California Care rated among the best in state

California Care Center visits the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August 2017. (Submitted photo)
California Care Center visits the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August 2017. (Submitted photo)

The longevity of staff and the relationships built with residents are key factors in the quality of care at California Care Center, which led to the facility being named "top performing" by U.S. News and World Report recently.

"This is a great accomplishment," said Administrator Debra Dunham, who has been with the facility 22 years. "It's great receiving an award for what we do on a daily basis.

"We've never been recognized before and we do the same thing day in and day out."

The U.S. News and World Report recognized California Care among 61 overall "top performing" among 503 total Missouri nursing homes.

Owned by Health Systems Inc., California Care is a 60-bed facility with about 50 employees, which participates in Medicare and Medicaid, but is not part of a continuing care retirement community.

Tipton Oak Manor and Eldon Nursing and Rehabilitation, also owned by Health Systems, were other top performers.

Moniteau Care Center received an above average rating. And nearby in Jefferson City, Oak Tree Villas was rated average and River City Living Community below average.

U.S. News and World Report uses Medicare data to rate facilities based on health inspections and complaints, nursing staff, medical care quality and safety.

California Care Center's medical care quality was rated as "top performing." Its percentage of residents receiving care better than the state average included receiving seasonal flu shots, a fall resulting in major injury, loss of bowel/bladder control, excessive weight loss, receiving antipsychotic medication, reporting moderate to severe pain, need for help in daily activities, physically retrained patients, urinary tract infections, development of pressure ulcers and given anti-anxiety medication.

The center's number of violations and complaints, which dropped from 14 to three in two years, while the state average remained steady at about six, was considered above average. And it was rated average for staffing.

"Our motivation is to make residents happy and feel at home and wanted," Dunham said. "We hope the community is proud of our facility being here in California and we're taking care of their loved ones."