Map showing the location of Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa
2479 River Road, Decorah, IA, 52101

Overall Score

CMS Five-Star Quality Rating
4/5Above averageCMS Five-Star overall rating
  1. Much below average
  2. Below average
  3. Average
  4. Above average
  5. Much above average

Where it ranks

  • IowaAbove 56% of peers388 rated homes · average 3.1★
  • United StatesAbove 61% of peers14,574 rated homes · average 3.0★

How the rating is built

  • Health inspectionsStarting point4★+1.1 vs IA avg
  • StaffingCan add or remove a star4★+0.5 vs IA avg
  • Quality measuresCan add or remove a star2★−1.4 vs IA avg

CMS starts from the health inspection stars, then adds or subtracts a star for staffing and for quality measures. Stars are assigned relative to other facilities in the same state.

Ratings & measures

Tap a row to see what it means
Health inspection ratingCMS stars from the last three on-site inspection cycles4★Above 65% of peersIA avg2.9★U.S. avg2.8★
What is health inspection rating?

Stars assigned from the last three standard surveys and every complaint investigation in that window, weighted toward the most recent and the most serious findings. CMS assigns these stars relative to other facilities in the same state.

Why it matters

It carries the most weight in the overall rating and is the only domain based on what trained inspectors saw on site rather than what the facility reported.

Staffing ratingCMS stars from payroll-reported hours and turnover4★Above only 43% of peersIA avg3.5★U.S. avg2.9★
What is staffing rating?

Nurse and aide hours per resident day from payroll records CMS collects every quarter, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover and weekend coverage.

Why it matters

More hours and lower turnover are the strongest predictors of fewer falls, pressure sores, and avoidable hospital stays.

Quality measures ratingCMS stars from clinical outcomes and resident assessments2★Above only 8% of peersIA avg3.4★U.S. avg3.6★
What is quality measures rating?

Clinical outcomes from resident assessments and Medicare claims: falls with injury, pressure ulcers, hospitalizations, antipsychotic use, and more, for both short-stay and long-stay residents.

Why it matters

It shows whether care is working, but part of it comes from the facility’s own assessments, so read it alongside the inspection results.

Total nurse hoursPer resident per day, all nursing staff3.57hrsAbove only 40% of peersIA avg3.83Benchmark4.10
What is total nurse hours?

All licensed nurse and aide hours worked, divided by the number of residents, on an average day. Reported from payroll, not self-reported.

Why it matters

Federal research links 4.1 hours a day to fewer avoidable harms. Below about 3 hours, residents wait longer for help with basics like toileting and repositioning.

RN hoursPer resident per day, registered nurses only0.72hrsAbove 57% of peersIA avg0.73Benchmark0.75
What is rn hours?

Registered nurse hours only. RNs assess residents, manage medications, and catch changes in condition; LPNs and aides deliver most hands-on care.

Why it matters

RN coverage is the staffing measure most tied to fewer hospital transfers and infections, and it is where thinly staffed facilities cut first.

Nursing staff turnoverShare of nursing staff who left within a year · lower is better53%Above only 24% of peersIA avg44%RN turnover10%
What is nursing staff turnover?

The share of nursing staff who left within the past year, from the same payroll data.

Why it matters

High turnover means residents are cared for by people who do not know them, and it is one of the strongest predictors of inspection problems.

Fines in the last three yearsCivil money penalties imposed by CMS · lower is better$29,689Above only 20% of peersIA avg$21,037Fines · denials1 · 0
What is fines in the last three years?

Civil money penalties CMS imposed after serious or uncorrected deficiencies, and denials of Medicare payment for new admissions.

Why it matters

Penalties follow the worst inspection findings. A recent fine is the clearest sign that inspectors found real harm.

Inspection history

Last three inspection cycles
3citations
1inspection dates
1actual harm (G–I)
1immediate jeopardy (J–L)
Aug 10, 2023most recent

Citations by monthAug 2023

  • No actual harm (D–F)
  • Actual harm (G–I)
  • Immediate jeopardy (J–L)
  • $Fine or payment denial

Click a month or a year to filter the findings below. Arrow keys move between months; Esc clears.

Aug 10, 20233 citationsCycle 3worst J · immediate jeopardy$29,689
  1. F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Nutrition and DietaryE · patternCorrected Aug 11, 2023
  2. F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Pharmacy ServiceJ · isolatedCorrected Aug 11, 2023
  3. F760Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.Pharmacy ServiceG · isolatedCorrected Aug 11, 2023

Staffing

From quarterly payroll reports

Hours per resident per day

  • All nursing staffRNs, LPNs and aides combined3.57hrsAbove only 40% of peers−0.26 vs IA avg
  • Registered nursesRN hours only0.72hrsAbove 57% of peers−0.01 vs IA avg
  • Licensed practical nursesLPN hours0.44hrs
  • Nurse aidesCNA hours2.42hrs
  • Weekend nursingAll staff on Saturdays and Sundays3.09hrs
  • Iowa average
  • Research benchmark (4.10 total, 0.75 RN)

Turnover & capacity

  • Nursing staff turnoverShare who left within a year · lower is better53%Above only 24% of peersIA avg 44%
  • RN turnoverRegistered nurses only10%Not ranked by CMS
  • Administrators who leftIn the past year0Stable leadership
  • Occupancy56 certified beds · ~51 residents a day91%Above 77% of peersIA avg 81%

Fines & penalties

Roughly the past three years

Enforcement summary

  • $29,689In fines
  • 1Fine
  • 0Payment denials
  • $21,037IA avg in fines
Above only 20% of peersFewer fines than 20% of rated homes in Iowa

Actions on record

  1. Aug 10, 2023Civil money penalty$29,689

Ownership

As filed with CMS

Structure

Ownership type
Non profit - Other
Chain
Healthcare of Iowa8 facilities in the chain3.9★ chain average
Certification
Medicare and Medicaid
Location type
Rural
Ownership change
None in the last 12 months

People and entities on file

Operational or managerial control
  • Leah Benzing
  • Scott Bohner
  • Katy Wood
Corporate directors
  • Lester Askelson
  • Steven Davis
  • Nancy Hageman
  • Gary Johnson
Corporate officers
  • Denise Duffy
  • Melinda Hanson
  • Lorraine Sindelar

Person Organization

Sources & notes

Public data, updated quarterly

Data sources

  • CMS Care Compare · Provider InformationStar ratings, staffing hours, turnover, penalties and flags · processed February 2026.
  • CMS Health CitationsEvery deficiency from the last three inspection cycles, with scope, severity and inspection cycle.
  • CMS Penalties and Ownership filesCivil money penalties, payment denials, and the owners and managers on file.

Notes

  • CMS Certification Number 165475 · 2479 River Road, Decorah, IA, 52101.
  • Percentiles compare this facility with every rated nursing home in Iowa and Winneshiek County. Turnover and fines are inverted so a high percentile is always good.
  • This is an informational summary of public data, not medical, legal, or placement advice. Facilities cannot pay to change it; a facility that believes a record is wrong can dispute it with CMS.

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