All states › Missouri › Waynesville › Life Care Center of Waynesville
700 Birch Lane Waynesville, MO 65583 · Pulaski County
CMS certification number 265373 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Life Care Center of Waynesville 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 Life Care Center of Waynesville as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Missouri average of 2.6.
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 3.54 hours per resident per day at Life Care Center of Waynesville, above the Missouri median of 3.37 (US median: 3.72). About 0.51 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.14 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 61.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Missouri median 56.8%). 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Life Care Center of Waynesville: Medicare and Medicaid
Life Care Center of Waynesville 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 Missouri'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 March 17, 2025 and found 12 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 32 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 32 citations at Life Care Center of Waynesville across 6 inspection dates, 5 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on March 17, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (10) and resident rights (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing" (tag F0686, level G, March 17, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
November 24, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
March 17, 2025 · 12 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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.
EDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
EEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
EEnsure 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.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
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.
DTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
December 5, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
March 26, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
February 1, 2024 · 12 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
CAssure the security of all personal funds of residents deposited with the facility.
CPost a list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all pertinent State agencies and advocacy groups and a statement that the resident may file a complaint with the State Survey Agency.
CNotify 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.
BHonor 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.
BProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
BEnsure 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.
November 14, 2022 · 3 citations
EProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
ETry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Life Care Center of Waynesville
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on March 17, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on March 26, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $22,081 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2025 | Fine | $22,081 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Life Care Center of Waynesville
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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6.3 mi
General Leonard Wood Ach (Ft Leonard Wood) Fort Leonard WoodEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 16m for patients treated and sent home
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24.2 mi
St Johns Hospital-Lebanon LebanonEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 31m 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 Life Care Center of Waynesville › All nursing homes in Waynesville ›
Compare Life Care Center of Waynesville with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Richland Care Center · Richland · 5 stars · 9.8 mi
Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in Missouri
- Life Care Center of St Louis · Saint Louis · 4 stars
- Life Care Center of Carrollton · Carrollton · 4 stars
- Life Care Center of Sullivan · Sullivan · 4 stars
- Life Care Center of Bridgeton · Bridgeton · 3 stars
- Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau · Cape Girardeau · 2 stars
- Northwood Hills Care Center · Humansville · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America 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.