facebook tracking St John's on Fountain Lake, Albert Lea MN: CMS Ratings
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St John's on Fountain Lake

All states › Minnesota › Albert Lea › St John's on Fountain Lake

1771 Eagle View Circle Albert Lea, MN 56007 · Freeborn County

(507) 373-2040

All 3 nursing homes in Albert Lea, MN (3 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 84 certified beds Non profit Continuing care retirement community

CMS certification number 245635 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is St John's on Fountain Lake 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 St John's on Fountain Lake as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Minnesota average of 3.2. Inspectors issued 27 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $16,448 in fines, in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 2 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on.

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 4.44 hours per resident per day at St John's on Fountain Lake, above the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 0.76 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.90 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 29.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%). That is lower than most homes in Minnesota, a sign of a steadier team.

Nursing care per resident per day 4.44 hours
Above the Minnesota median of 4.18 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.76 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.90 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 29.1% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 14.3% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 1 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds84
Residents per day 78 About 93% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipNon profit - Church related
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceMarch 2018
Legal business nameST JOHNS LUTHERAN HOME

Paying for care at St John's on Fountain Lake: Medicare and Medicaid

St John's on Fountain Lake 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 Minnesota'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 December 3, 2025 and found 9 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 27 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 27 citations at St John's on Fountain Lake across 7 inspection dates, 7 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on August 6, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (12) and pharmacy service (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors" (tag F0760, level J, August 6, 2025).

December 3, 2025 · 9 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0554 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0679 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0686 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0692 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0695 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

DProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0699 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 8, 2026)

August 6, 2025 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection

JEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Immediate jeopardy · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0760 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Jul 21, 2025)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2025)

DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0755 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2025)

November 6, 2024 · 5 citations

FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2024)

EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2024)

DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2024)

DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0686 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2024)

DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0756 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 12, 2024)

September 24, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 10, 2024)

July 26, 2024 · 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.

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 3, 2024)

April 17, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 10, 2024)

DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0755 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 10, 2024)

January 10, 2024 · 6 citations, includes actual harm

GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0686 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

EHonor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0565 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0552 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0688 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0698 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 5, 2024)

Questions to ask on a tour of St John's on Fountain Lake

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 6, 2025 under the rule on pharmacy service. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. 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?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. 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 $16,448 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Jul 26, 2024 Fine $16,448

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 2/5 5/5 3/5
August 2026 3/5 2/5 5/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near St John's on Fountain Lake

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Thorne Crest Retirement Center Albert Lea · 2.0 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 3/5 52 beds · Medicaid
Good Samaritan Society - Albert Lea Albert Lea · 2.6 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 5/5 80 beds · Medicaid
New Richland Care Center New Richland · 16.2 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 45 beds · Medicaid
Parkview Care Center Wells · 17.3 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 30 beds · Medicaid
Sacred Heart Care Center Austin · 20.0 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 59 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near St John's on Fountain Lake ›   All nursing homes in Albert Lea ›

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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.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/minnesota/albert-lea/st-johns-on-fountain-lake/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.