Montezuma Specialty Care
316 Meadow Lane Drive, Montezuma, IA 50171 · Poweshiek County · (641) 219-4330
41 certified beds, about 30 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1996
Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
3 of 5
Health inspections
3 of 5
Staffing
4 of 5
Quality measures
4 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 165295 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on April 23, 2026, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5, the national average 9.2).
None of its 13 health citations since May 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 3.30 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Iowa and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.83 of those hours.
51.6% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Iowa average 44.0%).
CMS links it to Care Initiatives, an affiliated group of 43 nursing homes.
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.
405/24
205/24
310/24
004/25
404/26
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 13 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
9D
3E
1F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
April 23, 2026Standard inspection · 4 citations
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to maintain adequate kitchen sanitation for 2 of 2 observations of the kitchen. The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to update the care plan to reflect a resident's exit seeking behavior for 1 of 12 residents reviewed for care plans (Resident #6). The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, staff interviews and policy review, the facility staff failed to administer oxygen in accordance with physician orders for 1 of 2 residents reviewed (Resident #5). The facility reported a census of 31 residents. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] for Resident #5 revealed a diagnosis of an irregular heart beat and identified the use of continuous oxygen therapy. Resident #5 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status score of 15 out of 15, which indicated intact cognition. During an observation on 4/20/2026 at 2:18 pm, Resident #5 was in her recliner with oxygen (O2) tube in her nose, the oxygen concentrator was set on 1-liter, and she took deep breaths while relaxing in her recliner. [...]
- D Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, resident and staff interviews, the facility staff failed to hold the anticoagulant (blood thinning) medication as ordered by the surgeon that resulted in the delay of a scheduled surgery for 1 of 1 resident's reviewed (Resident #31). The facility reported a census of 31 residents. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) for Resident #31 revealed a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (a dysrhythmia of the heart) and received an anticoagulant. The Physician Orders for Resident #31 revealed an order for Apixaban (Eliquis) 5 milligram (mg) twice a day, Obtain X-ray of right knee and a referral to orthopedic doctor for a follow up on right knee pain and swelling. The X-ray results dated 3/30/26 for Resident #31revealed a dislocation of the knee joint and a bone fragment concerning for a fracture. [...]
April 10, 2025Standard inspection · 0 citations
October 3, 2024Complaint inspection · 3 citations
- E Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, written staff statements, policy review, and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure residents were treated with respect and dignity for 4 out of 12 residents reviewed for dignity(Residents #6, #8, #11, #12). The facility reported a census of 28 residents.
- E Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, written staff statements, policy review, and staff and resident interviews, facility administration failed to follow-up on concerns with staff treatment of residents for 4 out of 12 residents reviewed for dignity (Residents #6, #8, #11, #12). The facility reported a census of 28 residents.
- E Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) meeting documentation, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to carry out Quality Assurance (QA) activities to obtain feedback, use data, and take action to conduct structured, systematic investigations and analysis of underlying causes or contributing factors of problems affecting facility-wide processes that impact quality of care, quality of life, and resident safety. The facility reported a census of 28 residents.
May 30, 2024Standard inspection · 2 citations
- D Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interviews, resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to provide the diet as ordered for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for nutrition (Resident #28). The facility did not provide double the protein for Resident #28 as recommended by the Registered Dietitian (RD) and as per the physician order. The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, staff interview, resident interview and Facility Assessment the facility failed to ensure safe transport of resident in a wheelchair for 1 of 3 resident reviewed. (Resident #18). The facility reported a census of 31.
May 9, 2024Complaint inspection · 4 citations
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to treat 2 of 9 residents reviewed for resident rights with dignity (Resident #5 and #11) by failing to assist residents with the bedpan and/or incontinent care and instructing them to urinate/defecate in their incontinent briefs. The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse (a staff member allegedly failed to assist a resident with the bedpan and/or incontinent care and instructed her to urinate/defecate in her incontinent brief) for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for an allegation of abuse(Resident #5). The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to investigate an allegation of abuse (a staff member allegedly failed to assist a resident with the bedpan and/or incontinent care and instructed her to urinate/defecate in her incontinent brief) and ensure protection from further abuse for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for an allegation of abuse(Resident #5). The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to create interventions based on root cause analysis of falls in order to prevent future falls for 1 of 4 residents reviewed for falls(Resident #4). The facility reported a census of 31 residents.
Fire safety inspections
15 fire safety citations on file: 2 on April 23, 2026, 8 on April 10, 2025, 5 on May 30, 2024.
Every fire safety citation15 citations
- F Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
- F Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
- F Have a fire alarm with audible and visual signals that transmits the alarm automatically to notify emergency forces in event of fire.
- F Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
- E Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
- E Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- D Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- D Have power receptacles that are properly grounded.
- F Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- D Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.
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 | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.30 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.83 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.08 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.21 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.26 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 51.6% | 44.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 62.5% | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.33 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 3.40 on weekdays and 3.08 on weekends, 9% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.34 in April to June 2025 to 3.30 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 | 3.30 | 0.83 | 3.40 | 3.08 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 30 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.10 | 0.67 | 3.21 | 2.80 | 0.0% | 1 of 92 | 33 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.15 | 0.65 | 3.29 | 2.79 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 34 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.34 | 0.71 | 3.51 | 2.92 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 32 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Iowa, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.80 | 0.71 | 3.98 | 3.36 | 4.7% | 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.
Staff pay reports
Staff pay at this home
No staff pay figure for this home has passed review yet. A figure appears only after at least 5 reports from at least 3 different people, sent over at least 60 days, have passed review.
Official wage estimates for Iowa
| Job | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa, all employers | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $18.92 | $17.96 to $21.95 | 22,670 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $30.11 | $27.12 to $34.06 | 5,510 |
| Registered nurses | $37.80 | $32.83 to $41.32 | 34,420 |
| United States, nursing care facilities | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $20.67 | $17.91 to $22.55 | 534,270 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $33.86 | $30.05 to $37.40 | 188,210 |
| Registered nurses | $41.11 | $37.85 to $47.68 | 142,270 |
Hourly wages; the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. BLS has no separate estimate for medication aides. These are survey estimates for whole occupations, not figures for any one home.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 13.3 | 17.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 12.9 | 16.6 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 27.4 | 19.4 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 10.4 | 20.9 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 17.2 | 13.2 | 12.0 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: CARE INITIATIVES. CMS links this home to Care Initiatives, a group of 43 nursing homes averaging 2.9 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care Initiatives | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 07/01/2000 |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | 5% or greater mortgage interest | Organization | 01/01/2025 | |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate director | Individual | 06/01/2020 | |
| Bowen, Lane | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Carothers, Mary Jane | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2023 | |
| Childs, Kevin | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2023 | |
| Corless, Peter | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Krein, Keith | Corporate director | Individual | 06/29/2022 | |
| Rust, Elizabeth | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2023 | |
| Sturm, Denise | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Upmeyer, Linda | Corporate director | Individual | 06/29/2022 | |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/01/2020 | |
| Dixon, David | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/01/2016 | |
| Drake, Emily | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/04/2023 | |
| Gilyard, Tanya | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/23/2025 | |
| Kuhn, Jeramy | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/25/2008 | |
| McDyer, Jessica | Corporate officer | Individual | 02/22/2023 | |
| Volm, Johanna | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Baedke, Charissa | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Gijima, Desire | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Huff, Mitchell | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 04/24/2024 | |
| Beal, Michael | Individual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNF | Individual | 08/19/2025 | |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 08/11/2025 | |
| Gijima, Desire | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/11/2025 | |
| Huff, Mitchell | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/11/2025 |
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 April 23, 2026: "Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on April 23, 2026: "Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on October 3, 2024: "Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights."
- Who is the administrator and director of nursing, and how long have they been in the job?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on October 3, 2024: "Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.08 hours per resident per day, below the Iowa average of 3.37.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Brooklyn Community Estates Brooklyn, 11.8 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
- St. Francis Manor Grinnell, 14.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
- Mayflower Home Grinnell, 14.5 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 7 citations
- Northern Mahaska Specialty Care Oskaloosa, 19.4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 10 citations
- Oskaloosa Care Center Oskaloosa, 20.7 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 33 citations
- Crystal Heights Care Center Oskaloosa, 20.9 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- The Cottages Pella, 22.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- English Valley Nursing Care Center North English, 24.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
Iowa contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Iowa. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Health Facilities, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Iowa Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 866-236-1430. 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: Iowa Health Facility Database, Entity Search, where Iowa publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Montezuma Specialty Care's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Montezuma Specialty Care 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Montezuma Specialty Care get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on April 23, 2026. The Iowa average is 6.5.
- Has Montezuma Specialty Care been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Montezuma Specialty Care 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 Montezuma Specialty Care?
- CMS lists 25 owners and managers, and links the home to Care Initiatives. Legal business name: CARE INITIATIVES.
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.