All states › Iowa › Stratford › Stratford Specialty Care
1200 Highway 175 East Stratford, IA 50249 · Hamilton County
CMS certification number 165270 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Stratford Specialty Care 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 Stratford Specialty Care as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 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 3.66 hours per resident per day at Stratford Specialty Care, about the same as the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.91 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.12 hours, 15% below its all-week average. 51.4% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Stratford Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Stratford Specialty Care 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 9, 2026 and found 8 deficiencies, plus 8 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 36 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 36 citations at Stratford Specialty Care across 9 inspection dates, 21 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 36 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (9) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities" (tag F0865, level F, May 21, 2025). 7 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 9, 2026 · 11 citations · includes complaint inspection
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
EHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
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.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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 each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
December 4, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
May 21, 2025 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
FHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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 and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
January 6, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
July 25, 2024 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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 safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
June 17, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
March 21, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
January 4, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
November 6, 2023 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Questions to ask on a tour of Stratford Specialty Care
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on July 9, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- 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 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Stratford Specialty Care's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Stratford Specialty Care
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
15.0 mi
Van Diest Medical Center Webster CityEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 1h 43m for patients treated and sent home
- 15.1 mi
-
19.7 mi
Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort DodgeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 47m 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 Stratford Specialty Care › All nursing homes in Stratford ›
Compare Stratford Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Grandview Healthcare Center · Dayton · 4 stars · 5.4 mi
Other Care Initiatives nursing homes in Iowa
- Sibley Specialty Care · Sibley · 5 stars
- Lamoni Specialty Care · Lamoni · 5 stars
- Fonda Specialty Care · Fonda · 5 stars
- Wapello Specialty Care · Wapello · 5 stars
- Mechanicsville Specialty Care · Mechanicsville · 5 stars
- Laporte City Specialty Care · La Porte City · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 43 Care Initiatives 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.