Northern Mahaska Specialty Care: Staffing, Turnover, and Inspection Record
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care is a 79-bed nonprofit nursing home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, part of Care Initiatives. In the CMS August 2026 release it reported 2.07 nurse aide hours per resident per day, 17% below the Iowa average of 2.51, and 31.3% nursing staff turnover (Iowa average 44.0%).
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care
2401 Crestview DriveOskaloosa, IA 52577
Mahaska County
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release
How many staff hours residents get
CMS reports staffing as hours per resident per day, from the payroll records each home submits. At Northern Mahaska Specialty Care, nurse aides logged 2.07 hours per resident per day, 17% below the Iowa average. With about 76 residents a day, that works out to roughly 157 aide hours a day, or about 20 eight-hour aide shifts across day, evening, and night. On weekends, total nursing hours per resident ran 13% below the all-days figure.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Iowa avg | US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse aides (CNAs) | 2.07 | 2.51 | 2.32 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.57 | 0.56 | 0.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.56 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff | 3.20 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| All nursing staff, weekends | 2.78 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release: reported staffing hours from Payroll-Based Journal data, and CMS state and US averages.
Staff turnover
31.3% of nursing staff at Northern Mahaska Specialty Care left over the year CMS measured, against a Iowa average of 44.0% and a US average of 45.8%. Registered nurse turnover was 20.0%. No administrators left over the same period.
Inspections and penalties
State inspectors last completed a standard health inspection on Nov 24, 2025. The most recent inspection cycle, which also counts complaint and infection-control inspections from the past 12 months, found 4 health deficiencies (Iowa average 6.5). CMS lists 1 fine totaling $39,033 in the last three years.
| Inspection date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 2024 | Fine | $39,033 |
CMS Penalties file, August 2026 release. A payment denial stops Medicare and Medicaid payment for new admissions for the days shown.
CMS star ratings
CMS rates every nursing home from one to five stars overall and on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Northern Mahaska Specialty Care holds 2 of 5 overall; the Iowa average is 3.1.
About Northern Mahaska Specialty Care
- Ownership: Non profit - Corporation
- Chain: Care Initiatives, 43 homes
- Legal name: Care Initiatives
- Medicare and Medicaid certified since: Apr 5, 1996
- Councils: resident council
- Area: rural
Nursing homes near Northern Mahaska Specialty Care
The closest homes by distance, with the same CMS figures. Select a column to sort.
| Oskaloosa Care Center Oskaloosa | 1.6 | 83 | 2.56 | 3.66 | 62.6% | 1 | $45,354 |
| Crystal Heights Care Center Oskaloosa | 1.6 | 72 | 2.25 | 3.07 | 63.5% | 2 | $10,489 |
| The Cottages Pella | 16.0 | 100 | 2.63 | 4.18 | 50.0% | 1 | $52,060 |
| Montezuma Specialty Care Montezuma | 19.4 | 41 | 2.21 | 3.30 | 51.6% | 3 | None |
| Oakwood Specialty Care Albia | 22.4 | 54 | 2.03 | 3.26 | 31.7% | 4 | None |
| Stone Cottage Care Center Sigourney | 22.6 | 41 | 2.69 | 3.80 | 53.8% | 1 | $18,682 |
| Manor House Care Center Sigourney | 22.7 | 55 | 2.44 | 3.63 | — | 2 | None |
| Ridgewood Specialty Care Ottumwa | 23.2 | 60 | 1.91 | 3.27 | 43.5% | 3 | $8,999 |
Aide hrs and all nurse hrs are staff hours per resident per day. Fines are the CMS total for the last three years. Turnover is the share of nursing staff who left over a year. All figures from CMS Care Compare.
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Source: CMS Care Compare Provider Information, State and US Averages, and Penalties files, August 2026 release. Figures are as CMS publishes them; check Medicare Care Compare for the latest. Methodology.