All states › Iowa › Estherville › Good Samaritan - Estherville
1646 Fifth Avenue North Estherville, IA 51334 · Emmet County
All 2 nursing homes in Estherville, IA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165192 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Good Samaritan - Estherville 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 - Estherville 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 3.29 hours per resident per day at Good Samaritan - Estherville, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.90 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.70 hours, 18% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 57.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Good Samaritan - Estherville: Medicare and Medicaid
Good Samaritan - Estherville 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 January 15, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. 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 Good Samaritan - Estherville across 5 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 26 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were nutrition and dietary (9) and resident assessment and care planning (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data" (tag F0851, level F, October 31, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
January 15, 2026 · 5 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
November 10, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
October 31, 2024 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
November 30, 2023 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EEnsure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
EEnsure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
DProvide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
August 30, 2023 · 11 citations
EHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
EDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
EEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
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.
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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Good Samaritan - Estherville
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on January 15, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Weekend staffing is 18% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Nursing staff turnover was 57.6% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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
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 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Good Samaritan - Estherville
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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0.6 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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15.2 mi
Lakes Regional Healthcare Spirit LakeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 5m for patients treated and sent home
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17.6 mi
Sanford Jackson Medical Center JacksonEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 4m 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 - Estherville › All nursing homes in Estherville ›
Compare Good Samaritan - Estherville with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
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.