Home / Louisiana / Lake Charles
The Gardens and Guardian
1401 Country Club Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605 · Calcasieu County · (337) 480-1550
60 certified beds, about 43 residents a day · For profit - Limited Liability company · Medicare since 2012
CMS high performing icon Certified for Medicare
Overall
5 of 5
Health inspections
5 of 5
Staffing
3 of 5
Quality measures
2 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 195636 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on July 21, 2026, inspectors cited 0 health deficiencies (the Louisiana average is 6.4, the national average 9.2).
None of its 10 health citations since June 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 5.42 hours per resident per day, against 3.76 across Louisiana and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.32 of those hours.
62.5% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Louisiana average 47.6%).
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.
206/23
501/24
207/24
103/25
007/26
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
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
8D
2E
0F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
July 21, 2026Standard inspection · 0 citations
March 5, 2025Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews, and policy and procedure reviews, the facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen to prevent cross contamination and the high likelihood of foodborne illnesses to the 40 residents who ate meals prepared from the facility's kitchen. This deficient practice resulted in an Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) on 3/3/2025 at 10:35 AM when the following was observed in the facility's kitchen during the initial tour: 1. Equipment and Food Prep Area a. The ice machine's air filter had an accumulation of lint build up. b. The ice machine's gutter located under the interior portion of the lift cover had an accumulation of lint build up. c. The countertop under a juice dispenser had a dried tan colored residue. d. The standup cooler's door handle was sticky and had food residue on the plastic framing and glass door. e. [...]
July 10, 2024Standard inspection · 2 citations
- 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 record review and interview, the facility failed to follow its policy regarding advance directives evidenced by failing to accurately document the resident's choice of code status in the medical record for 1 (#19) out of 2 (#19 and #26) residents reviewed for advance directive. The deficient practice had the potential to affect a total census of 41 residents.
- D Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review and interview, the facility failed to complete a discharge MDS (Minimum Data Set) assessment for 1 (#13) out of 1 (#13) residents sampled for resident assessment. This deficient practice had the potential to affect the census of 41 residents.
January 23, 2024Complaint inspection · 5 citations
- E Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of facility's policy and procedure, record review and interview, the facility failed to effectively implement and monitor the facility's Performance Improvement Project (PIP) implemented on 11/07/2023 by failing to: 1. Conduct weekly meeting from 11/07/2023 to 12/14/2023, 2. Implement interventions in a timely manner, 3. Timely calibrated the facility's scale and, 4. Provide documented evidence of monitoring performance of the identified indicators. This deficient practice had the potential to affect a census of 37 residents.
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteResident #3 Resident #3 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Cerebrovascular Disease, Acute Kidney Failure, Muscle Wasting and Atrophy, and Pain. A review of an incident report dated 12/17/2023 at 2:25 p.m., revealed a note written by S6LPN that she overheard the resident chair alarm beeping .saw resident on the floor with aid assessing her . A review of the resident's quarterly MDS (Minimum Data Set) assessment dated [DATE] revealed section P-Restraints and alarms, coded of 0 for use of bed alarm and chair alarm, indicating the resident did not use either. On 01/23/2024 at 10:17 a.m., an interview was conducted with S5LPNMDS coordinator. S5LPNMDS coordinator stated that bed and chair alarms were not coded on the MDS assessment unless used for a restraint. [...]
- 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 interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure that services were provided as outlined in the physician's orders for 1 (#2) of 11 sampled residents, by failing to ensure that the resident's weight was measured weekly.
- D Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review the facility failed to ensure that pharmaceutical services provided to meet the needs of each resident were consistent with state and federal requirements and reflect current standards of practice for 1 (#R8) of 4 residents (#R8, #R9, #R10, and #R11) whose narcotic records were randomly checked, by failing to ensure that Resident #R8's narcotics record was reconciled. The facility had a census of 37.
- 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 interview and record review the facility failed to ensure that pharmaceutical services provided to meet the needs of each resident were consistent with state and federal requirements and reflect current standards of practice for 1 (#R9) of 4 residents (#R8, #R9, #R10, and #R11) whose narcotic records were randomly checked, by failing to ensure that Resident #9's controlled drug was discarded after the blister pack was punctured.
June 21, 2023Standard inspection · 2 citations
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review and interview, the facility failed to accurately code the resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for Hospice Services for 1 (#13) of 2 (#13, #8) sampled residents whose records were reviewed for Hospice Services. The deficient practice has the potential to affect a facility census of 38 residents.
- D Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure that the correct prescribed dosage of medication was administered to residents. The facility had a census of 37 residents.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | Payment Denial | 1 days from March 27, 2025 |
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 | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 5.42 | 3.76 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 4.57 | 3.21 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.13 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.97 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 62.5% | 47.6% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 60.0% | 41.6% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 3 |
CMS expects 3.82 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 5.76 on weekdays and 4.57 on weekends, 21% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 4.3% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 5.12 in April to June 2025 to 5.42 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 | 5.42 | 0.32 | 5.76 | 4.57 | 4.3% | 0 of 90 | 43 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 5.57 | 0.39 | 5.97 | 4.53 | 4.7% | 0 of 92 | 42 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 5.28 | 0.37 | 5.65 | 4.34 | 3.6% | 0 of 92 | 43 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 5.12 | 0.31 | 5.46 | 4.26 | 4.2% | 0 of 91 | 41 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Louisiana, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.64 | 0.26 | 3.86 | 3.10 | 3.6% | 0.9% 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 | Louisiana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 18.0 | 17.8 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 10.5 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.8 | 5.6 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 25.0 | 22.7 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 30.1 | 28.0 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 16.0 | 14.8 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: JKJ OPCO LLC.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joubert, James | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Individual | 50% | 09/01/2018 |
| Joubert, Kimberly | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Individual | 50% | 09/01/2018 |
| Wilcoxon, Justin | W-2 managing employee | Individual | 09/01/2018 | |
| Joubert, James | Corporate director | Individual | 09/01/2018 |
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.
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on July 10, 2024: "Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on January 23, 2024: "Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on March 5, 2025: "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 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 10, 2024: "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."
- How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 3 administrators who left in the period it measured.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Resthaven Nursing & Rehab Center, LLC Lake Charles, 0.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 20 citations
- Grand Cove Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Lake Charles, 0.6 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- Lake Charles Care Center Lake Charles, 2.7 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 12 citations
- Rosewood Nursing Center Lake Charles, 3.2 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 19 citations
- Calcasieu Community Care Center Lake Charles, 3.7 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 28 citations
- Landmark of Lake Charles Lake Charles, 4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 16 citations
- Holly Hill House Sulphur, 6.7 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 59 citations
- High Hope Care Center Sulphur, 11.6 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 11 citations
Louisiana contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Louisiana. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section, Nursing Facilities, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, (866) 632-0922. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
Common questions
- What is The Gardens and Guardian's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates The Gardens and Guardian 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 for health inspections, 3 for staffing and 2 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did The Gardens and Guardian get at its last inspection?
- 0 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on July 21, 2026. The Louisiana average is 6.4.
- Has The Gardens and Guardian been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does The Gardens and Guardian accept Medicaid?
- CMS lists it as "Medicare", so it is not certified for Medicaid.
- Who owns The Gardens and Guardian?
- CMS lists 4 owners and managers. Legal business name: JKJ OPCO 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.