GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake holds an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility with top-tier care standards. Ranking #28 out of 337 nursing homes in Minnesota places it well within the top half of facilities, while its #2 position out of 7 in Wright County suggests only one other local option is better. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, as the number of reported issues increased from 1 in 2023 to 2 in 2025. Staffing is a clear strength, with a 5/5 star rating and a turnover rate of only 23%, well below the state average, which means that staff are experienced and familiar with resident needs. Notably, there have been zero fines, and the facility also boasts more RN coverage than 98% of Minnesota facilities, ensuring higher quality oversight. On the downside, there have been some concerning incidents. For instance, there was a failure to maintain proper temperature logs for the kitchen dishwasher, which could impact food safety for residents. Additionally, an elopement incident involving a resident with severe cognitive impairment was not reported to the state in a timely manner, and there were inaccuracies in a resident's assessment related to their dental status. While the facility excels in staffing and overall care, these issues highlight areas needing attention to ensure resident safety and compliance.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In Minnesota
- #28/337
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 points below Minnesota's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Minnesota facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 101 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Minnesota nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 3 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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Low Staff Turnover (23%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover is low (23%)
25 points below Minnesota average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 3 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure an elopement incident was reported to the State Agency (SA...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Assessments
(Tag F0636)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and document review the facility failed to accurately complete a comprehensive Minimum Data Set...
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Nov 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to maintain proper records of kitchen dishwasher temperature logs. This had the potential to affect all 27 residents.
Findings in...
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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+ (95/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Minnesota.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Minnesota facilities.
- • Only 3 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 Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Minnesota, 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 Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake Staffed?
CMS rates GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 23%, compared to the Minnesota average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake?
State health inspectors documented 3 deficiencies at GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE during 2023 to 2025. These included: 3 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake?
GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 32 certified beds and approximately 29 residents (about 91% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in HOWARD LAKE, Minnesota.
How Does Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake Compare to Other Minnesota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Minnesota, GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (23%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake?
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 Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE 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 Minnesota. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake Stick Around?
Staff at GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 23%, the facility is 23 percentage points below the Minnesota average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.
Was Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake Ever Fined?
GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE 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 Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake on Any Federal Watch List?
GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - HOWARD LAKE 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.