All states › Iowa › Pella › The Cottages
1742 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 · Marion County
CMS certification number 165607 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is The Cottages 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 The Cottages as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below 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 4.22 hours per resident per day at The Cottages, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.81 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.93 hours, 7% below its all-week average. 56.9% 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 The Cottages: Medicare and Medicaid
The Cottages 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 August 25, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies, plus 6 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 23 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 23 citations at The Cottages across 7 inspection dates, 8 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on February 24, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (3). 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 K, February 24, 2025). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 4, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
November 25, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
August 25, 2025 · 9 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.
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.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
February 24, 2025 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
KEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
September 26, 2024 · 3 citations
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.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 16, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
June 29, 2023 · 5 citations
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure 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.
DEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Questions to ask on a tour of The Cottages
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on February 24, 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 November 25, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 56.9% 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
3 penalties in the last three years, including $52,060 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2026 | Fine | $12,006 |
| Aug 25, 2025 | Fine | $26,800 |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Fine | $13,254 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near The Cottages
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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0.8 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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12.8 mi
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics KnoxvilleEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 18m for patients treated and sent home
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17.1 mi
Mahaska Health Partnership OskaloosaEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 21m 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 The Cottages › All nursing homes in Pella ›
Compare The Cottages with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Wesleylife nursing homes in Iowa
- The Village · Indianola · 5 stars
- Brio of Johnston · Johnston · 4 stars
- Halcyon House · Washington · 4 stars
- Fieldstone of Dewitt · De Witt · 4 stars
- Wesley on Grand · Des Moines · 4 stars
- Wesley Park Centre · Newton · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 10 Wesleylife 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.