Worth Considering
1
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in Mason City, Iowa
1 of 4 nursing homes in Mason City (25%) meet our strict criteria. The Iowa statewide average is 29%.
1 recommended · 1 caution · 2 avoid · data
City Average
3.0
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
355
across 4 facilities
High Risk Facilities
2
2 Grade F
$118,334 in combined fines
Zero Fines
2
/4
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why This One?
The nursing home market in Mason City, Iowa, is adequate but presents challenges, with only 25% of facilities recommended. Families should be aware that while the top-rated facility is MercyOne North Iowa Medical Services (A+, 5★), two facilities carry a total of $118,334 in fines, indicating potential concerns.
Exceptional (Grade A, Trust Score 90+)
- 1 MercyOne North Iowa Medical Services (95) — MercyOne North Iowa Medical Services shines with a perfect Trust Score of 95/100 and an impressive CMS 5★ rating. This non-profit, church-related facility emphasizes community-focused care, ensuring residents receive compassionate and personalized attention in a cozy setting with just 22 beds.
The other 3 Mason City facilities didn't qualify — 2 carry Grade D or F ratings and 2 have fines totaling $118K.
Recommended
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Services shines with a perfect Trust Score of 95/100 and an impressive CMS 5★ rating. This non-profit, church-related facility emphasizes community-focused care, ensuring residents receive compassionate and personalized attention in a cozy setting with just 22 beds.
Proceed with Caution
These facilities don't meet our recommendation criteria but may still be viable options.
Best Available Alternative
Staffing Comparison
Staffing levels are the strongest predictor of care quality
| Metric | Top Facility | Mason City Avg | CMS Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Hours / Resident / Day | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 |
| CMS Star Rating | 5 stars | 3.0 stars | — |
| Deficiencies / Inspection | 0 | 0.0 | — |
Facilities to Avoid
These facilities have significant quality concerns.
What Disqualified the Other 3?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Grade F facilities
- 2 Grade F — critical inspection failures
- Facilities with fines
- 2 Have fines totaling $118,334
- Low-scoring facilities
- 1 Scored below B — Trust Scores under 70
- Caution group
- 1 Had good grades but fines disqualified them
Questions Mason City Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
Mason City's city average is 3.0 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
2 of 4 Mason City facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; Mason City avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
Mason City facilities average 0.0 deficiencies per inspection
Explore Nearby Cities
Houston has strong options, but nearby cities add even more choices
Houston at a Glance
Good News
- 12 facilities meet our strict criteria—20% of the market
- 3 exceptional A-grade facilities with 5-star CMS ratings
- 24 facilities with zero fines in the past 3 years
Be Aware
- 30 facilities carry Grade F—nearly half the market
- $3.2M+ in total fines across 37 facilities
- Worst facility has $448,216 in fines alone
Key Numbers
- Average Trust Score: 48.6 (dragged down by 30 F-grades)
- 82% for-profit, 13% non-profit, 5% government
- 9.4 average deficiencies per facility
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes in Mason City, IA are recommended?
1 of 4 nursing homes in Mason City (25%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
What makes a nursing home in Mason City "recommended"?
A facility earns our recommendation when it achieves a Trust Grade of B or better (score of 70+) AND has zero fines in the past three years. This combination indicates consistent quality care and regulatory compliance.
How should I evaluate nursing homes in Mason City?
Look beyond star ratings. Check for recent fines, abuse citations, staffing levels (especially RN hours), and inspection deficiencies. Visit in person during different times of day to observe care quality firsthand.