All states › Iowa › Oskaloosa › Crystal Heights Care Center
1514 High Avenue West Oskaloosa, IA 52577 · Mahaska County
All 3 nursing homes in Oskaloosa, IA (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165570 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Crystal Heights 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 Crystal Heights Care Center 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 3.07 hours per resident per day at Crystal Heights Care Center, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.41 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.55 hours, 17% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 56.6% 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 Crystal Heights Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Crystal Heights 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 July 16, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 3 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 20 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 20 citations at Crystal Heights Care Center across 5 inspection dates, 7 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on July 16, 2026. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (7) and resident assessment and care planning (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide 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" (tag F0688, level G, July 16, 2026).
August 20, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
July 16, 2026 · 5 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide 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.
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.
DHonor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
December 8, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
June 26, 2025 · 11 citations · includes complaint inspection
EDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
EProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DHonor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
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.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
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 safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
December 7, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Questions to ask on a tour of Crystal Heights Care Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on July 16, 2026 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Weekend staffing is 17% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Nursing staff turnover was 56.6% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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, including $10,489 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2023 | Fine | $10,489 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Crystal Heights 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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1.6 mi
Mahaska Health Partnership OskaloosaEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 21m for patients treated and sent home
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15.3 mi
Pella Regional Health Center PellaEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 32m for patients treated and sent home
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18.8 mi
Monroe County Hospital AlbiaEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 3m 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 Crystal Heights Care Center › All nursing homes in Oskaloosa ›
Compare Crystal Heights Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in Iowa
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- Woodland Health and Rehabilitation · Mount Pleasant · 4 stars
- Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines · Des Moines · 3 stars
- Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare · Cherokee · 2 stars
- Hillcrest Health Care Center · Hawarden · 1 stars
- Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation · Des Moines · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 347 The Ensign Group 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.