WISHEK LIVING CENTER
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Wishek Living Center has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes, but not the top tier. It ranks #19 out of 72 facilities in North Dakota, placing it in the top half, and is the best option in McIntosh County. The facility is improving, having decreased from three issues in 2024 to two in 2025. Staffing is strong with a 5/5 star rating, although turnover is average at 57%. However, the facility has faced some serious issues, including a failure to accommodate resident allergies that led to a hospitalization and a delay in emergency care for a resident with a changing health status. Additionally, they did not offer pneumococcal vaccinations to several residents, which could put others at risk for pneumonia. Overall, while there are strengths in staffing and some health inspections, there are notable weaknesses in care practices that families should consider.
- Trust Score
- B
- In North Dakota
- #19/72
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $26,272 in fines. Lower than most North Dakota facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 62 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of North Dakota nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
10pts above North Dakota avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Below median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
9 points above North Dakota average of 48%
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
May 2025
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, review of facility policy, and staff interviews, the facility failed to follow standards of infection control and prevention for 1 of 3 sampled residents (Resident...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, review of facility policy, review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and...
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May 2024
1 deficiency
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and review of the facility reported incident investigation, the facility failed to ensure food served acc...
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Mar 2024
2 deficiencies
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, review of professional reference, review of facility policy, and staff interview the facility failed to ...
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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, review of professional reference, and staff interview, the facility failed to follow professional standards of practice for 1 of 1 resident (Resident #13) observed for insulin pe...
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Apr 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, review of facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to store food under safe and sanitary conditions in 1 of 1 kitchen area (main kitchen). Failure to store food ...
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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
- • Licensed and certified facility. Meets minimum state requirements.
- • 6 deficiencies on record, including 2 serious (caused harm) violations. Ask about corrective actions taken.
- • $26,272 in fines. Higher than 94% of North Dakota facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- • 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Wishek Living Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns WISHEK LIVING CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within North Dakota, 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 Wishek Living Center Staffed?
CMS rates WISHEK LIVING CENTER's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 57%, which is 10 percentage points above the North Dakota average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Wishek Living Center?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at WISHEK LIVING CENTER during 2023 to 2025. These included: 2 that caused actual resident harm and 4 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Wishek Living Center?
WISHEK LIVING 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 49 certified beds and approximately 36 residents (about 73% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in WISHEK, North Dakota.
How Does Wishek Living Center Compare to Other North Dakota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Dakota, WISHEK LIVING CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (57%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Wishek Living 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 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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Wishek Living Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, WISHEK LIVING 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 North Dakota. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Wishek Living Center Stick Around?
Staff turnover at WISHEK LIVING CENTER is high. At 57%, the facility is 10 percentage points above the North Dakota 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 Wishek Living Center Ever Fined?
WISHEK LIVING CENTER has been fined $26,272 across 2 penalty actions. This is below the North Dakota average of $33,342. 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 Wishek Living Center on Any Federal Watch List?
WISHEK LIVING 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.