Skilled NursingCMS verified

Merkel Nursing Center

1704 N 1ST, Merkel, TX 79536 · Taylor County

1.0CMS overall rating(325) 928-5673 Visit website ↗

Use Caution

Haven Scout Score

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

Photos via google places, facility website.

Availability outlookUsually has openings

Typically 42% full — availability is generally good.

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.

A low federal rating — review the details closely

Merkel Nursing Center is a for-profit skilled nursing facility in Merkel, TX, with 65 certified beds and an average of about 27 residents per day.

Medicare rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall — below the national average of about 3 stars. Component ratings: 1/5 on health inspections, 2/5 on staffing, 1/5 on quality measures.

Staff provide about 3.18 total nurse hours per resident each day (0.48 of them from registered nurses), below the national benchmark of roughly 3.9 hours. Annual nursing-staff turnover is about 64.9%, higher than the ~52% national average. On the safety record, CMS notes 29 health deficiencies at its most recent standard survey, and 4 federal fines totaling $397,149 in the recent record. Note: CMS has flagged this facility with an abuse icon. We strongly recommend reviewing the full inspection report and discussing it on any tour. This facility is in the CMS Special Focus Facility program, which targets homes with a history of serious quality problems.

Strengths

✓Full sprinkler system

Things to ask about

•Below-average 1-star overall CMS rating
•Below-average health-inspection rating
•Below-average nurse staffing (3.18 hrs/resident/day)
•29 deficiencies at last survey
•$397,149 in federal fines
•CMS abuse-citation flag — review carefully

Best for: Families considering this community should tour in person, request the latest survey, and weigh it against higher-rated Merkel options — our advisors can help you compare.

At a glance

Certified beds: 65
Avg. residents/day: 27
Ownership: For profit - Limited Liability company
Part of a chain: Independent
Continuing care: No
CMS provider #: 676053

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	$4,850–$7,260/mo (median $5,850)	Local market estimate

2024–2026 published survey medians, state median adjusted to local Abilene 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 Merkel Nursing Center →

Staffing & care

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

Total nurse hrs / resident / day: 3.18; National avg ≈ 3.9
RN hrs / resident / day: 0.48; National avg ≈ 0.75
Nursing staff turnover: 64.9%; National avg ≈ 52%

Safety & inspection record

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

⚠️ This community carries a serious CMS flag (abuse citation) (Special Focus Facility). We recommend reviewing the full inspection report and raising it directly on any tour.

Health deficiencies (last survey): 29
Federal fines: 4 ($397,149)
Total penalties: 4
Last standard survey: 2025-12-04
Sprinkler system: Yes
Resident & family council: None

What inspectors found

The most recent findings from federal health inspections (64 citations on record — showing the latest 8). Every nursing home is inspected roughly once a year; most receive some citations.

2026-02-16Severity K — immediate jeopardyFrom a complaintFreedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

2026-02-16Severity K — immediate jeopardyFrom a complaintQuality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

2026-02-16Severity K — immediate jeopardyFrom a complaintNursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

2026-02-16Severity K — immediate jeopardyFrom a complaintNursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.

2026-02-16Severity F — potential for harmFrom a complaintNursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.

2026-02-16Severity F — potential for harmFrom a complaintNursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.

2026-02-16Severity F — potential for harmFrom a complaintInfection Control Deficiencies

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

2026-02-16Severity F — potential for harmFrom a complaintInfection Control Deficiencies

Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.

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.

Penalty history

Federal fines and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials on record.

Date	Type	Amount
2026-02-16	Fine	$210,935
2025-08-22	Fine	$178,172
2023-06-26	Fine	$4,196
2023-06-20	Fine	$3,846

Services & amenities

✓ Full automatic sprinkler system
✓ Medicare & Medicaid certified
✓ 24-hour licensed nursing
✓ On-site rehabilitation therapy
✓ Physical therapy
✓ Occupational therapy
✓ Rehabilitation services
✓ Daily activities & events

Location

1704 N 1ST, Merkel, TX

Reviews & reputation

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

Google

3.9

7 reviews →

Verified family reviews

No verified family reviews yet for Merkel Nursing 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 Merkel Nursing Center

How much does Merkel Nursing Center cost?

Merkel Nursing Center does not publish exact rates. Comparable skilled nursing in the Merkel, TX area typically runs $4,850–$7,260 per month (median $5,850, based on published survey medians adjusted for local prices). A Haven advisor can confirm current pricing for free.

What is Merkel Nursing Center's Medicare rating?

Medicare (CMS) rates Merkel Nursing Center 1 out of 5 stars overall, including 1/5 for health inspections, 2/5 for staffing, 1/5 for quality measures. The national average is about 3 stars.

How is the staffing at Merkel Nursing Center?

Staff provide about 3.18 total nurse hours per resident per day (national benchmark ≈ 3.9), and annual nursing-staff turnover is about 64.9% (national average ≈ 52%). These figures are reported to the federal government and updated regularly.

What did inspectors find at Merkel Nursing Center?

Merkel Nursing Center has 64 health citations on its recent federal inspection record (last standard survey: 2025-12-04). The full citation-by-citation detail, with severity levels, is published on this page.

Does Merkel Nursing Center have availability?

Typically 42% full — availability is generally good. Availability changes weekly — a Haven advisor can confirm current openings at no cost.

What types of care does Merkel Nursing Center offer?

Merkel Nursing Center in Merkel, TX offers skilled nursing and is licensed for 65 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 Abilene.
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.

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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 Merkel Nursing 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
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