Report
TheVardellReport
Laurels of Athens, the
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
70 Columbus Circle
Athens, OH 45701
Report
← Laurels of Athens, the, free profile
Life by Vardell Presents
The Vardell Report.Laurels of Athens, the
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Nursing home
- Location
- Athens, OH
- Record Period
- 2023–2026
- Source Documents
- 6
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 4 inspections from October 2023 to April 2026, state surveyors documented 36 findings at Laurels of Athens, the; 36 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 1 enforcement action in the window.
- Inspections
- 4
- 2023–2026, standard and complaint
- Findings
- 36
- Deficiencies cited by state inspectors
- Corrected
- 36
- Of 36 findings, with a recorded correction date
- Penalties
- 1
- 1 fine; payment not published
Findings by Year
- Findings
- Of which, actual harm (level G or above)
* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.
| Year | Inspections | Findings | Of which, actual harm (level G or above) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
What the Record Shows
- 36 of 36 findings have a recorded correction date.
- CMS lists 1 enforcement action in the window: 1 fine of $38,912, its payment not published.
- 1 visit in this window included a complaint investigation. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
- The latest standard inspection, April 20, 2026, recorded 16 findings (most serious: Level J).
What to Ask About
- Help With Daily Living, Cited in Three Inspections
- Citation F602, Cited in Two Inspections
- Quality of Care, Cited in Two Inspections
- Accident Hazards and Supervision, Cited in Two Inspections
- Respiratory Care, Cited in Two Inspections
- Medication Labeling and Storage, Cited in Two Inspections
- Infection Control, Cited in Two Inspections
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- Laurels of Athens, the
- Address
- 70 Columbus Circle, Athens, OH 45701
- CMS Certification Number
- 366396
- Provider Type
- Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
- Certified Beds
- 111
- Ownership
- For profit - Limited Liability company
- Record Window
- October 26, 2023 to October 1, 2026
Chronology
Inspection History
Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
- 2026
Standard health inspection
16 findings
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level JImmediate jeopardyCorrected May 13, 2026
- F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F602Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F692Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F699Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F757Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F770Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
- F887Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected May 13, 2026
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $38,912 imposed April 20, 2026. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of April 20, 2026, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2024
Standard health inspection
5 findings
- F684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Level GActual harmCorrected Jan 8, 2025
- F803Ensure 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.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jan 8, 2025
- F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jan 8, 2025
- F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jan 8, 2025
- F744Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jan 8, 2025
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2024
Complaint investigation
3 findings
- F602Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 3, 2024
- F610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 3, 2024
- F761Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 3, 2024
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2023
Standard health inspection
12 findings
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F908Keep all essential equipment working safely.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F567Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F805Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F578Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F583Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F700Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F759Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F761Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 15, 2023
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.
Context
Patterns Worth Examining
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
- 1
Help With Daily Living, Cited in Three Inspections
Inspectors cited F677 in October 2023, December 2024 and April 2026. This citation covers help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting for residents who cannot manage alone. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F677 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 2
Citation F602, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F602 in July 2024 and April 2026. The agency describes it this way: Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F602 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 3
Quality of Care, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F684 in December 2024 and April 2026. This citation covers whether residents receive the treatment their orders, preferences and goals call for. The most serious of these was recorded at level G (actual harm). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F684 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 4
Accident Hazards and Supervision, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F689 in October 2023 and April 2026. This citation covers whether residents are protected from accident hazards and supervised closely enough to prevent accidents, including falls. The most serious of these was recorded at level J (immediate jeopardy). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F689 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 5
Respiratory Care, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F695 in December 2024 and April 2026. This citation covers oxygen, breathing treatments and other respiratory care. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F695 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 6
Medication Labeling and Storage, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F761 in October 2023 and July 2024. This citation covers how drugs are labeled and kept locked, including controlled drugs. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F761 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest - 7
Infection Control, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F880 in October 2023 and April 2026. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242426F880 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest
For Your Next Visit
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
- 01
How long do residents usually wait for help with bathing, dressing or the bathroom, and how is that tracked?
Help With Daily Living: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
- 02
What changed after F602 was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation F602: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
- 03
How do nurses make sure a doctor’s orders are carried out, and how are families told when something is missed?
Quality of Care: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level G.
- 04
What changed in fall prevention and supervision after the last citation, and how do you check that it is still working?
Accident Hazards and Supervision: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level J.
- 05
Who manages oxygen and breathing treatments on each shift, and how is the equipment checked?
Respiratory Care: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
- 06
How are medications stored and secured, and who checks the medication carts?
Medication Labeling and Storage: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
- 07
Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?
Infection Control: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
- 08
How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?
No staffing citation appears in this window. Staffing levels are published separately by CMS and are worth asking about directly.
- 09
What led to the 2026 fine, and has it been paid?
A $38,912 civil money penalty was imposed April 20, 2026. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid.
The Evidence
Sources and Coverage
Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Ohio state survey agency.
- Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Ohio state survey agency
Inspection Oct 26, 2023 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Ohio state survey agency
Inspection Jul 31, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Ohio state survey agency
Inspection Dec 16, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Ohio state survey agency
Inspection Apr 20, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Penalties, Provider Data CatalogView Dataset ↗
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Provider Information, Provider Data CatalogView Dataset ↗
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 366396
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Coverage
Record windowOctober 26, 2023 – October 1, 2026
- CMS publishes about three inspection cycles; inspections before October 2023 are not in this release.
- CMS refreshes these files monthly, after statements of deficiencies are processed, so an inspection from the last two months may not appear yet.
What This Report Cannot Tell You
- Complaints not investigated onsite
- Allegations screened out by the state before an onsite visit are not published.
- Complaint allegations
- CMS publishes the deficiencies a complaint survey cited, not the allegation itself.
- Facility-reported incidents
- Self-reported incidents appear only if they led to an inspection.
- Follow-up visits
- CMS's files list standard, complaint and infection control surveys, not revisits; a correction date is the one CMS records.
- Fire safety inspections
- Published by CMS separately and not included in this record yet.
- Staffing levels and ownership history
- Published by CMS separately and not included in this record.
- Whether fines were paid
- CMS publishes the fines imposed, not whether or when they were paid.
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.