Carole Campbell
Jun 2026
Food was gross! Night shift needs to learn compression and patience
Creston Specialty Care
1001 Cottonwood Drive3.6(14 ratings)
Part of Care Initiatives · 43 communities · 3.6★ average
1 / 5Quick Facts
- Total units
- 74
- Medicare rating
- 3 of 5
- Ownership
- For profit, Corporation
- Certified beds
- 74
- Inspections
- View history (33 citations)
- Ownership
- Part of nonprofit Care Initiatives network
- Care focus
- Serves residents with Alzheimer's and heart disease
CMS Care Compare
What Families Think
Reviewers are mixed on Creston Specialty Care, with several complaints about food quality and staffing shortages contrasted against praise for leadership and a caring culture. Google ratings average 3.6 from a small number of reviews, with recurring concerns about response times and weekend staffing.
The Good
- Caring, compassionate leadership team noted
- Staff pursuing further nursing education
- Onsite rehab therapy for short and long-term needs
- Supports residents with Alzheimer's and heart disease
The Bad
- Multiple reviewers describe food as burnt, mushy, or overcooked
- Several reports of slow response times for resident help
- One report of insufficient weekend staffing affecting bathing schedules
- One report of overpriced in-house pharmacy prescriptions
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
Creston Specialty Care is a senior living community in Creston, Iowa offering Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Gathering / Activity Spaces, Social Activities and Housekeeping. Families rate it 3.6 out of 5 across 14 reviews.
About Creston Specialty Care
Creston Specialty Care is a skilled nursing and long-term care community in Creston, Iowa, licensed to serve up to 74 residents around the clock. The community provides compassionate, individualized care while supporting residents' families' wellbeing and peace of mind.
The facility offers both long-term and short-term care options for individuals with chronic diseases or debilitating medical conditions such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Rehabilitation therapy services are provided onsite, including state-of-the-art approaches tailored for each resident, with both short and long-term rehabilitation available.
Creston Specialty Care is committed to providing an active and engaging quality of life through daily programming, social and educational activities, and services that promote physical health, provide mental stimulation, and increase engagement. The community aims to help residents thrive in a home-like setting with the support of more than 70 dedicated team members.
The community serves residents from Union County, Iowa, and many surrounding communities. It is part of Care Initiatives, Iowa's largest nonprofit provider of skilled nursing care, with 60 locations across the Midwest.
Types of Care at Creston Specialty Care
Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care
Amenities
Room Amenities
- Emergency Call System
- Wheelchair Accessible
Meals & Dining
- Dietary Accommodations (Gluten-Free, Low / No Sodium, No Sugar, Vegan)
Community Amenities
- 24-Hour Staff
- Gathering / Activity Spaces
- Housekeeping
- Medication Management
- On-Site Nurse (RN)
- Security
Activities
- Social Activities (Happy Hour, Wine Tasting, Dances, Karaoke)
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Help Me ChooseReviews of Creston Specialty Care
3.6overall · 14 ratings combined
3.6★ on Google (14)
Ralph Smith
Nov 2025
The food is NOT good, it is usually burnt or over cooked. The cooks or warmer uppers can be seen outside smoking when food is burning. Keep your people stocked with good healthy alternatives in their rooms. This facility is way overpriced for the care of people staying there. A surprise state audit is much needed and the inspectors should talk with the residents.
Terri Main
Sep 2025
The food has been bad for quite a while but I think they are on the right track to get it fixed. Of course, I know it is hard to hire good help and often times they don’t show up on weekends but there is a shortage of aids quite often and they don’t always get baths when they should.
CK K
Sep 2024
The food at this place is terrible. The broccoli is mush, the pork chop is shoe leather and the mac n' cheese watered down. The prescriptions are way over priced through their own pharmacy. It take 10 minutes or more for a resident to get help. This place needs a surprises audit visit.
Julie Simons
Sep 2022
Caring compassionate leadership team! Presenting a positive culture. Recently have had 2 nurses further their education and obtained RN licenses. This team is moving forward with continued positive growth. Thanks to all for their dedication to quality of care!
Government Inspection History
6 inspection visits in the last three years, 33 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Oct 9, 2025Health Complaint2 citations
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Oct 10, 2025
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Oct 10, 2025
May 8, 2025Fire Safety StandardHealth ComplaintHealth Standard8 citations
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected May 9, 2025
Install proper backup exit lighting.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected May 12, 2025
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected May 9, 2025
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected May 12, 2025
Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected May 9, 2025
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 9, 2025
Provide properly sized and located linen or trash receptacles.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 8, 2025
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected May 9, 2025
Dec 31, 2024Health Complaint1 citation
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 1, 2025
Jun 20, 2024Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard12 citations
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity G of L: actual harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 1, 2024
Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 26, 2024
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 26, 2024
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 8, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 11, 2024
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 11, 2024
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 11, 2024
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 25, 2024
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 1, 2024
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 11, 2024
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 11, 2024
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 1, 2024
Jan 4, 2024Health Complaint1 citation
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity G of L: actual harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 11, 2024
Jul 20, 2023Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard9 citations
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 1, 2023
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 1, 2023
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 27, 2023
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 20, 2023
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 20, 2023
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 20, 2023
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2023
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 27, 2023
Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 20, 2023
Source: CMS Care Compare, public federal data covering certified nursing facilities, refreshed monthly. Citations range from A (least serious) to L (most serious) on the federal scope and severity scale. Most citations are corrected quickly; review the details and ask the community about anything that concerns you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of care does Creston Specialty Care offer?
Creston Specialty Care offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
Where is Creston Specialty Care located?
Creston Specialty Care is located at 1001 Cottonwood Drive in Creston, Iowa.
What do families say about Creston Specialty Care?
Reviewers are mixed on Creston Specialty Care, with several complaints about food quality and staffing shortages contrasted against praise for leadership and a caring culture. Google ratings average 3.6 from a small number of reviews, with recurring concerns about response times and weekend staffing.
How did Creston Specialty Care do on recent health and safety inspections?
Creston Specialty Care had 6 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 33 citations on file according to CMS Care Compare data. The full history, including what each citation was for and whether it was corrected, is in the inspection section on this page.
How can families visit Creston Specialty Care?
Submit the Request Information form on this page to connect with Creston Specialty Care and arrange a tour. Sharing your timeline and care needs up front helps the community prepare for your visit.
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