Merkel Nursing Center
1704 N. 1st, Merkel, TX 79536 · Taylor County
For-profit · 65 certified beds · 29% occupancy · (325) 928-5673
Merkel Nursing Center reviews: what the government record shows
The U.S. government (CMS) rates Merkel Nursing Center 1 out of 5 stars overall, much below average. Its nurse staffing is at or above the Texas median. It currently carries a federal abuse-warning icon. Inspectors cited it for 5 immediate-jeopardy findings in recent inspection cycles.
Updated September 2026 from the latest CMS data release. Ellery Care shows the government's own inspection and safety record, not consumer reviews.
At a glance
- CMS overall rating
- 1 of 5 stars
- Nurse staffing
- 3.35 hrs/resident/day (+2% vs TX median)
- Antipsychotic drug use
- 17.8% of long-stay residents (TX median 8.3%)
- Falls with major injury
- 4.6% of long-stay residents (TX median 3%)
- Federal fines (3 yrs)
- $318,060
- Inspection findings
- 64 cited, 5 immediate-jeopardy
- Federal abuse-warning flag
- Yes
Source: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Homes), dataset 4pq5-n9py, retrieved 2026-09-05.
What this means for your family
Several serious marks on its federal record. Look closely and ask hard questions before deciding.
Strengths
- ✓Nurse staffing of 3.35 hrs/resident/day is at or above the Texas median of 3.27.
Concerns
- !CMS rates it just 1 of 5 stars overall.
- !Currently carries the federal abuse-warning icon on CMS Care Compare.
- !Cited for 5 immediate-jeopardy findings (the most serious category) in recent inspections.
- !Has paid $318,060 in federal fines in roughly the last three years.
- !Pressure-ulcer (bedsore) rate of 14.8% is well above the Texas median of 3.3%.
Questions to ask on your visit
- ·What was the abuse-warning finding, and what has changed since?
- ·Can we see the most recent inspection report and the plan of correction?
- ·How often are residents repositioned, and who checks skin daily?
Touring in person? Our free nursing-home tour checklist has 30 questions to ask and the red flags to watch for, printable to take with you.
A plain-English read of this home's public record. Not advice — always visit in person.
Common questions about Merkel Nursing Center
Is Merkel Nursing Center a good nursing home?
Merkel Nursing Center in Merkel, Texas holds a 1 of 5 star CMS overall rating. Several serious marks on its federal record. Look closely and ask hard questions before deciding.
How is Merkel Nursing Center staffed?
Merkel Nursing Center reports 3.35 nurse hours per resident per day, at or above the Texas median of 3.27 hours per resident per day.
Has Merkel Nursing Center been fined or flagged for abuse?
Merkel Nursing Center has paid approximately $318,060 in federal fines in roughly the last three years, and currently carries the federal abuse-warning icon on CMS Care Compare.
CMS quality ratings
Source: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Homes), dataset 4pq5-n9py, retrieved 2026-09-05. Stars are CMS's own five-star ratings.
Nurse staffing
Staffing is the single strongest predictor of nursing home quality, and the number pay-to-play referral sites rarely show you.
3.35 nurse hours per resident per day. 2% above the Texas median of 3.27.
Nursing staff turnover: 71.1%
Safety & compliance flags
- Federal abuse warning icon
- Special Focus Facility candidate
Recent inspection findings
The specific problems state inspectors cited, the detail behind the star ratings, and what referral sites never show. Findings CMS records as corrected are marked.
- Immediate jeopardyTag F0600 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
- Immediate jeopardyTag F0689 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
- Immediate jeopardyTag F0725 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
- Immediate jeopardyTag F0726 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
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.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
- Immediate jeopardyTag F0689 · Aug 22, 2025ComplaintCorrected Sep 1, 2025
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
- Potential for harmTag F0727 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
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.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
- Potential for harmTag F0728 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
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.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
- Potential for harmTag F0881 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Infection Control Deficiencies
- Potential for harmTag F0882 · Feb 16, 2026ComplaintCorrected Mar 4, 2026
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
Infection Control Deficiencies
- Potential for harmTag F0867 · Dec 4, 2025Corrected Jan 7, 2026
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Administration Deficiencies
Showing the 10 most recent and serious of 64 findings. See the full inspection history on Medicare.gov.
Antipsychotic drug use
The share of long-stay residents given antipsychotic medication. These drugs are sometimes used to sedate residents with dementia, a practice CMS and resident advocates watch closely. Lower is better.
This is above the national median. Ask how the home decides to start these medications and how often it reviews them.
Source: CMS MDS Quality Measures, long-stay antipsychotic measure, retrieved 2026-09-05. See the Texas study
Preventable harm
Two injuries that good staffing and attentive care are meant to prevent: serious falls and pressure ulcers (bedsores). These are the outcomes families fear most, and they rarely appear on referral sites. Lower is better on both.
The serious-fall rate here is above the national median. It is worth asking how the home prevents falls and whether recent injuries prompted any changes.
Source: CMS MDS Quality Measures, long-stay falls and pressure-ulcer measures, period 2025Q2-2026Q1, retrieved 2026-09-05. Texas falls study · bedsore study
Federal fines and penalties
Money CMS has fined this home, plus other federal penalties, over roughly the last three years. Fines follow serious or repeated violations.
Source: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Homes), dataset 4pq5-n9py, retrieved 2026-09-05. See the most-fined homes in Texas
Ownership
This home is for-profit (for profit - limited liability company). It is independently operated, not part of a multi-facility chain.