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Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare is a 44-bed skilled nursing facility located at 725 North Second Street in Cherokee, Iowa. Administered by Leah Nelson and operated by Ensign Services, the center provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and memory care for Cherokee County residents. The campus is highly accessible with a Walk Score of 72, allowing for pedestrian proximity to local errands and central city services.
State and federal regulators currently assign the facility a 2-star overall rating, which indicates performance categorized as “Below Average”. Between 2021 and 2026, the community has undergone multiple inspections, with a November 2025 complaint investigation identifying two deficiencies regarding wound treatment and clinical assessments. While the center carries a 2-star health inspection rating, it has recorded zero citations for infection control over recent fiscal cycles. To date, federal data shows no fines or payment denials issued against this specific facility in the past three years.
Professional care is delivered under a staffing model that provides 3 hours 1 minute of daily nursing time per resident, performing approximately 14% below the state average. Registered Nurse (RN) hours are 47 minutes per resident day, while weekend RN coverage stands at 34 minutes. Quality measures are a clinical strength, carrying a 3-star rating with long-stay outcomes rated at 4 stars due to strong performance in physical function and pain management. The nursing staff turnover rate is 55.2%, which is higher than the Iowa average of 44.4%.
The campus environment provides a residential setting with 24-hour medical oversight and individualized therapy programs. Shared amenities include on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as nutritional meal services and hospice support. Residents have access to spiritual services and recreational activities designed to facilitate community engagement in a home-like atmosphere. Medicare and Medicaid are both accepted to support varied financial needs for those seeking transitional or long-term placement.
Representatives should evaluate the current bedside care standards and staffing stability during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details regarding the corrective actions taken after the November 2025 citations and to confirm that the clinical coverage is sufficient to meet the resident’s specific recovery or long-term care goals for 2026.
Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.
| Staff type | Hours / Day / Resident | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes.
| 41m per day | ▼ 7% State avg: 44m per day · National avg: 41m per day |
|
LPN / LVN
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care.
| 52m per day | ▲ 53% State avg: 34m per day · National avg: 52m per day |
|
Nurse Aide
Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life.
| 1h 40m per day | ▼ 34% State avg: 2h 32m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day |
|
Weekend Total Nursing
Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.
| 2h 40m per day | ▼ 20% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day |
|
Weekend RN
Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent.
| 29m per day | ▼ 3% State avg: 30m per day · National avg: 28m per day |
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Number of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days.
1.37
7% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 1.48
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1,000 long-stay resident days.
4.55
118% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 2.09
CMS star rating based on short-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = much above average, 1 star = much below average.
Percentage of short-stay residents who were re-hospitalized after their nursing home admission.
14.1%
34% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 21.3%
Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit.
4.3%
67% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 13.1%
Percentage of SNF residents who experience falls with major injury during their stay.
0.0%
100% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 0.8%
Percentage of residents at or above expected ability to care for themselves at discharge.
50.0%
7% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 53.7%
Rate of successful return to home or community from a skilled nursing facility.
44.7%
12% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 50.6%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
0.0 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Cherokee's city center to Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare's address, calculated via Google Maps.
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Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare is located in Cherokee, Iowa.
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The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
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NH Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).
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Facility
70
IA AVG
73
Rank
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33
Facility
33
IA AVG
45
Rank
#344 / 528 | Stephen Roe | $31.2M | $12.7M | 40.7% | 165030 | ||||
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IL Independent Living Lifestyle-focused communities for older adults offering dining, activities, and transportation with minimal personal care. Best for active, independent seniors who want community without medical support. | West Des Moines (Heritage Bend) | 40
Facility
40
IA AVG
73
Rank
#326 / 407 | 95.0% | +26% | 5.14 | +11% | +20% | $0 | 20 | 5.0 | - | 36 | A+ |
5
Facility
5
IA AVG
45
Rank
#488 / 528 | Central Iowa Hospital Corporation | $8.5M | $4.3M | 50.6% | 165790 | ||||
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AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
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Facility
40
IA AVG
73
Rank
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24
Facility
24
IA AVG
45
Rank
#403 / 528 | James Christ | $5.6M | $3.6M | 64% | 165500 | ||||
| Ramsey Village Continuing Care |
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AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
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MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Des Moines (Drake) | 78
Facility
78
IA AVG
73
Rank
#128 / 407 | - | - | 4.04 | -46% | -6% | $0 | 31 | 4.4 | 1 | 61 | - |
38
Facility
38
IA AVG
45
Rank
#305 / 528 | Claremont House Inc. | $12.4M | $8.5M | 68.5% | 165514 |
Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare has a walk score of 72. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
Yes — there are 32 photos of Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare in the photo gallery on this page.
Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare is located at 725 North Second Street.
(712) 225-2561 will put you in contact with the team at Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare.
Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare is not currently listed as a CMS-certified provider of Medicare or Medicaid.
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