Federal inspectors found multiple food safety violations during a January complaint investigation at the 2055 Heritage Drive facility, documenting expired dairy products, unsanitary food preparation, and dirty dishwashing equipment.
On January 29, inspectors observed the Activity Director and Social Service Director working in the kitchen preparing meal trays without hairnets during the 7:40 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. breakfast service. When questioned, the Social Service Director acknowledged they should have worn hairnets before entering the kitchen workspace.
The most serious violation involved expired food products being stored and potentially served to residents. Inspectors discovered a one-gallon jug of ranch dressing in the walk-in refrigerator that had expired on December 12, 2025, but wasn't opened until December 29, 2025. The Dietary Manager admitted the expired dressing should have been removed.
The following day, inspectors returned to find two full gallon jugs of two percent milk that had expired on January 29. The Regional Dietary Director confirmed the expired milk should have been discarded immediately.
Kitchen sanitation presented additional concerns. Inspectors documented a buildup of debris and food particles covering the top of the dishwasher and scattered across floors underneath metal dishwasher tables. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the dishwasher area and floors required thorough cleaning.
The facility's own food storage policy, dated November 29, 2019, requires food to be stored and prepared "in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner." Administrator provided inspectors with a copy of this current policy during the investigation.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to procure food from approved sources and maintain professional standards for storage, preparation, distribution and serving. The violations affected "many" residents according to the inspection classification, though inspectors determined the harm level as minimal.
The inspection responded to two separate complaints filed against the facility, numbered 2725718 and 2700986. Waters of Martinsville must submit a plan of correction to continue participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Food safety violations in nursing homes can pose serious health risks to elderly residents, who often have compromised immune systems and may be more susceptible to foodborne illnesses. Expired dairy products and unsanitary food preparation areas create conditions where harmful bacteria can multiply and spread.
The facility has not yet made its correction plan publicly available. Under federal requirements, nursing homes must disclose inspection findings and correction plans within 14 days of receiving the report.
This marks the latest in a series of compliance issues documented at nursing homes across Indiana, where state and federal inspectors continue responding to complaints about basic care standards. The Waters of Martinsville violations demonstrate how fundamental food safety protocols can break down when facilities fail to maintain adequate oversight of kitchen operations.
Waters of Martinsville operates as a skilled nursing facility serving residents requiring rehabilitation and long-term care services in Johnson County.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Waters of Martinsville, The from 2026-01-30 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.