Home›Browse›Iowa›Council Bluffs›Bethany Lutheran Home

Nursing homeFAID #4394

Bethany Lutheran Home

SEVEN ELLIOTT STREET, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, 51503

(712) 328-9500

www.blhs.care

112 licensed beds

★★★★★1/5CMS Five-Star overall1/5 health inspections4/5 staffing3/5 quality measuresSource: CMS Care Compare

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Photo via Google · Bethany Lutheran Health Services

Address

Seven Elliott Street

Council Bluffs, IA 51503

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Public record summary

What we can show you for free.

Bed capacity

112

CMS facility ID

165524

Care type

Nursing home

County

Pottawattamie

Facility name

Bethany Lutheran Home

Street address

SEVEN ELLIOTT STREET

City / state / ZIP

Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Phone

(712) 328-9500

Website

www.blhs.care

About this facility — Bethany Lutheran Home

Bethany Lutheran Home is a Medicare/Medicaid-certified skilled nursing facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is licensed for 112 beds — well above the median for skilled nursing facilities in Iowa (57 beds).

It is one of 17 senior care facilities in Council Bluffs and 389 skilled nursing facilities across Iowa. Families comparing options should weigh inspection history, ownership record, and litigation — not just the tour — before deciding.

Federal inspectors have cited Bethany Lutheran Home 56 times across 14 inspections in the last three years, including 1 food-safety citation, and CMS has imposed $46,914 in fines. Every citation is listed, dated, and graded in the inspection record below.

This listing draws on federal CMS Nursing Home Compare records, and was last updated on August 31, 2026. Background reports are compiled from primary sources — state inspection files, federal CMS data, corporate registrations, and court records — at the time of order.

Facility background

What the public record shows.

Ownership & operator

Ownership type

Non profit - Other

Registered owners & officers

Bishop, Andrew

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2024

Carlon, Diane

Director · Officer — since 2024

Eilts, Susanne

Director — since 2026

Goodell, Alice

Director — since 2024

Gustafson, Chandra

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2023

Kraul-henkel, Becky

Director — since 2026

Pfitzer, Genevieve

Operational control · Additional disclosable party — since 2025

Steensland, Greg

Director · Officer — since 2025

Swalwell, John

Director · Officer — since 2024

Worthington, Sharon

Director · Officer — since 2021

Regulatory standing

Federal court records

2 naming this facility — view the cases (a listed case is not a finding of wrongdoing)

Licensed / certified since

2003-11-01

CMS overall rating

1 of 5 stars

Health deficiencies

9 at the last standard inspection

Federal fines

$46,914 total

Last standard inspection

2025-10-02

Nurse staffing

4.0 hours per resident per day

Cost & payer profile (FY2023 cost report)

Average billed charges

$365 per day (≈ $11,100/month). Private-pay prices typically track billed charges; Medicare and Medicaid pay set rates.

Payer mix (resident days)

49% Medicaid · 9% Medicare · 42% private/other

Occupancy

73% (fiscal year 2023)

Vs. state median

7% above the IA median of $342/day — full state cost breakdown

Services & coverage

Licensed beds

112

Medicare

Accepted

Medicaid

Accepted

Wheelchair accessible

entrance and parking

Visiting hours

Daily Open 24 hours

Compiled from CMS Nursing Home Compare; owners/officers from the CMS Ownership dataset; cost & occupancy from the facility's own CMS cost report; hours/accessibility via Google · last verified 2026-08-31. Facilities can submit a correction.

Inspection record

Every citation, dated and graded.

Kitchen & food safety

Federal surveyors inspect the kitchen at every standard visit. This facility has 1 food-safety citation on its three-year record — flagged below among the inspections.

2026-05-21Health inspectionComplaint-triggered1 citation

F-0602

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.

2025-10-02Health inspectionComplaint-triggered8 citations

F-0637

D · No harm found

Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0644

D · No harm found

Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0656

D · No harm found

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0658

D · No harm found

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

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0689

J · Immediate jeopardyFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2025-07-21

F-0725

E · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0760

D · No harm found

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Corrected 2025-11-25

F-0880

F · No harm found

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2025-11-25

10 earlier / fire-safety inspections (47 citations)

2025-05-30Health inspectionComplaint-triggered2 citations

F-0658

G · Actual harmFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2025-04-05

F-0689

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2025-05-12

2025-03-13Health inspectionComplaint-triggered4 citations

F-0550

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2025-02-14

F-0609

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Corrected 2025-02-14

F-0657

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Corrected 2025-03-24

F-0658

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2025-03-24

2024-10-31Health inspection8 citations

F-0623

D · No harm found

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0625

D · No harm found

Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0644

D · No harm found

Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0725

E · No harm found

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0727

E · No harm found

Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0744

D · No harm found

Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0812

E · No harm foundFood safety

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Corrected 2025-01-02

F-0880

D · No harm found

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2025-01-02

2024-08-12Health inspectionComplaint-triggered2 citations

F-0656

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2024-08-20

F-0689

G · Actual harmFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2024-08-20

2024-05-14Health inspectionComplaint-triggered2 citations

F-0550

E · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2024-05-30

F-0689

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2024-05-30

2023-11-02Health inspectionComplaint-triggered2 citations

F-0658

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2023-11-03

F-0684

J · Immediate jeopardyFrom a complaint

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected 2023-11-03

2023-08-21Health inspectionComplaint-triggered14 citations

F-0550

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0585

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0625

D · No harm found

Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0656

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0658

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0684

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0686

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0689

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0690

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0695

G · Actual harmFrom a complaint

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

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0698

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0725

E · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0760

D · No harm foundFrom a complaint

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Corrected 2023-09-14

F-0880

D · No harm found

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected 2023-09-14

2025-10-02Fire-safety inspection4 citations

K-0353

D · No harm found

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

Corrected 2025-10-01

K-0741

E · No harm found

Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.

Corrected 2025-10-01

K-0761

E · No harm found

To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.

Corrected 2025-10-01

K-0918

F · No harm found

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

Corrected 2025-10-01

2024-10-31Fire-safety inspection5 citations

K-0712

F · No harm found

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.

Corrected 2024-11-07

K-0761

E · No harm found

To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.

Corrected 2024-11-13

K-0918

F · No harm found

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

Corrected 2024-11-19

K-0921

D · No harm found

Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.

Corrected 2024-11-27

K-0923

D · No harm found

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.

Corrected 2024-11-05

2023-08-21Fire-safety inspection4 citations

K-0291

D · No harm found

Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.

Corrected 2023-09-06

K-0741

D · No harm found

Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.

Corrected 2023-09-06

K-0761

E · No harm found

To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.

Corrected 2023-09-06

K-0923

D · No harm found

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.

Corrected 2023-09-06

Federal penalties

2025-10-02Fine$16,588

2023-11-02Fine$11,183

2023-08-21Fine$19,143

Total fines$46,914

Citations and penalties from the CMS Provider Data Catalog (three-year survey window, refreshed monthly). Severity codes follow the federal scope/severity grid; “Immediate jeopardy” is the most serious grade CMS issues. CCN 165524.

Visitor reviews

What people say on Google.

3.313 ratings on Google

★Anita Sprinkel · 2023-06-13 · via Google
“My husband was sent there by Sanford west in Fargo for rehab. What a mistake!!! We were told he would see the doctor every Friday. Well we were there from June 17 though July 29 and saw the “doctor” once. He has pain and instead of trying to find the reason for it was ignored. Only trying to mask the pain. He was left to lay there and get worse. The food was almost chewed for you. Have yo…”

★★★★★Joan Sanders · 2022-11-23 · via Google
“The physical therapy staff is fantastic. I had wonderful care from nursing and generally all staff. Food is very good and contained a wide variety. I was in rehab for 2 weeks and don’t think I had the same meal twice. I would highly recommend Bethany!”

★★Kelley Hook · 2019-11-02 · via Google
“Mom’s first day at facility and she had to wait over 17 minutes to get staff in so she could use the restroom. Staff came in argumentative and saying if there was a problem we could go speak to the director of nursing. The DON went and talked to staff and then walked right by my father and I on the way back to her office and did not say or word. A very bad first impression.”

Ratings and reviews are from Google and reflect visitor opinions, not our verification. See all reviews on Google

Inside your report

What unlocks when you order.

Ownership & corporate history

Primary tier

Prior operators & transfers

Corporate network & affiliates

Owners' other facilities

· · 2 more

Inspection citations — last 5 years

Locked

The 56 citations above are shown free. The report takes each one and explains it in plain English — what the tag requires, how serious the scope/severity grade really is, whether it recurred across surveys — plus the five-year pattern a single inspection can't show.

Civil & criminal lawsuits

Advanced tier only

Active civil suits

Federal dockets

CDC infection data

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Citations, owner history, lawsuits — decoded into one PDF.

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Original records

Sources we pull for this facility.

Source

CMS Nursing Home Compare

data.cms.gov Provider Data Catalog

Last verified 2026-08-31

Source

Google Business Profile

Photos, reviews & hours

Displayed with attribution · refreshed on re-run

Source

Secretary of State filings

Entity & officer search

Pulled when a report is ordered

Source

PACER federal dockets

pacer.uscourts.gov

Pulled when a report is ordered