St Marks Living
400 15th Avenue Southwest, Austin, MN 55912 · Mower County · 45 certified beds · avg 35 residents/day · certified since Dec 1, 1986
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
Health inspection rating: ★☆☆☆☆1/5 · CMS overall rating: 1/5
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)
▲ Immediate jeopardy, one-off · Mar 2, 2026 · F-0689 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Why it matters: This is one of the most common citations and directly relates to falls and injuries, which can be devastating for older adults.
Severity (J): Inspectors found a situation that put a resident's life or safety in immediate danger, affecting one or a few residents. The facility must fix it immediately — these citations often come with large fines.
Corrected: Apr 2, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Mar 2, 2026 · F-0686 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Why it matters: Bedsores are painful, can become deeply infected, and in serious cases can be life-threatening.
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: Apr 2, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Mar 2, 2026 · 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: Apr 2, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Feb 21, 2025 · F-0690 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Why it matters: Poor continence and catheter care leads to infections, skin breakdown, and loss of dignity.
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: Feb 3, 2025 (Past Non-Compliance)
All citations in the current public record (30)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2026 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Jun 16, 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. |
| Jun 16, 2026 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not have a working program to monitor how antibiotics are used. Tracking antibiotic use helps make sure these drugs are given only when needed and remain effective. |
| Jun 16, 2026 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not keep its building and grounds safe, functional, clean, and comfortable for residents, staff, and visitors. |
| Jun 16, 2026 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives. |
| Jun 16, 2026 | 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. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | ▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, one-off | The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. · from a complaint |
| Mar 2, 2026 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. · from a complaint |
| Mar 2, 2026 | ▲ 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 |
| Mar 2, 2026 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not run an ongoing quality assurance committee that reviews care problems and creates plans to fix them. · from a complaint |
| Mar 2, 2026 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away. · from a complaint |
| Mar 2, 2026 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint |
| Apr 3, 2025 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not electronically submit complete and accurate staffing information to the government, based on payroll and other verifiable records. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not have a working program to monitor how antibiotics are used. Tracking antibiotic use helps make sure these drugs are given only when needed and remain effective. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 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. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide the care needed to maintain or improve residents' movement and flexibility — such as range-of-motion exercises — leading to avoidable decline. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide care that took into account residents' past trauma or their cultural backgrounds. Care is supposed to be sensitive to what residents have lived through and where they come from. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations. |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 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. · from a complaint |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 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. · from a complaint |
| Feb 21, 2025 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections. · from a complaint |
| Feb 21, 2025 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. · from a complaint |
| Feb 21, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights. · from a complaint |
| Feb 21, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint |
| Dec 21, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away. |
| Dec 21, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not give the resident or their representative written notice of how long it would hold the resident's bed during a hospital stay or approved leave. |
| Dec 21, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations. |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (9 → 6).
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | D |
| 2025 | 15 | 1 | G ▲ |
| 2026 | 12 | 3 | J ▲ |
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)
1 fine totaling $127,000, plus 2 Medicare payment denial periods.
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026 | Fine | $127,000 |
| Mar 2, 2026 | Payment Denial | 35 days from Apr 2, 2026 |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Payment Denial | 1 days from May 21, 2025 |
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) | 5.23 | 4.83 | 3.95 | top 28% in Minnesota; top 10% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.77 | 1.22 | 0.69 | bottom 10% in Minnesota; top 30% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 4.89 | 4.27 | 3.50 | top 18% in Minnesota; top 7% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.33 | 0.69 | 0.48 | bottom 9% in Minnesota; bottom 37% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 51.8 | 42.2 | 45.8 | bottom 23% in Minnesota; bottom 32% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 66.7 | 38.6 | 42.9 | bottom 12% in Minnesota; bottom 15% 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 4.70, RN 0.69, weekend 4.39. 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: 2/5 · long-stay residents: 1/5 · short-stay residents: 4/5
Who owns this facility
Non profit - Corporation
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvarado, Megan | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/11/2024 |
| Alvarado, Megan | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/11/2024 |
| Braaten, James | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/18/2019 |
| Brandenburg, Emily | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/01/2025 |
| Dahlback, Duane | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Donahue, Nancy | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2021 |
| Ellefson, Crystal | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Ellefson, Crystal | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Gray, John Jr. | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Gullickson, Gayle | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Johnson, Bradley | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/17/2008 |
| Johnson, Bradley | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/17/2008 |
| Langbehn, Jennifer | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Langbehn, Jennifer | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Nelson, Harlan | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Nelson, Harlan | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Partners Senior Living Options LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Ritter, Craig | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Ritter, Craig | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
| Rocheleau, Kimberly | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/01/2024 |
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 is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
- "How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
- "What systems do you use to prevent medication errors, and what happens when one occurs?"
- "How do you care for residents with incontinence or catheters, and what do you do to prevent urinary tract infections?"
- "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
- "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
- "Who oversees antibiotic use here, and how do you decide when an antibiotic is really needed?"
- "Can we tour the whole building today, including resident bathrooms and common areas, not just the lobby?"
- "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 | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart Care Center | 0.7 mi | Austin, MN | ★★☆☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Good Samaritan Society - Comforcare | 2.0 mi | Austin, MN | ★★★★★ | 4/5 | |
| Prairie Manor Care Center | 15.5 mi | Blooming Prairie, MN | ★★★★★ | 4/5 | |
| Field Crest Care Center | 17.8 mi | Hayfield, MN | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Stacyville Community Nursing Home | 18.1 mi | Stacyville, IA | ★★★☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Lutheran Retirement Home | 18.5 mi | Northwood, IA | ★★★☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Thorne Crest Retirement Center | 18.9 mi | Albert Lea, MN | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Good Samaritan - Saint Ansgar | 19.3 mi | Saint Ansgar, IA | ★★★★★ | 4/5 | |
| Good Samaritan Society - Albert Lea | 19.4 mi | Albert Lea, MN | ★★★★☆ | 3/5 |
Compare this facility with the 3 closest →
Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 245369.