WATER'S EDGE
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Water's Edge in Hayward, Wisconsin, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for care. It ranks #74 out of 321 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the two nursing homes in Sawyer County. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with reported issues increasing from 1 in 2024 to 3 in 2025. While staffing is a strength, rated 5 out of 5 stars, indicating stable staff who are familiar with residents, the facility has faced serious concerns regarding resident supervision and safety. For example, a resident fell and sustained fractures because their bed alarm was not functioning, and another resident was transferred without the correct assistance, leading to a fall. On a positive note, the facility has not incurred any fines, showing compliance with regulations, but it does need to improve its infection control measures to ensure a safe environment for all residents.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Wisconsin
- #74/321
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 47% 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 61 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
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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
Near Wisconsin avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
The Ugly 5 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, observation, and interview, the facility did not ensure that each resident receives adequate supervision...
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May 2025
2 deficiencies
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 record review and interview, the facility did not ensure 1 of 1 resident ((R)8) who are trauma survivors receive cultur...
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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 interview and record review, the facility did not establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to h...
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Apr 2024
1 deficiency
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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable enviro...
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Apr 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and interview, the facility did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents for 1 ...
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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+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Wisconsin.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Wisconsin facilities.
- • 5 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is Water'S Edge's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns WATER'S EDGE an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much 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 Water'S Edge Staffed?
CMS rates WATER'S EDGE's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 47%, compared to the Wisconsin average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Water'S Edge?
State health inspectors documented 5 deficiencies at WATER'S EDGE during 2023 to 2025. These included: 1 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 Water'S Edge?
WATER'S EDGE 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 HAYWARD, Wisconsin.
How Does Water'S Edge Compare to Other Wisconsin Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Wisconsin, WATER'S EDGE's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (47%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Water'S Edge?
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 Water'S Edge Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, WATER'S EDGE 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 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 Water'S Edge Stick Around?
WATER'S EDGE has a staff turnover rate of 47%, which is about average for Wisconsin nursing homes (state average: 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 Water'S Edge Ever Fined?
WATER'S EDGE 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 Water'S Edge on Any Federal Watch List?
WATER'S EDGE 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.