Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home
1551 North Main Street, Payson, UT 84651 · Utah County · (801) 465-5400
108 certified beds, about 104 residents a day · Government - State · Medicare and Medicaid since 2013
CMS high performing icon Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
5 of 5
Health inspections
5 of 5
Staffing
5 of 5
Quality measures
5 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 465181 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on April 13, 2026, inspectors cited 1 health deficiency (the Utah average is 8.8, the national average 9.2).
Of 13 health citations since April 2022, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 5.69 hours per resident per day, against 4.09 across Utah and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 1.88 of those hours.
33.7% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Utah average 50.7%).
CMS links it to Avalon Health Care, an affiliated group of 16 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.
704/22
503/24
104/26
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 13 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
1G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
9D
2E
1F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
April 13, 2026Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review it was determined, for 1 of 20 sampled residents, that the facility did not provide or obtain laboratory services to meet the needs of its residents. Specifically, one resident had physician ordered labs that were not obtained by the facility. Resident identifier: 4.
March 28, 2024Standard inspection, Complaint 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, interview, and record review, the facility did not store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. Specifically, the walk-in refrigerator did not maintain a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less, and observations were made of cross contamination during the food preparation and plating. Resident identifiers: 16 and 31.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review, for 1 of 31 residents sampled, that the facility did not ensure that all alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown source, were reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation was made, to the State Survey Agency. Specifically, a resident had a fall which resulted in a dislocation with fracture and the State Survey Agency was not notified within 2 hours after the allegation was identified. Resident identifiers: 153.
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review it was determined, for 1 of 31 sampled residents, that the facility did not ensure that a resident who needed respiratory care was provided such care, consistent with professional standards of practice. Specifically, facility staff were not changing the residents oxygen tubing on the concentrator and portable oxygen tank weekly. Resident identifiers: 89.
- D Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review it was determined, for 1 out of 31 sampled residents, that the facility did not ensure that each resident's drug regimen was free from unnecessary drugs. An unnecessary drug was any drug when used in excessive dose; or for excessive duration; or without adequate monitoring; or without adequate indications for use; or in the presence of adverse consequences. Specifically, a medication was administered when it should have been held per the physician ordered parameters, and a medication was not documented as administered per the physician ordered parameters. Resident identifier: 57.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview it was determined, for 1 of 31 sampled residents, that the facility did not maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe and sanitary environment to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. Specifically, an observation was made of a staff member preparing and handling residents food bare handed. Resident identifier: 49 and 65.
April 7, 2022Standard inspection · 7 citations
- G Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, it was determined for 1 of 35 sampled residents, the facility did not ensure a resident received the necessary treatment and service to prevent a urinary tract infection. Additionally, the facility did not take the necessary action to evaluate the presence of a urinary tract infection, in an appropriate timeframe, based on the resident's presenting symptoms. Resident identifier: 53.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview it was determined that the facility did not store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. Specifically, there were areas of soiled in the kitchen and steam tables were soiled.
- E Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview it was determined that the facility did not establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program. The program was designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. Specifically, hand hygiene was not performed during dining and food was transported in the hallways uncovered.
- D Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review it was determined, for 1 of 35 sample residents, that the facility did not ensure that resident's had the right to request, refuse, and /or discontinue treatment and to formulate an advance directive. Specifically, a resident's advanced directives was not accurately documented in the medical records. Resident identifiers: 66.
- 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 observation, interview, and record review it was determined, for 1 of 35 sample residents, that the facility did not develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for each resident, consistent with the resident rights, that included measurable objectives and timeframe's to meet a resident's medical, nursing, mental and psychosocial needs that were identified in the comprehensive assessment. Specifically, a resident with pain did not have a pain care plan. Resident identifier: 60.
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, it was determined that 1of 35 sample residents the facility did not ensure the resident received the necessary treatment and care to attain or maintain his highest practicable well-being. Resident 60 experienced pain in his belly for three months and the facility had not ensured follow up was conducted to evaluate the cause of the resident's pain.
- D Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review it was determined, for 2 of 35 sample residents, that the facility did not maintain medical records on each resident that were complete and accurately documented. Specifically, documentation regarding a resident's paracentesis procedures were not included in the resident's medical record. In addition, another resident's physicians visit form was not in the medical record. Resident identifier: 18 and 77.
Fire safety inspections
4 fire safety citations on file: 3 on March 28, 2024, 1 on April 7, 2022.
Every fire safety citation4 citations
- D Meet other general requirements.
- D Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- D Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- E Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
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 | Utah | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 5.69 | 4.09 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 1.88 | 1.25 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 5.19 | 3.58 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.39 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.42 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 33.7% | 50.7% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 22.9% | 40.6% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 2.96 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 5.89 on weekdays and 5.19 on weekends, 12% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.5% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 5.73 in April to June 2025 to 5.69 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 | 5.69 | 1.88 | 5.89 | 5.19 | 0.5% | 0 of 90 | 104 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 5.61 | 1.90 | 5.77 | 5.19 | 0.8% | 0 of 92 | 104 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 5.63 | 1.85 | 5.82 | 5.16 | 1.0% | 0 of 92 | 103 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 5.73 | 1.79 | 5.91 | 5.27 | 0.1% | 0 of 91 | 101 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Utah, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.91 | 1.11 | 4.10 | 3.44 | 2.8% | 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 | Utah | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.8 | 11.3 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 10.3 | 15.1 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.1 | 14.2 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 8.7 | 16.6 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 16.0 | 11.6 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: AVALON CARE CENTER - VA PAYSON LLC. CMS links this home to Avalon Health Care, a group of 16 nursing homes averaging 3.4 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon VA Management LLC | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 02/17/2015 |
| Avalon Veterans Services, L.L.C. | 5% or greater indirect ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 12/18/2018 |
| Dangerfield, David | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 04/05/2007 | |
| Derrick, Michael | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 05/13/2026 | |
| Kirton, Byron | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Kirton, Hyrum | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Kirton, Spencer | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Woltil, Robert | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 05/23/2012 | |
| Dangerfield, David | Corporate director | Individual | 04/05/2007 | |
| Kirton, Byron | Corporate director | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Kirton, Hyrum | Corporate director | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Kirton, Spencer | Corporate director | Individual | 08/27/2024 | |
| Woltil, Robert | Corporate director | Individual | 05/23/2012 | |
| Harris, Bradford | Corporate officer | Individual | 03/16/2026 | |
| Hash, Alan | Corporate officer | Individual | 08/15/2017 | |
| Kirton, Hyrum | Corporate officer | Individual | 03/29/2022 | |
| Smith, Nicole | Corporate officer | Individual | 03/01/2023 | |
| Avalon Health Care Inc | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 08/20/2012 | |
| Avalon Health Care Management Inc | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 02/03/2010 | |
| State of Utah | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 08/20/2012 | |
| Bott, Wesley | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 11/01/2016 | |
| Brannin, Lori | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 04/01/2026 | |
| Harris, Bradford | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/16/2026 | |
| Hash, Alan | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/15/2017 | |
| Kirton, Hyrum | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/29/2022 | |
| Newby, Joshua | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 12/21/2022 | |
| Smith, Nicole | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/01/2023 | |
| Avalon Health Care Inc | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 05/21/2026 | |
| Avalon Health Care Management Inc | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 04/02/2025 | |
| State of Utah | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 08/20/2012 | |
| Bott, Wesley | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 11/01/2016 | |
| Brannin, Lori | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 04/01/2026 | |
| Harris, Bradford | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 03/16/2026 | |
| Hash, Alan | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/15/2017 | |
| Kirton, Hyrum | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 03/29/2022 | |
| Newby, Joshua | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 12/21/2022 | |
| Smith, Nicole | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 03/01/2023 |
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 you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on March 28, 2024: "Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed."
- 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 March 28, 2024: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
- 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 March 28, 2024: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on April 7, 2022: "Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Rocky Mountain Care - Maple Dell Payson, 1.3 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 80 citations
- Advanced Health Care of Salem Salem, 4 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 7 citations
- Spanish Fork Rehabilitation and Nursing Spanish Fork, 5.7 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 10 citations
- Stonehenge of Springville Springville, 8.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 13 citations
- Provo Rehabilitation and Nursing Provo, 13.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 75 citations
- Aspen Ridge of Utah Valley Orem, 14.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Orem Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Orem, 15.2 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 29 citations
- Stonehenge of Orem Orem, 16.8 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 2 citations
Utah contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Utah. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Background Checks, Health Facilities Licensing, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Utah Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Division of Aging and Adult Services, 801-538-3910. 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: Utah DLBC Find a Facility (licensing records and compliance history), where Utah publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home get at its last inspection?
- 1 health deficiency at the standard inspection on April 13, 2026. The Utah average is 8.8.
- Has Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home 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 Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home?
- CMS lists 37 owners and managers, and links the home to Avalon Health Care. Legal business name: AVALON CARE CENTER - VA PAYSON 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.