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 21 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the high number of state-reported deficiencies recently, what specific steps is the leadership team taking to improve the facility's health inspection outcomes?
- 2I noticed the staffing rating is excellent; how does your high staff-to-resident ratio translate into the daily quality of care for someone with my family member's needs?
- 3The facility is consistently praised for being clean and well-maintained; what is your process for ensuring this standard of environment is upheld on a daily basis?
- 4With 100 residents, how do you ensure that the social and recreational activities remain engaging and personalized enough to keep residents active and connected?
- 5Since you have a very efficient digital check-in system, how does this technology help you manage communication between family members and the nursing staff during medical updates or emergencies?
- 6What is your protocol for addressing and resolving concerns when they arise, and how do you keep families informed throughout that process?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“As a healthcare worker myself the facility was clean, no foul odors or overflowing trash barrels. The resident I visited had no bad words to say about his care ( which says alot about care he is receiving).”
“The digital check-in is fast and efficient. During our visit, three of us checked in and had our passes printed in under 3 minutes.”
“We were shown in quickly, were able to to visit our mom outside, and she was brought a snack while we were outside. The staff were polite and attentive.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
1
measures
12
measures
3
measures
1
measures
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents with pressure sores (bedsores)
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents needing more daily help over time
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
Families have filed reports prompting nearly one-third of these deficiencies, indicating ongoing concerns at this facility. Recurring issues center on resident rights violations, medication management problems, and safety hazards. While deficiencies span multiple years and appear corrected, the pattern of repeated problems in similar areas—particularly around accident prevention, infection control, and respecting residents' dignity—suggests systemic challenges that families should investigate thoroughly during visits.
Aug 1, 2025Routine25
Administration Deficiencies
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Administration Deficiencies
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
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.
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.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
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
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
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
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 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.
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 safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Aug 1, 2025Complaint2
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
Apr 10, 2025Complaint7
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to receive visitors of his or her choosing, at the time of his or her choosing.
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 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 pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Oct 18, 2024Complaint2
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Aug 22, 2024Routine18
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Administration Deficiencies
Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Environmental Deficiencies
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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
Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home.
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 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
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
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.
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.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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.
Jul 31, 2024Complaint2
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
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Jul 31, 2025
$11,047
Fine
Apr 10, 2025
$15,028
Fine
Jul 31, 2024
$118,938
Payment Denial
Jul 31, 2024
81-day denial
Fine
Jul 31, 2024
$12,542
Fine
Jul 13, 2023
$3,728
Payment Denial
Jul 13, 2023
83-day denial
Fine
Jul 13, 2023
$3,728
Fine
Jul 13, 2023
$8,070
Fine
Jul 13, 2023
$8,137
Fine
Jul 13, 2023
$17,999
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Tsali Care Center
nonprofit
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
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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 cherokeehospital.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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Safer Alternatives Nearby
Based on current clinical data, we identified 5 nearby facilities within 10 miles that may offer a stronger care environment. We encourage families to compare options carefully.
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Vero Health & Rehab of Sylva
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