All states › Iowa › Spencer › Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center
711 West 11th Street Spencer, IA 51301 · Clay County
All 2 nursing homes in Spencer, IA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165449 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation 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 Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center 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 3.54 hours per resident per day at Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.48 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.15 hours, 11% below its all-week average.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation 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 August 14, 2025 and found 14 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 45 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 45 citations at Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center across 7 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on May 20, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (12) and resident assessment and care planning (10). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives" (tag F0678, level J, May 20, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 4, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
March 30, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 14, 2025 · 14 citations
EProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
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 appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
August 22, 2024 · 12 citations
EDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EPost nurse staffing information every day.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
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 a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
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.
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.
May 20, 2024 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
March 14, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
October 30, 2023 · 13 citations, includes immediate jeopardy
JEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
EDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
EProvide 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 medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
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, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Questions to ask on a tour of Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on May 20, 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 August 14, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- 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 $24,706 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2024 | Fine | $14,433 |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Fine | $10,273 |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Payment Denial | 7 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation 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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0.6 mi
Spencer Municipal Hospital SpencerEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 8m for patients treated and sent home
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18.7 mi
Lakes Regional Healthcare Spirit LakeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 5m for patients treated and sent home
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23.5 mi
Palo Alto County Hospital EmmetsburgEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 43m 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 Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center › All nursing homes in Spencer ›
Compare Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home · Spencer · 2 stars · 2.2 mi
Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in Iowa
- West Bend Health and Rehabilitation · West Bend · 5 stars
- Woodland Health and Rehabilitation · Mount Pleasant · 4 stars
- Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines · Des Moines · 3 stars
- Crystal Heights Care Center · Oskaloosa · 3 stars
- Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare · Cherokee · 2 stars
- Hillcrest Health Care Center · Hawarden · 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.