Early Memorial Nursing Facility
11740 Columbia Street, Blakely, GA 39823 · Early County · (229) 723-3796
127 certified beds, about 85 residents a day · For profit - Limited Liability company · Medicare and Medicaid since 1979
Inside a hospital Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
3 of 5
Health inspections
3 of 5
Staffing
4 of 5
Quality measures
2 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 115271 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on December 11, 2025, inspectors cited 5 health deficiencies (the Georgia average is 5, the national average 9.2).
None of its 14 health citations since November 2022 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 4.23 hours per resident per day, against 3.56 across Georgia and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.56 of those hours.
30.8% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Georgia average 46.0%).
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.
411/22
108/24
407/25
512/25
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
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 14 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
11D
0E
3F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
December 11, 2025Standard inspection · 5 citations
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interviews, and review of the facility policy titled Food Storage: Dry Goods and Food Storage: Cold Foods, the facility failed to ensure that food was properly labeled and dated and in sanitary conditions to prevent foodborne illness. This failure had the potential to increase the prevalence and spread of foodborne illness and infection for 79 of 86 residents' receiving meals from the kitchen.
- F Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interviews, and policy titled Equipment the facility failed to ensure that foodservice equipment will be clean, sanitary, and in proper working order. The practice has the potential to affect 79 residents of 86.
- D Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, resident and staff interviews, and review of the facility's policy titled, Physical Environmental: Electric Equipment, the facility failed to ensure that residents' living areas were safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike in six rooms (Rooms 114, 211, 226, 227, 229, and 303) on one of four halls observed. Specifically, residents' rooms displayed dirty air filters in self-contained heating and air system wall units (PTAC). This failure had the potential to affect patient comfort and safety.
- D Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, staff interviews, record review, and the facility policy titled Comprehensive Care Plans, the facility failed to develop a care plan regarding razor safety for one of 20 residents (R) (R89) reviewed for care plans. This failure had the potential to place R89 and others at risk of injury.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interviews, record review and policy titled Accidents and Supervision the facility failed to ensure that the resident's environment will remain as free of accident hazards for one of five residents (R) (R86) reviewed for accidents. This failure had the potential to place R89 and others at risk of injury.
July 16, 2025Complaint inspection · 4 citations
- D Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff and resident interviews, record review, and review of the facility's policy titled, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, the facility failed to ensure residents were free from resident-to-resident abuse for two of 22 sampled Residents (R) (R6 and R7). Specifically, R7 was observed to hit R6 on the buttocks.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility's policy titled, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, the facility failed to implement policies and procedures for ensuring the reporting of a reasonable suspicion of a crime and reporting of all alleged sexual abuse violations to the State Agency (SA) for one of three Residents (R) (R3) reviewed for abuse out of a total sample of 22 residents. The deficient practice had the potential for continued episodes of unreported abuse, which posed potential for physical harm and/or mental anguish for the victimized resident.
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on interviews, record review, and review of the facility's policy titled, Verbal Orders, the facility failed to ensure medications were received from the pharmacy and available for administration for one of six Residents (R) (R1) reviewed for medications out of a total sample of 22 residents. The deficient practice resulted in a resident not receiving prescribed anti-psychotic medication for 32 days.
- D 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 drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews, and review of the facility's policy titled, Medication Storage Policy, the facility failed to ensure medications were stored securely for one of five medication carts (Wing 2-North). This had the potential for residents, visitors, or unlicensed staff to have access to the medications.
August 7, 2024Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Inspectors wroteBased on interviews, record review, and review of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reference instructions, the facility failed to ensure notifications of discontinuation of Medicare part A benefits was issued in a timely manner for two of four residents (R) (R2 and R1) reviewed for beneficiary notification out of a total sample of 26 residents. This failure had the potential to result in a lack of understanding of appeal rights and/or the termination of the current level of care against the resident's/representative's wishes.
November 4, 2022Standard inspection · 4 citations
- F Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, staff interviews, and review of job specifications for the Dietary Manager, the facility failed to ensure that the staff designated as Dietary Manager completed Dietary Manager 90-hour training course in institutional food service. The deficient practice had the potential to affect 85 of 91 residents that received an oral diet.
- D Assure the security of all personal funds of residents deposited with the facility.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interviews and record reviews the facility failed to maintain a Surety Bond sufficient to cover the current total funds in the resident trust account. The deficient practice had the potential to affect 91 residents with trust fund accounts managed by the facility.
- D Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations and staff interview, the facility failed to maintain a clean, sanitary environment related to dusty vent covers on one of three halls (100 hall in rooms 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 132, 133, 135, and 136).
- D Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.
Inspectors wroteBased on interviews and record review of the Administrator's job description the Governing Body failed to provide stable management in the position of an Administrator for the facility. This has the potential to impact the entire facility causing an interruption in the day-to-day operations of the facility. The census was 91.
Fire safety inspections
3 fire safety citations on file: 3 on August 7, 2024.
Every fire safety citation3 citations
- D Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D Have restrictions on the use of flammable curtains.
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 | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 4.23 | 3.56 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.56 | 0.50 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.54 | 3.10 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.41 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.26 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 30.8% | 46.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 20.0% | 44.5% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.69 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 4.51 on weekdays and 3.54 on weekends, 22% 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 3.99 in April to June 2025 to 4.23 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 | 4.23 | 0.56 | 4.51 | 3.54 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 85 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 4.10 | 0.53 | 4.35 | 3.49 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 94 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.83 | 0.46 | 4.11 | 3.12 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 99 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.99 | 0.53 | 4.31 | 3.20 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 97 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Georgia, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.50 | 0.46 | 3.68 | 3.03 | 3.3% | 0.6% 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 | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 27.5 | 15.3 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 13.0 | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 18.4 | 15.2 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.7 | 5.6 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 19.7 | 19.9 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 14.2 | 25.0 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 5.9 | 11.6 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: LIFEBRITE HOSPITAL GROUP OF EARLY LLC.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echp, Inc. | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 02/01/2023 |
| Cushing, Ginger | W-2 managing employee | Individual | 11/01/2017 | |
| Dunn, Morgan | Corporate director | Individual | 02/01/2023 |
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 residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on December 11, 2025: "Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on December 11, 2025: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on December 11, 2025: "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on July 16, 2025: "Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Reserve at Fort Gaines of Journey LLC, the Fort Gaines, 17 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 28 citations
- Calhoun Nursing Home Edison, 17.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 8 citations
- Miller Nursing Home Colquitt, 18.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- Henry County Health and Rehabilitation Facility Abbeville, 22 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Seminole Manor Nursing Home Donalsonville, 22.7 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 21 citations
Georgia contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Georgia. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, 1-866-552-4464. 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: GaMap2Care, Find a Facility, where Georgia publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Early Memorial Nursing Facility's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Early Memorial Nursing Facility 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 2 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Early Memorial Nursing Facility get at its last inspection?
- 5 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on December 11, 2025. The Georgia average is 5.
- Has Early Memorial Nursing Facility been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Early Memorial Nursing Facility 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 Early Memorial Nursing Facility?
- CMS lists 3 owners and managers. Legal business name: LIFEBRITE HOSPITAL GROUP OF EARLY 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.