Skilled NursingContinuing Care (CCRC / Life Plan)CMS verified

Bethany Life

212 Lafayette Street, Story City, IA 50248 · Story County

Bethany Life offers a variety of care options for older adults including assisted living, independent living, and long-term care since 1914.

1.0CMS overall rating(515) 733-4325 Visit website ↗

Use Caution

Haven Scout Score

Our composite of CMS ratings, staffing, and safety. This community rates use caution.

Photos via google places, facility website.

Availability outlook● Fills quickly

Typically 92% full (116 of 126 beds occupied on an average day).

If this community is on your shortlist, checking current openings sooner rather than later genuinely matters here.

Source: federal census data (average daily residents vs. certified beds, CMS Care Compare). Confirm current openings with an advisor — availability changes weekly.

Our evaluation

An honest, data-grounded look at this community — every claim is drawn from public inspection data.

A low federal rating — review the details closely

Bethany Life is a non-profit skilled nursing facility in Story City, IA, with 126 certified beds and an average of about 116 residents per day. It is part of a continuing care retirement community, so residents can often move between levels of care on one campus.

Medicare rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall — below the national average of about 3 stars. Component ratings: 1/5 on health inspections, 4/5 on staffing, 4/5 on quality measures.

Staff provide about 3.83 total nurse hours per resident each day (0.75 of them from registered nurses), below the national benchmark of roughly 3.9 hours. Annual nursing-staff turnover is about 37.8%, better than the ~52% national average — a sign of staffing stability. On the safety record, CMS notes 14 health deficiencies at its most recent standard survey, and 2 federal fines totaling $52,329 in the recent record.

Strengths

✓Low staff turnover (continuity of care)
✓Full sprinkler system
✓Active resident & family council

Things to ask about

•Below-average 1-star overall CMS rating
•Below-average health-inspection rating
•Below-average nurse staffing (3.83 hrs/resident/day)
•14 deficiencies at last survey
•$52,329 in federal fines

Best for: Families considering this community should tour in person, request the latest survey, and weigh it against higher-rated Story City options — our advisors can help you compare.

At a glance

Certified beds: 126
Avg. residents/day: 116
Ownership: Non profit - Other
Part of a chain: Independent
Continuing care: Yes — multiple care levels
CMS provider #: 165424

Federal quality ratings

From the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on a 1–5 star scale.

Overall rating

Health inspections

Staffing

Quality measures

Pricing & cost

We publish transparent estimates and verify exact pricing on request. No surprises.

Level of care	Monthly cost	Source
Skilled Nursing	$8,590–$10,750/mo (median $9,410)	Local market estimate
Continuing Care (CCRC / Life Plan)	$2,420–$7,680/mo (median $5,250)	Local market estimate

2024–2026 published survey medians, state median adjusted to local Ames prices (BEA regional price parities). Request a quote for exact pricing. Range spans semi-private to private rooms. How we estimate costs

Request exact pricing for Bethany Life →

Staffing & care

More nursing time per resident — and lower turnover — generally means more attentive care.

Total nurse hrs / resident / day: 3.83; National avg ≈ 3.9
RN hrs / resident / day: 0.75; National avg ≈ 0.75
Nursing staff turnover: 37.8%; National avg ≈ 52%

Safety & inspection record

Federal inspectors survey nursing homes roughly once a year. Here's the latest on file.

Health deficiencies (last survey): 14
Federal fines: 2 ($52,329)
Total penalties: 3
Last standard survey: 2026-03-05
Sprinkler system: Yes
Resident & family council: Resident

What inspectors found

The most recent findings from federal health inspections (33 citations on record — showing the latest 8). Every nursing home is inspected roughly once a year; most receive some citations.

2026-03-05Severity G — actual harmQuality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

2026-03-05Severity D — potential for harmResident Rights Deficiencies

Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.

2026-03-05Severity D — potential for harmResident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

2026-03-05Severity D — potential for harmQuality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

2026-03-05Severity D — potential for harmNursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.

2026-03-05Severity D — potential for harmAdministration Deficiencies

Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.

2026-02-13Severity G — actual harmFrom a complaintResident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

2026-01-15Severity D — potential for harmFrom a complaintResident 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.

Severity uses the CMS scope/severity scale: D–F = potential for harm, G–I = actual harm, J–L = immediate jeopardy. Source: CMS Care Compare health citations; data as of the latest federal release. Discuss any finding directly with the community on a tour.

Penalty history

Federal fines and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials on record.

Date	Type	Amount
2026-02-13	Fine	$10,628
2024-03-04	Fine	$41,701
2024-03-04	Payment denial	—

Services & amenities

✓ Continuing care community (multiple care levels on one campus)
✓ Full automatic sprinkler system
✓ Medicare & Medicaid certified
✓ 24-hour licensed nursing
✓ On-site rehabilitation therapy
✓ Memory care
✓ Respite / short-term stays
✓ Daily activities & events
✓ Library

Location

212 Lafayette Street, Story City, IA

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Reviews & reputation

We aggregate ratings across Google, Yelp, and verified families — and link back to every source so you can read more.

Google

4.4

66 reviews →

Verified family reviews

No verified family reviews yet for Bethany Life.

Have a loved one here, or recently toured? Help other families by sharing your experience — we verify every review before it's published.

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Common questions about Bethany Life

How much does Bethany Life cost?

Bethany Life does not publish exact rates. Comparable skilled nursing in the Story City, IA area typically runs $8,590–$10,750 per month (median $9,410, based on published survey medians adjusted for local prices). A Haven advisor can confirm current pricing for free.

What is Bethany Life's Medicare rating?

Medicare (CMS) rates Bethany Life 1 out of 5 stars overall, including 1/5 for health inspections, 4/5 for staffing, 4/5 for quality measures. The national average is about 3 stars.

How is the staffing at Bethany Life?

Staff provide about 3.83 total nurse hours per resident per day (national benchmark ≈ 3.9), and annual nursing-staff turnover is about 37.8% (national average ≈ 52%). These figures are reported to the federal government and updated regularly.

What did inspectors find at Bethany Life?

Bethany Life has 33 health citations on its recent federal inspection record (last standard survey: 2026-03-05). The full citation-by-citation detail, with severity levels, is published on this page.

Does Bethany Life have availability?

Typically 92% full (116 of 126 beds occupied on an average day). Availability changes weekly — a Haven advisor can confirm current openings at no cost.

What types of care does Bethany Life offer?

Bethany Life in Story City, IA offers skilled nursing, continuing care (ccrc / life plan) and is licensed for 126 beds.

The best time to decide is before a crisis decides for you

Most families start this search after a fall, a hospital stay, or a caregiver reaching a breaking point — and end up choosing from whatever has a bed open that week. Families who plan even a few weeks ahead get to choose on quality, fit, and price instead of availability alone.

Move-ins take time: assessments, paperwork, and preparation typically run 2–6 weeks in Ames.
The best communities fill first: top-rated communities often run a waitlist — touring early holds your place in line.
Touring costs nothing and commits you to nothing — but it turns a future emergency into a calm, informed choice.

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Your next steps — this week

1
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2
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3
Tour 2–3 communities
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4
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