Cherokee Specialty Care
Cherokee Specialty Care – Medicare Certified Since 1997
Cherokee Specialty Care is a Medicare and Medicaid certified skilled nursing facility located in Cherokee, Iowa. This facility has been serving the community for 29 years. A Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility provides 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitation services, and assistance with activities of daily living for patients who need skilled nursing or rehabilitation services on a daily basis.
This facility has 62 certified beds with a current occupancy rate of 72% (averaging 45 residents per day), which is moderate. Skilled nursing facilities provide 24-hour nursing care for patients who need rehabilitation services after a hospital stay or ongoing care for chronic conditions. Services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and assistance with daily activities.
Staffing Levels: Based on CMS payroll data, this facility provides approximately 3.58 hours of total nursing care per resident per day (2.57 hours from CNAs, 0.66 hours from LPNs, 0.35 hours from RNs). Physical therapy staffing is 0.06 hours per resident per day.
Medicare Quality Ratings: According to CMS, Cherokee Specialty Care has an overall quality rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes nationwide. Individual category ratings are: health inspection: 2 stars, staffing: 3 stars, quality measures: 3 stars.
Medicare Coverage: Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care for up to 100 days following a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days. Days 1-20 are fully covered by Medicare, days 21-100 require a daily coinsurance payment. Many residents also use Medicaid, private insurance, or pay privately for long-term stays.
Questions to Ask: When visiting a nursing home, ask about: staff-to-resident ratios and RN coverage around the clock, how they handle medical emergencies, activities and therapy programs, how they communicate with families, their approach to falls prevention, and policies for managing resident complaints.
Visit Medicare Care Compare to view detailed ratings, inspection reports, staffing data, and compare this facility with others in the area.
Quality ratings and facility data are updated periodically by CMS. We recommend verifying current information at Medicare Care Compare.
Local Comparison Snapshot
How Cherokee Specialty Care compares to 251 facilities in Rural IA
Click a measure name to jump to details • Hover over ⓘ for definitions
Data from CMS Medicare Compare and Payroll-Based Journal. Area averages based on 251 facilities in Rural IA.
Ratings and staffing data typically reflect the most recent quarterly reporting period available.
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Medicare Star Ratings
Official CMS ratings based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures
Data as of December 2025
Star Ratings History
Quarterly performance from 2013-2026
How Does This Facility Compare?
Compared to 251 other nursing homes in Rural IA
Based on CMS Medicare star ratings. Higher ratings indicate better performance.
Staffing Hours per Resident Day
Staffing data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal. Higher hours generally indicate more direct care time.
Staff Turnover Rate
Lower turnover rates generally indicate a more stable workforce and better continuity of care.
Agency/Contract Staff Usage
Lower agency usage often indicates better staff retention. High agency rates (>30%) may suggest staffing challenges.
Agency Staff Trends
Historical agency/contract staff usage by role
Data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ). Agency % = contractor hours / total hours.
Direct Care Staffing
Average minutes of direct nursing care per resident per day
Data as of December 2025
Staffing Trends
Direct care minutes per resident per day
Occupancy Rate History
Average daily residents as a percentage of certified beds
Data from CMS Provider Info files. Occupancy = Average Residents per Day / Certified Beds.
Staff Turnover History
Annual percentage of nursing staff who left the facility
Data as of December 2025
Data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal. Turnover = staff who left during the year / total staff.
Average Daily Rate
Average daily charge for care at this facility
Based on CMS Cost Report data (inpatient revenue ÷ total patient days)
Data Source: Financial data from CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Reports. Data typically lags 1-2 years. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for financial or care decisions. CareListings does not guarantee accuracy.
Financial Health
Comprehensive financial indicators from CMS Cost Reports
Data from fiscal year 2023 (most recent available - cost report data lags ~2 years)
Staff Investment: Higher spending per resident often correlates with better care quality.
Payer Mix: Shows revenue sources. Higher Medicare % typically means more post-acute/rehab care; higher Medicaid % indicates more long-term care residents.
Nonprofit/Government: May operate with lower margins while still providing quality care due to community mission.
Data Source: All financial data on this page comes from CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Reports submitted by the facility to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for any financial or care decisions. Cost report data typically lags 1-2 years. CareListings does not guarantee the accuracy of this data.
Who Stays Here
Breakdown of residents by payment type
Based on fiscal year 2023 cost report data
Average Length of Stay
How long residents typically stay at this facility
Based on fiscal year 2023 cost report data
Services
Comprehensive skilled nursing services, rehabilitation programs, and medical care in CHEROKEE
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Reviews
I fell 4 times in 3 days and I was sent here. As I walked through the door, I was told that I was now under quarantine. It took them 3 weeks to tell me that I was quarantined for a neural flu. (Why they didn't have me go somewhere else is beyond me. Some one could've just told me before I went there). When I got there, I asked my Dr. to be sure I was on the diet he recommended for me due to my Renal failure that I'd started developing. He told me that they wouldn't do diets for any of his patients there. So my no salt, no tomato (of any sort), no cheese, etc. diet was bypassed. Their ham (naturally) was brined.. but surprise...I pulled the fried chicken coating off to be rid of the salt on my chicken, only to find out that the chicken itself was brined (soaked in salt water... supposedly for taste, but alot of salt will also ruin your kidneys. They would leave the hall doors open to see us, came & went with out masks (before covid-19, during neural flu quarantine...& tried to convince me germs couldn't get through the doorway.). I got personally billed for $12,600.+ for the 2 months and 3 days I was there... even though about 5+ weeks of it I couldn't leave due to the quarantine. That's about $3,000. more than I get to live on in a year. And I have to pay rent, utilities, groceries, etc. out of that money, too. I offered to make $50.00 a month payments, but their POLICY required a minimum of $100.00 per month, so now I'm getting sued for money I don't have. Also, some meds may allow for a 1/2 hour - 1&1/2 hour difference in taking them... but my anticonvulsants need to be taken on time, or I will have seizures. (I'm an epileptic). It was cold February weather when the quarantine lifted & I was ready to go... they could care less if I went. I almost had to walk home... with O.A., bursitis, fibromyalgia, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, & other breathing problems. I still wonder if I could have made it, or if I'd have collapsed on a rarely used street some place in between.(I don't drive anymore). Some one must've told them that my family could sue if I didn't get home safe...a short tempered gal showed up to drive me home. I was there 12-20-19 to 2-23-20.
A loved one of mine was recently under the care of the Villa. During this time she was continuasly neglected (did not answer call lights so in return was not able to go to the bathroom for at times up to an hour or more, which also resulted in having a UTI, she was majorly dehydrated, and malnourished). They were always under staffed so the residents care was compromised because this. Employees did not contact the family when she was ill nor did they do anything to help the matter. Her personal hygiene and her room (the amount of space she had was minamal) conditions were not taken care of. The day our family walked in on her barely conscious, laying in her own feces, and having a high fever was unacceptable. At the time we found her in that condition, we feel she would not have made it, had we not found her, as no one contacted us about the situation. I am writing this review not to bash anyone or hurt the agency, but to inform people about our experience and we hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
The staff are very caring and the caring attitudes are evident in the care the patients receive! They are the best!
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