Eldora Specialty Care
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Eldora Specialty Care has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is an excellent facility that is highly recommended for care. It ranks #19 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top half of all facilities in the state, and it holds the top position among the four nursing homes in Hardin County. The facility's trends are stable, with only two concerns reported, consistent over the past two years. Staffing is a strength, with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 33%, which is below the Iowa average, indicating that staff members are experienced and familiar with the residents. Notably, there have been no fines, which reflects positively on compliance; however, two specific incidents were noted: the facility failed to submit a required mental health evaluation for a resident and did not complete necessary changes for a resident who had entered hospice care, both of which indicate areas needing improvement. Overall, Eldora Specialty Care has many strengths, but families should be aware of these concerns.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #19/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 33% turnover. Near Iowa's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 33 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Iowa. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover below average (33%)
15 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
13pts below Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record
Dec 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to submit a Level II Preadmission Screening and Residen...
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Nov 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview, the facility failed to complete a significant change following admission to hospice ...
Read full inspector narrative →
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Eldora Specialty Care's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Eldora Specialty Care an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Eldora Specialty Care Staffed?
CMS rates Eldora Specialty Care's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 33%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Eldora Specialty Care?
State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at Eldora Specialty Care during 2022 to 2024. These included: 2 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Eldora Specialty Care?
Eldora Specialty Care is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by CARE INITIATIVES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 46 certified beds and approximately 38 residents (about 83% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Eldora, Iowa.
How Does Eldora Specialty Care Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Eldora Specialty Care's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (33%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Eldora Specialty Care?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Eldora Specialty Care Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Eldora Specialty Care has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Eldora Specialty Care Stick Around?
Eldora Specialty Care has a staff turnover rate of 33%, which is about average for Iowa nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Eldora Specialty Care Ever Fined?
Eldora Specialty Care has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Eldora Specialty Care on Any Federal Watch List?
Eldora Specialty Care is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.