Missouri nursing homes rank among the worst in the country for the amount of care provided to residents, and ongoing staffing shortages may be adding to the problem and putting residents' health and safety at risk. Federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services require skilled nursing facilities to provide at least 3.48 hours of care per resident daily. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there are 1,111 long-term care facilities across the state. That includes 486 skilled nursing facilities.
A Missouri Alliance for Long-Term Care Reform report l abeled 68 out of 161 skilled nursing facilities as "troubled" based on CMS's one-star overall rating (out of five) and the facilities' reporting of less than the federally required 3.48 hours of care per resident per day. The facility can also receive one star if it was placed in the Special Focus Facilities Program, which is designed for nursing homes with a history of serious quality issues. The remaining one-star facilities, about 93, were not included in the report because they either reported providing more than 3.48 hours of care or they failed to adequately report their care hours entirely, said Nicole Lynch, policy and advocacy director with VOYCE, a non-profit advocating for long-term care residents. "On average, a resident could go to another state in our country and receive more care than they receive here in Missouri, which is abysmal," Lynch said. Lynch said facilities with missing or unreliable staffing data were excluded for one of three reasons. Five of the 68 "troubled" skilled nursing homes are in Mid-Missouri.
North Village Park in Moberly
According to Medicare data, North Village Park reported providing just 1 hour, 41 minutes of care per resident per day — significantly longer than the federal requirement of 3.48 hours and the Missouri average of 3 hours and 24 minutes. The facility also reported only 6 minutes of registered nurse care per resident per day, falling far short of the national average of 40 minutes and the Missouri average of 27 minutes.
A January report also found the facility failed to ensure that ordered medications were available and administered. However, it remains unclear whether the issue stemmed from the physician not ordering the medications or from the pharmacy failing to supply them in a timely manner. No documentation shows the facility attempted to obtain the meds from a backup pharmacy.
Four Seasons Living in Sedalia
According to CMS, Four Seasons Living Center in Sedalia reported providing just 1 hour and 19 minutes of total nurse staff care per resident per day — well below the national average of 3 hours and 52 minutes and the Missouri average of 3 hours and 24 minutes. Registered nurse care was reported at only 6 minutes per resident per day.
In October 2024, the facility was issued a $54,249 citation for failing to provide and implement an effective infection prevention and control program. This was categorized as "immediate jeopardy" to resident health or safety. The facility reportedly failed to flush feeding tubes, apply barrier cream and clean wounds. Both North Village Park in Moberly and Four Seasons Living in Sedalia are owned by Reliant Care Management Company LLC. "North Village Park (“NVP”) and Four Seasons Living Center (FSLC) provide skilled nursing services to many individuals who, due to their behavioral conditions, require nursing home care," the company said in a statement to ABC 17 News. "These residents require different care than traditional nursing home residents. For example, a typical geriatric resident requires care hours centered on activities of daily living (“ADL”).
Watch ABC 17 News at 9 and 10 for a special report on troubled nursing homes in Mid-Missouri.
