Bethany Life
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 66 Google reviews
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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Abuse citation on record
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (7 vs median 5)
Bottom 25% in IA · Below recommended RN staffing · Above average staffing · $41,701 in fines · Abuse citation
What this means for your family
Bethany Life is highly regarded for its home-like environment and compassionate care, particularly for memory care residents. However, families should be aware of reported staffing challenges; we recommend asking facility management specifically about current staffing ratios and how they ensure timely responses to call lights during weekends and evening shifts.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
66 reviews on Google“Bethany Life is widely praised for its beautiful, home-like environment and compassionate staff who treat residents with respect and individual attention. However, some families have raised serious concerns regarding short staffing levels, which have reportedly led to delayed response times for call lights and negative resident outcomes.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Beautiful, modern, and clean facility
- Home-like 'household' environment
- Compassionate and attentive nursing staff
- Strong focus on resident dignity and respect
Concerns
- Extended wait times for call lights (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Short staffing impacting resident care (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 69 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1It's wonderful to see how beautiful and modern the facility looks; how do you maintain that home-like 'household' environment for the residents?
- 2We've noticed many people mention how compassionate the nursing staff is; how do you ensure that level of attentive care is consistent throughout every shift?
- 3With the recent health inspection findings, what specific steps is the facility taking to address those deficiencies and improve overall care?
- 4How do you manage call light response times to ensure residents aren't waiting long when they need assistance?
- 5Can you tell us more about the daily activities and social opportunities available to help residents stay engaged with the community?
- 6In the event of a medical emergency during the night, what is the protocol for getting immediate care for a resident?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“I notice, when I am in the hallway or in the bistro, all the staff go out of their way to say hello to all the residents and call them all by name. That sounds like a small thing, but it is not.”
“The Households of Bethany are just like home, nothing 'institutional' anywhere. Hallway decor is filled with interesting antiques and the chapel is warm and inviting.”
“My mom is a resident in the Households of Bethany, and I feel that she has been getting the best of care since she moved there in 2017. She has issues with dementia and they have been a godsend.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
9
measures
7
measures
1
measures
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Bethany Life has concerning patterns of family complaints about safety hazards, nursing staffing shortages, and medication errors that persist over time. Multiple families have filed complaints about accident prevention, inadequate nursing staff levels, and medication management issues, with these problems recurring across surveys from 2023 through 2026. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the repeated nature of core care issues suggests ongoing challenges with maintaining consistent safety and staffing standards.
Mar 5, 2026Routine10
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Egress Deficiencies
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
Administration Deficiencies
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Feb 13, 2026Complaint1
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Jan 15, 2026Complaint1
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Dec 22, 2025Complaint1
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Nov 20, 2025Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Oct 8, 2025Complaint1
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Feb 13, 2026
$10,628
Fine
Mar 4, 2024
$41,701
Payment Denial
Mar 4, 2024
47-day denial
State Inspection History
State Inspections
Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing
Jun 11, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Apr 2, 2026InspectionClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Mar 5, 2026InspectionClean
Fed violations: 6, State violations: 1
Feb 13, 2026OtherClean
Fed violations: 1, State violations: 0
Jan 27, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Jan 15, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 1, State violations: 0
Jan 8, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Dec 22, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 1, State violations: 0
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Bethany Life
nonprofit
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
66 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit bethanylife.org
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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