Merkel Nursing Center
1704 N 1st, Merkel, TX 79536 · Taylor County
For-profit · 65 certified beds · 29% occupancy · (325) 928-5673
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.
CMS quality ratings
Source: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Homes), dataset 4pq5-n9py, retrieved 2026-08-09. 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.