Skilled NursingCMS verified

Life Care Center of La Center

252 W. 5th Street, La Center, KY 42056 · Ballard County

Our highly skilled, compassionate associates provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to the residents of La Center, KY.

5.0CMS overall rating(270) 665-5681 Visit website ↗

Exceptional

Haven Scout Score

Our composite of CMS ratings, staffing, and safety. This community rates exceptional.

Photos via google places, facility website.

Availability outlook● Fills quickly

Typically 86% full (60 of 70 beds occupied on an average day).

If this community is on your shortlist, checking current openings sooner rather than later genuinely matters here.

Source: federal census data (average daily residents vs. certified beds, CMS Care Compare). Confirm current openings with an advisor — availability changes weekly.

Our evaluation

An honest, data-grounded look at this community — every claim is drawn from public inspection data.

One of La Center's top-rated skilled nursing communities

Life Care Center of La Center is a for-profit skilled nursing facility in La Center, KY, with 70 certified beds and an average of about 60 residents per day. It operates as part of the Life Care Centers of America network.

Medicare rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall — above the national average of about 3 stars. Component ratings: 5/5 on health inspections, 4/5 on staffing, 5/5 on quality measures.

Staff provide about 3.70 total nurse hours per resident each day (0.63 of them from registered nurses), below the national benchmark of roughly 3.9 hours. Annual nursing-staff turnover is about 31.7%, better than the ~52% national average — a sign of staffing stability. On the safety record, CMS notes 0 health deficiencies at its most recent standard survey.

Strengths

✓5-star overall CMS rating
✓Strong health-inspection rating
✓Low staff turnover (continuity of care)
✓No deficiencies at last standard survey
✓No federal fines on record
✓Full sprinkler system

Things to ask about

•Below-average nurse staffing (3.70 hrs/resident/day)

Best for: Families who want a highly rated, well-staffed setting in La Center for 24/7 skilled nursing or post-hospital rehabilitation.

At a glance

Certified beds: 70
Avg. residents/day: 60
Ownership: For profit - Corporation
Part of a chain: Life Care Centers of America
Continuing care: No
CMS provider #: 185320

Federal quality ratings

From the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on a 1–5 star scale.

Overall rating

Health inspections

Staffing

Quality measures

Pricing & cost

We publish transparent estimates and verify exact pricing on request. No surprises.

Level of care	Monthly cost	Source
Skilled Nursing	$7,920–$10,450/mo (median $8,920)	Local market estimate

2024–2026 published survey medians, state median adjusted to local Paducah prices (BEA regional price parities). Request a quote for exact pricing. Range spans semi-private to private rooms. How we estimate costs

Request exact pricing for Life Care Center of La Center →

Staffing & care

More nursing time per resident — and lower turnover — generally means more attentive care.

Total nurse hrs / resident / day: 3.70; National avg ≈ 3.9
RN hrs / resident / day: 0.63; National avg ≈ 0.75
Nursing staff turnover: 31.7%; National avg ≈ 52%

Safety & inspection record

Federal inspectors survey nursing homes roughly once a year. Here's the latest on file.

Health deficiencies (last survey): 0
Federal fines: None on record
Total penalties: 0
Last standard survey: 2026-02-19
Sprinkler system: Yes
Resident & family council: Resident

What inspectors found

The most recent findings from federal health inspections (3 citations on record — showing the latest 3). Every nursing home is inspected roughly once a year; most receive some citations.

2019-12-18Severity D — potential for harmResident 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.

2019-12-18Severity D — potential for harmResident 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.

2019-12-18Severity D — potential for harmQuality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.

Severity uses the CMS scope/severity scale: D–F = potential for harm, G–I = actual harm, J–L = immediate jeopardy. Source: CMS Care Compare health citations; data as of the latest federal release. Discuss any finding directly with the community on a tour.

Services & amenities

✓ Full automatic sprinkler system
✓ Medicare & Medicaid certified
✓ 24-hour licensed nursing
✓ On-site rehabilitation therapy
✓ Rehabilitation services
✓ 24-hour staff

Location

252 W. 5th Street, La Center, KY

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Reviews & reputation

We aggregate ratings across Google, Yelp, and verified families — and link back to every source so you can read more.

Google

4.8

48 reviews →

Verified family reviews

No verified family reviews yet for Life Care Center of La Center.

Have a loved one here, or recently toured? Help other families by sharing your experience — we verify every review before it's published.

Talk to an advisor about this community

Common questions about Life Care Center of La Center

How much does Life Care Center of La Center cost?

Life Care Center of La Center does not publish exact rates. Comparable skilled nursing in the La Center, KY area typically runs $7,920–$10,450 per month (median $8,920, based on published survey medians adjusted for local prices). A Haven advisor can confirm current pricing for free.

What is Life Care Center of La Center's Medicare rating?

Medicare (CMS) rates Life Care Center of La Center 5 out of 5 stars overall, including 5/5 for health inspections, 4/5 for staffing, 5/5 for quality measures. The national average is about 3 stars.

How is the staffing at Life Care Center of La Center?

Staff provide about 3.70 total nurse hours per resident per day (national benchmark ≈ 3.9), and annual nursing-staff turnover is about 31.7% (national average ≈ 52%). These figures are reported to the federal government and updated regularly.

What did inspectors find at Life Care Center of La Center?

Life Care Center of La Center has 3 health citations on its recent federal inspection record (last standard survey: 2026-02-19). The full citation-by-citation detail, with severity levels, is published on this page.

Does Life Care Center of La Center have availability?

Typically 86% full (60 of 70 beds occupied on an average day). Availability changes weekly — a Haven advisor can confirm current openings at no cost.

What types of care does Life Care Center of La Center offer?

Life Care Center of La Center in La Center, KY offers skilled nursing and is licensed for 70 beds.

The best time to decide is before a crisis decides for you

Most families start this search after a fall, a hospital stay, or a caregiver reaching a breaking point — and end up choosing from whatever has a bed open that week. Families who plan even a few weeks ahead get to choose on quality, fit, and price instead of availability alone.

Move-ins take time: assessments, paperwork, and preparation typically run 2–6 weeks in Paducah.
The best communities fill first: top-rated communities often run a waitlist — touring early holds your place in line.
Touring costs nothing and commits you to nothing — but it turns a future emergency into a calm, informed choice.

Start with a free shortlist →Take the 2-minute assessment

Your next steps — this week

1
Confirm the fit
Check the inspection record and staffing data on this page against your loved one's needs.
2
Get exact pricing & availability
Request current rates for Life Care Center of La Center — takes one minute, answered same day.
3
Tour 2–3 communities
Compare this community against two alternatives. Ask about staff turnover, all-in monthly cost, and care-plan changes.
4
Hold a spot
Most communities hold a residence with a small refundable deposit while you decide.