Crystal Heights Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Crystal Heights Care Center has received a Trust Grade of C+, indicating it is slightly above average but still has room for improvement. It ranks #103 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among three local facilities in Mahaska County. However, the facility is facing a worsening trend, with issues increasing from 4 in 2023 to 11 in 2025. Staffing is a concern, with a low rating of 2 out of 5 stars and a high turnover rate of 59%, which is above the state average. There were also $10,489 in fines, which is average for the area, and RN coverage is less than that of 93% of Iowa facilities, potentially impacting resident care. Specific incidents noted by inspectors included a lack of proper care planning for residents with PTSD and failure to provide meaningful activities for those in the dementia unit. Additionally, one resident was not assisted to the bathroom despite expressing the need, and another was not treated with respect regarding their food temperature preferences. While the facility has strong quality measures, these weaknesses indicate areas that need immediate attention and improvement.
- Trust Score
- C+
- In Iowa
- #103/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 59% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ⚠ Watch
- $10,489 in fines. Higher than 83% of Iowa facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 18 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Iowa. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 15 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
13pts above Iowa avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
11 points above Iowa average of 48%
The Ugly 15 deficiencies on record
Jun 2025
11 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
3. On 6/25/25 at 8:05 AM, observation of Resident #14 revealed the resident was sitting in the dining room with Staff A, LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), next to her. Staff A fed the resident a bite of...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0567
(Tag F0567)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, policy review, and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure residents had ready access to their personal funds for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for pe...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on Code Status Form, observation, record review and interview the facility failed to ensure consistent documentation of co...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, observation and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure staff completed the assessment ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to assist 1 of 2 residents reviewed for toileting assistance to the bathroom when the need was voi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 resident reviewed for pain received treatment and care related to pain management...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0699
(Tag F0699)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, resident/family interview and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure residents who were...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0725
(Tag F0725)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, policy review, resident/family interview and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure the...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
2. On 6/26/25 at 11:24 AM, Staff B, Registered Nurse (RN), removed Furosemide and Tramadol from the medication cart and put the medications in a cup with applesauce. Staff B approached Resident #5 wit...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**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 ensure the Care Plan id...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0679
(Tag F0679)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY**
Based on observations, representative, staff interviews, record review, and facility policy review the facility failed to provi...
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Dec 2023
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
2. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, dated 10/08/23, revealed Resident #54 diagnoses included: Congestive Heart Failure, anemia, Diabetes Mellitus, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and Schizop...
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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
Based on observation, interview, clinical record review, and facility policy review the facility failed to safely transport prepared insulin needles from a medication cart to resident (Resident #34, #...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to monitor the completion of personal cares resulting in skin breakdown for 1 of 2 residents (Resident #35) reviewed for Activ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 3. The Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS), dated [DATE], revealed Resident #09 diagnoses included; Cerebral Palsy, anxiety disorde...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • 15 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • $10,489 in fines. Above average for Iowa. Some compliance problems on record.
- • 59% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Crystal Heights Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Crystal Heights Care Center an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered 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 Crystal Heights Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Crystal Heights Care Center's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 59%, which is 13 percentage points above the Iowa average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Crystal Heights Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 15 deficiencies at Crystal Heights Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 15 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Crystal Heights Care Center?
Crystal Heights 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 72 certified beds and approximately 60 residents (about 83% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
How Does Crystal Heights Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Crystal Heights Care Center's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (59%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Crystal Heights Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Crystal Heights Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Crystal Heights 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 4-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 Crystal Heights Care Center Stick Around?
Staff turnover at Crystal Heights Care Center is high. At 59%, the facility is 13 percentage points above the Iowa average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Crystal Heights Care Center Ever Fined?
Crystal Heights Care Center has been fined $10,489 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Iowa average of $33,184. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Crystal Heights Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Crystal Heights 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.