All states › Iowa › Laurens › Laurens Care Center
304 East Veterans Road Laurens, IA 50554 · Pocahontas County
CMS certification number 165219 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Laurens Care Center 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 Laurens Care Center 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 4.78 hours per resident per day at Laurens Care Center, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.96 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 4.27 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 40% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Laurens Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Laurens Care Center 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 April 16, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 15 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 15 citations at Laurens Care Center across 4 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 15 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident rights (4) and resident assessment and care planning (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "verify that a nurse aide has been trained; and if they haven't worked as a nurse aide for 2 years, receive retraining" (tag F0729, level F, March 21, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 16, 2026 · 4 citations
EHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
October 8, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
March 20, 2025 · 4 citations
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
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.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
March 21, 2024 · 5 citations
FVerify that a nurse aide has been trained; and if they haven't worked as a nurse aide for 2 years, receive retraining.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DGive their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Questions to ask on a tour of Laurens Care Center
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on October 8, 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 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Laurens Care Center
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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11.0 mi
Pocahontas Community Hospital PocahontasEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 0m for patients treated and sent home
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20.7 mi
Palo Alto County Hospital EmmetsburgEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 43m for patients treated and sent home
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23.5 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
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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.