Nursing HomeMedicaid Investigative

Northern Mahaska Specialty Care

Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.

2401 Crestview Drive, Oskaloosa, IA 52577|79 beds|Licensed & Active

2/5

Medicare

Inspection

Quality

Staffing

Google rating

4.4/5

based on 25 Google reviews

(641) 673-3000 Directions Website

Street View

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2/ 10

low Risk

Quality Concerns Identified

Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.

Low overall rating (2/5 stars)

Below average in IA · Below recommended RN staffing · Below chain average · $46,989 in fines

Source: Medicare data

What this means for your family

While many families report a positive experience with the nursing staff, there are serious, recurring reports regarding slow response times and poor communication. We strongly recommend that you visit during off-hours to observe staff responsiveness and ask management specifically about how they track and ensure that resident meal orders and basic care needs are met.

Google Reviews

25 reviews on Google

“Northern Mahaska Specialty Care receives highly polarized feedback, with many reviewers praising the staff's kindness and professionalism, while others report severe failures in basic care and responsiveness. Families considering this facility should be aware of significant concerns regarding communication, meal accuracy, and delays in providing assistance to residents. While some families feel their loved ones are treated with genuine compassion, others have documented critical issues regarding neglect and poor oversight.”

Quality Themes

Tap a score for details

Strengths

Compassionate and kind nursing staff
Clean and well-maintained facility environment
Professional care during end-of-life transitions

Concerns

Slow response times when residents request assistance (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Poor communication with family members (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Inconsistent or inaccurate meal service (mentioned by 2 reviewers)

Rating Trends

Tap a year to see what changed

Distribution · 30 analyzed

How They Respond to Reviews

8%response rate

This facility rarely responds to reviews.

Questions for Your Tour

1We've heard wonderful things about the kindness of your nursing staff; how do you ensure that same level of compassion is maintained during every shift?
2How do you handle communication with family members to ensure we are always kept in the loop regarding our loved one's health?
3What steps are being taken to improve the consistency and quality of the meal service and dining experience for residents?
4Can you tell us about your process for responding to call lights and ensuring residents get timely assistance when they need it?
5What kind of daily activities or social programs are available to keep residents engaged and active?
6In the event of a medical emergency after hours, what is the protocol for contacting both the medical team and the family?

Personalized based on this facility's data

Key Review Excerpts

“The staff genuinely cares about patients. It was such a pleasant surprise to visit my dad in the evenings and see how genuinely caring and kind everyone was with him.”

Long-term resident's family · 2025★★★★★

“They loose stuff and did not help my mother at all then she needed help she was not given it. She was only in there a few months by the time they decided she should go to the hospital for starvation and not able to drink anything she died”

Long-term resident's family · 2019★☆☆☆☆

“Also when needed help it took 45 minutes at least to get help. Never once got a meal that was ordered.”

Rehab patient's family · 2021★☆☆☆☆

Source: 25 Google reviews

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare 2026

RN Hours

0.55hrs

73%

Registered nurses for medical care

Total Nursing

3.24hrs

79%

All nurses + aides combined

Staff Turnover

36%

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

RN Turnover

27%

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.

Quality Measures

Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures

Medicare Rating

4/ 5

Better Than Avg

measures

Worse Than Avg

measures

Mixed Results

measures

Long-Stay Residents

😔

Residents with depression symptoms

↓ Lower is better

This Facility0.4%

Better than Avg

Here

0.4%

12.1%

4.1%

Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.

🚶

Residents whose walking got worse

↓ Lower is better

This Facility23.0%

Worse than Avg

Here

23.0%

15.3%

17.5%

💉

Residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better

This Facility100.0%

Better than Avg

Here

100.0%

93.4%

93.9%

🛏️

Residents needing more daily help over time

↓ Lower is better

This Facility20.6%

Worse than Avg

Here

20.6%

14.4%

17.6%

🚿

Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse

↓ Lower is better

This Facility25.0%

Mixed vs Avgs

Here

25.0%

19.4%

25.9%

💊

Residents on antipsychotic medication

↓ Lower is better

This Facility14.4%

Better than Avg

Here

14.4%

15.5%

19.4%

Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)

💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better

This Facility91.4%

Better than Avg

Here

91.4%

79.8%

73.3%

💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better

This Facility98.0%

Better than Avg

Here

98.0%

81.8%

84.1%

💊

Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics

↓ Lower is better

This Facility0.0%

Better than Avg

Here

0.0%

1.6%

2.0%

Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

3-year lookback · Medicare 2026

4deficiencies

1penalties

Near state avg (6.2)

4 complaint-triggered

$46,989 in fines

Families have filed multiple complaints resulting in deficiencies related to accident prevention, abuse reporting, nutrition, and resident rights. The facility shows recurring problems with fire safety systems, emergency equipment maintenance, and accident hazard prevention across multiple surveys. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the pattern of repeated issues in safety systems and three separate complaint investigations about accident prevention suggest ongoing challenges with maintaining consistent safety standards.

Nov 24, 2025Routine9 findings

0222Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

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.

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0372Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.

0741Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Miscellaneous Deficiencies

Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.

0923Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.

0803Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

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.

0880Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

0656Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

0726Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

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.

Feb 26, 2025Complaint1 finding

0609Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Oct 24, 2024Routine5 findings

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0918Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

0222Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

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.

0923Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.

0521Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Services Deficiencies

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Jul 6, 2024Complaint1 finding

0689Immediate jeopardy · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Dec 21, 2023Complaint1 finding

0584Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

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.

Aug 30, 2023Routine7 findings

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0918Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

0725Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

0321Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.

0374Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.

0550Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

0161Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Construction Deficiencies

Use approved construction type or materials.

Federal Penalties

Fine

Jul 6, 2024

$39,033

State Inspection History

State Inspections

Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing

10total

8deficiencies

Dec 1, 2025InspectionNo deficiencies

Clean