The Lodge at Mills River

Location & what’s nearby

Open in Google Maps ↗ · Directions ↗ · Larger map ↗

Nearest of each type, straight-line distance. Hospitals come from the CMS Hospital General Information registry; everything else from Overture Maps (public data). Hospital and park hours are typical — call ahead to confirm.

Quality measures — how residents actually fare

Quality-measure stars summarize outcomes CMS tracks from the assessments each home submits — avoidable hospitalizations and ER visits, falls with injury, pressure ulcers, unplanned weight loss, and long-term antipsychotic use. Because the underlying data is self-reported, weigh a high score against the independent inspection record. Long-stay = permanent residents; short-stay = rehab and post-hospital stays.

Short-stay rehab — if you are coming here from a hospital

Arriving from a hospital right now? Read the discharge guide → — your appeal rights, how to slow a rushed discharge, and what to ask about the numbers below.

68.0% of the Medicare patients who left this home got back to the community and stayed there for at least 31 days — CMS rates that better than the national rate. This is CMS’s risk-adjusted rate over 568 Medicare stays in Oct 2022–Sep 2024, and CMS’s own comparison — not ours.

Met the expected recovery: 85.9% of this home’s Medicare short-stay residents left it at or above the ability to care for themselves and move around that CMS predicted for them, across 270 stays in Oct 2024–Sep 2025. The median of the 11,061 homes CMS publishes this for is 56.6%. Read it beside the getting-home figure, not instead of it: unlike the two measures above, CMS makes no better-or-worse call on this one and publishes no confidence interval for it, so this is a comparison and not a verdict — but it is the short-stay measure that separates homes most, and the one to ask about.

Therapy staffing: this home’s payroll records show 1.16 therapist hours per resident per day in 2026Q1 — more than 98% of the 13,892 homes that report any therapy hours at all.

Weekend therapy: weekend therapy hours are 28% of this home’s weekday level — it runs some therapy at the weekend, at a lower level than on weekdays. The median home that reports therapy runs 13% — weekday-focused therapy is the industry norm, not a shortfall. But recovery does not pause on a Saturday: ask what the weekend actually looks like here.

This section is about rehab stays, not living here. Most of this page — the stars, the quality measures, the inspection record — describes the home the way a permanent resident experiences it. These figures describe the short Medicare stay after a hospital discharge: a hip, a stroke, a bad infection, six weeks and home. They are different residents, different staff, often a different wing. Therapy hours are per resident in the building, not per rehab patient — the count includes every long-stay resident, and they mostly get no therapy at all. So a home with a small rehab wing inside a large nursing population reads low here even if its rehab patients get plenty of therapy, and a mostly-rehab home reads high. Use it to compare homes doing similar work, ask what a rehab resident actually gets in a day, and remember that CMS does not publish therapy minutes per patient — nobody does.

Staffing

How full it usually is: this home is certified for 50 beds and averages 44.7 residents a day — about 89% occupied, or roughly 5 beds typically open. It runs fairly full. This is a CMS average, not live availability — no public source publishes real-time vacancies, and a home can be full the day you call. Confirm with the home, and if you need a Medicaid bed specifically, ask about that separately: a home with open beds may still not have an open Medicaid bed.

Against a benchmark — not a legal minimum. In May 2024 CMS finalized the first federal staffing floor for nursing homes: 3.48 total nurse hours per resident per day, including 0.55 RN hours and 2.45 nurse-aide hours. Its hour requirements never took effect and are no longer on the books. Homes had until 2026 (2027 if rural) to comply, and that deadline never arrived: a federal court vacated the hour requirements in April 2025 (CMS has appealed), Congress then barred enforcement until 2034, and CMS formally repealed them by rule effective February 2026. This home is not required to meet these numbers, and is not violating anything by missing them. We still show the comparison because the figures are CMS’s own published estimate of adequate staffing, which makes them a useful yardstick — but they are our benchmark, not federal law: this home’s total nurse staffing of 3.89 hrs/resident/day is at or above the 3.48-hour benchmark and RN staffing of 0.88 is at or above the 0.55-hour RN benchmark and nurse-aide staffing of 2.22 is below the 2.45-hour aide benchmark. What federal law does require today is unchanged: “sufficient” nursing staff for residents’ needs and an RN on duty at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week (42 CFR 483.35). Those are judged by inspectors on site, not by these averages, so read this comparison alongside the inspection record rather than as a pass/fail.

Weekend coverage: total nurse staffing is 3.33 hrs/resident/day on weekends vs 4.12 on weekdays — 19% thinner on weekends. RN hours go from 0.98 to 0.63 per resident-day. (Payroll-based daily records; the national median home is 15% thinner on weekends.)

This home’s total nursing-staff turnover of 56% is about the same as the national median of 45%.

Payroll-based (PBJ) staffing hours, as reported for Jan–Mar 2026 (CMS PBJ CY2026Q1) — the most recent quarter CMS has published, so they can lag a change of operator or staffing agency. Higher is generally better. Registered-nurse coverage and weekend staffing are the numbers families most often overlook — an RN on site matters most when something goes wrong, and coverage usually thins on weekends. High turnover means residents rarely see the same caregiver twice. One caveat: these are hours as reported, not adjusted for how sick or heavy-care this home’s residents are. CMS separately publishes a case-mix-adjusted view; we show the reported hours. A home caring for higher-acuity residents needs more hours to deliver the same care, so compare these figures against homes doing similar work, and read them next to the inspection record rather than alone.

Inspection trend

Deficiencies are more than at the previous inspection — worsening. Fewer citations over time suggests a home is fixing problems; a rising count is a warning sign — though two surveys are a short record, and survey teams differ. These counts are from the standard annual health survey only; the full citation list below may also include findings from complaint investigations, so the two won’t always add up.

Inspection deficiencies

State health-inspection citations, most serious first. Each carries an F-code (the federal rule it cites, e.g. F-684 = quality of care) and a letter A–L marking how serious and how widespread the problem was — we translate that grid into the plain tiers shown here. Wording is the official federal description.

Each letter is a CMS scope-severity level; highlighted ones are where this home has citations. A–C = no harm found; D–F = potential for harm; G–I = actual harm; J–L = immediate jeopardy. Within each band the later letter is the more widespread finding (an isolated G is one resident; a widespread I is a pattern), so rightward and downward is worse.

• Immediate jeopardy · J2022-12-01 · tag F0689 — failed to keep residents free of avoidable accidents; supervise adequately — isolated
  Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY Based on observations, record review, review of manufacturer's instructions, Nurse Practitioner, family and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure securement was according to manufacturer recommendations for providing a safe facility van transport when a resident fell out of the wheelchair onto his side on the floor of the van resulting in minor abrasions and bruising to his face, arm and side for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for accidents (Resident #22). The findings included: Review of the manufacturer's instructions for the QRT-1 Series, which is the system used on the facility's transport van to secure residents who are seated in wheelchairs during transport, specified in part: B. Secure Passenger: 1. Attach lap belts by using integrated stiffeners to feed belts through opening between seat backs and bottoms and/or armrests to ensure proper belt fit around occupant. 2) Attach shoulder belt by extending the belt over the passenger's shoulder, across upper torso and fasten pin connector onto the lap…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Past Non-Compliance
• Potential for harm · E2022-12-01 · tag F0812 — failed to store, cook, and serve food safely — pattern
  Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to discard dry food items that were past the use by date, opened, and ready for use in 1 of 1 pantry, failed to discard fresh vegetables with visible signs of spoilage in 1 of 1 walk-in refrigerator and failed to discard frozen food items with visible signs of freezer burn and ice accumulation stored in 1 of 1 walk-in freezer. This had the potential to affect food served to residents who resided in the facility. Findings included: An initial observation of the kitchen and concurrent interview was conducted with the Dietary Manager (DM) on 11/28/22 at 9:32 AM that revealed the following: • Stored in the pantry and available for use was a clear plastic bag containing instant chocolate pudding mix labeled with a use by date of 06/11/22. The DM removed the bag of chocolate pudding from the pantry shelf and stated it should have been discarded 90 days after it had been opened. • Stored in the walk-in refrigerator were approximately 12 fresh green peppers stored together in a cardboard box, open to air, with 3 green peppers…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Deficient, Provider has date of correction
• Potential for harm · D2022-12-01 · tag F0554 — isolated
  Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY Based on record review, observations, interviews with residents and staff the facility failed to assess the capability of residents to self-administer medications for 2 of 2 residents reviewed for self-administration (Resident #9 and #17). The findings included: 1. Resident #9 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. Review of the admission MDS dated [DATE] revealed Resident #9 was assessed as being cognitively intact. Review of the physician orders revealed none were in place for lubricating eye drops. Review of the medical records for Resident #9 revealed there was no documentation or assessment to show the resident was safe to self-administer medications. An observation and interview were conducted on 11/28/22 at 11:09 AM with Resident #9. In the room on the bedside table was a box labeled lubricating tear eye drops. Resident #9 stated she self-administered 1 drop in each eye twice a day and explained the drops weren't prescription and just used for moisturizing. A second observation and interview were…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Resident Rights Deficiencies · Deficient, Provider has date of correction
• Potential for harm · D2022-12-01 · tag F0641 — isolated
  Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to accurately code Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments in the area of functional status for 1 of 12 sampled residents reviewed for MDS accuracy (Resident #22). Findings included: Resident #22 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. His diagnoses included hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) and hemiparesis (weakness or loss of strength on one side of the body) following cerebral infarction (stroke) affecting the left non-dominant side. The Hospice plan of care, revised 04/11/22, for Resident #22 revealed a care plan in place to address a problem of area of pain due in part to contractures in bilateral legs and arms. Interventions included: pillow to support limbs and rolled washcloth in hand due to contracture. The quarterly MDS assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #22 required extensive to total staff assistance with all activities of daily living and had no impairment in the upper or lower extremities. The quarterly MDS assessment…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Deficient, Provider has date of correction
• Potential for harm · D2022-12-01 · tag F0695 — failed to provide proper breathing / tracheostomy care — isolated
  Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY Based on observations, record review, staff and Nurse Practitioner (NP) interviews the facility failed to follow the Physician order for the use of supplemental oxygen for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for respiratory care (Resident #191). Findings included: Resident #191 was admitted to the facility 11/22/22 with diagnoses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (abbreviated as COPD and meaning a condition involving constriction of the airways and difficulty breathing) and respiratory failure (a condition in which the lungs have difficulty loading the blood with oxygen or removing carbon dioxide). Resident #191 had a Physician order dated 11/22/22 for oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula (a tube in the nose) to maintain saturations (the amount of oxygen in the blood) above 90%. The admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] revealed Resident #191 was cognitively intact and used oxygen. Review of a respiratory care plan initiated 11/29/22 revealed Resident #191 was at risk for impaired gas…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Deficient, Provider has date of correction
• No harm found · B2025-06-03 · tag F0732 — pattern
  Post nurse staffing information every day.
  What the surveyor found here — an excerpt from the official record, may be distressing

  Based on record review, observation and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure accurate and updated information was provided on the daily nursing staff postings for 24 of 154 days: 11/6/24, 11/11/24, 11/14/24, 12/9/24, 11/21/24, 12/18/24, 12/19/24, 12/23/24, 12/26/24, 1/1/25, 1/6/25, 1/13/25, 2/7/25, 2/17/25, 3/3/25, 3/25/25, 3/26/25, 3/31/25, 4/3/25, 5/1/25, 5/15/25, 5/20/25, 5/31/25, and 6/1/25 reviewed for staffing. Findings included: a. A review of the daily nursing staff postings revealed on: 11/6/24, 11/11/24, 11/14/24,12/9/24, 12/19/24, 12/26/24, 1/6/25, 3/25/25, 3/26/25, 3/31/25, 4/3/25, 5/1/25, 5/15/25, 5/16/25, 5/20/25, and 5/31/25 no RN hours were included. A review of the Director of Nursing (DON) and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) employee time clock records revealed at least 8 consecutive Registered Nurse (RN) hours were recorded on: 11/6/24, 11/11/24, 11/14/24,12/9/24, 12/19/24, 12/26/24, 1/6/25, 3/25/25, 3/26/25, 3/31/25, 4/3/25, 5/1/25, 5/15/25, 5/16/25, 5/20/25, and 5/31/25. A joint interview with the Regional Clinical Manager and Administrator was…

  This is the beginning of the surveyor’s statement, cut to keep the page readable — the full 2567 continues past this point and often ends with the findings that matter most, such as whether an immediate jeopardy was removed before the surveyors left. The complete statement of deficiencies is a public record: request it from your state survey agency, or ask the home for its 2567 and plan of correction — it must make them available to residents and families.

  Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Deficient, Provider has plan of correction

Fines & penalties

No federal fines in the current CMS record.

Part of a chain

This home belongs to SANSTONE HEALTH & REHABILITATION — 18 facilities. Here is how its ratings compare with the chain’s average across all its homes: See the whole chain — ratings, flags, fines and finances →

A home rated well below its chain’s average can signal local problems; a chain with a low average across the board is a bigger pattern worth researching. CMS chain data under-reports private-equity and REIT ownership, so treat this as a floor, not the full picture.

Who owns this facility

2 organizational owners listed — a facility can be part of a larger chain. CMS ownership data is known to under-report private-equity and REIT ties; treat as a starting point.

Follow the money — this home’s finances

Where a nursing home’s revenue comes from and where it goes — including money paid to companies under the same ownership. Most consumer sites never show this; we reproduce it straight from the Medicare cost report.

This home reported $2.6M paid to related parties — landlords or management companies under common ownership — equal to about 36% of its total expenses. Money routed to affiliated companies can leave a home’s own books looking lean while owners still profit; it is the mechanism regulators watch most closely in private-equity and REIT deals.

Source: CMS Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS), Medicare cost report Form CMS-2540 · fiscal year 2023. Facilities self-file these reports; figures are unaudited and a year or two behind. A home with no Medicare cost report on file shows no figures here.

Cost & finances

Straight from this home’s Medicare cost report (CMS, FY2023). These are its operating economics — what it costs to run per resident-day and what it collects on average across Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay — not a private-pay quote. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on payer and room type, so ask the facility directly; a higher operating cost can reflect richer staffing or a sicker population. The cost-of-care planner shows regional benchmarks by care type.

What families pay in NC