Merkel Nursing Center

1704 N. 1st, Merkel, TX 79536 · (325) 928-5673
For profit - Limited Liability company · 65 certified beds

Merkel Nursing Center has a 1-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in December 2025, found 13 citations (the Texas average is 9.4). It was fined 2 times in the last three years, $318,060 in all.

Medicare ratings

How to read a nursing home's star ratings

Most recent health inspection

The standard health inspection on December 4, 2025 found 13 citations. What an inspection citation means

• Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.December 4, 2025 · F0867 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.December 4, 2025 · F0695 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.December 4, 2025 · F0849 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.December 4, 2025 · F0909 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program for all new and existing staff members.December 4, 2025 · F0940 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.December 4, 2025 · F0941 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure that staff members are educated on resident rights and facility responsibilities to properly care for its residents.December 4, 2025 · F0942 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.December 4, 2025 · F0943 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.December 4, 2025 · F0944 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Include as part of its infection prevention and control program, mandatory training that includes written standards, policies, and procedures for the program.December 4, 2025 · F0945 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.December 4, 2025 · F0949 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.December 4, 2025 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.December 4, 2025 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few

Complaint inspections, last three years

Inspections after complaints found 43 citations.

• Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.February 16, 2026 · F0600 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.February 16, 2026 · F0689 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
• Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.February 16, 2026 · F0725 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.February 16, 2026 · F0726 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
• Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.February 16, 2026 · F0727 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.February 16, 2026 · F0728 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.February 16, 2026 · F0881 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.February 16, 2026 · F0882 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.August 22, 2025 · F0607 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.August 22, 2025 · F0609 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.August 22, 2025 · F0610 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.August 22, 2025 · F0689 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
• Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.August 22, 2025 · F0801 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.August 22, 2025 · F0835 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.August 22, 2025 · F0838 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Follow rules about disclosure of ownership requirements and tell the state agency about changes in ownership and/or administrative personnel.August 22, 2025 · F0844 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Many
• Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.December 12, 2024 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.October 17, 2024 · F0580 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admittedOctober 17, 2024 · F0655 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.October 17, 2024 · F0656 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.October 17, 2024 · F0657 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.October 17, 2024 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Have policies on smoking.October 17, 2024 · F0926 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.July 31, 2024 · F0550 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.July 31, 2024 · F0558 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.July 31, 2024 · F0576 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Many
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.July 31, 2024 · F0607 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.July 31, 2024 · F0656 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.July 31, 2024 · F0680 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Many
• Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.July 31, 2024 · F0686 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
• Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.July 31, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.July 31, 2024 · F0695 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.July 31, 2024 · F0728 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Post nurse staffing information every day.July 31, 2024 · F0732 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
• 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.July 31, 2024 · F0803 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.July 31, 2024 · F0812 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterlyJuly 31, 2024 · F0868 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
• Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.July 31, 2024 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.July 31, 2024 · F0909 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
• Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.July 31, 2024 · F0941 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
• Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.July 31, 2024 · F0944 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
• Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.July 31, 2024 · F0949 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
• Keep all essential equipment working safely.December 15, 2023 · F0908 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some

Fines and payment denials

• Fine of $137,108February 16, 2026
• Fine of $180,952August 22, 2025

Nurse staffing

Hours of nursing care per resident per day, as the home reports them to Medicare through payroll records.

About this home