Northcrest Specialty Care

Official Government Ratings

Care Quality Indicators

How Northcrest Specialty Care Compares

Northcrest Specialty Care is a 94-bed nonprofit nursing facility in Waterloo, Iowa. It holds an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars, below the Iowa average of 3.1 stars. Its strongest area is quality measures (4 stars), while health inspections (2 stars) is its weakest. Its rate of falls resulting in major injury (1.9%) is below the Iowa average of 3.7%, a favorable sign for resident care. With 94 certified beds, it operates near capacity at roughly 93% occupied.

Among the 6 nursing facilities ElderVoice tracks in Waterloo, 1 hold a 5-star rating and the local average is 2.3 stars.

By the numbers vs. Iowa average

• Long-stay antipsychotic medication use: 19.7% — worse than the Iowa average of 19.4%.
• Falls with major injury: 1.9% — better than the Iowa average of 3.7% (49% lower).
• High-risk pressure ulcers: 4.2% — better than the Iowa average of 4.3%.
• Short-stay rehospitalization: 13.7% — better than the Iowa average of 21.6% (37% lower).

Comparisons use CMS Care Compare data (updated May 4, 2026) measured against Iowa averages across 390 facilities tracked by ElderVoice.

The Senior Community Around Waterloo

Waterloo sits in Black Hawk County, where adults 65 and older make up about 16.5% of the population — a share of seniors in line with Iowa as a whole (17.1% statewide). The area's median household income is lower than the state average, reflecting a more affordable area.

Residents 65+

21,730 (16.5%)

Median age

35.4 years

Median household income

$54,774

Median home value

$150,200

Demographics for Black Hawk County from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Provided as local context for families comparing care options near Waterloo.

Facility Details