Bethany Life
Bethany Life is a non profit - church related facility in Story City, IA with 126 certified beds and a 1-star overall CMS rating. The inspection file holds 30 deficiency records. Total penalties: $42K.
212 Lafayette Street, Story City, IA 50248
Phone: 5157334325
Overall CMS Rating
vs 3.0 national avg
The verdict
Bethany Life holds a 1-star CMS overall rating — below the 3.0-star national average, with nurse staffing below the national norm. 3 inspection findings reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.
- 1 / 5
- CMS overall rating (nat'l avg 3.0)
- 3.88
- Nursing hrs/resident-day (nat'l 3.89)
- 30
- Inspection findings on file · 3 serious
- $42K
- Federal penalties (1)
CMS combines health inspections, nurse-staffing levels, and clinical quality measures into the overall star rating. Read the components below — they often tell a sharper story than the headline.
Health Inspection
Staffing
Quality Measures
Long-Stay Quality
Facility Information
- Provider Number
- 165424
- Ownership
- Non profit - Church related
- Provider Type
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Beds
- 126
- Residents
- 118
- In Hospital
- No
- County
- Story
- Last Inspection
- Feb 13, 2025
Staffing Data
- RN Hours
- 0.62 (nat'l avg: 0.68)
- LPN Hours
- 0.41
- CNA Hours
- 2.85
- Total Nursing Hours
- 3.88 (nat'l avg: 3.89)
- PT Hours
- 0.04
- Nursing Turnover
- 36.6%
- RN Turnover
- 39.1%
What the CMS Record Reveals About Bethany Life
Bethany Life operates 126 certified beds in Story City, IA with approximately 118 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 1 out of 5 stars. The overall score is a composite of three weighted sub-ratings published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: health inspection results (1★), staffing levels (4★), and quality measures (4★). Because CMS caps the overall score at the health-inspection tier and then adjusts up or down based on staffing and quality, the sub-scores often tell a sharper story than the headline star count alone — a 3-star facility with weak inspection history reads differently from one held back by thin staffing.
The inspection file contains 30 deficiency records from recent surveys, of which 3 reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy threshold on the CMS scope-and-severity grid. On the enforcement side, CMS has assessed 1 penalty totaling $42K against this provider, a tangible indicator that regulators moved beyond citation into financial consequence. Staffing is reported at 3.88 total nursing hours per resident day (national average 3.89), with RN coverage at 0.62 per resident day — the single staffing metric most strongly tied to resident outcomes in peer-reviewed literature.
Classified as "Non profit - Church related" ownership and operating as a "Medicare and Medicaid" provider, Bethany Life falls into a category where comparative context matters. National research consistently shows that ownership structure, staffing hours, and turnover are the three operational levers that correlate most strongly with resident outcomes — ratings and fines are lagging indicators of those upstream choices. Reported nursing turnover at this facility is 36.6%, within a range generally associated with stable care teams. For families evaluating this facility, the CMS record should be read alongside a site visit, direct conversation with current residents and their families, and review of the state health department's most recent inspection report — the star rating is a starting point, not a verdict. All data on this page is sourced from CMS Provider Data and the Nursing Home Compare program; always verify details directly with the facility or your state survey agency before making placement decisions.
Deficiency History (30 most recent)
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 31, 2025
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 21, 2025
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 21, 2025
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 21, 2025
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Oct 9, 2025
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Jun 25, 2025
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Corrected: Aug 22, 2024
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: May 14, 2024
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: May 14, 2024
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: May 14, 2024
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
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.
Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 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.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Ensure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Apr 18, 2024
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Dec 27, 2023
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.
Category: Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Corrected: Nov 22, 2023
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Jan 2, 2023
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Jan 2, 2023
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Jan 2, 2023
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Jan 2, 2023
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Jan 2, 2023
Quality Measures
| Measure | Type | Score | Used in Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | Long Stay | 25.6% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | Long Stay | 3.0% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | Long Stay | 0.5% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | Long Stay | 2.3% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | Long Stay | 0.7% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | Long Stay | 0.0% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | Long Stay | 4.8% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Long Stay | 98.9% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Short Stay | 96.9% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | Short Stay | 0.8% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | Long Stay | 25.8% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | Long Stay | 22.6% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Long Stay | 97.3% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Short Stay | 95.6% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | Long Stay | 4.2% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | Long Stay | 29.1% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | Long Stay | 23.1% | Yes |
Penalty History 1 penalties totaling $42K
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 4, 2024 | Fine | $42K |
| Mar 4, 2024 | Payment Denial | - |
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Understanding Nursing Home Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Data source: CMS Nursing Home Compare. Ratings, staffing, deficiency, quality measure, and penalty data are from CMS Provider Data. For informational purposes only. Always verify information directly with the facility or your state health department.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.