facebook tracking Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation, Wausau WI: CMS Ratings
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Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation

All states › Wisconsin › Wausau › Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation

1821 N 4th Ave Wausau, WI 54401 · Marathon County

(715) 675-9451

All 4 nursing homes in Wausau, WI (4 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 82 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 525503 · 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 Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation 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 Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Wisconsin average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 18 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 4 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5.

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 4.09 hours per resident per day at Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation, about the same as the Wisconsin median of 4.04 (US median: 3.72). About 1.26 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.42 hours, 17% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 57% of nursing staff left within a year (Wisconsin median 45.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there. 2 administrators left in the past year.

Nursing care per resident per day 4.09 hours
Above the Wisconsin median of 4.04 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 1.26 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.42 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 57% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 50% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 2 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds82
Residents per day 66 About 80% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Limited Liability company
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceJanuary 1993
Part of a chainThe Ensign Group
Legal business nameRIVER HAWK HEALTHCARE LLC

Paying for care at Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation: Medicare and Medicaid

Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation 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 Wisconsin'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 April 1, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies, plus 3 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 18 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 18 citations at Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation across 7 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on January 8, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (5) and pharmacy service (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level G, January 8, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

July 22, 2026 · 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 (Aug 25, 2026)

May 27, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0757 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 10, 2026)

April 1, 2026 · 9 citations

EProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0628 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 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 (Apr 24, 2026)

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 (Apr 24, 2026)

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

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0607 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 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 (Apr 24, 2026)

DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0690 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2026)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0693 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2026)

DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0760 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2026)

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 (Apr 24, 2026)

December 23, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

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 (Jan 15, 2026)

March 26, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0610 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 15, 2025)

January 8, 2025 · 3 citations, includes actual harm

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

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 27, 2025)

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 27, 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 (Jan 27, 2025)

November 30, 2023 · 2 citations

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 30, 2023)

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 (Dec 30, 2023)

Questions to ask on a tour of Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on January 8, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on April 1, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. Weekend staffing is 17% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
  4. Nursing staff turnover was 57% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
  5. Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
  6. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  7. 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 monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 3/5 4/5 4/5
August 2026 3/5 3/5 4/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation

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

Amethyst Health of Wausau Wausau · 1.6 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 3/5 80 beds · Medicaid
Wausau Manor Health Services Wausau · 2.2 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 68 beds · Medicaid
North Central Health Care Wausau · 2.8 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 159 beds · Medicaid
Rennes Health and Rehab Center-Weston Weston · 7.3 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 5/5 130 beds · Medicaid
Pride TLC Therapy and Living Campus Weston · 7.7 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 4/5 25 beds

More nursing homes near Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation ›   All nursing homes in Wausau ›

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Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in Wisconsin

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 347 The Ensign Group 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/wisconsin/wausau/wood-aven-health-and-rehabilitation/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.