Overview
Thorne Crest Retirement Center has a Medicare overall rating of 1 out of 5, below the Minnesota average of 3.2. It ranks 3rd of 3 nursing homes in Albert Lea. Its strongest area is quality of care (4 of 5), and its weakest is health inspections (1 of 5).
Residents receive about 3.5 hours of nursing care per day, fewer than at 87% of nursing homes in Minnesota (the state average is 4.3 hours). Of that, 0.7 hours come from registered nurses.
Its most recent standard inspection, on January 27, 2026, found 18 health deficiencies, more than the Minnesota average of 7.0. 4 of them came from complaint investigations. Medicare records 1 fine totaling $43,082 in the past three years.
Thorne Crest Retirement Center is a nonprofit facility with 52 certified beds, caring for about 44 residents on an average day. It accepts both Medicare and Medicaid and has participated since 1987.
Medicare ratings
- Health inspections
- Quality of care
- Staffing
Source: Medicare Care Compare, data as of October 1, 2026.
How it compares nearby
Ranked by Medicare overall rating, then quality, inspection and staffing ratings.
Top 100%
Top 84%
Top 86%
Family reviews
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Inspections and penalties
- Most recent standard inspection
- January 27, 2026
- Health deficiencies cited
- 18
- Complaint-related deficiencies
- 4
- Fines in the last 3 years
- 1 totaling $43,082
- Payment denials
- 0
- Total penalties
- 1
Staffing
Average hours of care each resident receives per day.
- All nursing staff3.46 hrs
- Registered nurses (RN)0.72 hrs
- Licensed practical nurses (LPN)0.47 hrs
- Nurse aides2.27 hrs
- Physical therapists0.07 hrs
Facility details
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Certified beds
- 52
- Average residents per day
- 44
- Participates in
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Medicare/Medicaid since
- February 1, 1987
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- No
- Changed ownership in last 12 months
- No
- Resident or family council
- Both
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes