All states › Iowa › Cherokee › Cherokee Specialty Care
1011 North Roosevelt Cherokee, IA 51012 · Cherokee County
All 3 nursing homes in Cherokee, IA (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165330 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Cherokee Specialty Care 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 Cherokee Specialty Care 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 3.25 hours per resident per day at Cherokee Specialty Care, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.38 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.90 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 38.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Cherokee Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Cherokee Specialty Care 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 July 15, 2026 and found 3 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 26 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 26 citations at Cherokee Specialty Care across 8 inspection dates, 14 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on January 30, 2025. The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (5) and nutrition and dietary (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level G, January 30, 2025). 5 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 15, 2026 · 3 citations
DHonor 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.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 22, 2025 · 3 citations
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
January 30, 2025 · 7 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DGive residents a notice of rights, rules, services and charges.
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.
DProvide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
July 18, 2024 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
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.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 16, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
March 20, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
January 4, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
November 9, 2023 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Questions to ask on a tour of Cherokee Specialty Care
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on January 30, 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 January 30, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Cherokee Specialty Care
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.2 mi
Cherokee Regional Medical Center CherokeeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 14m for patients treated and sent home
- 1.4 mi
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18.3 mi
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm LakeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 32m 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.
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Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 43 Care Initiatives 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.