In the first quarter of 2026, Forrest Preston continued as the owner of Life Care Center of Estero, as documented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The facility, situated in Lee County, has remained under Preston’s ownership since June 24, 2002.
Life Care Center of Estero operates as a for-profit nursing home.
For that period, the facility received an overall CMS rating of five, which surpassed Florida’s nursing home average of 3.3. CMS assesses nursing homes on key factors such as health inspection results, staff-to-resident ratios, and quality of resident care.
Data shows Life Care Center of Estero served an average of 145.2 residents daily in the first quarter of 2026, with a total capacity of 155 beds. The center is not affiliated with a hospital.
For the same quarter, the nursing home incurred two fines totaling $8,034 and received two penalties.
Lee County was home to 10 for-profit nursing homes during this period.
Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the number of Americans 65 and older continues to rise, while the under-18 population is in decline. Between 2020 and 2024, residents age 65 and older grew by 13%, as those under 18 decreased by 1.7%. The nation’s older adult population has significantly expanded over the last century, from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.
A 2021 study indicates nearly half of people in this age group—about 28 million—might need long-term care and support, with projections showing more than a third could eventually require nursing home services.
“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an education organization. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”
| Nursing Home | Owner | Ownership Type | Overall Rating | Avg. No. of Residents per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador Healthcare at College Park | College Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC | For profit – Corporation | 2 | 97.5 |
| Cedarbrook Health and Rehabilitation Center | Cedarbrook Rehabilitation Holdings, LLC | For profit – Corporation | 3 | 107.9 |
| Eagleridge Health and Rehabilitation Center | Eagleridge Rehabilitation Holdings | For profit – Corporation | 4 | 112.2 |
| Fort Myers Rehabilitation and Nursing Center | Hollywood Hills Holdings, LLC | For profit – Corporation | 3 | 117.5 |
| Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit | Lee Health System, Inc. | Government – Hospital district | 5 | 71.5 |
| Healthpark Care Center | Lee Health System, Inc. | Non profit – Corporation | 5 | 92.9 |
| Lehigh Acres Healthcare & Rehab Center | Lehigh Acres Skilled Nursing Facility Holdco, LLC | For profit – Limited Liability company | 2 | 116.3 |
| Life Care Center of Estero | Forrest Preston | For profit – Limited Liability company | 5 | 145.2 |
| Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center | Page Operating | For profit – Limited Liability company | 2 | 158.1 |
| Renaissance at the Terraces | Bonita Springs Retirement Village, Inc. | Non profit – Corporation | 3 | 26 |
| The Lodge at Cypress Cove | Lee Memorial Hospital, Inc. | Non profit – Corporation | 5 | 56.1 |
| The Preserve | Voa Lee County Health Care Facility, Inc. | Non profit – Corporation | 5 | 66.9 |
Information in this article was obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The source data can be found here.
