Bethany Life
212 Lafayette Street · Story City, IA · 50248 · 5157334325
126 certified beds Non profit - Other Part of a CCRC
Why this verdict
- Inspection record is far worse than the national median (deficiency count and severity).
- Federal penalties on record: $10,628 in fines in the last 24 months.
- 4 citations involved actual harm to residents.
- Inspection results have improved across recent cycles.
The complete Safety Report — $19
Everything on this page plus the full citation-by-citation history with inspector findings, the complete penalty record, staffing vs benchmarks, side-by-side nearby comparisons, and the printable tour checklist. One PDF, emailed in minutes, yours to keep and share with family.
Red flags
1 immediate-jeopardy citation in prior inspection cycles
Serious past findings — check whether the underlying problems were fixed and stayed fixed.
Cited under the freedom-from-abuse rule
Cited 2 times under F600 (freedom from abuse/neglect) below the actual-harm level — worth asking about on a tour.
2 actual-harm citations in the most recent cycle
Inspectors found deficiencies that caused real harm to residents, beyond potential-harm paperwork findings.
Medicare/Medicaid payments were denied
CMS refused payment for new admissions for a period — one of its strongest enforcement tools.
Score breakdown
Quality-measure stars are deliberately excluded — they're largely self-reported by facilities. Full method.
CMS ratings & staffing
Overall: 1 of 5 Inspections: 1 of 5 Staffing: 4 of 5 Quality measures: 4 of 5
| Total nurse hours / resident-day | 3.83 | 3.48 min · 4.1 strong |
|---|---|---|
| RN hours / resident-day | 0.75 | 0.55–0.75 |
| Weekend hours / resident-day | 3.54 | ≈ weekday level |
| Nursing turnover / year | 38% | median 45% |
| Fines (3-yr window) | 2 · $52,329 |
Inspection citations (33 in the current record)
-
Actual harm · G March 5, 2026
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Potential for harm · D March 5, 2026
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Resident Rights
-
Potential for harm · D March 5, 2026
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
-
Potential for harm · D March 5, 2026
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Potential for harm · D March 5, 2026
Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Nursing and Physician Services
-
Potential for harm · D March 5, 2026
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Corrected March 24, 2026 · Administration
-
Actual harm · G February 13, 2026 · found via complaint
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Corrected January 30, 2026 · Resident Rights
-
Potential for harm · D January 15, 2026 · found via complaint
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Corrected January 26, 2026 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
-
Potential for harm · D December 22, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Corrected December 31, 2025 · Pharmacy Service
-
Potential for harm · D November 20, 2025 · found via complaint
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Corrected November 21, 2025 · Resident Rights
-
Potential for harm · D November 20, 2025 · found via complaint
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Corrected November 21, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
-
Potential for harm · D November 20, 2025 · found via complaint
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Corrected November 21, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
-
Potential for harm · E October 8, 2025 · found via complaint
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Corrected October 9, 2025 · Pharmacy Service
-
Potential for harm · D June 16, 2025 · found via complaint
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Corrected June 25, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
-
Potential for harm · D July 25, 2024 · found via complaint
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Corrected August 22, 2024 · Nursing and Physician Services
-
Actual harm · G May 7, 2024 · found via complaint
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected May 14, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Immediate jeopardy · K April 3, 2024 · found via complaint
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected May 14, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Potential for harm · E April 3, 2024 · found via complaint
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Nursing and Physician Services
-
Potential for harm · D April 3, 2024 · found via complaint
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
-
Actual harm · G March 4, 2024 · found via complaint
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected May 14, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Potential for harm · E March 4, 2024 · found via complaint
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
-
Potential for harm · D March 4, 2024
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Resident Rights
-
Potential for harm · D March 4, 2024
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
-
Potential for harm · D March 4, 2024
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
-
Potential for harm · E March 4, 2024
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Corrected April 18, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
Showing the 25 most recent. The Safety Report includes every citation with full findings.
Federal penalties
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| February 13, 2026 | Fine | $10,628 |
| March 4, 2024 | Fine | $41,701 |
| March 4, 2024 | Payment Denial | 47 days |
Family & resident reviews — a separate signal, never mixed into the score
No approved reviews yet. If your family has experience with this facility, yours could be the review that helps the next family decide.
Sign in to share your family's experience — reviews are moderated and never affect the Safety Score.
Source: CMS Care Compare (public domain), data as of June 1, 2026 · CCN 165424 · certified since September 1, 2000. The score is a screen, not a verdict on any one resident's experience — read how it's computed, then visit in person.