Thorne Crest Retirement Center
1201 Garfield Avenue, Albert Lea, MN 56007
Thorne Crest Retirement Center, a 52-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Albert Lea, MN, holds a 1-star CMS overall rating - below the 3.0-star national average, ranking #276 of 336 rated homes in MN on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing below the national norm. 3 inspection findings reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.
CMS combines health inspections, nurse-staffing levels, and clinical quality measures into the overall star rating, read the components below; they often tell a sharper story than the headline.
Phone: 5072059004
Build a private shortlist as you compare, saved on this device, no account needed.
Subscribe to CMS updates for this home (RSS) for inspection findings and Care Compare snapshot refreshes, no email.
- 1 / 5
- Much below average · CMS overall · nat'l 3.0
- #276 of 336
- In-state rank among rated MN homes
- 3.76
- About average · nurse hrs/day · nat'l 3.86
- 36
- Inspection findings · 3 serious
If a nursing-home resident is in immediate danger, call 911.
For elder abuse or neglect concerns, contact your state's Adult Protective Services (search "APS" + your state) or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. For facility advocacy, reach your Long-Term Care Ombudsman. CMS ratings and inspection data below are a research screen, not an emergency channel.
The verdict
Thorne Crest Retirement Center, a 52-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Albert Lea, MN, holds a 1-star CMS overall rating - below the 3.0-star national average, ranking #276 of 336 rated homes in MN on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing below the national norm. 3 inspection findings reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.
- 1 / 5
- CMS overall · national 3.0
- #276 of 336
- In-state rank among rated MN homes
- 3.76
- Nurse hrs/resident-day · national 3.86
- 36
- Inspection findings · 3 serious
CMS force-curves overall stars within each state; read health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings alongside the headline.
In-state ownership mix · peer inventory
How 338 MN nursing homes split by ownership sector
This facility is recorded as Non profit - Corporation. Sector buckets collapse CMS ownership_type into For-profit, Nonprofit, and Government, orthogonal to the RN/LPN/CNA hour bar below.
Health Inspection
Staffing
Quality Measures
Long-Stay Quality
Facility Information
- Provider Number
- 245425
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Provider Type
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Beds
- 52
- Residents
- 43
- In Hospital
- No
- County
- Freeborn
- Last Inspection
- Jan 27, 2026
Staffing Data
How the 3.76 total nursing hours per resident-day are staffed:
- RN Hours
- 1.00 (nat'l avg: 0.69)
- LPN Hours
- 0.41
- CNA Hours
- 2.35
- Total Nursing Hours
- 3.76 (nat'l avg: 3.86)
- PT Hours
- 0.02
- Nursing Turnover
- 72.7%
- RN Turnover
- 50.0%
What the CMS Record Reveals About Thorne Crest Retirement Center
According to CMS Nursing Home Compare, Thorne Crest Retirement Center ranks #276 of 336 rated nursing homes in MN on overall stars (tie-broken by health+staffing+quality, then fewer fines). Thorne Crest Retirement Center operates 52 certified beds in Albert Lea, MN with approximately 43 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 1 out of 5 stars (health inspection 1★ · staffing 4★ · quality 4★).
The inspection file contains 36 deficiency records from recent surveys, of which 3 reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy threshold on the CMS scope-and-severity grid. On the enforcement side, CMS has assessed 1 penalty totaling $43K against this provider. Reported nurse staffing runs 3.76 total hours per resident day (national average 3.86); RN hours specifically are 1.00 per resident day.
Classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership and operating as a "Medicare and Medicaid" provider, Thorne Crest Retirement Center falls into a category where comparative context matters. Reported nursing staff turnover at this facility is 72.7% (CMS payroll-based measure).
Why sub-scores and the CMS methodology matter
The overall score is a composite of three weighted sub-ratings published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: health inspection results, staffing levels, and quality measures. Because CMS caps the overall score at the health-inspection tier and then adjusts up or down based on staffing and quality, the sub-scores often tell a sharper story than the headline star count alone, a 3-star facility with weak inspection history reads differently from one held back by thin staffing.
National research consistently shows that ownership structure, staffing hours, and turnover are the three operational levers that correlate most strongly with resident outcomes, ratings and fines are lagging indicators of those upstream choices. The staffing metric in particular is the one most strongly tied to resident outcomes in peer-reviewed literature.
For families evaluating this facility, the CMS record should be read alongside a site visit, direct conversation with current residents and their families, and review of the state health department's most recent inspection report, the star rating is a starting point, not a verdict. All data on this page is sourced from CMS Provider Data and the Nursing Home Compare program; always verify the same record on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state survey agency before making placement decisions.
Deficiency History (36 most recent)
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Jun 12, 2026
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 11, 2026
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Category: Environmental Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Category: Administration Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Category: Administration Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Corrected: Mar 6, 2026
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 19, 2025
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Oct 10, 2025
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Oct 10, 2025
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Oct 10, 2025
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Oct 10, 2025
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 8, 2024
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 17, 2024
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 8, 2024
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 8, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: May 29, 2024
Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Category: Administration Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 15, 2023
Quality Measures
| Measure | Type | Score | Used in Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | Long Stay | 17.0% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | Long Stay | 3.4% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | Long Stay | 2.0% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | Long Stay | 4.6% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | Long Stay | 23.4% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | Long Stay | 3.5% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | Long Stay | 11.7% | Yes |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | Short Stay | 1.6% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | Long Stay | 3.0% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | Long Stay | 0.7% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | Long Stay | 0.0% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Long Stay | 99.3% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | Long Stay | 8.8% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Long Stay | 97.2% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | Long Stay | 37.7% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Short Stay | 96.8% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Short Stay | 85.4% | No |
Penalty History 1 penalties totaling $43K
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2024 | Fine | $43K |
Nationwide facilities with similar scale or staffing
Two data-derived peer sets for Thorne Crest Retirement Center, both outside MN so the neighborhoods are not the same-state geography list below.
Similar bed count
Nearest CMS certified bed counts outside MN (52 beds here).
Similar staffing hours
Nearest CMS adjusted total nurse hours per resident day outside MN (4.03 here).
Nearby Nursing Homes in MN
337 other nursing homes are on record in MN; 6 are shown here.
Understanding Nursing Home Data
What the CMS records show for Thorne Crest Retirement Center
The health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings above often diverge from the CMS overall headline. Use those components and the inspection findings to read the full file, not the overall star alone.
- The MN registry aggregates state averages and the highest-rated homes in this cohort. View MN registry
- Peer homes near 52 beds show how CMS stars vary at a similar scale in MN. Compare a similar-size peer
- CMS publishes separate fields for inspections, nurse staffing hours, and quality measures; the guide explains how each star is computed. How CMS ratings work
CMS refreshes Nursing Home Compare quarterly (current extract: August 2026). PlainNursing describes published records; it does not establish suitability, availability, admissions, or individual outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall CMS rating for Thorne Crest Retirement Center?
Where does Thorne Crest Retirement Center rank among nursing homes in MN?
What are the staffing levels at Thorne Crest Retirement Center?
How many beds does Thorne Crest Retirement Center have?
Does Thorne Crest Retirement Center have any deficiencies on record?
Has Thorne Crest Retirement Center received any fines or penalties?
Who owns Thorne Crest Retirement Center?
When was Thorne Crest Retirement Center last inspected?
What quality measures are tracked for Thorne Crest Retirement Center?
Data Sources
Data source: CMS Nursing Home Compare. Ratings, staffing, deficiency, quality measure, and penalty data are from CMS Provider Data. For informational purposes only. Verify the same CCN on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state health department.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
