All states › Iowa › Waterloo › Ravenwood Specialty Care
2651 St Francis Drive Waterloo, IA 50702 · Black Hawk County
All 6 nursing homes in Waterloo, IA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165251 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Ravenwood 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 Ravenwood Specialty Care 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 3.48 hours per resident per day at Ravenwood Specialty Care, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.67 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.11 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 32% 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 Ravenwood Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Ravenwood 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 November 17, 2025 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 10 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 39 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 39 citations at Ravenwood Specialty Care across 10 inspection dates, 16 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on August 3, 2026 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (11) and resident rights (11). 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 J, August 3, 2026).
August 3, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
June 18, 2026 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
May 21, 2026 · 7 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
November 17, 2025 · 5 citations
EHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure 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.
April 10, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
December 31, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
October 24, 2024 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
July 13, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
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.
March 25, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
August 3, 2023 · 15 citations
EHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
EMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
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 appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
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.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Questions to ask on a tour of Ravenwood Specialty Care
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 3, 2026 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- 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
4 penalties in the last three years, including $48,335 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | Fine | $13,065 |
| May 21, 2026 | Fine | $13,065 |
| May 21, 2026 | Fine | $22,205 |
| May 21, 2026 | Payment Denial | 37 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Ravenwood 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.
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0.1 mi
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center WaterlooEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 43m for patients treated and sent home
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4.5 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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7.6 mi
Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar FallsEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 36m 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 Ravenwood Specialty Care › All nursing homes in Waterloo ›
Compare Ravenwood Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- The Suites at Western Home Communities · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 5.2 mi
- Martin Health Center · Cedar Falls · 5 stars · 6.9 mi
- Friendship Village Retirement · Waterloo · 3 stars · 0.4 mi
- Northcrest Specialty Care · Waterloo · 2 stars · 3.9 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.