What is Life Care Center of Estero's Medicare star rating?

CMS rates Life Care Center of Estero 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).

How many deficiencies did Life Care Center of Estero get at its last inspection?

1 health deficiency at the standard inspection on January 29, 2026. The Florida average is 7.1.

Does Life Care Center of Estero 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 Life Care Center of Estero?

CMS lists 24 owners and managers, and links the home to Life Care Centers of America. Legal business name: LEE COUNTY MEDICAL INVESTORS.

Life Care Center of Estero: Inspections, Staffing & Ratings

The record in brief

At its most recent standard inspection, on January 29, 2026, inspectors cited 1 health deficiency (the Florida average is 7.1, the national average 9.2).

None of its 10 health citations since December 2021 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

CMS lists 2 fines totaling $8,034 in the last three years; the largest was $4,017, and the latest is dated July 9, 2024.

Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.84 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Florida and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 1.10 of those hours.

20.0% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Florida average 41.4%).

CMS links it to Life Care Centers of America, an affiliated group of 194 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.

112/21

510/23

307/24

101/26

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 10 health citations on file.

Severity

Isolated

Pattern

Widespread

Immediate jeopardy

Actual harm

Potential for more than minimal harm

Potential for minimal harm

January 29, 2026Standard inspection · 1 citation

F

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

F812 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespread · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) February 28, 2026

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, review of facility's policies and procedures and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure the proper storage of refrigerated food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. This has the potential to affect all 150 residents who consume an oral diet at the facility.

July 9, 2024Complaint inspection · 3 citations

E

Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.

F925 · Environmental · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 9, 2024

Inspectors wroteBased on observations, review of facility's policy and procedure, review of records, residents and staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program for the kitchen and 7 (Residents #2, #3, #4, #7, #8, #9 and #10) of 7 sampled residents who said they observed pest in their rooms or throughout the facility.
D

Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.

F622 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 9, 2024

Inspectors wroteBased on record review, resident representative and staff interviews, the facility failed to have documentation of an appropriate facility initiated discharge for 1 (Resident #1) of 3 sampled residents not permitted to return to the facility after a hospital stay.
D

Permit a resident to return to the nursing home after hospitalization or therapeutic leave that exceeds bed-hold policy.

F626 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 9, 2024

Inspectors wroteBased on record review, review of facility initiated discharges, resident representative and staff interviews the facility failed to allow 1 (Resident #1) of 3 sampled residents to return and resume residence at the facility after a transfer to the hospital.

October 19, 2023Standard inspection · 5 citations

E

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

F690 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 19, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure infection control practices were followed for 2 (Residents #107 and #336) of 2 residents reviewed with urinary catheters.
E

Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.

F803 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 19, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to follow the menu prepared in advance for residents on oral diets. The facility policy titled Menus, Substitutions, and Alternatives, revised on 4/25/23 stated, Menus are planned in advance and followed as written in order to meet the nutritional needs of the residents in accordance with established national guidelines. Residents with known dislikes of food and beverage items, who express a refusal of the food served or requires a different meal choice are offered a substitute of similar nutritive value . The residents are informed of the alternates at each meal per facility guidelines.
E

Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.

F806 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 19, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, review of the policies and procedures, resident and staff interview, the facility failed to obtain food preferences and provide meals according to resident's choice for 4 residents, (#42, #51, #64, #111) of 4 residents who complained about not having food choices.
D

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

F657 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 19, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, the facility failed to review and revise the comprehensive care plan for 2 (#99 and #107) of 29 residents reviewed for Advance Directives. Advance Directives includes code status, whether the resident wants Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or does not, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR).
D

Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.

F700 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 19, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, staff interviews and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure 2 (Residents #1, and #21) of 4 sampled residents with bedrails were assessed for alternative interventions prior to the use of bed rails and failed to accurately assess the continued need for the bed rails.

December 9, 2021Standard inspection · 1 citation

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.

F761 · Pharmacy Service · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) January 9, 2022

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, facility policy review, staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure medications were labeled, secured and inaccessible to unauthorized staff and residents for 1 (Resident #38) of 1 resident reviewed.

Fire safety inspections

9 fire safety citations on file: 5 on January 29, 2026, 2 on October 19, 2023, 2 on December 9, 2021.

Every fire safety citation9 citations

F
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.

K 345 · January 29, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
F
Ensure gas and vacuum systems are inspected and tested as part of a maintenance program.

K 908 · January 29, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

K 918 · January 29, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
F
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

K 920 · January 29, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
D
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

K 324 · January 29, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
F
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of medical gas and medical vacuum systems.

K 902 · October 19, 2023 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
E
Have properly installed hallway dispensers for alcohol-based hand rub.

K 325 · October 19, 2023 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
D
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

K 324 · December 9, 2021 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
D
Ensure precautions for handling oxygen cylinders and equipment are correctly followed.

K 929 · December 9, 2021 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)

Fines and payment denials

Date	Penalty	Amount or length
July 9, 2024	Fine	$4,017
July 9, 2024	Fine	$4,017

A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.

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)	3.84	3.82	3.86
Registered nurses	1.10	0.73	0.69
All nursing staff on weekends	3.46	3.49	3.42
Nurse aides	2.31
Licensed practical nurses	0.43
Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year)	20.0%	41.4%	45.8%
Registered nurse turnover	27.0%	46.0%	42.9%
Administrators who left	0

CMS expects 3.36 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 4.00 on weekdays and 3.46 on weekends, 14% 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 3.79 in April to June 2025 to 3.84 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	3.84	1.10	4.00	3.46	0.0%	0 of 90	151
Oct to Dec 2025	3.84	0.97	3.96	3.52	0.0%	0 of 92	145
Jul to Sep 2025	3.83	0.97	3.97	3.46	0.0%	0 of 92	141
Apr to Jun 2025	3.79	0.94	3.91	3.50	0.0%	0 of 91	144
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	5.7	8.7	13.9
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	0.0	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	2.8	2.5	3.2
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	0.7	1.5	1.6
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	9.1	9.5	14.1
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	2.7	4.5	4.6
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	8.5	8.6	15.4
Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	29.4	26.1	23.8
Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	7.5	9.1	12.0
Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	2.5	2.1	1.9
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	1.1	1.1	1.8

Owners and operators

Legal business name: LEE COUNTY MEDICAL INVESTORS. CMS links this home to Life Care Centers of America, a group of 194 nursing homes averaging 3.4 stars overall.

Name	Role	Type	Since
Developers Investment Company II, Inc	Direct ownership interest	Organization	06/24/2002
Preston, Forrest	Indirect ownership interest	Individual	06/24/2002
Breuler, James	Managing control - governing body	Individual	04/07/2003
Hand, Cheryl	Managing control - governing body	Individual	08/31/2009
Preston, Aaron	Managing control - governing body	Individual	11/01/2018
Cross, Cindy	Corporate officer	Individual	10/30/2002
Henry, Terry	Corporate officer	Individual	08/16/1999
Lay, Lisa	Corporate officer	Individual	02/09/2018
Swanker, Richard	Corporate officer	Individual	04/01/2011
Thurmond, Joan	Corporate officer	Individual	10/30/2002
Developers Investment Company II, Inc	Operational/managerial control	Organization	05/10/2010
Lee County Medical Investors	Operational/managerial control	Organization	09/26/2003
Life Care Centers of America, Inc.	Operational/managerial control	Organization	10/30/2002
Bianca, Vincent	Operational/managerial control	Individual	07/19/2019
Breuler, James	Operational/managerial control	Individual	04/07/2003
Fletcher, Todd	Operational/managerial control	Individual	12/13/2024
Hand, Cheryl	Operational/managerial control	Individual	08/31/2009
Preston, Aaron	Operational/managerial control	Individual	11/01/2018
Preston, Aubrey	Operational/managerial control	Individual	12/13/2024
Ziegler, James	Operational/managerial control	Individual	12/13/2024
Lee County Medical Investors	Adp of the SNF	Organization	12/28/2011
Life Care Centers of America, Inc.	Adp of the SNF	Organization	03/13/2025
Bianca, Vincent	Adp of the SNF	Individual	03/13/2025
Breuler, James	Adp of the SNF	Individual	03/13/2025

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.

Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on January 29, 2026: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on July 9, 2024: "Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged."
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 October 19, 2023: "Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections."
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 July 9, 2024: "Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests."
Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.46 hours per resident per day, below the Florida average of 3.49.

Other nursing homes nearby

Renaissance at the Terraces
Bonita Springs, 4.6 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 6 citations
The Preserve
Fort Myers, 6.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 8 citations
Bentley Care Center
Naples, 7.9 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 17 citations
Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit
Fort Myers, 8.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 6 citations
Lodge at Cypress Cove, the
Fort Myers, 8.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 5 citations
Healthpark Care Center
Fort Myers, 8.7 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
Eagleridge Health and Rehabilitation Center
Fort Myers, 8.7 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 30 citations
Solaris Healthcare Imperial
Naples, 9.1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 19 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 Life Care Center of Estero's Medicare star rating?: CMS rates Life Care Center of Estero 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
How many deficiencies did Life Care Center of Estero get at its last inspection?: 1 health deficiency at the standard inspection on January 29, 2026. The Florida average is 7.1.
Has Life Care Center of Estero been fined?: Yes. CMS lists 2 fines totaling $8,034 in the last three years.
Does Life Care Center of Estero 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 Life Care Center of Estero?: CMS lists 24 owners and managers, and links the home to Life Care Centers of America. Legal business name: LEE COUNTY MEDICAL INVESTORS.

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.