facebook tracking Essentia Health Homestead, Deer River MN: CMS Ratings
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Essentia Health Homestead

All states › Minnesota › Deer River › Essentia Health Homestead

115 10th Avenue Northeast Deer River, MN 56636 · Itasca County

(218) 246-4336

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 32 certified beds Non profit

CMS certification number 245428 · 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 Essentia Health Homestead 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 Essentia Health Homestead as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Minnesota average of 3.2. Inspectors issued 15 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 2 penalties, including $67,727 in fines, in that time.

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.

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Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 5.13 hours per resident per day at Essentia Health Homestead, above the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 1.64 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 4.42 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 43.3% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%).

Nursing care per resident per day 5.13 hours
Above the Minnesota median of 4.18 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 1.64 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 4.42 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 43.3% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 33.3% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds32
Residents per day 17 About 53% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipNon profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceFebruary 1987
Part of a chainEssentia Health
Legal business nameDEER RIVER HEALTHCARE CENTER INC
Located in a hospitalYes

Paying for care at Essentia Health Homestead: Medicare and Medicaid

Essentia Health Homestead 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.

This home is located in a hospital.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on April 22, 2026 and found 1 deficiency, plus 5 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 15 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 15 citations at Essentia Health Homestead 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 December 17, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were pharmacy service (3) and quality of life and care (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being" (tag F0726, level K, December 17, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

May 18, 2026 · 1 citation · 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 · Past Non-Compliance (Apr 23, 2026)

April 22, 2026 · 1 citation

DProvide 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 (May 8, 2026)

March 31, 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.

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Mar 22, 2026)

December 17, 2025 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection

KEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.

Immediate jeopardy · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0726 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 16, 2026)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0585 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 16, 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 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 16, 2026)

July 30, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection

DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0609 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

CDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.

Potential for minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0607 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

March 12, 2025 · 5 citations

FEnsure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0576 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 25, 2025)

FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0851 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 28, 2025)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0758 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 28, 2025)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 28, 2025)

CPost nurse staffing information every day.

Potential for minimal harm · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0732 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 25, 2025)

May 16, 2024 · 2 citations

EProvide 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 (Jun 7, 2024)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0758 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 7, 2024)

Questions to ask on a tour of Essentia Health Homestead

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on December 17, 2025 under the rule on nursing and physician services. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on July 30, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. The home averages about 53% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
  4. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  5. 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

2 penalties in the last three years, including $67,727 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Mar 31, 2026 Fine $27,378
Dec 17, 2025 Fine $40,349

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 2/5 1/5 5/5 4/5
August 2026 2/5 1/5 5/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near Essentia Health Homestead

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

Grand Village Grand Rapids · 12.7 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 82 beds · Medicaid
The Emeralds at Grand Rapids Grand Rapids · 15.6 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 4/5 77 beds · Medicaid
Bigfork Valley Communities Bigfork · 28.7 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 5/5 40 beds · Medicaid
Guardian Angels Health & Rehab Center Hibbing · 40.4 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 5/5 65 beds · Medicaid
Good Samaritan Society - Blackduck Blackduck · 44.3 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 30 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Essentia Health Homestead ›   All nursing homes in Deer River ›

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Other Essentia Health nursing homes in Minnesota

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 6 Essentia Health 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.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/minnesota/deer-river/essentia-health-homestead/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.