Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
The next survey window likely opens around October 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of June 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Hickory Creek At Winamac during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility did not provide 8 hours of consecutive RN coverage for 9 out of 20 days, potentially affecting all 27 residents. The Administrator confirmed the absence of scheduled RNs on specific dates.
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen, with expired and improperly stored food items observed. Additionally, a staff member did not sanitize a food thermometer probe between uses, contrary to facility policy. These deficiencies were noted during a kitchen tour and interviews with staff.
The facility failed to prepare pureed food to meet the needs of two residents on a pureed diet. A cook was observed preparing pureed hot dogs without measuring ingredients, resulting in a mixture with visible chunks. The cook admitted to not having puree recipes, and the facility's consistency chart lacked guidance on liquid use. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the oversight, and the deficiency had the potential to affect residents requiring pureed diets.
A facility failed to maintain infection control standards during medication administration. Two QMAs were observed handling tamulosin capsules with bare hands, contrary to the facility's protocol requiring gloves. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed the expectation for staff to wear gloves, and the facility's competency checklist emphasized avoiding contamination during medication handling.
Failure to Ensure 8-Hour RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure there was 8 hours of consecutive Registered Nurse (RN) coverage for 9 out of 20 days reviewed. This deficiency had the potential to affect all 27 residents in the facility. The review of the Nursing Staff Schedules from 8/18/24 through 9/6/24 revealed that there was no RN scheduled for the dates 8/18/24, 8/20/24, 8/21/24, 8/22/24, 8/23/24, 8/27/24, 8/31/24, 9/1/24, and 9/6/24. During an interview, the Administrator confirmed the lack of 8-hour RN coverage on these dates.
Sanitation and Food Safety Deficiencies in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment, as evidenced by the presence of expired and improperly stored food items. During a kitchen tour, it was observed that the refrigerator contained three bags of lettuce and a bag of chicken with expired use-by dates, as well as a bag of scrambled eggs that was open to air. Additionally, the freezer contained a bag of unknown meat without any labeling to indicate its contents or freezing date. The staff member present during the tour acknowledged that these items should have been labeled or discarded when expired, as per the facility's labeling and dating policy. Furthermore, the facility did not ensure proper sanitation practices when using a food thermometer. An employee was observed checking the temperatures of various food items without sanitizing the thermometer probe between uses. Although the employee initially sanitized the probe before checking the first item, subsequent checks were conducted without proper sanitation. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the thermometer should have been sanitized between each use, as outlined in the facility's policy on the proper use of a food thermometer.
Failure to Ensure Proper Consistency of Pureed Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that pureed food was prepared to meet the individual needs of residents requiring a pureed diet. During an observation, a cook was seen preparing pureed hot dogs with meat sauce. The cook did not measure the amount of meat sauce or water added to the blender and initially failed to achieve a smooth consistency, as chunks of hot dog were still visible in the mixture. Despite stirring and blending the mixture multiple times, the cook only achieved the correct consistency after several attempts. The cook admitted to not having any puree recipes to follow, and the facility's food and liquid consistency chart did not provide guidance on the amount or type of liquid to use. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the cook should have ensured the puree was smooth and free of chunks before considering it complete. The facility lacked specific puree recipes, and the dietician had advised that the type of liquid used was not important as long as the proper consistency was achieved. The deficiency had the potential to affect two residents who were on a pureed diet, as the facility did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure the correct preparation of pureed foods.
Infection Control Breach During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain proper infection control practices during medication administration for one of the twelve residents observed. On two separate occasions, Qualified Medication Aides (QMAs) were observed handling medication capsules with their bare hands. On the first occasion, QMA 1 was seen popping a tamulosin capsule from the medication card into her hand, opening it, and pouring the contents into a cup without wearing gloves. During an interview, QMA 1 admitted to normally opening capsules with her hands without using gloves. On the second occasion, QMA 2 was observed performing the same action with a tamulosin capsule, although she stated in an interview that she usually wore gloves when opening medication capsules. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to wear gloves and avoid touching pills with their hands. The facility's Skills Competency checklist for Medication Administration also indicated that medications should be opened without contamination. These observations and interviews highlight a failure in adhering to the facility's infection control protocols during medication administration.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Winamac
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski Health Care Center | 0 mi | — | 8 | 0 |
| Miller's Merry Manor | 14.8 mi | — | 15 | 0 |
| Parkview Haven | 15.1 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Brickyard Healthcare - Knox Care Center | 15.9 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Life Care Center Of Rochester | 19.7 mi | — | 18 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.