Laporte City Specialty Care
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Laporte City Specialty Care has received a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is an excellent facility that is highly recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #42 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among 12 facilities in Black Hawk County. The facility has shown improvement over time, with issues decreasing from 1 in 2024 to none in 2025, and it has a solid staffing rating of 4 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 39%, which is lower than the state average. Notably, the facility has not incurred any fines, highlighting its compliance with regulations. However, some concerns were raised during inspections, including a lack of access to dietary information for staff and unclean bathrooms that were not maintained daily, which could affect resident comfort and safety. Overall, while there are some weaknesses, the facility's strengths in staffing and compliance make it a strong candidate for families seeking care.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #42/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 39% 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 35 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 4 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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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (39%)
9 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 4 deficiencies on record
Jan 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0801
(Tag F0801)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and staff interview the facility failed to ensure a qualified dietary professional served as a Dietary Manager for 43 of 43 residents. The facility reported a census of 43 residen...
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Dec 2022
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview and policy review the facility failed to maintain a clean environment with 1 out of 4 bath...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, staff interviews and facility policy review the facility failed to address a diuretic medication in 1 out of 5 resident reviewed for unnecessary medication (Resident #...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview the facility failed to complete accurate minimum data set assessments for 4 out of 14...
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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 4 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 Laporte City Specialty Care's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Laporte City 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 Laporte City Specialty Care Staffed?
CMS rates Laporte City Specialty Care's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 39%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Laporte City Specialty Care?
State health inspectors documented 4 deficiencies at Laporte City Specialty Care during 2022 to 2024. These included: 4 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Laporte City Specialty Care?
Laporte City 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 43 residents (about 93% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LA PORTE CITY, Iowa.
How Does Laporte City Specialty Care Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Laporte City Specialty Care's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (39%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Laporte City 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 Laporte City Specialty Care Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Laporte City 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 Laporte City Specialty Care Stick Around?
Laporte City Specialty Care has a staff turnover rate of 39%, 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 Laporte City Specialty Care Ever Fined?
Laporte City 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 Laporte City Specialty Care on Any Federal Watch List?
Laporte City 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.