Northgate Care Center
960 4th Street NW, Waukon, IA 52172 · (563) 568-3493
For profit - Corporation · 50 certified beds
Special Focus Facility candidate Medicare's data lists this home as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program, which is for homes with a persistent record of serious problems.
Northgate Care Center has a 1-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in March 2026, found 10 citations, 1 for actual harm or immediate jeopardy (the Iowa average is 6.5). It was fined 1 time in the last three years, $87,160 in all.
Medicare ratings
| Overall ratingStarts from the health inspection rating, then goes up or down a star for a 5-star or 1-star staffing or quality rating. | ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars · Much below average |
| Health inspectionsFrom the two most recent standard inspections and three years of complaint inspections, compared with other homes in the same state. | ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars · Much below average |
| Quality measuresFrom 15 measures of how residents do, such as falls with major injury, pressure ulcers, hospital stays and getting home after a short stay. | ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars · Average |
| StaffingFrom payroll records of nurse hours per resident, adjusted for how much care residents need, and staff turnover. | ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars · Average |
How to read a nursing home's star ratings
Most recent health inspection
The standard health inspection on March 4, 2026 found 10 citations. What an inspection citation means
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.March 4, 2026 · F0760 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Many
- Ensure 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.March 4, 2026 · F0761 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
- Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.March 4, 2026 · F0865 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.March 4, 2026 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.March 4, 2026 · F0552 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.March 4, 2026 · F0605 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.March 4, 2026 · F0641 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.March 4, 2026 · F0684 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide 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.March 4, 2026 · F0688 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.March 4, 2026 · F0689 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Complaint inspections, last three years
Inspections after complaints found 11 citations.
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.March 4, 2026 · F0760 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Many
- Ensure 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.March 4, 2026 · F0761 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.November 14, 2025 · F0550 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.November 14, 2025 · F0580 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.November 14, 2025 · F0656 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.November 14, 2025 · F0684 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.November 14, 2025 · F0725 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.November 14, 2025 · F0760 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.November 14, 2025 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.November 14, 2025 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.September 22, 2024 · F0760 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Fines and payment denials
- Fine of $87,160March 4, 2026
Nurse staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, as the home reports them to Medicare through payroll records.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Iowa average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing | 2.97 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses (RN) | 0.40 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurses (LPN) | 0.54 | 0.56 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aides | 2.04 | 2.52 | 2.32 |
| Total nursing staff turnover | 34.3% | 44% | 45.8% |
About this home
| Ownership | For profit - Corporation |
| Certified beds | 50 |
| Average residents per day | 41.2 |
| Inside a hospital | No |
| Continuing care retirement community | No |
Nursing homes nearby
- Good Samaritan - Waukon Waukon · ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars
- Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center Lansing · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- Evans Senior Living Community Cresco · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- Wellington Place Decorah · ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
- The Highlands Decorah · ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars
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Data from Medicare (CMS), updated October 2026, from Northgate Care Center on Medicare's Care Compare and the CMS Provider Data Catalog. ParentNextStep isn't affiliated with Medicare or CMS.