Laurens Care Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Laurens Care Center has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating an excellent reputation among nursing homes, suggesting a high level of care. It ranks #43 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it comfortably in the top half, and is the best option in Pocahontas County. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from five in 2024 to four in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a 5/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 34%, which is significantly lower than the state average. However, there are some concerns, including incidents where a student CNA was not verified as certified and the Dietary Manager lacked full certification. Additionally, the facility failed to provide written notice of the bed hold policy for residents on hospital leave, which could lead to confusion for families. Overall, while there are areas needing attention, Laurens Care Center demonstrates many strengths in its care and management.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #43/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 34% 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 ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 61 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Iowa nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (34%)
14 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
12pts below Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
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 provide to the resident and the resident representative, writ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
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 develop and implement a comprehensive care plan for 1 of 5 re...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure a resident's care plan was reviewed and ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure a resident who needed Oxygen (O2) had do...
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Mar 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, staff interviews and review of Medicare guidelines, the facility failed to provide a notice of ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Resident #4 ' s Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] assessment identified a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMs) score of...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, infection control policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to use personal protective equipment (P...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0943
(Tag F0943)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on personnel file reviews, facility policy review and staff interview, the facility failed to provide the required 2 hour dependent adult abuse training within 6 months of hire for 2 of 9 employ...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0729
(Tag F0729)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on personnel file review, interviews, and review of the Direct Care Worker (DCW) Registry the facility failed to verify and assure a student certified nursing assistant (CNA) actually became cer...
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Feb 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] for Resident #19 revealed a Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 11 which...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0801
(Tag F0801)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on facility policy and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure the Dietary Manager was certified. The facility reported a census of 28 residents.
Findings include:
In an interview on 2/6/...
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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.
- • 34% turnover. Below Iowa's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Laurens Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Laurens Care Center 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 Laurens Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Laurens Care Center's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 34%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Laurens Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at Laurens Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 11 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Laurens Care Center?
Laurens Care Center is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 38 certified beds and approximately 29 residents (about 76% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LAURENS, Iowa.
How Does Laurens Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Laurens Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (34%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Laurens Care Center?
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 Laurens Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Laurens Care Center 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 Laurens Care Center Stick Around?
Laurens Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 34%, 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 Laurens Care Center Ever Fined?
Laurens Care Center 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 Laurens Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Laurens Care Center 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.