(888) 927-9409
Pricing Call
(888) 927-9409
Fonda Specialty Care
Nursing Home & Skilled Nursing · Fonda, IA
CMS overall rating Info CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Smiling man in front of a tree and water Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Young man smiling in front of a tree Westwood Specialty Care, Nursing Home in Sioux City, IA — A smiling woman standing by a pond with fall foliage Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Group of women chatting outdoors in a garden setting Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Woman standing by a lake surrounded by autumn leaves Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Woman smiling beside lush green foliage Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Group of people collaborating at a meeting table Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Smiling senior woman posed by a lake with greenery Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Smiling woman standing under autumn trees by a lake Westwood Specialty Care, Nursing Home in Sioux City, IA — Smiling woman in a green shirt standing by greenery Sibley Specialty Care, Nursing Home — Care Initiatives logo with colorful floral design

Fonda Specialty Care

Nursing Home & Skilled Nursing · Fonda, IA
CMS overall rating Info CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
607 Queen Street, Fonda, IA 50540-0504 View map Calculator: See prices in your area
Fonda Specialty Care accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.
Contact Us Explore Open Rooms
Calculator: See prices in your area
Fonda Specialty Care accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Overview of Fonda Specialty Care

Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Fonda Specialty Care operates a 46-bed skilled nursing property on Queen Street in rural Fonda, Iowa. Managed by administrator Faith Epperson as part of the nonprofit Care Initiatives network, the building retains a consistent occupancy rate near 89 percent. Billing processes combine standard private accounts with state Medicaid and federal Medicare network credentials. Admissions reflect an average length of stay around 372 days, establishing a daily census where short-term physical therapy transitions are combined with conventional long-term clinical monitoring.

Daily nursing schedules ensure an average of 4 hours and 14 minutes of direct care is delivered to each resident. Certified nursing aides provide 2 hours and 25 minutes of this baseline assistance, while registered nurses contribute 31 minutes daily alongside licensed practical nurses to manage medication tracks, wound care, and physical recovery sessions. Because the regional Pocahontas County setting carries a walkability score of 19 out of 100, visiting family members and local employees rely almost exclusively on personal vehicles to handle community travel.

State reports show routine monitoring of the home’s operational quality over multiple evaluation intervals. Recent health audits from state regulators focused on system corrections across fall prevention tracking, professional treatment standards, and standard medication inventory management lines. Local supervisors use these recurring safety inspections to adapt floor patterns, refine internal safety guidelines, and update the continuing training requirements for the clinical staff.

Prospective individuals can contact the intake coordinator to verify current bed layouts, ask about the customized therapy setups, or plan an afternoon walkthrough of the campus common rooms.

Facility Direct Line (712) 288-4441
Facility Direct Line (712) 288-4441
Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Quality ratings

Measured by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Overall rating Info The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
▲ 63.2% Above IA avg. ▲ 63.2% Above IA avg.IA average: 3.1Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Health Inspection Info Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
▲ 40.3% Above IA avg. ▲ 40.3% Above IA avg.IA average: 2.9Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Staffing Info Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
▲ 40.9% Above IA avg. ▲ 40.9% Above IA avg.IA average: 3.5Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Quality Measures Info Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.
▲ 52.7% Above IA avg. ▲ 52.7% Above IA avg.IA average: 3.3Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

Staffing hours Info 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.

Hours per resident per day vs Iowa averages

Rank #70 / 231Nurse hours — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 70th out of 231 homes we track in Iowa for nurse hours. Shows adjusted nurse hours per resident per day benchmarked to the Iowa average, with a ranking across 231 Iowa facilities. More hours mean more direct care. The national average is about 3.5 hrs; below 3.0 is a red flag.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

Total nursing care Info This home is ranked 70th out of 231 homes we track in Iowa for nurse hours. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.

4h 44m

10% above state avg
Staff type
Hours / day / resident
vs state avg
Registered Nurse (RN) Info 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.
48m
+9% State avg: 44m per day · National avg: 41m per day
LPN / LVN Info 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.
29m
−14% State avg: 34m per day · National avg: 52m per day
Nurse Aide Info 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.
3h 27m
+36% State avg: 2h 32m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day
Weekend Total Nursing Info 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.
3h 58m
+18% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day
Physical Therapist Info Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation.
2m
−15% State avg: 2m per day · National avg: 4m per day
Weekend RN Info 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.
25m
−16% State avg: 30m per day · National avg: 28m per day

3 of 6 metrics below state avg

Standout metric: Nurse Aide is +36% above Iowa average

Capacity and availability

Residents per day
41
Avg. Length of Stay Info Average number of days residents stay at this facility, based on CMS cost report data. Shorter stays often reflect post-acute or rehab care; longer stays reflect long-term care.
372 days
Bed community size
46-bed community Rank #272 / 403Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 272nd out of 403 homes we track in Iowa for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Iowa facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.
Walk Score
Walk Score: 19 / 100 Rank #426 / 504Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 426th out of 504 homes we track in Iowa for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Iowa facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate
89%
Rank #56 / 362Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 56th out of 362 homes we track in Iowa for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Iowa average, with its Statewide rank out of 362. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Higher than the Iowa average: 75.4%
Occupied beds
41 / 46
Average occupied beds in Iowa homes 51 beds

License Details

Facility TypeFree Standing Nursing Facility / Skilled Nursing Facility
CountyPocahontas
License Number760518
CMS Certification Number165312
Certification TypeFALSE

Ownership & Operating Entity

Fonda Specialty Care is administered by Faith Epperson.

Therapy & Rehabilitation

1 service
Rehabilitation Services

Staffing & Medical

1 service
24-Hour Staffing

Contact Information

Email fondaadministrator@careinitiatives.org

Additional Policies & Features

Pets not allowed

Amenities & Lifestyle

Operating Hours24 hours a day, seven days a week

Contact Fonda Specialty Care

Inspection History

In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing conducts unannounced health and safety surveys to monitor compliance and protect residents in long-term care settings.

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, violation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Iowa state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Overall vs. IA average 2 Worse Metrics worse than Iowa average:
• Violations (59% above)
• Federal violations (35% above) 2 Better Metrics better than Iowa average:
• State violations (86% below)
• Violations per inspection (19% below)

Violations Info Violations are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityIA Averagevs. IA Avg
Violations Info Total violations cited across all inspections on record. Iowa reports these as a federal and a state component, shown below; the two add up to this total. 4327 This facility has 59% more violations than a typical Iowa nursing home (43 vs. IA avg 27).↑ 59% worse
Federal violations Info Part of the Violations total above — the share cited under federal nursing-home requirements, which apply to Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities. Federal + state add up to the total. 4231 This facility has 35% more federal violations than a typical Iowa nursing home (42 vs. IA avg 31).↑ 35% worse
State violations Info Part of the Violations total above — the share cited under Iowa state licensing requirements. Federal + state add up to the total. 17 This facility has 86% fewer state violations than a typical Iowa nursing home (1 vs. IA avg 7).↓ 86% better
Violations per inspection Info Average violations per inspection. 1.72.1 This facility has 19% fewer violations per inspection than a typical Iowa nursing home (1.7 vs. IA avg 2.1).↓ 19% better

Inspections Info State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

This FacilityIA Averagevs. IA Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility. 2513 This facility has had 92% more total inspections than the Iowa average (25 vs. IA avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 92% more
Show Inspection Reports

CMS Health Inspection History

Federal inspection data published by CMS, covering this home's Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified skilled-nursing/nursing beds only.

Inspections Since 2022 · 4 years of data
Total health inspections 6

State average 4.9

Last Health inspection on Apr 2024

Total health citations
28 Rank #168 / 232Health citations — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 168th out of 232 homes we track in Iowa for health citations. Shows this facility's total health deficiency citations benchmarked to the Iowa State average, with a ranking across all 232 IA facilities. Lower citation counts earn a better rank.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

State average 21.7

Citations per inspection
4.67 Rank #149 / 232Citations per inspection — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 149th out of 232 homes we track in Iowa for citations per inspection. Shows average deficiency citations per CMS inspection for this facility versus the Iowa mean across 232 facilities with citation data. Lower is better.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

State average 4.11

Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.

21 of 28 citations resulted from standard inspections; 6 of 28 resulted from complaint investigations; and 1 of 28 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).

Breakdown of citation severity (last 4 years)
Critical health citations
0
100% better than State average

State average: 0.6

Serious health citations
1
11% worse than State average

State average: 0.9

0 critical citations State average: 0.6
1 serious citation State average: 0.9
27 moderate citations State average: 19.7
0 minor citations State average: 0.5
Citations history (last 4 years)
Pharmacy moderate citation Apr 18, 2024
Corrected
Care Planning moderate citation Apr 18, 2024
Corrected
Quality of Care moderate citation Dec 21, 2023
Corrected
Resident Rights moderate citation Dec 21, 2023
Corrected

Data sourced from CMS Health Deficiencies reports, which cover the Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified skilled-nursing and nursing beds and no other part of the community. Citation severity codes range from A (least serious) to L (most serious). Immediate Jeopardy (J-L) citations indicate situations where the facility's noncompliance has placed residents at risk of death or serious harm.

Staffing Data

Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.

Total staff 66
Employees 55
Contractors 11
Staff to resident ratio 1.61 : 1
21% fewer staff per resident than Iowa average
Iowa average ratio: 2.05 : 1 Iowa average ratio: 2.05 : 1See full Iowa ranking
Avg staff/day 22
Average shift 6.9 hours
7% worse than Iowa average
Iowa average: 7.4 hours Iowa average shift: 7.4 hoursSee full Iowa ranking
Total staff hours (quarter) 14,033

Nursing staff breakdown

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Registered Nurse

Manages medical care and health needs.

RN Staff Info All 5 RN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role. 5
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 9.4 hours
Licensed Practical Nurse

Assists with medical care and medications.

LPN Staff Info All 5 LPN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role. 5
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 8.8 hours
Certified Nursing Assistant

Helps with daily care and mobility.

CNA Staff Info All 28 CNA Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role. 28
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 7.1 hours

Contractor staffing

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.

Total hours from contractors

2.3%

319 contractor hours this quarter

Physical Therapy Assistant: 5 Physical Therapy Aide: 2 Respiratory Therapy Technician: 1 Speech Language Pathologist: 1 Qualified Social Worker: 1 Medical Director: 1

Staff by category

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Certified Nursing Assistant280287,61592100%7.1
Medication Aide/Technician6061,48992100%8.2
Registered Nurse5051,3518491%9.4
Licensed Practical Nurse5057086368%8.8
Administrator1014766166%7.8
Mental Health Service Worker1014646267%7.5
Dietitian1014576470%7.1
Nurse Practitioner2024155560%7.3
RN Director of Nursing1012873437%8.4
Other Dietary Services Staff2022533639%7
Clinical Nurse Specialist3032002729%6.9
Physical Therapy Aide0221005155%2
Respiratory Therapy Technician011945661%1.7
Medical Director0114533%15
Physical Therapy Assistant055332729%1.2
Qualified Social Worker011292224%1.3
Speech Language Pathologist01119910%2.1
28 Certified Nursing Assistant
% of Days 100%
6 Medication Aide/Technician
% of Days 100%
5 Registered Nurse
% of Days 91%
5 Licensed Practical Nurse
% of Days 68%
View All Staffing Data

Penalties and fines

Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.

Source: CMS Penalties Database

No penalties in the past 3 years

No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.

Quality of care over time

These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.

High-risk clinical events score Info A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline. 7.5
27% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 10.2

Functional decline score Info A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence. 15.6
28% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 21.6

Long-stay resident measures
Significantly above average Iowa avg: 3.3 Info CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased Info Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased 12.0%
36% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 18.8%

Walking Ability Worsened Info Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened 14.7%
25% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 19.7%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence Info Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder 20.2%
23% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 26.2%

Falls with Major Injury Info Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury 2.6%
29% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 3.6%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers Info Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers 4.6%
6% worse than Iowa average

Iowa average: 4.4%

Urinary Tract Infection Info Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection 0.0%
100% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 2.5%

Lost Too Much Weight Info Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight 3.7%
25% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 5.0%

Depressive Symptoms Info Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms 4.9%
26% worse than Iowa average

Iowa average: 3.9%

Antipsychotic Use Info Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication 36.9%
94% worse than Iowa average

Iowa average: 19.0%

Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 95.5%
In line with Iowa average

Iowa average: 94.4%

Influenza Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine 86.4%
9% worse than Iowa average

Iowa average: 95.3%

Short-stay resident measures
Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 95.9%
13% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 85.1%

Antipsychotic medication increase Info Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication 0.0%
100% better than Iowa average

Iowa average: 1.8%

Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

47% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 1 - 2 months

Private pay

45% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 5 - 6 months

Medicaid

8% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.

Typical stay 10 - 11 years

Facility Characteristics

Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)

Total residents 41
Medicaid
31
75.6% of residents
Private pay or other
10
24.4% of residents
Programs & Services
Residents Group

Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities

Active Resident Council

Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.

Data sourced from CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics quarterly report. Payer mix reflects the current resident census by primary payment source.

Finances and operations

Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.

Nonprofit
Nonprofit Corporation
Net patient revenue Info Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
$3.9M
Net patient income Info Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
$291.1K
Nonprofit Nonprofit Corporation
Net patient revenue Info Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
$3.9M Rank #180 / 224Net patient revenue — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 180th out of 224 homes we track in Iowa. Shows this facility's net patient revenue compared to the Iowa average, among facilities reporting a recent fiscal year. Higher revenue generally means more resources for staffing and capital — read alongside Payroll %.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Net patient income Info Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
$291.1K
Other income Info Money the home earns outside of resident care — such as investments, grants, rentals and other non-operating sources (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It is tracked separately from net patient revenue: it is not part of that figure, and it is not included in net patient income.
$18.1K
Payroll costs Info Staff salaries plus wage-related costs — benefits such as payroll taxes, health insurance and retirement — from the home's own accounting records (CMS cost report, Worksheet A). Contract or agency labor is counted separately, under other operating costs. Rank #189 / 224Payroll costs — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 189th out of 224 homes we track in Iowa. Shows total staff payroll — salaries plus wage-related benefits — benchmarked to the Iowa average, among facilities reporting a recent fiscal year. Higher payroll relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on contract labor.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
$2.2M 56.7% of net patient revenue Info Payroll as a share of revenue: staff salaries and wage-related benefits divided by net patient revenue. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Rank #128 / 224Payroll % of net patient revenue — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 128th out of 224 homes we track in Iowa. Shows payroll as a percentage of net patient revenue versus the Iowa average, among facilities reporting a recent fiscal year. Below 25% may signal understaffing or heavy agency use — read with Staffing ratings.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Other operating costs Info Everything it costs to run the home apart from payroll — food, utilities, supplies, maintenance, contract labor and administration. Calculated as total operating expense minus payroll (staff salaries and wage-related benefits).
$1.4M
Total costs Info The home's total operating expense for the year — all the costs of running it, salaries included (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3).
$3.6M
How we calculate these figures

This home is administered by Faith Epperson.

Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services authority — CMS Certification Number: 165312

Show certification details

Who this home usually serves

TYPE OF STAY

Mostly short-term rehab stays

Most residents typically stay for a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on.

New residents most often arrive under Medicare (47% of admissions), and a typical Medicare stay runs around 1 - 2 months.

Admissions
38 total

Coverage residents most often arrive under.

Medicare 47%
Private pay 45%
Medicaid 8%
Discharges
42 total

Coverage residents most often leave under.

Medicare 33%
Private pay 17%
Medicaid 50%

Admissions and discharges reflect care patterns over time — they are not used to rate this facility.

How we assess these insights

Places of interest near Fonda Specialty Care

Address 0.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Fonda's city center to Fonda Specialty Care's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Fonda Specialty Care

Add your location

Address

Compare Nursing Homes around the area

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Iowa average is: 60.3% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Wesley Acres ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
NH
ADC
AL
IL
MC
SNF
Des Moines (Greenwood)
80
Facility 80
IA AVG 72
Rank #105 / 403
91.3%
Facility 91.3%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #43 / 362
+36%
4.16
Facility 4.16
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #120 / 231
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ +43%-3%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #17 / 232
1.7
Facility 1.7
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #15 / 232
-73-
72
Facility 72
IA AVG 47
Rank #89 / 504
Damon Buskohl
$29.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $29.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #1 / 224
$20.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $20.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #1 / 224
71%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 71%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #31 / 224
165487
Meth Wick Community ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
NH
AL
IL
MC
RC
SNF
Cedar Rapids
69
Facility 69
IA AVG 72
Rank #167 / 403
83.0%
Facility 83.0%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #103 / 362
+24%
5.76
Facility 5.76
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #9 / 231
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ +23%+34%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #8 / 232
1.5
Facility 1.5
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #12 / 232
-57-
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 47
Rank #404 / 504
Meth Wick Community
$18.2MFiscal year ending 03/2024
Facility $18.2MFiscal year ending 03/2024
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #6 / 224
$10.3MFiscal year ending 03/2024
Facility $10.3MFiscal year ending 03/2024
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #8 / 224
56.4%Fiscal year ending 03/2024
Facility 56.4%Fiscal year ending 03/2024
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #130 / 224
165542
Sunrise Retirement Community ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
NH
AL
IL
MC
RC
SNF
Sioux City
74
Facility 74
IA AVG 72
Rank #136 / 403
90.5%
Facility 90.5%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #49 / 362
+35%
5.70
Facility 5.70
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #13 / 231
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ -23%+33%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
11
Facility 11
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #72 / 232
3.7
Facility 3.7
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #107 / 232
-67A+
22
Facility 22
IA AVG 47
Rank #410 / 504
Samantha Roth
$13.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $13.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #11 / 224
$8.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $8.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #14 / 224
62.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 62.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #80 / 224
165473
Mill Pond ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
NH
AL
IL
MC
SNF
Ankeny
60
Facility 60
IA AVG 72
Rank #213 / 403
98.3%
Facility 98.3%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #6 / 362
+47%
5.21
Facility 5.21
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #30 / 231
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ -16%+21%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
9
Facility 9
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #56 / 232
3.0
Facility 3.0
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #73 / 232
-59-
16
Facility 16
IA AVG 47
Rank #437 / 504
Phs Management, LLC
$6.8MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility $6.8MFiscal year ending 09/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #92 / 224
$6.5MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility $6.5MFiscal year ending 09/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #29 / 224
96.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility 96.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #6 / 224
165261
Fonda Specialty Care ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
NH
SNF
Fonda
46
Facility 46
IA AVG 72
Rank #272 / 403
89.1%
Facility 89.1%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #56 / 362
+33%
4.73
Facility 4.73
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #70 / 231
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ -35%+10%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
28
Facility 28
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #168 / 232
4.7
Facility 4.7
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #149 / 232
141-
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 47
Rank #426 / 504
-
$3.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $3.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #180 / 224
$2.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $2.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #189 / 224
56.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 56.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #128 / 224
165312
Nursing Home Explorer

Frequently Asked Questions about Fonda Specialty Care

Is Fonda Specialty Care in a walkable area?

Fonda Specialty Care has a walk score of 19. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

What is the license number of Fonda Specialty Care?

According to IA state health department records, Fonda Specialty Care's license number is 760518.

What is the occupancy rate at Fonda Specialty Care?

Fonda Specialty Care's occupancy is 89%.

Are pets allowed at Fonda Specialty Care?

No, Fonda Specialty Care has a no-pet policy.

What is the best email address for Fonda Specialty Care?

The team at Fonda Specialty Care can be reached at FondaAdministrator@careinitiatives.org.

Does Fonda Specialty Care operate as a for-profit or non-profit?

Fonda Specialty Care is registered as a non-profit in IA.

Who is the administrator of Fonda Specialty Care?

Faith Epperson is the administrator of Fonda Specialty Care.

Guides for Better Senior Living

Care Cost Calculator: See Prices in Your Area

Nursing Home Data Explorer

Don’t Wait Too Long: 7 Red Flag Signs Your Parent Needs Assisted Living Now

The True Cost of Assisted Living in 2025 – And How Families Are Paying For It

Understanding Senior Living Costs: Pricing Models, Discounts & Financial Assistance

Updated on
Pricing
More
More Actions
Contact Contact Map Book a Tour Let's Chat