Bethany Life
Nursing Home Facility
212 Lafayette Street, Story City, IA 50248
Bethany Life is a senior care community located in Story City, IA. It provides nursing home care, continuing care (CCRC), and senior living for older adults in the Story City area. To learn more or schedule a tour, call (515) 733-4325.
With 126 beds, Bethany Life is one of the larger communities in the area, senior care communities in Story County average about 62 beds. Larger communities more often keep clinical staff on site around the clock and can offer a wider range of on-site therapy and activities, though some families prefer the quieter feel of a smaller setting.
Federal reporting puts occupancy at about 85% of its licensed beds.
Medicare rates this community 2 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Communities in Story County average about 3.0 stars. The individual scores differ noticeably: 5 stars for staffing against 1 star for health inspections, so it is worth reading both before deciding. Its most recent standard health inspection was in March 2026 and recorded 13 deficiencies.
Residents receive about 4.1 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 0.8 hours from a registered nurse. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 39%.
The community is located in Story County, IA.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 33 problems at Bethany Life. 5 findings involved harm to a resident, including 1 that put residents in immediate danger. 19 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
In the last three years Medicare fined this home twice, a total of $52,329. Medicare also stopped paying for new admissions once in that period.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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Caused harm to a resident, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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Caused harm to a resident, one or a few residents
Resident Rights
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Rights
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Nursing and Physician Services
Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Administration
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Pharmacy Service
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Rights
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Pharmacy Service
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
A citation on its own does not mean poor care, and most are corrected within weeks. What matters most is how serious the findings were and whether the same problems keep coming back. When you visit, it is fair to ask the administrator what inspectors found and what has changed since.
Bethany Life offers nursing home care, continuing care (CCRC), and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type Non profit - Church related
- Beds / units 126
- Religious affiliation Church Based
- Occupancy 85%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 4.1
- Annual staff turnover 39%
- Last health inspection March 2026
Resident & family reviews
No one has shared a review of Bethany Life yet. If you or someone you love has lived here, what you saw could help another family make this decision with more confidence.