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Written by: A. Smith
Published December 18, 2025 @ 8:32 AM ET
DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. – A southwest Georgia nursing home was placed under federal “immediate jeopardy” status after inspectors found conditions that posed a serious risk of injury or death to residents, including failures in basic skin care that led to painful bedsores, according to a May 2025 report.
The report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cited PruittHealth Palmyra, an Albany-area facility, for multiple deficiencies that inspectors said had the likelihood to cause serious harm, impairment or death. Investigators found staff failed to provide routine skin care, resulting in residents developing severe pressure ulcers.
The federal findings follow a pattern of complaints and police activity at the facility. Records from the Albany Police Department show officers responded to more than 150 calls at PruittHealth Palmyra over the past five years, including reports of theft, elder abuse and residents being left lying in urine.
Family members say the problems described in the report reflect long-standing issues. One relative, who asked not to be identified, said she repeatedly found her loved one still in bed late in the morning, unbathed and wearing soiled nightclothes.
“We would go in and it’s 11 o’clock and she’d still be in the bed with her night clothes on, nasty, smelly,” the family member said. “We would have to go get the aide and say, ‘Can you get someone to give her a bath, or bring a pan of water so I can bathe her?’”
Inspectors also cited food service and sanitation problems. The report described meals served cold or late and a kitchen with “significant sanitation issues,” including dirty ice machines, improper dishwashing practices and unlabeled food.
Another family member shared photos and messages describing her husband’s care before his death. She said her husband was unable to feed himself due to his medical condition and required puréed food and assistance, per doctor’s orders. Instead, she said, his meal tray was left beside him untouched.
“When I entered the facility after they transported him, I had to give him a bath,” she wrote. “As you can see, his tray was just left on the side for him to feed himself, which was not part of his doctor’s orders. If I had not shown up, he would have stayed in his own urine and feces and continued to starve.”
Reports of possible physical abuse were also documented. In one police report, the facility’s director of health services said a patient claimed “a black female hit him in the eye.” Another family member described finding her loved one with a black eye.
“One day in particular, she had a black eye,” the family member said. “I could ball my hand into a fist and put it on her face, and it fit right there in the black eye. They told me she rolled over and hit her face on the railing.”
In addition to care and safety issues, the state report cited administrative failures, including poor oversight, failure to notify physicians and families of significant changes in residents’ conditions, unresolved grievances and missing physician orders for catheters. Inspectors also found the facility did not help residents exercise their right to vote during the November 2024 election, even when residents requested assistance.
After the report was released, PruittHealth was asked whether changes had been made. In a statement, the company said it is working to address the deficiencies.
“PruittHealth – Palmyra remains committed to providing safe, high-quality, and compassionate care,” the company said. “We have submitted a comprehensive corrective action plan to address the concerns identified and are working closely with regulators throughout this process. Our focus is on ensuring that every patient receives the care and dignity they deserve.”
Regulators continue to monitor the facility, and officials said the investigation remains ongoing.