All states › Florida › Lake Wales › Groves Center
512 S 11th St Lake Wales, FL 33853 · Polk County
All 2 nursing homes in Lake Wales, FL (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 105269 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Groves Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Groves Center as of October 2026.
CMS has not given it an overall rating yet.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.45 hours per resident per day at Groves Center, below the Florida median of 3.67 (US median: 3.72). About 0.47 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.17 hours, 8% below its all-week average. 55.7% of nursing staff left within a year (Florida median 42%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Groves Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Groves Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Florida's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on July 22, 2026 and found 12 deficiencies, plus 8 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 50 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 50 citations at Groves Center across 6 inspection dates, 23 of them from complaint investigations. 5 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on January 12, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (14) and resident rights (8). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level L, January 12, 2024). 6 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 22, 2026 · 12 citations
EPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
EProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
EEnsure 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.
DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DHonor 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.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DProvide 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.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DConduct 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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
February 4, 2026 · 11 citations
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
FImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
October 29, 2025 · 8 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DHonor 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.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide or obtain x-rays/tests when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.
May 28, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
DHonor 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.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
October 1, 2024 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
January 12, 2024 · 10 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
LProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
LRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
LEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
LAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
LSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
EHonor 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.
EProvide 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.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Questions to ask on a tour of Groves Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on January 12, 2024 under the rule on freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on February 4, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 55.7% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
2 penalties in the last three years, including $246,354 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2025 | Fine | $83,801 |
| Jan 12, 2024 | Fine | $162,553 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | — | — | — | — |
| August 2026 | — | — | — | — |
Location
Hospitals near Groves Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.2 mi
Lake Wales Medical Center Lake WalesEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 6m for patients treated and sent home
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13.5 mi
Winter Haven Hospital Winter HavenEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 13m for patients treated and sent home
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17.1 mi
Bartow Regional Medical Center BartowEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 8m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Groves Center › All nursing homes in Lake Wales ›
Compare Groves Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
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Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 8 Hearthstone Senior Communities nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.