Nursing Homes in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 310 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.3 stars, which is at Iowa's state average of 3.1 stars. 2 facilities earn a B grade or better and are recommended for family consideration.
Compare 3 nursing homes · data
See all 2 recommended nursing homesWorth Considering
2
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.27 vs state
Total Beds
310
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
1
0 under CMS review
0 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
44 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
2
exceed staffing threshold
67% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
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Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Fort Dodge
Marian Home
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Marian Home
★★★★★ · 88/100 · 90 beds
Friendship Haven, Inc
★★★★★ · 70/100 · 155 beds
Fort Dodge Health And Rehabilitation
★★★★★ · 19/100 · 65 beds
Showing 1–3 of 3 facilities
All 3 Nursing Homes in Fort Dodge
A-ZWant to learn more about nursing home care in Fort Dodge?
Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge, IA, presents a mixed landscape for nursing home care. The standout is Friendship Haven, Inc, which has a solid reputation with a Grade B and a 4-star CMS rating. However, with only three facilities in the area and only two meeting our standards, families need to be selective. Overall, while there are decent options, the limited choices make this a concerning market for nursing home care.
When considering facilities, Friendship Haven, Inc is your best bet, boasting a clean record with zero fines in the last three years. Another option is Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation, which, despite its Grade F, might have some positive aspects to explore—though tread carefully. Families looking for quality care may also want to consider facilities in nearby cities to ensure their loved ones receive the best possible support.
On the flip side, families should skip Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation entirely due to its troubling Grade F rating, which raises red flags about the quality of care. With serious issues like abuse citations in its history, it's simply not worth the risk. When visiting any facility, make sure to ask about staffing ratios and observe the cleanliness of the environment—these factors can speak volumes about the quality of care your loved one will receive.
Fort Dodge at a Glance
Good News
- • 2 facilities with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • 2 community-run facilities (non-profit)
- • 2 facilities have more nurses than required
- • 1 facility earned 5-star CMS rating
Be Aware
- • 1 facility has serious problems—check before visiting
- • Some facilities have less nurse time than recommended
What's Changing
- → 3 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Fort Dodge is stable
Questions Fort Dodge Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Fort Dodge avg is 0.74 hrs (44 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
2 of 3 Fort Dodge facilities have zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—1 local facility has serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa's Webster County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 310 beds. Families have solid options to choose from.
Fort Dodge vs. Iowa: Near State Average
Fort Dodge nursing homes perform near the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.33 stars is close to Iowa's statewide average of 3.06 stars.
2 of 3 facilities earn a B grade or better. Families should still research carefully, as 1 facility has significant concerns.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Fort Dodge, 2 facilities score a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: A Significant Concern in Fort Dodge
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Fort Dodge facilities average 0.74 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Fort Dodge resident receives approximately 44 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
2 Fort Dodge facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Fort Dodge has 2 non-profit nursing homes and 1 for-profit facility. 1 of 3 facility is chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Iowa cities for additional options. The following Iowa cities offer multiple nursing home options:
- Des Moines — 12 facilities
- Cedar Rapids — 9 facilities
- Dubuque — 8 facilities
- Davenport — 7 facilities
- Sioux City — 6 facilities
- Marion — 6 facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Fort Dodge, Iowa?
Fort Dodge has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 310 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.3 stars, which is above Iowa's state average of 3.1 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Fort Dodge?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Fort Dodge include:
- • Marian Home — Grade B+, 88/100 Trust Score
- • Friendship Haven, Inc — Grade B, 70/100 Trust Score
- • Fort Dodge Health And Rehabilitation — Grade F, 19/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Fort Dodge nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 1 facility in Fort Dodge as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Fort Dodge Nursing Homes
Fort Dodge offers typical nursing home options for the state. Focus your search on the 2 facilities graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing. Avoid the 1 high-risk facilities flagged in our analysis.