GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines in Altoona, Wisconsin has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is recommended and performs above average compared to other facilities. It ranks #92 out of 321 in the state, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 5 in Eau Claire County, indicating only two local options are better. The facility has recently undergone its first inspection and has not shown improvement or decline in its ratings yet, with a staffing rating of 4 out of 5 stars, though the turnover rate is average at 53%. Notably, there have been no fines recorded, which is a positive sign, and the facility has adequate RN coverage. However, there are some concerns, such as a lack of a qualified dietary manager and issues with monitoring dishwashing sanitization, which could pose health risks. Additionally, a resident with limited mobility did not receive the necessary care to maintain their range of motion as per their restorative care plan. Overall, while there are strengths in staffing and no fines, the facility needs to address these specific care and management issues.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Wisconsin
- #92/321
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Too New
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 53% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Wisconsin facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 64 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Wisconsin nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average 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
Near Wisconsin avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
The Ugly 5 deficiencies on record
Feb 2025
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews and record review, the facility did not ensure residents with limited range of motion (ROM) received service...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not provide assistive devices with meals to prevent accidents for 1 of 6 residents (R)(R2) reviewed for accidents.
R2 was assessed...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not provide pharmaceutical services, including procedures t...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0801
(Tag F0801)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on interview and record review, the facility did not designate a person to serve as the director of food and nutrition services who had completed the minimum qualification requirements for the p...
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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 interview, record review, and observation, the facility failed to implement correct monitoring of the dish washer for sanitization purposes. This has the potential to affect all 46 residents ...
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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 B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Wisconsin.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Wisconsin facilities.
- • Only 5 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 Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Wisconsin, 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 Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines Staffed?
CMS rates GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 53%, compared to the Wisconsin average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines?
State health inspectors documented 5 deficiencies at GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES during 2025. These included: 5 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines?
GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES 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 45 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ALTOONA, Wisconsin.
How Does Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines Compare to Other Wisconsin Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Wisconsin, GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (53%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines?
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 Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES 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 Wisconsin. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines Stick Around?
GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES has a staff turnover rate of 53%, which is 7 percentage points above the Wisconsin average of 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 Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines Ever Fined?
GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES 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 Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines on Any Federal Watch List?
GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITIES - RIVER PINES 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.