All states › Iowa › Waterloo › Pillar of Cedar Valley
1410 West Dunkerton Road Waterloo, IA 50703 · Black Hawk County
All 6 nursing homes in Waterloo, IA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165307 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Pillar of Cedar Valley 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 Pillar of Cedar Valley 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 3.16 hours per resident per day at Pillar of Cedar Valley, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.40 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.71 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 37.3% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Pillar of Cedar Valley: Medicare and Medicaid
Pillar of Cedar Valley 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 November 17, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 24 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 24 citations at Pillar of Cedar Valley across 5 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 24 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 (8) and environmental (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide and implement an infection prevention and control program" (tag F0880, level F, October 3, 2024). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 11, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
December 23, 2025 · 3 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.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
November 17, 2025 · 7 citations
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
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.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DKeep all essential equipment working safely.
October 3, 2024 · 11 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EAllow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
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 rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
DProvide bedrooms that have direct access to an exit hallway.
DProvide bedrooms that don't allow residents to see each other when privacy is needed.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
June 29, 2023 · 2 citations
DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is 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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Pillar of Cedar Valley
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 23, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Pillar of Cedar Valley
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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3.3 mi
Allen Memorial Hospital WaterlooEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 43m for patients treated and sent home
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5.4 mi
Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar FallsEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 36m for patients treated and sent home
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7.6 mi
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center WaterlooEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 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 Pillar of Cedar Valley › All nursing homes in Waterloo ›
Compare Pillar of Cedar Valley with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Martin Health Center · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 4.8 mi
- The Suites at Western Home Communities · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 6.7 mi
- Denver Sunset Home · Denver · 5 stars · 7.3 mi
- Friendship Village Retirement · Waterloo · 3 stars · 7.4 mi
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.