Bethany Life
212 Lafayette Street, Story City, IA 50248 · (515) 733-4325
Non profit - Other · 126 certified beds
Bethany Life has a 2-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in March 2026, found 6 citations, 1 for actual harm or immediate jeopardy (the Iowa average is 6.5). It was fined 2 times in the last three years, $52,329 in all.
Medicare ratings
| Overall ratingStarts from the health inspection rating, then goes up or down a star for a 5-star or 1-star staffing or quality rating. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
| Health inspectionsFrom the two most recent standard inspections and three years of complaint inspections, compared with other homes in the same state. | ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars · Much below average |
| Quality measuresFrom 15 measures of how residents do, such as falls with major injury, pressure ulcers, hospital stays and getting home after a short stay. | ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars · Average |
| StaffingFrom payroll records of nurse hours per resident, adjusted for how much care residents need, and staff turnover. | ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars · Much above average |
How to read a nursing home's star ratings
Most recent health inspection
The standard health inspection on March 5, 2026 found 6 citations. What an inspection citation means
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.March 5, 2026 · F0689 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.March 5, 2026 · F0628 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.March 5, 2026 · F0658 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.March 5, 2026 · F0695 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.March 5, 2026 · F0710 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.March 5, 2026 · F0865 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Complaint inspections, last three years
Inspections after complaints found 19 citations.
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.February 13, 2026 · F0550 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.January 15, 2026 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.December 22, 2025 · F0760 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.November 20, 2025 · F0550 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.November 20, 2025 · F0609 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.November 20, 2025 · F0610 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.October 8, 2025 · F0760 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.June 16, 2025 · F0600 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.July 25, 2024 · F0725 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.May 7, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.April 3, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Some
- Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.April 3, 2024 · F0725 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.April 3, 2024 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.March 4, 2024 · F0600 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.March 4, 2024 · F0610 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.March 4, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.March 4, 2024 · F0725 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Many
- Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.December 4, 2023 · F0658 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- 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.November 2, 2023 · F0758 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Fines and payment denials
- Fine of $10,628February 13, 2026
- Fine of $41,701March 4, 2024
- Medicare payment denial for 47 daysStarting March 28, 2024
Nurse staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, as the home reports them to Medicare through payroll records.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Iowa average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing | 4.11 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses (RN) | 0.81 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurses (LPN) | 0.31 | 0.56 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aides | 2.99 | 2.52 | 2.32 |
| Total nursing staff turnover | 38.5% | 44% | 45.8% |
About this home
| Ownership | Non profit - Other |
| Certified beds | 126 |
| Average residents per day | 107.2 |
| Inside a hospital | No |
| Continuing care retirement community | Yes |
Nursing homes nearby
- Green Hills Health Care Center Ames · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- Northridge Village Ames · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- Story Medical Senior Care Nevada · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- Rolling Green Village Care Center Nevada · ★★★★★ 3 out of 5 stars
- Zearing Health Care, LLC Zearing · ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars
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Data from Medicare (CMS), updated October 2026, from Bethany Life on Medicare's Care Compare and the CMS Provider Data Catalog. ParentNextStep isn't affiliated with Medicare or CMS.