Clarence Nursing Home
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Clarence Nursing Home in Clarence, Iowa has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating a high level of quality and care. Ranked #12 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, they are in the top half, and also hold the top position out of 4 in Cedar County. The facility is showing improvement, decreasing issues from 6 in 2024 to just 1 in 2025, which is a positive trend. Staffing is a strength, with a 4/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 28%, significantly lower than the state average of 44%, meaning staff are well-established and familiar with the residents. However, there have been some concerns noted, including the absence of the required Infection Preventionist at important meetings and failure to follow physician orders for insulin administration, which could affect resident health and safety. Despite these issues, the absence of fines and a strong overall rating suggest that the facility is committed to providing good care while addressing any shortcomings.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #12/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 34 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Iowa. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (28%)
20 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
No Significant Concerns Identified
This facility shows no red flags. Among Iowa's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Jul 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, facility policy review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to complete and sign admissio...
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Aug 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, policy review and staff interview the facility failed to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) while administering a t...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0868
(Tag F0868)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on staff interviews, facility record review and facility policy review the facility failed to have the required Infection Preventionist (IP) at 2 of 2 Quality Assessment and Assurance/Quality As...
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Jan 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, observations, staff interviews and facility policy review the facility failed to report injuries of unknown origin to the State Agency (SA) for 1 out of 1 residents re...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, observations, staff interviews, and facility policy review the facility failed to investigate injuries of unknown origin for 1 out of 1 residents reviewed (Resident #1...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, observations, staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to accurately complete residen...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on clinical record review, observations, staff interviews, and facility document review, the facility failed to follow Physician's Orders for insulin administration (Resident #29). The facility ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Clarence Nursing Home's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Clarence Nursing Home an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Clarence Nursing Home Staffed?
CMS rates Clarence Nursing Home's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Clarence Nursing Home?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at Clarence Nursing Home during 2024 to 2025. These included: 7 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Clarence Nursing Home?
Clarence Nursing Home is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 46 certified beds and approximately 43 residents (about 93% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Clarence, Iowa.
How Does Clarence Nursing Home Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Clarence Nursing Home's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Clarence Nursing Home?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Clarence Nursing Home Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Clarence Nursing Home has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Clarence Nursing Home Stick Around?
Staff at Clarence Nursing Home tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 percentage points below the Iowa average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.
Was Clarence Nursing Home Ever Fined?
Clarence Nursing Home has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Clarence Nursing Home on Any Federal Watch List?
Clarence Nursing Home is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.