All states › Iowa › Emmetsburg › Lakeside Lutheran Home
301 North Lawler Street Emmetsburg, IA 50536 · Palo Alto County
All 3 nursing homes in Emmetsburg, IA (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165492 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Lakeside Lutheran Home 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 Lakeside Lutheran Home as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above 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 4.00 hours per resident per day at Lakeside Lutheran Home, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.75 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.59 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 28.2% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). That is lower than most homes in Iowa, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Lakeside Lutheran Home: Medicare and Medicaid
Lakeside Lutheran Home 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 February 26, 2026 and found 2 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 22 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 22 citations at Lakeside Lutheran Home across 4 inspection dates, 11 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on January 23, 2025. The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (7) and pharmacy service (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 23, 2025). 7 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
February 26, 2026 · 2 citations
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
May 22, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
ERespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
January 23, 2025 · 8 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.
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
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.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
February 15, 2024 · 7 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
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 a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DRegularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
Questions to ask on a tour of Lakeside Lutheran Home
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on January 23, 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 February 26, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 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
1 penalty in the last three years.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2025 | Payment Denial | 5 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Lakeside Lutheran Home
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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0.4 mi
Palo Alto County Hospital EmmetsburgEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 43m for patients treated and sent home
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21.6 mi
Avera Holy Family Health EsthervilleEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 1h 50m for patients treated and sent home
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23.3 mi
Spencer Municipal Hospital SpencerEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 8m 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 Lakeside Lutheran Home › All nursing homes in Emmetsburg ›
Compare Lakeside Lutheran Home with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Palo Alto County Hospital · Emmetsburg · 5 stars · 0.4 mi
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.