Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines
206 N Willson Dr, Altoona, WI 54720 · Eau Claire County · (715) 598-7800
50 certified beds, about 40 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 2016
Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
4 of 5
Health inspections
4 of 5
Staffing
4 of 5
Quality measures
4 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 525724 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on May 21, 2026, inspectors cited 2 health deficiencies (the Wisconsin average is 9.5, the national average 9.2).
None of its 7 health citations since January 2024 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 4.99 hours per resident per day, against 4.21 across Wisconsin and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 1.15 of those hours.
51.4% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Wisconsin average 46.9%).
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
001/24
502/25
205/26
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 7 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
5D
0E
2F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
May 21, 2026Standard inspection · 2 citations · risk-based survey (a shorter visit CMS gives only to higher performing homes)
- D Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure that appropriate information is communicated to the receiving health care institution or provider for 1 of 1 resident (R22) reviewed for hospitalizations. Facility did not communicate with the hospital emergency department (ED) prior to R22's transfer of the reason R22 needed to be transferred. This is evidenced by:On 05/20/26, Surveyor reviewed R22's medical record. R22's diagnoses include displaced trimalleolar fracture of right lower leg, anemia, congestive heart failure, mild cognitive impairment, COPD, chronic kidney disease stage 3B, restless legs, depression, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dementia. R22's progress notes documented 05/03/2026 9:25 PM, Health Status Note,Note Text: Pt transferred to ED for evaluation after unresponsive episode. [...]
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure 3 of 5 (R22, R3 and R4) sampled residents received care and treatment in accordance with assessments and professional standards of practice to ensure their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The facility staff did not complete a full assessment when changes in condition occurred, did not assess upon re-admission, and did not coordinate care plans with hospice to ensure consistency and continuity of care. On 05/03/26, the facility did not complete and document a full assessment of R22's change of condition and on 05/04/26 did not complete and document a re-admission assessment. The facility did not coordinate R3's care plans with hospice to ensure consistency and continuity of care. The documentation of R4's cares do not support R4 was receiving a shower twice weekly as care planned. [...]
February 26, 2025Standard inspection · 5 citations
- F Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review, the facility did not designate a person to serve as the director of food and nutrition services who had completed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. This practice has potential to affect all 46 residents residing in the facility. The facility's Dietary Manager (DM) has been in the position for over 2 years, had enrolled in a course in 8/2022, but did not complete the steps to become certified. The facility does not have a full-time Registered Dietician (RD) at the facility.
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview, record review, and observation, the facility failed to implement correct monitoring of the dish washer for sanitization purposes. This has the potential to affect all 46 residents residing in the facility. The facility did not ensure facility protocol was followed to ensure safe sanitization of dishware via their dishwasher.
- D Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
Inspectors wroteBased on interviews and record review, the facility did not ensure residents with limited range of motion (ROM) received services to maintain or prevent further reduction in ROM for 1 out of 2 residents (R) (R30). R30's restorative care plan from therapy on 1/24/2025 was not implemented. R30's restorative care plan from therapy on 7/1/2024 was not being followed.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not provide assistive devices with meals to prevent accidents for 1 of 6 residents (R)(R2) reviewed for accidents. R2 was assessed and care planned as requiring lids on cups during meals in order to prevent spills. This was not provided for 2 of 2 observed meals.
- D Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not provide pharmaceutical services, including procedures that ensured the accurate acquiring, dispensing, and administering of drugs and biologicals, for 1 of 6 residents (R)(R11) reviewed for medication administration. The staff did not correctly administer an Advair inhaler for R11.
January 4, 2024Standard inspection · 0 citations
Fire safety inspections
6 fire safety citations on file: 1 on May 21, 2026, 3 on February 26, 2025, 2 on January 4, 2024.
Every fire safety citation6 citations
- F Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- D Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
- D Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Have corridors or aisles that are unobstructed and are at least 8 feet in width.
- E Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 4.99 | 4.21 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 1.15 | 0.99 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 4.61 | 3.77 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.24 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.60 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 51.4% | 46.9% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 46.7% | 39.7% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.78 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 5.14 on weekdays and 4.61 on weekends, 10% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 10.7% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 4.39 in April to June 2025 to 4.99 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 4.99 | 1.15 | 5.14 | 4.61 | 10.7% | 0 of 90 | 40 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 4.68 | 1.12 | 4.82 | 4.30 | 10.2% | 0 of 92 | 38 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 4.66 | 1.18 | 4.89 | 4.09 | 3.3% | 0 of 92 | 41 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 4.39 | 1.08 | 4.59 | 3.88 | 4.7% | 0 of 91 | 45 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Wisconsin, Jan to Mar 2026 | 4.19 | 0.95 | 4.36 | 3.74 | 8.8% | 0.3% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Wisconsin | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.1 | 16.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 6.3 | 18.4 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 11.4 | 15.8 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 25.0 | 23.1 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 9.3 | 15.5 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: GRACE LUTHERAN FOUNDATION, INC..
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyes, Alan | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2023 | |
| Felton, Connie | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2025 | |
| Grothe, Arthur | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2023 | |
| Lokken, Paul | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2017 | |
| Peltier, Suzette | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2022 | |
| Reid, Dale | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2021 | |
| Schwellenbach, Dorothy | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2025 | |
| Ziehr, Ken | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2015 | |
| Duhr, Amy | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/17/2020 | |
| Larson, Jamie | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/09/2022 | |
| Berg, Matthew | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2016 | |
| Bohl, Amy | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 10/27/2023 | |
| Cohen, Jennifer | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 07/13/2016 | |
| Duhr, Amy | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/17/2020 | |
| Dziekan, Dennis | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/15/2017 | |
| Larson, Jamie | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 05/29/2022 | |
| Miller, Cory | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 04/29/2019 | |
| Palmer, Carli | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 09/25/2014 | |
| Phillips, Michael | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 10/25/2022 | |
| Shafer, Kayla | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 09/19/2013 | |
| Berg, Matthew | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 07/01/2016 | |
| Cohen, Jennifer | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/29/2025 | |
| Duhr, Amy | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/17/2020 | |
| Larson, Jamie | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 05/29/2022 | |
| Phillips, Michael | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 10/25/2022 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on May 21, 2026: "Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on February 26, 2025: "Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on May 21, 2026: "Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on February 26, 2025: "Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Oakwood Health Services Altoona, 0.1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 24 citations
- Dove Healthcare - South Eau Claire Eau Claire, 2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 2 citations
- Dove Healthcare - West Eau Claire Eau Claire, 4.1 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Chippewa Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Chippewa Falls, 8.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Wi Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls Chippewa Falls, 9.6 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Dove Healthcare - Regional Vent Center Chippewa Falls, 10.9 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 9 citations
- Augusta Health and Rehabilitation Augusta, 18 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 24 citations
- American Lutheran Home-Mondovi Mondovi, 19.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 7 citations
Wisconsin contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Wisconsin. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance, Nursing Homes, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care, Ombudsman Program, 1-800-815-0015. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: Wisconsin DHS Provider Search (Survey History), where Wisconsin publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines get at its last inspection?
- 2 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on May 21, 2026. The Wisconsin average is 9.5.
- Has Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines?
- CMS lists 25 owners and managers. Legal business name: GRACE LUTHERAN FOUNDATION, INC..
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.