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Chautauqua Springs Health Center
785 S 2nd Street, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 · Walton County · (850) 892-2176
180 certified beds, about 131 residents a day · For profit - Limited Liability company · Medicare and Medicaid since 1988
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 105626 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on June 25, 2026, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the Florida average is 7.1, the national average 9.2).
None of its 8 health citations since December 2023 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.56 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Florida and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.42 of those hours.
CMS links it to Benjamin Landa, an affiliated group of 48 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 8 health citations on file.
June 25, 2026Standard inspection · 3 citations
- D Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Inspectors wroteBased on interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure wound care services were provided for 1 of 5 residents sampled for wound care (Resident #160).
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, staff and resident interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure the resident environment remained free of accident hazards for 2 of 43 residents observed for accident hazards (Resident #103 & #129).
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, record review, interviews, and facility policy review, facility staff failed to ensure proper protective measures were used for 1 of 1 resident sampled for contact isolation (Resident #158).
March 13, 2025Standard inspection · 4 citations
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased upon observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to promote dignity by not having a privacy cover for a foley catheter bag for 1 of 1 residents observed for dignity (Resident #43).
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to provide specialized care needs for the provision of respiratory care in accordance with professional standards of practice, and the resident's care plan, goals and preferences for 1 of 1 resident sampled. (Resident #73)
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased upon observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to practice infection control procedures concerning glucose monitoring for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for glucose monitoring (Resident #27) and for food handling procedures during 1 of 3 meals observed.
- D Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to maintain a sanitary environment shower room environment in 1 of 4 shower rooms observed and in the laundry area.
December 7, 2023Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, record review, resident interview, staff interviews, and policy review, the facility failed to obtain physician orders to administer oxygen in accordance with the resident care plan for 1 of 1 sampled residents receiving oxygen therapy. (Resident #479)
Fire safety inspections
4 fire safety citations on file: 3 on June 25, 2026, 1 on March 13, 2025.
Every fire safety citation4 citations
- E Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- D Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D Meet other general requirements that are deficient.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.56 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.42 | 0.73 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.23 | 3.49 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.07 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.07 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | not reported | 41.4% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | not reported | 46.0% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 1 |
CMS expects 3.30 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 3.70 on weekdays and 3.23 on weekends, 13% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 4.00 in April to June 2025 to 3.56 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.56 | 0.42 | 3.70 | 3.23 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 131 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.79 | 0.60 | 3.93 | 3.44 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 123 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.90 | 0.59 | 4.07 | 3.49 | 1.2% | 0 of 92 | 129 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 4.00 | 0.59 | 4.20 | 3.50 | 2.3% | 0 of 91 | 125 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Florida, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.76 | 0.70 | 3.90 | 3.44 | 1.1% | 0.2% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.3 | 8.7 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 5.8 | 9.5 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 22.7 | 26.1 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 12.6 | 9.1 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: CHAUTAUQUA SPRINGS HEALTH CENTER LLC. CMS links this home to Benjamin Landa, a group of 48 nursing homes averaging 3.4 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chautauqua Springs Health Member LLC | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 10/07/2022 |
| Flnho Capital Group LLC | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Organization | 10/08/2022 | |
| Premier 4 Opco Partners LLC | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Organization | 10/08/2022 | |
| Zbl-18 LLC | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Organization | 10/08/2022 | |
| Fischel, Mayer | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Individual | 10/08/2022 | |
| Varghese, Mathew | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Individual | 10/08/2022 | |
| Hittinger, Emily | W-2 managing employee | Individual | 10/08/2022 | |
| Landa, Benjamin | Corporate officer | Individual | 10/08/2022 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on June 25, 2026: "Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing."
- What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on June 25, 2026: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on March 13, 2025: "Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights."
- Can we see a resident room, a shower room and the dining room on this visit?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on March 13, 2025: "Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.23 hours per resident per day, below the Florida average of 3.49.
- How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 1 administrator who left in the period it measured.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Manor at Blue Water Bay, the Niceville, 23.7 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
- Florala Health and Rehabilitation LLC Florala, 23.8 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 3 citations
Florida contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Florida. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Long Term Care Services Unit, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, 1-888-831-0404. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: FloridaHealthFinder, where Florida publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Chautauqua Springs Health Center's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Chautauqua Springs Health Center 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 2 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Chautauqua Springs Health Center get at its last inspection?
- 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on June 25, 2026. The Florida average is 7.1.
- Has Chautauqua Springs Health Center been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Chautauqua Springs Health Center accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Chautauqua Springs Health Center?
- CMS lists 8 owners and managers, and links the home to Benjamin Landa. Legal business name: CHAUTAUQUA SPRINGS HEALTH CENTER LLC.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.