INDEPENDENCE HOUSE
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Independence House in Fostoria, Ohio, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is recommended and above average compared to other facilities. It ranks #84 out of 913 nursing homes in Ohio, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 6 in Hancock County, meaning just one local option is better. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from 5 in 2019 to only 2 in 2024. Staffing is a relative strength, with a 4-star rating and turnover at 56%, which is average for Ohio, while RN coverage is good, being higher than 81% of state facilities. Although there have been no fines, the facility has faced concerns such as failing to revise a resident's care plan for advanced directive orders and not timely obtaining physician orders for a wound dressing change, which could potentially affect resident safety. Overall, while there are areas for improvement, Independence House shows many strengths in care quality and staffing.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Ohio
- #84/913
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Ohio facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 53 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Ohio. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Ohio avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
8 points above Ohio average of 48%
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
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** Based on review of the medical record, staff interview, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure a resident's care plan ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical record review, resident and staff interviews, observations, and policy review, the facility failed to timely ob...
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Jun 2019
5 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
Based on observation, staff interview, and medical record review, the facility failed to provide a dignified dining experience while assisting a resident with eating. This affected one (#12) of 14 res...
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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 observation, staff interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a resident who was dependent on staff for fingernail care received adequate fingernail care as care planned. This...
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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
Based on medical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to provide documentation of a rationale and an extended timeframe for extending the use of an as needed psychotropic medication ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Laboratory Services
(Tag F0770)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on medical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to obtained laboratory values as ordered by the physician. This affected one (#4) of five residents reviewed for unnecessary med...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on review of a Legionella environmental assessment form, staff interviews and policy review, the facility failed to complete a Legionella risk assessment and failed to implement a water manageme...
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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
- • Grade B+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Ohio.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Ohio facilities.
- • 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Independence House's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns INDEPENDENCE HOUSE an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Ohio, 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 Independence House Staffed?
CMS rates INDEPENDENCE HOUSE's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 56%, which is 10 percentage points above the Ohio average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Independence House?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at INDEPENDENCE HOUSE during 2019 to 2024. These included: 7 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Independence House?
INDEPENDENCE HOUSE 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 50 certified beds and approximately 38 residents (about 76% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in FOSTORIA, Ohio.
How Does Independence House Compare to Other Ohio Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Ohio, INDEPENDENCE HOUSE's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (56%) 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 Independence House?
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 Independence House Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, INDEPENDENCE HOUSE 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 Ohio. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Independence House Stick Around?
Staff turnover at INDEPENDENCE HOUSE is high. At 56%, the facility is 10 percentage points above the Ohio 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 Independence House Ever Fined?
INDEPENDENCE HOUSE 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 Independence House on Any Federal Watch List?
INDEPENDENCE HOUSE 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.