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Nursing homeFAID #3640

Life Care Center of the Willows

1000 ELIZABETH DR, VALPARAISO, IN, 46383

(219) 464-4858

92 licensed beds

CMS rates Life Care Center of the Willows 3 out of 5 overall. Federal inspectors issued 81 citations across 11 inspections in the last three years, with no federal fines. Listing last updated 2026-11-06.

★★★★★3/5CMS Five-Star overall2/5 health inspections3/5 staffing5/5 quality measuresSource: CMS Care Compare

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Address

1000 Elizabeth Dr

Valparaiso, IN 46383

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Public record summary

What we can show you for free.

Bed capacity

92

CMS facility ID

155158

Care type

Nursing home

County

Porter

Facility name

Life Care Center of the Willows

Street address

1000 ELIZABETH DR

City / state / ZIP

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone

(219) 464-4858

Website

About this facility — Life Care Center of the Willows

Life Care Center of the Willows is a Medicare/Medicaid-certified skilled nursing facility in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is licensed for 92 beds — close to the median for skilled nursing facilities in Indiana (92 beds).

It is one of 15 senior care facilities in Valparaiso and 507 skilled nursing facilities across Indiana. Families comparing options should weigh inspection history, ownership record, and litigation — not just the tour — before deciding.

It is listed as part of Life Care Centers of America, a group of 194 facilities on this site.

Federal inspectors have cited Life Care Center of the Willows 81 times across 11 inspections in the last three years, including 1 food-safety citation; no federal fines are on record. Every citation is listed, dated, and graded in the inspection record below.

This listing draws on federal CMS Nursing Home Compare records, and was last updated on November 6, 2026. Background reports are compiled from primary sources — state inspection files, federal CMS data, corporate registrations, and court records — at the time of order.

Facility background

What the public record shows.

Ownership & operator

Parent company

Life Care Centers of America

Ownership type

Government - County

Registered owners & officers

Adams, Tami

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2018

Consolidated Resources Health Care Fund I Lp

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2018

Cross, Cindy

Operational control — since 2018

Engels, Erin

Governing body · Trustee — since 2018

Fenoughty, Deanna

Officer · Operational control — since 2023

Fletcher, Todd

Operational control — since 2018

Gentry, Mark

Governing body · Trustee — since 2022

Hendricks County Hospital

Additional disclosable party — since 2025

Henry, Terry

Operational control — since 2018

Lay, Lisa

Operational control — since 2018

Life Care Centers of America, Inc.

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2018

Mirochna, Michael

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2019

Preston, Aubrey

Operational control — since 2018

Preston, Forrest

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2018

Starkey, Tyler

Governing body · Trustee — since 2020

Swanker, Richard

Operational control — since 2018

Thurmond, Joan

Operational control — since 2018

Waite, John

Governing body · Trustee — since 2020

Whicker, Timothy

Governing body · Trustee — since 2022

Ziegler, James

Operational control — since 2018

Regulatory standing

Federal court records

20 naming its parent company — view the cases (a listed case is not a finding of wrongdoing)

Licensed / certified since

1974-07-15

CMS overall rating

3 of 5 stars

Health deficiencies

15 at the last standard inspection

Federal fines

None on record

Last standard inspection

2026-01-27

Nurse staffing

3.8 hours per resident per day

Cost & payer profile (FY2023 cost report)

Average billed charges

$421 per day (≈ $12,800/month). Private-pay prices typically track billed charges; Medicare and Medicaid pay set rates.

Payer mix (resident days)

74% Medicaid · 13% Medicare · 13% private/other

Occupancy

71% (fiscal year 2023)

Vs. state median

13% above the IN median of $373/day — full state cost breakdown

Services & coverage

Licensed beds

92

Medicare

Accepted

Medicaid

Accepted

Compiled from CMS Nursing Home Compare; owners/officers from the CMS Ownership dataset; cost & occupancy from the facility's own CMS cost report · last verified 2026-11-06. Facilities can submit a correction.

Inspection record

Every citation, dated and graded.

Kitchen & food safety

Federal surveyors inspect the kitchen at every standard visit. This facility has 1 food-safety citation on its three-year record — flagged below among the inspections.

2026-03-25Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation

F-0677

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.

Corrected 2026-04-10

2026-01-27Health inspection13 citations

F-0550

D · No harm found

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0552

D · No harm found

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0656

D · No harm found

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0684

D · No harm found

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0688

D · No harm found

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.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0689

D · No harm found

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0693

D · No harm found

Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0695

D · No harm found

Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0757

D · No harm found

Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0812

E · No harm foundFood safety

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0880

D · No harm found

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0881

D · No harm found

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Corrected 2026-02-20

F-0921

F · No harm found

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.

Corrected 2026-02-20

8 earlier / fire-safety inspections (67 citations)

2025-12-04Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation

F-0880

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2025-12-29

2025-09-29Health inspectionComplaint-triggered2 citations

F-0842

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Corrected 2025-10-24

F-0921

E · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.

Corrected 2025-10-24

2024-11-13Health inspection6 citations

F-0583

D · No harm found

Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.

Corrected 2024-12-06

F-0657

D · No harm found

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Corrected 2024-12-06

F-0686

D · No harm found

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected 2024-12-06

F-0692

D · No harm found

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

Corrected 2024-12-06

F-0880

D · No harm found

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2024-12-06

F-0881

D · No harm found

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Corrected 2024-12-06

2024-03-15Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation

F-0609

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Corrected 2024-04-11

2024-01-03Health inspectionComplaint-triggered13 citations

F-0561

D · No harm found

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0655

D · No harm found

Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0656

D · No harm found

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0677

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0684

D · No harm found

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0688

D · No harm found

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.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0689

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0692

D · No harm found

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0757

D · No harm found

Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0758

D · No harm found

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.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0770

D · No harm found

Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0881

D · No harm found

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Corrected 2024-02-01

F-0921

E · No harm found

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.

Corrected 2024-02-01

2026-01-27Fire-safety inspection23 citations

E-0004

F · No harm found

Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).

Corrected 2026-03-02

E-0013

F · No harm found

Develop Emergency Preparedness policies and procedures.

Corrected 2026-03-23

E-0029

F · No harm found

Develop a communication plan.

Corrected 2026-03-23

E-0036

F · No harm found

Establish emergency prep training and testing.

Corrected 2026-03-23

E-0037

F · No harm found

Establish staff and initial training requirements.

Corrected 2026-03-23

E-0039

F · No harm found

Conduct testing and exercise requirements.

Corrected 2026-03-23

E-0041

F · No harm found

Implement emergency and standby power systems.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0211

E · No harm found

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0222

F · No harm found

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.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0223

D · No harm found

Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0291

F · No harm found

Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0300

F · No harm found

Meet other general requirements that are deficient.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0324

E · No harm found

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0351

E · No harm found

Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0353

F · No harm found

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0355

E · No harm found

Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0363

E · No harm found

Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0372

E · No harm found

Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0712

F · No harm found

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0914

F · No harm found

Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0918

F · No harm found

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0921

F · No harm found

Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.

Corrected 2026-03-23

K-0927

F · No harm found

Have proper fire barriers, ventilation and signs for the transfilling of oxygen.

Corrected 2026-03-23

2024-11-13Fire-safety inspection8 citations

E-0039

F · No harm found

Conduct testing and exercise requirements.

Corrected 2025-01-12

E-0041

F · No harm found

Implement emergency and standby power systems.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0321

E · No harm found

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0324

D · No harm found

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0712

F · No harm found

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0918

F · No harm found

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0920

D · No harm found

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

Corrected 2025-01-12

K-0921

F · No harm found

Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.

Corrected 2025-01-12

2024-01-03Fire-safety inspection13 citations

K-0232

E · No harm found

Have corridors or aisles that are unobstructed and are at least 8 feet in width.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0291

F · No harm found

Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0300

F · No harm found

Meet other general requirements that are deficient.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0321

E · No harm found

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0324

E · No harm found

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0346

C · No harm found

Follow proper procedures when the fire alarm was out of service for more than 4 hours.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0351

E · No harm found

Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0353

F · No harm found

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0354

C · No harm found

Follow proper procedures when the automatic sprinkler systems was out of service for more than 10 hours.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0363

F · No harm found

Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0521

C · No harm found

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0711

F · No harm found

Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.

Corrected 2024-02-14

K-0920

E · No harm found

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

Corrected 2024-02-14

Citations and penalties from the CMS Provider Data Catalog (three-year survey window, refreshed monthly). Severity codes follow the federal scope/severity grid; “Immediate jeopardy” is the most serious grade CMS issues. CCN 155158.

Quality of care & staffing

How it compares in Indiana.

Inspection citations, 3 years

81

More than 93% of nursing homes in the state

State median: 35

Federal fines, 3 years

$0

No federal fines on record

State median: $0

Nurse staffing, hours per resident per day

3.8

Higher than 66% of nursing homes in the state

State median: 3.6

Nursing staff turnover, annual

51%

Higher than 67% of nursing homes in the state

State median: 46%

Resident outcomes

On 21 federal quality measures, this facility does better than the Indiana average on 8 and worse on 6. Differences within 10% of the average are shown as near average.

Long-stay residents	This facility	State	US	Compared with state
Need for help with daily activities has increased	5.6%	10.8%	13.5%	Better than state
Lose too much weight	3.0%	5.3%	5.1%	Better than state
With a catheter inserted and left in their bladder	0.3%	0.3%	0.7%	Better than state
With a urinary tract infection	0.0%	1.1%	1.5%	Better than state
Have depressive symptoms	0.5%	25.5%	13.5%	Better than state
Were physically restrained	0.9%	0.0%	0.1%	Worse than state
Experiencing one or more falls with major injury	5.7%	3.8%	3.2%	Worse than state
Assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine	98.2%	93.7%	93.7%	Near state average
Ability to walk independently worsened	11.4%	11.1%	12.7%	Near state average
Received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication	21.6%	23.5%	19.5%	Near state average
Assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine	91.5%	95.1%	95.3%	Near state average
With pressure ulcers	6.3%	3.5%	4.5%	Worse than state
With new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence	28.9%	22.4%	18.3%	Worse than state
Received an antipsychotic medication	7.6%	13.7%	15.4%	Better than state
Hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days	3.28	1.51	1.81	Worse than state
Outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days	2.17	1.37	1.69	Worse than state

Short-stay residents	This facility	State	US	Compared with state
Assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine	88.4%	81.9%	82.3%	Near state average
Newly received an antipsychotic medication	0.0%	1.1%	1.5%	Better than state
Were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine	78.3%	79.2%	80.1%	Near state average
Were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission	20.3%	21.8%	23.4%	Near state average
Had an outpatient emergency department visit	8.3%	10.9%	11.8%	Better than state

Source: CMS MDS and Medicare claims quality measures, measure period 2025Q3-2026Q2. Averages are computed from all nursing homes reporting each measure.

Cited more than once

The same rule cited at separate inspections can point to a problem that wasn't fully fixed.

F-0880 3 inspections. Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
F-0881 3 inspections. Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
F-0921 3 inspections. Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
K-0324 3 inspections. Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
F-0677 2 inspections. Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
E-0039 2 inspections. Conduct testing and exercise requirements.

Verify & compare

Where to check, and what's nearby.

Who to contact in Indiana

Licensing: Indiana Department of Health, Division of Long-Term Care
File a complaint: 800-246-8909 · Online
Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 800-622-4484. A free advocate for residents and families.
Adult Protective Services: 800-992-6978. Some states send facility cases to licensing instead. In an emergency, call 911.
Eldercare Locator: 800-677-1116, a federal service for local aging help.

Nearest emergency hospitals

Northwest Health - Porter, about 5.1 miles. CMS rating 2 of 5.
St Mary Medical Center Inc, about 11 miles. CMS rating 3 of 5.
Regional Mental Health Center, about 17 miles.

Source: CMS Hospital General Information. Straight-line distance.

Nearby facilities with inspection records

Valparaiso Care & Rehabilitation, Valparaiso, about 1.0 miles. CMS rating 1 of 5.
Rittenhouse Senior Living of Valparaiso, Valparaiso, about 1.0 miles. 7 state visits on record.
Avalon Springs Health Campus, Valparaiso, about 1.2 miles. CMS rating 4 of 5.
Brookdale Valparaiso, Valparaiso, about 1.2 miles. 7 state visits on record.
Brickyard Healthcare - Valparaiso Care Center, Valparaiso, about 1.3 miles. CMS rating 4 of 5.

Inside your report

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Ownership & corporate history

Primary tier

Prior operators & transfers

Corporate network & affiliates

,

Owners' other facilities

· · 2 more

Inspection citations — last 5 years

Locked

The 81 citations above are shown free. The report takes each one and explains it in plain English — what the tag requires, how serious the scope/severity grade really is, whether it recurred across surveys — plus the five-year pattern a single inspection can't show.

Civil & criminal lawsuits

Advanced tier only

Active civil suits

#

Federal dockets

CDC infection data

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Citations, owner history, lawsuits — decoded into one PDF.

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Original records

Sources we pull for this facility.

Source

CMS Nursing Home Compare

data.cms.gov Provider Data Catalog

Last verified 2026-11-06

Source

Secretary of State filings

Entity & officer search

Pulled when a report is ordered

Source

PACER federal dockets

pacer.uscourts.gov

Pulled when a report is ordered