Quick answers
- Where is Cherokee Specialty Care?
- 1011 North Roosevelt, Cherokee, IA 51012, in Cherokee County, Iowa.
- What is the phone number of Cherokee Specialty Care?
- (712) 225-5189, as listed by Medicare (CMS).
- What is the Medicare star rating of Cherokee Specialty Care?
- Medicare overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars (CMS data updated 2026-10-01).
- Has Cherokee Specialty Care been fined?
- Medicare lists no fines for Cherokee Specialty Care.
- What did inspectors find at Cherokee Specialty Care?
- In its last three inspection cycles (November 9, 2023 to July 15, 2026), Medicare lists 26 health citations; the most serious was level G. 1 was level G or higher (actual harm or immediate jeopardy). See the list below (CMS data updated 2026-10-01).
Medicare ratings, explained
Star ratings are one piece of information. Visit, ask questions and talk with your doctor about what matters for your care.
Inspections, fines and staffing
In its last three inspection cycles (November 9, 2023 to July 15, 2026), Cherokee Specialty Care had 26 health citations; the most serious was level G (actual harm to residents). 1 of them was level G or higher (actual harm or immediate jeopardy). Medicare lists no fines or payment denials for it in the last three years. Nurse staffing is 3.25 hours per resident per day; the Iowa average is 3.86 and the national average is 3.90.
Source: Medicare (CMS) Provider Data Catalog, data updated October 1, 2026, retrieved November 13, 2026.
Inspection history: last three cycles
State inspectors visit about once a year and also investigate complaints. Each citation (deficiency) has a tag number and a letter, A to L. The letter shows how serious the problem was and how many residents it affected.
What the letters A to L mean
| Seriousness | Isolated (a few residents) | Pattern (some) | Widespread (many) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No actual harm, potential for minimal harm | A | B | C |
| No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm | D | E | F |
| Actual harm to residents | G | H | I |
| Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety | J | K | L |
Source: the scope and severity grid Medicare (CMS) uses for nursing home citations.
Most recent cycle: July 15, 2026 — 3 health citations
Inspections in this cycle: July 15, 2026 (standard health inspection).
Show 3 citations (levels A to F, no actual harm)
F0584 Level D
“Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.”
F0658 Level D
“Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.”
F0880 Level D
“Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.”
Previous cycle: May 22, 2025 — 10 health citations
Inspections in this cycle: January 30, 2025 (complaint investigation); May 22, 2025 (standard health inspection).
F0689 Level G
“Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.”
actual harm to residents; isolated (a few residents) · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Show 9 less serious citations (levels A to F)
F0804 Level E
“Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.”
F0644 Level D
“Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.”
F0656 Level D
“Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.”
F0572 Level D
“Give residents a notice of rights, rules, services and charges.”
F0600 Level D
“Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.”
F0609 Level D
“Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.”
F0610 Level D
“Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.”
F0691 Level D
“Provide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.”
F0725 Level D
“Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.”
Earlier cycle: July 18, 2024 — 13 health citations
Inspections in this cycle: November 9, 2023 (complaint investigation); January 4, 2024 (complaint investigation); March 20, 2024 (complaint investigation); May 16, 2024 (complaint investigation); July 18, 2024 (complaint investigation); July 18, 2024 (standard health inspection).
Show 13 citations (levels A to F, no actual harm)
F0804 Level E
“Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.”
F0868 Level E
“Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly”
F0812 Level E
“Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.”
F0607 Level E
“Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.”
F0580 Level D
“Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.”
F0657 Level D
“Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.”
F0684 Level D
“Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.”
F0690 Level D
“Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.”
F0812 Level D
“Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.”
F0880 Level D
“Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.”
F0880 Level D
“Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.”
F0602 Level D
“Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.”
F0550 Level D
“Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.”
Citation descriptions are Medicare’s official wording. “From a complaint” means the citation came from a complaint investigation instead of the regular yearly inspection.
Full inspection reports on Medicare Care Compare →
Fire safety citations (8)
K0324 Level F
“Provide properly protected cooking facilities.”
K0712 Level F
“Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.”
K0918 Level F
“Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.”
K0363 Level E
“Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.”
K0161 Level D
“Use approved construction type or materials.”
K0355 Level D
“Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.”
K0920 Level D
“Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.”
K0922 Level D
“Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.”
Staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, from the payroll records nursing homes send to Medicare, next to the state and national averages.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse (RN) hours per resident per day | 0.38 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurse (LPN) hours per resident per day | 0.55 | 0.56 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aide hours per resident per day | 2.32 | 2.56 | 2.35 |
| Total nurse staff hours per resident per day | 3.25 | 3.86 | 3.90 |
| Total nurse staff hours per resident per day on the weekend | 2.90 | 3.38 | 3.43 |
| RN hours per resident per day on the weekend | 0.33 | 0.51 | 0.48 |
| Nursing staff turnover (per year) | 38.6% | 44.1% | 45.3% |
| RN turnover (per year) | 40.0% | 42.1% | 42.5% |
| Administrators who left in the last year | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
Source: Medicare (CMS) Provider Information and State US Averages, data updated October 1, 2026.
Owners and operator
Part of a group of 43 nursing homes: Care Initiatives.
Legal business name: Care Initiatives.
Owners and managers Medicare lists (1)
| Name | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care Initiatives | Direct owner | 100% | November 12, 2010 |
Source: Medicare (CMS) Ownership file, data updated October 1, 2026. Only owners with an ownership interest and management companies are shown.
Compare with other nursing homes
Key facts
| Type | Nursing home |
|---|---|
| Certified beds | 62 |
| Average residents per day | 47.3 |
| Takes part in | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Ownership | Non-profit – corporation |
| Group or chain (affiliated entity) | Care Initiatives |
| Legal business name | Care Initiatives |
| First approved by Medicare/Medicaid | 1997-06-23 |
| Resident and family councils | Resident council |
| Sprinklers in all required areas | Yes |
| Changed ownership in the last 12 months | No |
| Address | 1011 North Roosevelt, Cherokee, IA 51012 |
| County | Cherokee County |
| State | Iowa |
| Phone | (712) 225‑5189 |
| CMS Certification Number | 165330 |
| Corrections | Report an error or suggest an update → |
What to ask when you call or visit
A general checklist for any nursing home, not advice about this one. Medicare also publishes guides on medicare.gov.
- Is the home certified by Medicare and/or Medicaid, and does it have a bed for the care you need (short-term rehab or long-term care)?
- Can you see the latest state inspection report? Ask how any problems found were fixed.
- How many nurses and aides work on each shift, at night and on weekends? Is there a registered nurse on site at all times?
- Which doctors see residents, and how often? What happens in a medical emergency, and which hospital is used?
- What therapy (physical, occupational, speech) is offered, and how many days a week?
- Are residents clean, dressed and taking part in activities? Do staff speak to them kindly and answer call lights quickly?
- What do the daily rate and extra services cost, and what do Medicare, Medicaid or your insurance pay? Ask for it in writing.
- Is there a resident council and a family council? How are complaints handled? Ask for the long-term care ombudsman’s contact.
- Are meals appetizing, and can the home meet special diets, language needs and religious or cultural preferences?
- Visit more than once, including at a mealtime or in the evening, without an appointment.
Other nursing homes nearby
By straight-line distance (not driving distance).
- Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare0.5 mi · Cherokee, IA · 2 of 5 stars
- Accura Healthcare of Cherokee, LLC0.6 mi · Cherokee, IA · 3 of 5 stars
- Accura Healthcare of Aurelia, LLC6.2 mi · Aurelia, IA · 3 of 5 stars
- Heartland Care Center14 mi · Marcus, IA · 5 of 5 stars
- Methodist Manor Retirement Community19 mi · Storm Lake, IA · 4 of 5 stars
Nearest hospital emergency rooms
- Cherokee Regional Medical Center0.3 mi · Cherokee, IA · Critical Access Hospital
- Mental Health Institute1.3 mi · Cherokee, IA · Psychiatric Hospital
- Buena Vista Regional Medical Center18 mi · Storm Lake, IA · Critical Access Hospital
Sources
- Provider Information — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Medicare Care Compare — official Medicare profile of this provider
- Health Deficiencies — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Fire Safety Deficiencies — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Penalties — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Ownership — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- State US Averages — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Survey Summary — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Citation Code Look-up — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13
- Inspection Dates — CMS, data updated 2026-10-01, retrieved 2026-11-13