PARKERSBURG, WV - Federal health inspectors documented systematic problems with food temperature safety at Willows Center during a complaint investigation on December 22, 2025, finding a pattern of violations that put resident nutrition and health at risk.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigned the facility a Scope/Severity Level E rating, indicating inspectors found a pattern of deficiencies with potential for more than minimal harm to residents. While no actual harm was documented during the inspection, the systematic nature of the violations raised concerns about ongoing food safety practices.
Pattern of Temperature Control Failures
The investigation revealed multiple instances where the facility failed to maintain food and beverages at safe and appetizing temperatures. Proper temperature control is essential for preventing foodborne illness and ensuring residents receive adequate nutrition.
Food served below appropriate temperatures can be unappetizing and may lead residents to refuse meals, potentially resulting in malnutrition and weight loss. Cold food can also harbor dangerous bacteria if it has been sitting in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F for extended periods.
Conversely, food kept at excessively high temperatures can lose nutritional value, become overcooked, and present burn risks to residents, particularly those with diminished sensation or cognitive impairments.
Medical and Nutritional Risks
Temperature failures in food service create multiple health risks for nursing home residents. Many residents already face challenges with adequate nutrition due to chronic illnesses, medications that affect appetite, or difficulty with chewing and swallowing.
When food is served at unappetizing temperatures, residents are more likely to refuse meals. This can lead to decreased caloric intake, protein deficiency, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and compromised immune function. Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of inadequate nutrition, which can result in pressure ulcers, delayed wound healing, increased fall risk, and higher susceptibility to infections.
Additionally, food held at improper temperatures creates ideal conditions for bacterial growth. Pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria multiply rapidly when food is kept between 41°F and 135°F. Nursing home residents often have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to foodborne illnesses that can cause serious complications including dehydration, hospitalization, and in severe cases, death.
Federal Food Safety Standards
Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure all food and drink served to residents is palatable, attractive, and maintained at safe temperatures. The Food and Drug Administration Food Code specifies that hot foods must be held at 135°F or above, while cold foods should be maintained at 41°F or below.
Facilities are required to monitor food temperatures regularly using calibrated thermometers, maintain hot-holding equipment such as steam tables and warming cabinets, ensure cold storage units function properly, and document temperature checks at regular intervals throughout meal service.
The pattern-level severity rating indicates that temperature failures were not isolated incidents but represented systematic problems in the facility's food service operations.
Facility Response and Corrections
Willows Center submitted a plan of correction to address the deficiencies identified during the inspection. The facility reported completing corrective actions by January 29, 2026.
This food temperature violation was one of six deficiencies cited during the December complaint investigation, suggesting broader operational challenges at the facility.
Federal and state regulators will monitor the facility's compliance with its correction plan through follow-up inspections to verify that proper food temperature controls have been implemented and sustained. Families of residents at Willows Center should inquire about the specific corrective measures taken and request evidence of ongoing temperature monitoring.
Complete details of all violations identified during the inspection are available in the full federal inspection report on Medicare's Nursing Home Compare website.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Willows Center from 2025-12-22 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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