Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
The next survey window likely opens around December 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of June 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Good Samaritan - Estherville during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment accused a nurse of abuse, which was documented by an LPN and later brought to the attention of the administrator by the resident's family and police. Although the facility's policy required immediate reporting of such allegations to state authorities, the incident was not self-reported because the administrator relied on the police investigation, resulting in a failure to follow mandated reporting procedures.
The facility inaccurately submitted staffing data to CMS, failing to include correct hours for an agency CNA who worked overnight. The CNA's hours were mistakenly recorded for a day she did not work, and agency staff hours were not consistently reported.
The facility failed to serve food at appropriate temperatures to two residents with intact cognition. One resident reported that food delivered to her room was often cold, while another stated that food was frequently cold when it should have been hot. An observation revealed that the temperature of the food on the last tray delivered was below the facility's policy requirement for hot foods. The Certified Dietary Manager confirmed the expectation for food to be served at appropriate temperatures.
The facility failed to follow professional standards in food preparation and serving. Staff A was observed making extra servings of pureed brownie and handling various items without performing hand hygiene until later. The CDM confirmed that hand hygiene should be completed at appropriate times, as per the facility's policy on hand washing and glove usage.
A facility failed to update a resident's care plan to include the use of alprazolam, an antianxiety medication prescribed for agitation. The resident, with diagnoses of depression and psychotic disorder, had an order for the medication documented in their EHR, but it was not reflected in the care plan. The DON confirmed the oversight, which contradicted the facility's policy requiring care plans to reflect current care needs.
Two residents reported that a CNA was rude and dismissive, failing to uphold their rights to dignity and respect. One resident, with intact cognition and multiple diagnoses, was told not to use the call light, while another described the CNA as 'barky' and rude. The facility's policy on resident dignity was not adhered to, as confirmed by staff interviews and a facility investigation.
Failure to Report Alleged Abuse to State Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse involving a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and a history of an ankle fracture. According to documentation, the resident was heard screaming and accused a nurse of hitting her, while the nurse was reportedly at the nurse station charting. The incident was documented by an LPN, who stated she notified a supervisor but could not recall who. The administrator and DON later confirmed that the allegation was documented, but the administrator stated they were not notified at the time and only became aware when the resident's son and a police officer arrived. The police reviewed video footage and found no evidence of abuse, and the resident did not sustain any injury or trauma. Despite the facility's policy requiring immediate reporting of alleged or suspected abuse to the administrator and designated agencies, including the State Survey and Certification Agency, the incident was not self-reported to the state. The administrator decided not to self-report because the police had already investigated and found the allegation unfounded. The facility's records showed that self-reports had been made in other cases, but in this instance, the required notification to state authorities did not occur as outlined in the facility's abuse and neglect policy.
Inaccurate PBJ Staffing Data Submission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to submit complete and accurate staffing information to CMS for the period of April 1 to June 30, 2024, as required by the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) system. The CMS PBJ Staffing Data Report indicated a trigger for investigation due to discrepancies in staffing data. Specifically, the facility's schedule showed that an agency Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), referred to as Staff E, worked from 6 p.m. on May 4th to 6:15 a.m. on May 5th. However, the PBJ report did not include the hours worked by Staff E on May 5th. Instead, her hours were incorrectly recorded for April 28th, a day she did not work. This error was confirmed by the Administrator, who acknowledged that the information was inputted incorrectly and that agency staff hours were not always accurately included in the PBJ report.
Failure to Serve Food at Appropriate Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food at an appetizing temperature to two residents with intact cognition, as evidenced by interviews and observations. Resident #27 reported that the food delivered to her room was often cold. Similarly, Resident #43 stated that the food was frequently cold when it should have been hot. During an observation, the last room trays were sent out of the kitchen, and the temperature of the food on the last tray delivered was measured. The ham and beans were at 126 degrees Fahrenheit, and the mashed potatoes were at 122 degrees Fahrenheit, both below the facility's policy requirement of 135 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for hot foods. The Certified Dietary Manager confirmed that the expectation was for food to be served at appropriate temperatures.
Failure in Hand Hygiene During Food Preparation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards in food preparation, serving, and distribution, as observed during a survey. Staff A was seen making extra servings of pureed brownie without performing hand hygiene. Subsequently, Staff A touched door jams, prepared room trays, handled spatulas, touched plates, and handled bowls for lunch service before finally completing hand hygiene. An interview with the Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) confirmed that the expectation is for hand hygiene to be completed at appropriate times. A review of the facility's policy on hand washing and glove usage in food nutrition services, dated 6/13/24, indicated that employees involved in food preparation, distribution, and serving must consistently utilize good hygienic practices and techniques.
Failure to Update Care Plan with Antianxiety Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to update the care plan of a resident to accurately reflect the use of antianxiety medication. The resident, who was admitted from a critical access hospital, had diagnoses of depression and psychotic disorder. The resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) indicated an order for alprazolam, an antianxiety medication, to be administered as needed for agitation. However, the resident's care plan, dated 10/30/24, did not document the use of this medication. The Director of Nursing confirmed the existence of the medication order and expressed the expectation that such medications should be included in the care plan. The facility's policy requires that care plans be modified to reflect the current care required or provided to the resident.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to uphold the residents' rights to dignity and respect, as evidenced by interactions involving two residents. Resident #2, who has intact cognition and diagnoses including cancer and diabetes, reported that a CNA, identified as Staff B, was rude and dismissive, telling her not to use the call light and that she would attend to her when she had time. This behavior was corroborated by a facility investigation, which led to Staff B's suspension. Resident #43, also with intact cognition and diagnosed with heart failure and diabetes, described Staff B as 'barky' and rude, expressing relief when Staff B was no longer employed at the facility. The resident mentioned that Staff B spoke disrespectfully to him and others, which was confirmed by a Registered Nurse who had received similar complaints from other residents. The Director of Nursing and the facility Administrator both expressed expectations for staff to treat residents with dignity and respect, aligning with the facility's policy on resident dignity. However, the interactions reported by the residents and staff interviews indicate a failure to meet these expectations. The facility's policy emphasizes addressing residents as individuals when providing care, which was not adhered to in the cases involving Staff B. The deficiency highlights a lapse in maintaining a respectful and dignified environment for residents, as required by the facility's standards and policies.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Estherville
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estherville Community Care Center | 0.4 mi | — | 18 | 0 |
| Accura Healthcare Of Spirit Lake | 15 mi | — | 9 | 0 |
| Valley Vue Care Center | 16.9 mi | — | 4 | 0 |
| Good Samaritan Society - Jackson | 17.4 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Accura Healthcare Of Milford | 17.8 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.