Pillar of Cedar Valley
1410 West Dunkerton Road, Waterloo, IA 50703
Waterloo, Iowa · CMS verdict
Pillar of Cedar Valley holds a 2 of 5 CMS overall star rating - below the Iowa state average of 3.1, reflecting below-average quality on the federal five-star scale.
The rating and the PlainElderCare Index below summarize federal inspection, staffing, and outcome data, they measure specific, documented dimensions of this facility, not a holistic verdict on the care your family member would receive. Visit in person, talk with staff and current residents' families, and weigh your family member's specific needs before choosing.
Pillar of Cedar Valley in Waterloo, Iowa holds a CMS overall rating of 2 of 5 stars and a PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index of 48 of 100 (grade F). The 114-bed facility operates where a semi-private nursing-home room in Iowa runs a median of $9,277 per month. Figures are from CMS Nursing Home Compare.
PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index
A transparent composite of this facility's CMS Care Compare sub-ratings and its federal inspection record. It complements, and does not replace, the official CMS overall rating of 2 of 5 stars. How this is calculated.
How the 48 is built
Each segment is a dimension's weighted points toward the score, summing to 48.
Weights: health inspections 30%, staffing 25%, quality measures 25%, inspection record 20%; any dimension CMS has not published drops out and its weight redistributes (no silent deflation). Inspection record is benchmarked against all rated US nursing homes. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Data insights
Quality ratings
Pillar of Cedar Valley holds a CMS overall quality rating of 2 out of 5 stars, based on the most recent Care Compare release (data as of April 2026). CMS breaks this into three sub-ratings: health inspection (2/5), staffing (4/5), and quality measures (N/A).
What each sub-rating measures
The health inspection rating reflects on-site surveyor findings from the last three cycles. The staffing rating compares case-mix-adjusted nurse hours per resident day to national benchmarks, and quality measures aggregate 15 clinical indicators including pressure ulcers, falls with injury, and long-stay antipsychotic use.
Size and setting
Located in Waterloo, Iowa, this facility operates 114 certified beds with an average daily census of roughly 136 residents - an occupancy rate of about 119%. The facility is classified under non profit - corporation ownership, a designation that can influence staffing patterns, reinvestment decisions, and admissions policy. At roughly 119% occupancy, this facility is running near full capacity, worth confirming current bed availability directly before visiting.
Same-ownership peers
Within Iowa, Pillar of Cedar Valley is one of 128 non profit - corporation nursing homes CMS rates. Its 2-star overall rating sits below the non profit - corporation-segment average of 3.3 stars, ahead of roughly 12% of same-ownership peers in the state. Comparing a facility against its own ownership segment holds the business model roughly constant, which helps isolate facility-level performance from the staffing and reinvestment patterns that differ across for-profit, non-profit, and government operators.
Inspection record
On the regulatory side, federal and state surveyors have documented multiple deficiencies at this facility (24 total). CMS has levied no enforcement penalties over the equivalent window. This is a high deficiency count relative to most facilities; requesting the full survey report directly is the only way to see whether these are concentrated in one area or spread across the facility's operations.
Where these figures come from
The figures above come directly from the U.S. Centers for Medicare \& Medicaid Services Nursing Home Compare dataset for federal quality ratings, combined with the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey of more than 15,000 elder-care providers nationwide and U.S. Census American Community Survey income data. Cost figures are monthly medians, refreshed annually with each new CareScout release; quality ratings are refreshed quarterly from the CMS Provider Information File. Read these state and county medians as benchmarks, then verify current rates with individual providers and consult care managers before making placement decisions. See our methodology for source vintage.
How Pillar of Cedar Valley compares to Iowa
CMS five-star sub-ratings (0–5) for this facility against the Iowa facility-weighted average. Source: CMS Care Compare.
Bar = this facility's rating · vertical marker = Iowa state average. Higher is better on all four CMS measures.
Where Pillar of Cedar Valley ranks in Iowa
Among the 388 CMS-rated nursing homes in Iowa, Pillar of Cedar Valley’s 2-star overall rating is higher than 21% of them. The bars show how all Iowa homes spread across the CMS 1-to-5 scale; this facility’s band is highlighted.
63 Iowa homes share this 2-star rating. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Facility details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Beds | 114 |
| Residents | 136 |
| Ownership | Non profit - Corporation |
| County | Black Hawk |
| Penalties | 0 |
| Deficiencies | 24 |
Source: CMS Care Compare Nursing Homes (data as of April 2026)
What do families ask most?
What is the quality rating for Pillar of Cedar Valley? ▾
CMS rates Pillar of Cedar Valley at 2 out of 5 stars overall. The three sub-ratings behind that number: health inspection 2/5, staffing 4/5, quality measures N/A.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Iowa? ▾
The median cost for a semi-private nursing home room in Iowa is $9,277 per month ($111,325 annually). A private room averages $10,038 per month. Costs are from the CareScout 2025 survey.
What services does Pillar of Cedar Valley offer? ▾
Pillar of Cedar Valley is a skilled nursing facility with 114 beds with approximately 136 current residents. It operates under non profit - corporation ownership. The facility has recorded 24 deficiencies and 0 penalties in CMS inspections.
Does Pillar of Cedar Valley have any deficiencies or penalties? ▾
Pillar of Cedar Valley has multiple deficiencies (24 total) and 0 penalties recorded by CMS. A count this high is above what most facilities post; ask the facility directly for its plan of correction on the largest findings.
What are the alternatives to a nursing home in Iowa? ▾
In Iowa, alternatives include assisted living ($5,381/mo), home health aides ($7,836/mo), and adult day care ($1,614/mo).
Elder Care Guides
Explore PlainElderCare
Related Resources
Compare cost and CMS quality across the state on the Iowa elder-care overview, or see how facilities rank nationwide in our highest-rated states ranking.
Weigh nursing care against assisted living, home health, and adult day care, with national median costs, on our care types comparison, and learn how to fund it in our paying for elder care guide.
Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare. Provider ID: 165307.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.