All states › Iowa › Sheldon › Sanford Senior Care Sheldon
118 North Seventh Avenue Sheldon, IA 51201 · Obrien County
CMS certification number 16E263 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Sanford Senior Care Sheldon 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 Sanford Senior Care Sheldon 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 3.40 hours per resident per day at Sanford Senior Care Sheldon, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.54 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.90 hours, 15% below its all-week average. 61% 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 Sanford Senior Care Sheldon: Medicare and Medicaid
Sanford Senior Care Sheldon is certified for Medicaid but not Medicare, so Medicare won't pay for a rehab stay here after a hospital discharge. It can serve long-term residents covered by Iowa Medicaid.
This home is located in a hospital.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on November 6, 2025 and found 6 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 21 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 21 citations at Sanford Senior Care Sheldon across 7 inspection dates, 5 of them from complaint investigations. 4 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on March 13, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and resident assessment and care planning (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level K, February 1, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 1, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
March 5, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
November 6, 2025 · 6 citations
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.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
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.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
March 13, 2025 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
October 3, 2024 · 6 citations
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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.
February 1, 2024 · 2 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
KProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
KProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
June 29, 2023 · 4 citations, includes immediate jeopardy
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DEnsure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
Questions to ask on a tour of Sanford Senior Care Sheldon
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on February 1, 2024 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 March 5, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 61% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- The home averages about 59% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
- 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 $11,872 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2024 | Fine | $11,872 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Sanford Senior Care Sheldon
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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0.1 mi
Sanford Sheldon Medical Center SheldonEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 3m for patients treated and sent home
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16.3 mi
Osceola Community Hospital SibleyEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 55m for patients treated and sent home
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16.6 mi
Orange City Area Health System Orange CityEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 1h 57m 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.
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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.