All states › Iowa › Algona › Good Samaritan - Algona
412 West Kennedy Street Algona, IA 50511 · Kossuth County
All 2 nursing homes in Algona, IA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165190 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Good Samaritan - Algona a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Good Samaritan - Algona as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Iowa average of 3.1.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.27 hours per resident per day at Good Samaritan - Algona, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.56 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.80 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 35.3% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Good Samaritan - Algona: Medicare and Medicaid
Good Samaritan - Algona is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Iowa's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on December 4, 2025 and found 2 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 27 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 27 citations at Good Samaritan - Algona across 4 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 3 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on October 22, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and resident assessment and care planning (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing" (tag F0686, level G, October 22, 2025). 4 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
December 4, 2025 · 2 citations
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
October 22, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
November 21, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
December 4, 2023 · 21 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
EEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DEnsure that residents are assessed for appropriateness for a feeding assistant program, receive services as per their plan of care, and feeding assistants are trained and supervised.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Good Samaritan - Algona
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on October 22, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on November 21, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
2 penalties in the last three years, including $7,070 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2025 | Fine | $7,070 |
| Dec 4, 2023 | Payment Denial | 12 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Good Samaritan - Algona's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Good Samaritan - Algona
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
0.9 mi
Kossuth Regional Health Center AlgonaEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 1h 39m for patients treated and sent home
-
21.9 mi
Hancock County Memorial Hospital BrittEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 53m for patients treated and sent home
-
23.0 mi
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital HumboldtEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 40m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Good Samaritan - Algona › All nursing homes in Algona ›
Compare Good Samaritan - Algona with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Algona Manor Care Center · Algona · 5 stars · 1.6 mi
Other Good Samaritan Society nursing homes in Iowa
- Good Samaritan - Saint Ansgar · Saint Ansgar · 5 stars
- Good Samaritan - Forest City · Forest City · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Manson · Manson · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Villisca · Villisca · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Lemars · Le Mars · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Davenport · Davenport · 3 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 92 Good Samaritan Society nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.