Northern Mahaska Specialty Care
2401 Crestview Drive, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 · Mahaska County · (641) 673-3000
79 certified beds, about 76 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
3 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 165274 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on November 24, 2025, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5, the national average 9.2).
Of 10 health citations since August 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents (1 immediate jeopardy).
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $39,033 in the last three years; the largest was $39,033, and the latest is dated July 6, 2024.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.20 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Iowa and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.56 of those hours.
31.3% 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.
308/23
112/23
107/24
010/24
102/25
411/25
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 10 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
1J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
5D
4E
0F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
November 24, 2025Standard inspection · 4 citations
- E Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, diet spreadsheet/menu review, resident diet type report, staff interviews, policy review, and the Simplified Diet Manual the facility failed to serve the appropriate portions for 3 of 3 residents who received pureed diets (Resident #19, #33 and #49) and 1 of 1 resident served only pureed meat (Resident #29). The facility staff also failed to serve the appropriate portion size of meat for 10 of 11 residents on a mechanical soft diet (Resident #7, #8, #27, #30, #37, #38, #42, #55, #58, #67 and #68). The facility reported a census of 78 residents.
- E Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, observation, staff interview, policy review, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the facility failed to implement infection control practices consistent with CDC guidelines pertaining to COVID precautions and Enhanced Barrier Precautions to prevent cross contamination by staff failing to wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during routine cares for 2 out of 4 halls (Residents #16, #23, #29 and #44). The facility also failed to perform hand hygiene after catheter care for 1 of 2 residents with catheters (Resident #44). The facility reported a census of 78 residents.
- D Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, observation, staff interview, and policy review, the facility failed to develop a comprehensive person-centered care plan to include pain for one of three residents reviewed (Resident #44). The facility reported a census of 78 residents.
- D Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, staff interviews, policy review, American Heart Association (AHA) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Manufacture's Guide, the facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies and skill sets to provide nursing interventions, including the use of an AED and administering a shock on a conscious, breathing resident, for 1 of 3 residents (Resident #64) reviewed for a change of condition and hospitalizations. The facility reported a census of 78 residents.
February 26, 2025Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interviews, clinical record review, and review of facility provided documents, the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse timely, within the required two hours, of staff becoming aware that allegation existed for 1 of 3 residents (Resident #1) reviewed for resident's rights and dignity.
October 24, 2024Standard inspection · 0 citations
July 6, 2024Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- J Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, record review, and staff, resident and resident responsible party interviews, the facility failed to ensure the environment remained free of hazards, and failed to ensure employees reported hazards that posed an immediate threat to the safety of all residents when at least 3 employees failed to report an employee had a loaded handgun in her purse that she brought into the facility stored at the Nurse's Station, unsecured, where a cognitively impaired resident gained access to the purse (Resident #1). The facility reported a census of 79 residents. The State Agency informed the facility of the Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) on 7/3/24 at 1:15 p.m. The IJ began on May 5, 2024. Facility staff removed the Immediate Jeopardy on 7/6/24 by implementing the following actions; a. All Nursing Staff educated between 6/26/24 and 7/6/24 on: [...]
December 21, 2023Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- E Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, resident, family and staff interview the facility failed to maintain comfortable building temperatures between 71 degrees F (Fahrenheit) and 81 degrees F in the resident's rooms for 4 residents reviewed (Residents #5, #6, #7, and #8). The facility identified a census of 71 residents.
August 30, 2023Standard inspection · 3 citations
- E Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interview, resident interview, record review and policy review the facility failed to ensure adequate staffing for 4 of 30 residents reviewed (Residents #55, #26, #29, and #59). The facility census is 68.
- 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 interviews the facility failed to treat residents with dignity and respect for 2 of 23 residents reviewed, (Resident #29 and #59). The facility reported a census of 68.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure the safety of a resident by not accommodating a resident's need for a mechanical lift sling to ensure safe transfers while at dialysis for 1 of 3 residents reviewed receiving dialysis services (Resident #32). The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
Fire safety inspections
15 fire safety citations on file: 5 on November 24, 2025, 5 on October 24, 2024, 5 on August 30, 2023.
Every fire safety citation15 citations
- F 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.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- F Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.
- F Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- 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 Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
- D Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- E Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- E Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.
- D Use approved construction type or materials.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2024 | Fine | $39,033 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
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) | 3.20 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.56 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 2.78 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.07 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.57 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 31.3% | 44.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 20.0% | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.26 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 3.37 on weekdays and 2.78 on weekends, 18% 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 3.32 in April to June 2025 to 3.20 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 | 3.20 | 0.56 | 3.37 | 2.78 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 76 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.24 | 0.55 | 3.40 | 2.84 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 75 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.19 | 0.42 | 3.34 | 2.83 | 0.0% | 1 of 92 | 76 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.32 | 0.40 | 3.47 | 2.94 | 0.0% | 1 of 91 | 76 |
| 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.
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 | 20.9 | 17.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.5 | 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 | 22.2 | 16.6 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 16.6 | 19.4 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 22.6 | 20.9 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 10.6 | 13.2 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
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% | 03/01/2014 |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | 5% or greater mortgage interest | Organization | 02/01/2025 | |
| 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 | 01/01/2023 | |
| 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 | |
| Lewis, Kaitlyn | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/02/2023 | |
| Mahler, Carla | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Wei, Shipeng | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 04/15/2025 | |
| Lewis, Kaitlyn | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 04/15/2025 | |
| Wei, Shipeng | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/01/2025 |
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 many nurses and aides work each shift, nights and weekends included?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on November 24, 2025: "Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on July 6, 2024: "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents."
- 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 December 21, 2023: "Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on November 24, 2025: "Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 2.78 hours per resident per day, below the Iowa average of 3.37.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Oskaloosa Care Center Oskaloosa, 1.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 33 citations
- Crystal Heights Care Center Oskaloosa, 1.6 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- The Cottages Pella, 16 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- Montezuma Specialty Care Montezuma, 19.4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 13 citations
- Oakwood Specialty Care Albia, 22.4 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- Stone Cottage Care Center Sigourney, 22.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 69 citations
- Manor House Care Center Sigourney, 22.7 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 16 citations
- Ridgewood Specialty Care Ottumwa, 23.2 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 18 citations
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 Northern Mahaska Specialty Care's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Northern Mahaska Specialty Care 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Northern Mahaska Specialty Care get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on November 24, 2025. The Iowa average is 6.5.
- Has Northern Mahaska Specialty Care been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $39,033 in the last three years.
- Does Northern Mahaska 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 Northern Mahaska Specialty Care?
- CMS lists 24 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.