Kiowa Hills Rehab: Food Safety Failures Found - CO
That was one of three food safety problems inspectors documented during a complaint inspection at the facility on August 26 and 27, 2025.
The dietary manager, identified in the report only as the DM, acknowledged the aide should have used tongs for the hamburger patty and changed her gloves after putting her hand in the chip bag. He said he would provide education to staff on hand hygiene. The aide was not identified by name.
The glove problem was only part of what inspectors saw.
During dinner service on the evening of August 26, an aide checked the temperature of the potato salad at 5:11 p.m. It read 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold food is required to be held at 41 degrees or below. The potato salad was sitting on a cart, not on ice, as it was being served.
When the dietary manager was asked about it the next morning, he said the potato salad should have been placed in smaller pans and then set on ice. But he said the satellite kitchen didn't have a cooling spot for cold items. And he said they didn't have enough pans.
The potato salad stayed at 49 degrees.
That same morning, inspectors watched breakfast trays being delivered to residents on the 600 hall. Four room trays went out on a cart. The plates had dome covers over them. The oatmeal and applesauce did not. Both were transported uncovered down the hallway. The same thing happened the following day on the 300 hall, with oatmeal again riding uncovered to residents' rooms.
The dietary manager said that when room trays were delivered, everything on them should be covered. He also said he didn't have covers for the bowls and cups. He told inspectors he had raised the issue with the nursing home administrator, identified only as the NHA, and that the administrator had told him they would purchase covers in September 2025. He said he also didn't have enough tray covers overall, and that a lot of residents ate in their rooms.
When inspectors interviewed the administrator that afternoon, his account differed from the dietary manager's on one point. He said he was not aware the kitchen lacked bowl and cup covers. He said bowls and cups should be covered for sanitation and temperature control. He said he would get the covers ordered as soon as possible and would talk to the dietary manager about what was needed.
The dietary manager said he had already talked to him. The administrator said he hadn't known.
Someone wasn't communicating. In the meantime, residents who ate in their rooms were receiving uncovered oatmeal and applesauce, transported through the hallways of the facility, with no timeline for when that would change beyond a vague promise to order supplies sometime in September.
Inspectors rated the violations at a level of minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting many residents. The complaint inspection covered food handling, temperature control, and food protection during transport — three separate failures documented across two days of observation.
The dietary manager said he would educate staff. The administrator said he would place an order. The bowls in the meantime went out uncovered.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kiowa Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing, LLC from 2025-08-27 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: July 6, 2026 · Our methodology
KIOWA HILLS REHABILITATION AND NURSING, LLC in COLORADO SPRINGS, CO was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 27, 2025.
That was one of three food safety problems inspectors documented during a complaint inspection at the facility on August 26 and 27, 2025.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.