ElderGrade
F

37.8/100

Poor

Rensselaer Care Center

1309 E Grace St, Rensselaer, IN 47978

CMS 1/5 stars #2 of 2 in Jasper County (219) 866-4181
Certified beds
120
Occupancy
76%
Ownership
Government
Accepts
Medicare + Medicaid

What to ask about before you visit

These are findings in the public CMS record for this home. They are not our opinion — each one comes straight from a federal inspection or enforcement file.

  • 2 citation(s) involving actual harm or immediate jeopardy

    Inspectors found violations at scope/severity G or above, meaning residents were harmed or placed in immediate jeopardy.

  • $128,311 in federal fines

    CMS has fined this facility across 1 penalty action(s).

  • Nursing staff turnover of 61%

    High turnover means residents rarely see the same caregiver twice. The national average is about 50%.

How this grade was calculated

Every point is shown. Nothing is weighted behind the scenes — the full formula is on How we grade.

Inspection 0.8/30 Staffing 20/30 Stability 3/15 Outcomes 12/15 Enforcement 2/10

A full pentagon is full marks. The shape shows what kind of good or bad a home is — two homes can share a score and look nothing alike.

Inspection safety

0.8/30

Citations from state health inspections over the last three surveys, weighted by how much harm CMS says they caused.

  • -20 for 2 immediate-jeopardy citation(s) in the last 3 years
  • -9.2 for 43 total citations against a national median of 17

Staffing

20/30

Nursing hours per resident per day, adjusted for how sick the residents are, plus RN cover and weekend consistency.

  • 4.22 total nurse hours per resident per day (national median 3.77)
  • 0.59 RN hours per resident per day
  • Weekend staffing drops 8% against weekdays

Staff stability

3/15

How much of the nursing team leaves in a year. High turnover means a resident rarely sees the same face twice.

  • 61% of nursing staff left in the last year
  • -2 for 2 administrator departures

Resident outcomes

12/15

The CMS quality-measure rating, built from resident outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, infections and antipsychotic use.

  • 4 of 5 stars on the CMS quality-measure rating

Enforcement history

2/10

Fines and payment denials CMS has imposed. A denial of payment means CMS stopped paying for new admissions.

  • $128,311 in federal fines across 1 action(s)

Grade ceiling applied

  • Capped at 64 (grade C) — immediate-jeopardy citation in the last 3 years

Staffing, against the national average

Full detail

Hours of nursing care each resident receives per day. The marker on each bar is the national average.

Total nurse hours per resident per day 3.77 hrs
National average 3.86 hrs Below average
Registered nurse (RN) hours 0.59 hrs
National average 0.69 hrs Below average

RNs are the licence level most likely to catch a resident deteriorating.

Weekend nurse hours 3.46 hrs
National average 3.42 hrs Better than average

The shift most families visit, and the one thinned first.

Nursing staff turnover 60.50%
National average 45.80% Below average

The share of nursing staff who left over the last year.

Recent inspection findings

All 44 citations

Last standard health inspection: May 6, 2026 (3 months ago).

F May 6, 2026 F0812

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

F May 6, 2026 F0887

Infection Control Deficiencies

Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

E May 6, 2026 F0761

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Ensure 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...

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

D May 6, 2026 F0554

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

D May 6, 2026 F0656

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

D May 6, 2026 F0684

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

D May 6, 2026 F0689

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

D May 6, 2026 F0690

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm

Who owns this home

Full record

Part of LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, which operates 194 homes. Staffing budgets are usually set at chain level, not in the building.

Owner Type Role Since
ENGELS, ERIN Individual MANAGING CONTROL - GOVERNING BODY
GENTRY, MARK Individual MANAGING CONTROL - GOVERNING BODY
STARKEY, TYLER Individual MANAGING CONTROL - GOVERNING BODY
WAITE, JOHN Individual MANAGING CONTROL - GOVERNING BODY
WHICKER, TIMOTHY Individual MANAGING CONTROL - GOVERNING BODY
FENOUGHTY, DEANNA Individual CORPORATE OFFICER
LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. Organization OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL
RENSSELAER MEDICAL INVESTORS, LLC Organization OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL
CROSS, CINDY Individual OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL
FENOUGHTY, DEANNA Individual OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL
FLETCHER, TODD Individual OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL
HENRY, TERRY Individual OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL CONTROL

What families say

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Common questions about Rensselaer Care Center

What is the ElderGrade for Rensselaer Care Center? +

Rensselaer Care Center holds an ElderGrade of F (37.8 out of 100), which we describe as "poor". The grade combines its inspection citations, nurse staffing levels, staff turnover, resident outcomes and enforcement history from the federal CMS record.

How many nursing hours does each resident get at Rensselaer Care Center? +

Residents receive an average of 3.77 nursing hours per day across all nursing staff, against a national average of 3.86 hours.

Has Rensselaer Care Center been cited for harming residents? +

Yes. 2 of the 44 citations on record were scored at scope and severity G or above, meaning inspectors found actual harm to a resident or immediate jeopardy to resident safety.

Does Rensselaer Care Center accept Medicaid? +

Yes, Rensselaer Care Center is certified to accept Medicaid, which is the programme that pays for long-term custodial care once a resident meets their state's income and asset limits.