Salem Lutheran Home
Salem Lutheran Home is a 2-star rated nursing home in Elk Horn, IA with 64 beds. CMS sub-ratings: health inspections 2/5, staffing 3/5, quality measures 2/5.
The facility has 57 health violations on record. Federal fines total $100,304 across 6 enforcement actions. Most recent inspection: May 15, 2024.
Staff turnover rate: 64.7% — significantly above the national average.
Data synthesized from CMS.gov and Iowa public inspection records. Reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NR-EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Inspection History Overview
Data current as of May 6, 2026 · Source: CMS Provider Data
Detailed Inspection Reports
Notice: These are official CMS inspection narratives containing detailed regulatory findings. This information is not available in searchable format anywhere else online.
Fines and Penalties by Year
2022 4 penalties totaling $76,889
Fine
Fine
Fine
Payment Denial
2021 1 penalties totaling $11,715
Fine
2017 1 penalties totaling $11,700
Fine
Health Violations by Year
2024 2 violations
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2023 15 violations
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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.
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2022 13 violations
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2021 2 violations
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2020 8 violations
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
2019 1 violations
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
2018 9 violations
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
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.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
2017 7 violations
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Develop a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Provide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care.
Store, cook, and serve food in a safe and clean way.
Have a program that investigates, controls and keeps infection from spreading.
Provide a safe, clean, comfortable and home-like environment; and allow residents to use personal belongings to the extent possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salem Lutheran Home
- What violations has Salem Lutheran Home received?
- Salem Lutheran Home has 57 health and safety violation(s) documented by CMS inspections. All violation data comes from official Medicare inspection reports and is updated regularly from government sources.
- What is the quality rating of Salem Lutheran Home?
- Salem Lutheran Home has a 2-star rating out of 5 from CMS. This rating indicates the facility may have quality concerns that should be investigated further. The rating is based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.
- When was Salem Lutheran Home last inspected?
- Inspection reports are documented by state survey agencies and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Reports typically lag 2-3 months behind the actual inspection date. Visit the facility's full profile page for detailed violation information and inspection history.
- Is Salem Lutheran Home safe?
- Safety at Salem Lutheran Home should be evaluated based on multiple factors: the facility's CMS rating, recent violation history, and personal visits. We recommend reviewing the complete inspection history, speaking with current residents and families, consulting healthcare professionals, and visiting in person before making placement decisions.
- How do I contact Salem Lutheran Home?
- Phone: (712) 764-4201. Address: 2027 College Avenue, Elk Horn, IA. For visiting hours and admission information, call the facility directly.
- What services does Salem Lutheran Home offer?
- Salem Lutheran Home is a skilled nursing facility with 64 beds. The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid. For specific services like rehabilitation, memory care, or short-term recovery, contact the facility directly.
- What are better facilities near Elk Horn, IA?
- Compare Salem Lutheran Home with other nursing homes in Elk Horn, IA on our facilities page. Filter by star rating, bed count, and recent inspection results to find the best match for your needs.
Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Data Catalog.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, using professional regulatory data auditing protocols.
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