Gardnerville's Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center is the lowest ranked nursing home in the state in a new five-star rating system unveiled by the Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification.
While still meeting federal health and safety standards, the care center ranked 49th in the state, having received a survey score of 111.3, 24 points lower than the next lowest, Highland Manor of Elko.
Gardnerville's Evergreen received one star overall and a single star in the categories of health inspection, quality measures and staffing. It received two stars for nursing staffing.
A worker at Evergreen said she could not comment and was not allowed to provide information about who could comment.
"No one here is allowed to comment," she said.
The 60-bed nursing home is operated by Evergreen Healthcare Companies, with offices in Vancouver, Wash., which also operates the Evergreen at Carson City Health and Rehabilitation, which is listed 47th on the list.
The rating system was developed by the federal centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services along with the states to provide patients and their families with an easy way to compare nursing homes.
The ratings are generated by considering health inspections, 10 different quality measures and the level of nurse staffing.
State officials said the rating system should be used to as a guide for family members in need of long-term care, not as a substitute for visiting the nursing home and talking with the staff.
Evergreen was the scene of a mix-up in March in which the survivors of a resident were notified she was dead, but she turned out to be alive.
Nursing home comparisons may be found at www.medicare.gov/nhcompare or by calling 1-800-medicare.
