Solaris Healthcare Waterman

Solaris Healthcare Waterman holds an overall 5-star rating from CMS, which is the highest possible score and puts it well above most nursing facilities in the country. That top-line number is a composite of three separate ratings, and looking at each one gives you a clearer picture of what life there actually looks like. The health inspection rating comes in at 4 stars, meaning state inspectors found fewer or less serious issues than you would see at most facilities - a good sign that the home is being run safely and responsibly. The quality measures rating is a perfect 5 stars, which is the most clinically meaningful piece for many families. It reflects how residents are actually faring physically - things like fall rates, pressure ulcers, hospital readmissions, and pain management - and a 5 here means outcomes are genuinely strong. Staffing lands at 3 stars, which is average, meaning nurse hours per resident are in line with typical facilities but not a standout. That is worth keeping in mind if your loved one has complex care needs that require more hands-on attention.

The way these three pieces combine into an overall score gives extra weight to health inspections and quality measures, which is why strong performance in those two areas can carry a facility to a 5-star overall even with average staffing. For most families, Solaris Healthcare Waterman looks like a well-run facility with genuinely good resident outcomes - just go in with eyes open about staffing levels and ask the team directly about how they handle higher-needs residents.

Solaris Healthcare Waterman provides more hands-on nursing care than most Florida nursing homes, which is worth noting when you're trying to picture what a typical day looks like for a resident. The facility averages 4.16 total nurse hours per resident each day, compared to the Florida average of 3.87, and its registered nurse hours come in at 0.78 per resident versus the state average of 0.52. In practical terms, that extra RN time can mean more oversight from a higher-level clinician throughout the day, whether that's catching a change in a resident's condition sooner or having a more experienced nurse available when a question or concern comes up. The difference isn't dramatic, but it does suggest that residents here tend to get a bit more attention from nursing staff than they might at an average Florida facility.

Solaris Healthcare Waterman has a solid inspection track record that should give families a reasonable level of confidence. The facility holds a 4-out-of-5-star health inspection rating from the government, which reflects above-average performance in the areas inspectors look at during their visits. Just as importantly, the facility has zero penalties on record and has never paid a government fine, meaning regulators have not found violations serious enough to warrant formal punishment. That combination of a strong inspection rating and a clean penalty history is a good sign, and it suggests the facility has been reasonably well-run from a compliance standpoint. Of course, no rating tells the whole story, so visiting in person and asking questions still matters. You can compare this facility's record against others in Tavares on the Tavares nursing homes and assisted living page.

1. How many residents does each certified nursing assistant care for during the day shift, and how does that number change at night and on weekends?
2. How long have your director of nursing and administrator been in their current roles here, and what is your average staff turnover rate over the past year?
3. Can you walk me through exactly what happens if a resident falls or has a medical emergency in the middle of the night?
4. How do you handle a resident who refuses a meal, misses activities for several days in a row, or seems withdrawn, and who is responsible for following up?
5. What does a typical Tuesday look like for a resident who uses a wheelchair and is not able to leave the building on their own?
6. Can I see your most recent state inspection report, and can you explain any deficiencies that were cited and what you did to correct them?

For more guidance on evaluating facilities, see our guide to questions to ask when choosing a Florida nursing home.