Safety Report: Bethany Life

Story City, Iowa · Based on official CMS inspection records as of October 1, 2026.

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How to read this report. Every nursing home receives some citations. One citation does not mean a facility is unsafe. Look at how serious the findings were, whether the same problems keep coming back, and whether things are getting better or worse. Learn how inspections work.

Official ratings

Overall★★★★★
Health inspections★★★★★
Staffing★★★★★
Quality measures★★★★★
Long-stay quality★★★★★
Short-stay quality★★★★★

Medicare's star ratings compare nursing homes within the same state for health inspections. A 5-star facility performed better than most in its state; a 1-star facility performed worse than most.

Stars are calculated by CMS, not by us. We do not create our own safety score.

Serious documented violations

1Immediate jeopardy citations (severity J–L)
4Actual harm citations (severity G–I)
9Requirements cited on more than one inspection
G
Government finding: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors rated this “actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy).” The problem affected one or a very small number of residents or staff. Inspection of March 5, 2026. Facility reported correction by March 24, 2026.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F689
G
Government finding: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors rated this “actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy).” The problem affected one or a very small number of residents or staff. Inspection of February 13, 2026, during a complaint investigation. Facility reported correction by January 30, 2026.
Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F550
G
Government finding: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors rated this “actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy).” The problem affected one or a very small number of residents or staff. Inspection of May 7, 2024, during a complaint investigation. Facility reported correction by May 14, 2024.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F689
K
Government finding: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors rated this “immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.” The problem affected more than a very small number of residents, or happened repeatedly. Inspection of April 3, 2024, during a complaint investigation. Facility reported correction by May 14, 2024.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F689
G
Government finding: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors rated this “actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy).” The problem affected one or a very small number of residents or staff. Inspection of March 4, 2024, during a complaint investigation. Facility reported correction by May 14, 2024.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F689

Citations by topic

5Abuse, neglect & exploitation
1Infection control
4Medications & pharmacy
4Accidents & supervision

Topics use CMS's own deficiency categories; “accidents & supervision” counts tag F689 (free of accident hazards / adequate supervision). Counts cover the last three inspection cycles, including complaint investigations.

Is it getting better or worse?

More citations in the most recent cycle (14) than in the cycle before (1).

Two cycles ago
3 serious
Prior cycle
none serious
Most recent cycle
2 serious

An inspection cycle is roughly one year and includes the standard inspection plus complaint investigations. Counts depend partly on how many complaint investigations occurred, so treat small changes with caution. Red bars include at least one serious citation.

Staffing and rating trends will appear as we collect monthly CMS releases. We have one month so far, so a staffing trend cannot yet be determined.

Repeat findings

These requirements were cited on more than one inspection date in the last three cycles.

RequirementTimes citedInspection dates
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (F689)4March 5, 2026; May 7, 2024; April 3, 2024; March 4, 2024
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (F550)3February 13, 2026; November 20, 2025; March 4, 2024
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. (F725)3July 25, 2024; April 3, 2024; March 4, 2024
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. (F684)2August 12, 2026; March 4, 2024
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (F658)2March 5, 2026; December 4, 2023
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. (F842)2January 15, 2026; April 3, 2024
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (F760)2December 22, 2025; October 8, 2025
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. (F610)2November 20, 2025; March 4, 2024
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (F600)2June 16, 2025; March 4, 2024

Fines and enforcement

DateTypeAmount / length
February 13, 2026Fine$10,628
March 4, 2024Payment DenialPayment denial for 47 days, starting March 28, 2024
March 4, 2024Fine$41,701

Federal civil money penalties and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials. State-level penalties may not be included.

Complete inspection history

34 citations across 14 inspection dates.

August 12, 2026 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · complaint · corrected August 13, 2026
March 5, 2026 — 6 citations (includes serious)
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · corrected March 24, 2026
D
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Administration Deficiencies · F865 · corrected March 24, 2026
D
Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F710 · corrected March 24, 2026
D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F695 · corrected March 24, 2026
D
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F658 · corrected March 24, 2026
D
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F628 · corrected March 24, 2026
February 13, 2026 — 1 citation (includes serious) · complaint investigation
G
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F550 · complaint · corrected January 30, 2026
January 15, 2026 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F842 · complaint · corrected January 26, 2026
December 22, 2025 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F760 · complaint · corrected December 31, 2025
November 20, 2025 — 3 citations · complaint investigation
D
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F610 · complaint · corrected November 21, 2025
D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F609 · complaint · corrected November 21, 2025
D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F550 · complaint · corrected November 21, 2025
October 8, 2025 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
E
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F760 · complaint · corrected October 9, 2025
June 16, 2025 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F600 · complaint · corrected June 25, 2025
July 25, 2024 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F725 · complaint · corrected August 22, 2024
May 7, 2024 — 1 citation (includes serious) · complaint investigation
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · complaint · corrected May 14, 2024
April 3, 2024 — 3 citations (includes serious) · complaint investigation
K
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · complaint · corrected May 14, 2024
E
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F725 · complaint · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F842 · complaint · corrected April 18, 2024
March 4, 2024 — 12 citations (includes serious)
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · complaint · corrected May 14, 2024
F
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Widespread · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F725 · complaint · corrected April 18, 2024
E
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · F804 · corrected April 18, 2024
E
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.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F761 · corrected April 18, 2024
E
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F610 · complaint · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F880 · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · F803 · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F656 · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F600 · complaint · corrected April 18, 2024
D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F550 · corrected April 18, 2024
B
Ensure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
No actual harm, potential for minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F661 · corrected April 18, 2024
December 4, 2023 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F658 · complaint · corrected December 27, 2023
November 2, 2023 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F758 · complaint · corrected November 22, 2023

Source: CMS Health Deficiencies dataset (data as of October 1, 2026); full inspection narratives on Medicare Care Compare

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