ALM's inspection grade is 70 / 100, a C- — 12 points below the Wisconsin average for CMS-certified facilities (82/100) · A proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade.A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. It is not a government rating.
2/5
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.
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ALM's inspection grade is 70 / 100, a C- — 12 points below the Wisconsin average for CMS-certified facilities (82/100) · A proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade.A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. It is not a government rating.
2/5
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.
Northern Lights Health Care Center, in Washburn, WI, joins assisted living with nursing home care and skilled nursing. Assisted living covers bathing, dressing, medication, and the rest, and the apartment is what separates it from the nursing floor. Skilled nursing brings licensed nursing to the same building without a gap, so the two levels run on different amounts of help and the same clock. Needs that increase over time can be met without a move.
There are 50 beds inside. A day here allows 4 hours and 6 minutes of nursing to each resident. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, and having every one of them keeps the door from narrowing.
Wellness Management, Laboratory Management, Urgent Care, Pain Management, Joint Injections, Certified Wound Care, Psychiatric Treatment, and Neurocognitive Testing are the named clinical programs. Between them, they reach ongoing wellness, medical treatment, wounds, mental health, and cognitive assessment, and rehabilitation backs recovery or keeping function.
A Walk Score of 55 is a fact about the streets, and it decides how much of a day a resident can arrange without help. Northern Lights Services operates the center, and Nolan Santikko is named administrator.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Data period: Q4 2025 (October 1 – December 31, 2025).
This nursing home is ranked 86th out of 164 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin 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 6mStandout metric: Physical therapist is +56% above Wisconsin average
3 of 6 metrics below Wisconsin average
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. All 10 are the facility's own employees; no agency contractors work in this role.
10 staff · 8.3-hour shifts
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. All 7 are the facility's own employees; no agency contractors work in this role.
7 staff · 10.3-hour shifts
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. 35 total: 30 of the facility's own employees and 5 agency contractors.
35 staff · 7.9-hour shifts
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.
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.
RN + LPN + aide · Sat–Sun
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.
Sat–Sun
Every person who worked here at any point in the quarter, employees and contractors. It is not how many are on site at once: that is the "on an average day" figure.
91
58 employees · 33 contractors · 29 on an average day
91 total staff / 46 residents. Residents: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (data as of Jun 2026); staff: CMS Payroll-Based Journal (Q4 2025).Residents and staff come from two different CMS releases, so the two counts can be a few months apart.
1.98 : 1
↓ 18% · WI 2.42This facility: 1.98 staff per resident, 18% below the Wisconsin average of 2.42 (among Wisconsin facilities reporting a recent figure).Green: 5% or more better than the state average. Yellow: within 5%. Red: 5% or more worse.
91 staff ÷ 46 residents
See full Wisconsin ranking →
Average hours one staff member works on a day they are on shift, across every role.
7.6 h
↑ 4% · WI 7.3 hThis facility: 7.6 h, 4% above the Wisconsin average of 7.3 h (among Wisconsin facilities reporting a recent figure).Green: 5% or more better than the state average. Yellow: within 5%. Red: 5% or more worse.
20,354 staff hours this quarter
See full Wisconsin ranking →89.9% of staff hours were worked by the facility's own employees
Wisconsin average: 88.1% · Contractors this quarter: Certified Nursing Assistant (5), Physical Therapy Assistant (4), Respiratory Therapy Technician (4), Physical Therapy Aide (4), Qualified Social Worker (4), Speech Language Pathologist (3), Other Physician (3), Medical Director (2), Occupational Therapy Assistant (2), Occupational Therapy Aide (1), Feeding Assistant (1)
Why it matters: employees work here week after week and get to know each resident's routines and needs. Agency contractors often rotate between facilities, so a higher employee share usually means more consistent care.
A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions.
50
Rank #114 / 197Bed count — State benchmarked This nursing home is ranked 114th out of 197 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Wisconsin 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 compare like with like: every nursing home we track in Wisconsin that reports data for that category. Nursing homes without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.
Somewhat walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
Rank #74 / 191Walk Score — State benchmarked This nursing home is ranked 74th out of 191 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Wisconsin facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every nursing home we track in Wisconsin that reports data for that category. Nursing homes without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Occupancy between 85% and 95% suggests balanced demand.
Rank #25 / 163Occupancy rate — State benchmarked This nursing home is ranked 25th out of 163 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Wisconsin average, with its Statewide rank out of 163. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every nursing home we track in Wisconsin that reports data for that category. Nursing homes without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Based on 44.7 residents and 50 beds. Source: CMS Provider Information, average daily residents (data as of Aug 2026)
Higher than the Wisconsin average: 71.5%
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.
Northern Lights Health Care Center is administered by Nolan Santikko.
12 points below the Wisconsin average for CMS-certified facilities (82/100)
Category breakdown
131 severity-weighted points (35 deficiencies) · 67% higher than the typical CMS-certified WI facility (median: 78)
1 enforcement action · above the typical CMS-certified WI facility (median: 0) · $10,364 in fines
27 days to fix issues · about the same as the typical CMS-certified WI facility (median: 27)
State avg 28 (25% worse than State average)State avg 4.24 (38% worse than State average)
100% corrected
35 of 35 citations corrected State avg 0.9 (11% worse than State average)State avg 1.1 (82% worse than State average)State avg 25.5 (22% worse than State average)State avg 0.5 (100% worse than State average)
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Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.
28 of 35 citations resulted from standard inspections; and 7 of 35 resulted from complaint investigations.
Includes all CMS health inspection records for this property, which could include management/ownership changes.
Data sourced from CMS Health Deficiencies reports. 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.
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 (Data as of Aug 2026)
89% lower than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: $95K
51% fewer fines than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 2.0
Serious action where Medicare and/or Medicaid temporarily stops payments for new residents until issues are fixed.
0
100% fewer payment denials than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 0.7
Penalties imposed by CMS in the past 3 years.
1 penalty in the past 3 years
Jan 29, 2025 · $10K
Fines imposed for noncompliance, which can be assessed per day or per instance of violation.
Jan 29, 2025Last updated: Aug 2026
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline.
10.2
8% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 9.4
A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence.
20.5
In line with Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 19.8
CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
13.3%
17% better than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 16.1%
Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened
18.9%
In line with Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 18.4%
Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
29.1%
18% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 24.6%
Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
3.1%
In line with Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 3.3%
Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers
4.7%
6% better than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 5.0%
Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
3.3%
25% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 2.7%
Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
10.7%
111% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 5.1%
Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms
6.0%
5% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 5.7%
Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
16.8%
6% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 15.8%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
In line with Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 95.7%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
100.0%
5% better than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 95.0%
CMS star rating based on short-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = much above average, 1 star = much below average.
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
91.1%
5% better than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 86.5%
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
4.0%
234% worse than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 1.2%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
89.6%
9% better than Wisconsin averageWisconsin average: 82.2%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
52% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
36% of new residents, often for short stays.
11% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jun 2026)
Total residents
46Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
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.
Historical financial and operational data for Northern Lights Health Care Center from 2011–2024, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports. Includes all financial data for this property, which could include management/ownership changes.
Key figures below are for fiscal year ending in 12/2024.
Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2024.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.
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 #84 / 161Payroll costs — State benchmarked This nursing home is ranked 84th out of 161 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin. Shows total staff payroll — salaries plus wage-related benefits — benchmarked to the Wisconsin 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 compare like with like: every nursing home we track in Wisconsin that reports data for that category. Nursing homes without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
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 #21 / 161Payroll % of net patient revenue — State benchmarked This nursing home is ranked 21st out of 161 nursing homes we track in Wisconsin. Shows payroll as a percentage of net patient revenue versus the Wisconsin 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 compare like with like: every nursing home we track in Wisconsin that reports data for that category. Nursing homes without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
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).
The home's total operating expense for the year — all the costs of running it, salaries included (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3).
Most residents typically stay for a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on.
Most new residents arrive under Medicare (52% of admissions), and a typical Medicare stay runs around 1 - 2 months.
Coverage residents most often arrive under.
Coverage residents most often leave under.
706 Bratley Dr, Washburn, WI 54891
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Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the WI Dept. of Health Services (DHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.
Official facility name used in federal/state reporting (may differ slightly from the marketing name).
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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.
RESC (Residential Care):
Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting.
IL (Independent Living):
Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
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City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
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Estimated monthly cost range for the facility.
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Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
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Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
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Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
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Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Lake Healthcare at Beloit | NH AL HOS PC RC SNF | Beloit | - | 120
Facility
120
WI AVG
78
Rank
#23 / 197 | - |
62
Facility
62
WI AVG
48
Rank
#60 / 191 | - |
| New Glarus Home, Inc | NH AL IL MC RESC RC SNF | New Glarus | - | 100
Facility
100
WI AVG
78
Rank
#51 / 197 | A+ |
69
Facility
69
WI AVG
48
Rank
#41 / 191 | - |
| Northern Lights Health Care Center | NH AL SNF | Washburn | - | 50
Facility
50
WI AVG
78
Rank
#114 / 197 | - |
55
Facility
55
WI AVG
48
Rank
#74 / 191 | - |
| St Camillus | NH AL HOS IL MC SNF | Wauwatosa | - | 86
Facility
86
WI AVG
78
Rank
#79 / 197 | - |
12
Facility
12
WI AVG
48
Rank
#174 / 191 | - |
| Sheboygan Senior Community Inc | NH AL RC SNF | Y Sheboygan | - | 31
Facility
31
WI AVG
78
Rank
#179 / 197 | - | - | - |
Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other WI nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 on this page. See how we rank facilities
Northern Lights Health Care Center is legally operated by Northern Lights Services, Inc., and administered by Nolan Santikko.
Northern Lights Health Care Center has a walk score of 55. Somewhat walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
Northern Lights Health Care Center's occupancy is 89.4%.
No, Northern Lights Health Care Center has a no-pet policy.
Northern Lights Health Care Center is registered as a non-profit in WI.
Nolan Santikko is the administrator of Northern Lights Health Care Center.
Northern Lights Health Care Center received a 2-star overall rating from the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). This score combines results from staffing levels, quality measures, and health inspections.
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