Lake Ridge Care Center of Buffalo, INC.

Name: Lake Ridge Care Center of Buffalo, INC.
Address: 310 LAKE BOULEVARD, Buffalo, MN, 55313, US
Telephone: 7634044603

310 Lake Boulevard, Buffalo, MN 55313 · Wright County · 56 certified beds · avg 51 residents/day · certified since Feb 1, 1988

Part of chain: CASSIA (16 facilities, chain avg rating 4.4★)

4/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

4.49

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · Dec 6, 2024 · F-0760 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication.

Why it matters: A serious medication error can cause real harm, hospitalization, or worse.

Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Corrected: Jan 7, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (9)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jan 8, 2026	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Jan 8, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not make reasonable adjustments to fit each resident's individual needs and preferences — things like call buttons within reach, preferred wake-up times, or accessible room setups.
Jan 8, 2026	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	The facility did not make its inspection results easy for residents to see, or made it hard for residents to contact advocacy agencies like the ombudsman.
Dec 6, 2024	▲ G · Actual harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. · from a complaint
Dec 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not coordinate resident assessments with the state's pre-admission screening program for mental illness and intellectual disabilities, or failed to refer residents for the special services they need.
Dec 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.
Dec 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Dec 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Oct 18, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not allow residents to take their own medications when a clinical review showed they could do so safely. Residents have this right if their care team determines it's appropriate.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (5 → 3).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	1	0	D
2024	5	1	G ▲
2026	3	0	F

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Minnesota avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	4.49	4.83	3.95	bottom 37% in Minnesota; top 23% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.14	1.22	0.69	top 48% in Minnesota; top 11% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	4.02	4.27	3.50	bottom 40% in Minnesota; top 22% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.68	0.69	0.48	top 40% in Minnesota; top 17% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	48.3	42.2	45.8	bottom 31% in Minnesota; bottom 41% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	38.9	38.6	42.9	bottom 46% in Minnesota; top 45% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 4.38, RN 1.11, weekend 3.92. Staffing rating: 4/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 2/5

Who owns this facility

Non profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Elim Care INC	Organization	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	100%	01/29/1986
Cassia	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2020
Dahl, Robert	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	12/05/2003
Kern, Matthew	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	02/28/2019
Leff, William	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	05/20/2004
Nelson, Jason	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	05/02/2011
Nye, Gerald	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	06/13/2019
Peterson, Roland	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	11/14/2013
Tangedahl, Guy	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	05/17/2012
Youngquist, Kathryn	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	12/05/2003

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"What systems do you use to prevent medication errors, and what happens when one occurs?"
"Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
"Can you give me examples of how you adjust daily routines and room setups to fit each resident's preferences?"
"Where do you post your latest state inspection results and the ombudsman's contact information?"
"How do you identify and arrange specialized services for residents with mental health conditions or disabilities?"
"Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection
Park View Health Care Center	0.7 mi	Buffalo, MN	★★★★★	5/5
The Estates at Delano LLC	10.1 mi	Delano, MN	★★★★☆	4/5
Cura of Monticello	10.1 mi	Monticello, MN	★★☆☆☆	3/5
Good Samaritan Society - Howard Lake	12.4 mi	Howard Lake, MN	★★★★☆	3/5
Annandale Care Center INC	13.1 mi	Annandale, MN	★★★★★	5/5
Haven Homes of Maple Plain	15.4 mi	Maple Plain, MN	★★★★★	5/5
The Gardens at Winsted LLC	16.3 mi	Winsted, MN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Cokato Manor	16.7 mi	Cokato, MN	★★★★★	4/5
Guardian Angels Care Center	18.1 mi	Elk River, MN	★★☆☆☆	2/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Buffalo →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 245513.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Lake Ridge Care Center of Buffalo, INC.

310 Lake Boulevard, Buffalo, MN 55313 · 7634044603

Health inspection rating 4/5 · CMS overall 4/5· Fines (3y): $0

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Dec 6, 2024 (F-0760, Actual harm, one-off): The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What systems do you use to prevent medication errors, and what happens when one occurs?"
☐ "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
☐ "Can you give me examples of how you adjust daily routines and room setups to fit each resident's preferences?"
☐ "Where do you post your latest state inspection results and the ombudsman's contact information?"
☐ "How do you identify and arrange specialized services for residents with mental health conditions or disabilities?"
☐ "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 245513 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)