Great River Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa, has a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and considered excellent in quality. It ranks #30 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 5 facilities in Clayton County, meaning there is only one better option nearby. The facility's performance is stable, with the same number of issues reported in both 2024 and 2025. Staffing is rated at 4 out of 5 stars, which is good, but the 48% turnover rate is average compared to the state average of 44%. Notably, the center has no fines on record, which is a positive sign. However, there are some concerns. Recent inspections revealed that the center failed to provide proper feeding tube care for one resident, neglected to update a care plan to include hospice care for another, and did not uphold the dignity of a resident who required assistance with daily activities. While the overall environment appears strong, these specific incidents highlight areas needing attention to ensure all residents receive the care they deserve.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #30/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 48% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 40 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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4-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
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
The Ugly 4 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Tube Feeding
(Tag F0693)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review and staff interview, the facility failed to provide a water flush pe...
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Oct 2024
1 deficiency
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
Based on record review, staff interviews, and policy review the facility failed to revise the Care Plan to include hospice care for 1 of 1 residents reviewed (Resident #24). The facility reported a ce...
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Oct 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview the facility failed to uphold resident dignity ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review, manufacturer's full prescribing information, and staff interview, t...
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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 Great River Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Great River 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 Great River Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Great River Care Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 48%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. RN turnover specifically is 60%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Great River Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 4 deficiencies at Great River Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 4 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Great River Care Center?
Great River Care Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 39 certified beds and approximately 25 residents (about 64% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Mc Gregor, Iowa.
How Does Great River Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Great River Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (48%) 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 Great River 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 Great River Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Great River 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 Great River Care Center Stick Around?
Great River Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 48%, 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 Great River Care Center Ever Fined?
Great River 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 Great River Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Great River 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.