All states › Iowa › Fonda › Fonda Specialty Care
607 Queen Street Fonda, IA 50540 · Pocahontas County
CMS certification number 165312 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Fonda 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 Fonda Specialty Care as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 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 3.56 hours per resident per day at Fonda Specialty Care, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.58 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.04 hours, 15% below its all-week average. 24.3% 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 Fonda Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Fonda 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 March 19, 2026 and found 0 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 13 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 13 citations at Fonda Specialty Care across 3 inspection dates, 5 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 13 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (6) and resident rights (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "honor 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" (tag F0584, level E, November 20, 2023).
April 18, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
December 21, 2023 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
November 20, 2023 · 9 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor 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.
DNot transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
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 care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Fonda Specialty Care
- What do families most often ask you about before moving in?
- 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 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Fonda Specialty Care'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 Fonda 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.
- 13.4 mi
-
13.7 mi
Pocahontas Community Hospital PocahontasEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 0m for patients treated and sent home
-
19.8 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.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Fonda Specialty Care › All nursing homes in Fonda ›
Compare Fonda Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Care Initiatives nursing homes in Iowa
- Sibley Specialty Care · Sibley · 5 stars
- Lamoni Specialty Care · Lamoni · 5 stars
- Wapello Specialty Care · Wapello · 5 stars
- Mechanicsville Specialty Care · Mechanicsville · 5 stars
- Laporte City Specialty Care · La Porte City · 5 stars
- Bedford Specialty Care · Bedford · 4 stars
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.