Denver Sunset Home
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Denver Sunset Home in Denver, Iowa, has a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is excellent and highly recommended for families seeking care. It ranks #16 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the four nursing homes in Bremer County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with issues increasing from 3 in 2024 to 4 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, rated 5 out of 5 stars with a turnover of 40%, which is lower than the state average, ensuring continuity of care for residents. Fortunately, there have been no fines recorded, which is a positive sign. Despite these strengths, there are concerns about care practices. For instance, the facility failed to implement a proper Baseline Care Plan for one resident, which is essential for tracking health goals and symptoms. Additionally, during medication administration, a nurse did not keep the insulin needle under the skin long enough to ensure the full dose was injected, raising safety concerns. Lastly, there was a failure to document oxygen parameters for a resident, which is critical for their comfort and health.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #16/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 40% turnover. Near Iowa's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 55 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Iowa. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (40%)
8 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review, staff interview, and policy review the facility failed to create and implement upon admission a Baseline Care Plan for 1 of 6 residents reviewed (Resident #11). The facility al...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and staff interview the facility failed to provide Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC) Form CMS-10123 at least two days before the end of a Medicare covered Part A stay for ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review, facility admission paperwork, Bed Hold records, Progress Notes, and staff interview the facility failed to notify a resident and their representative of the cost to hold their ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and staff interviews the facility failed to accurately code 1 of 2 residents Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) on their annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) (Resident ...
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May 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, staff interviews, and written education review, the facility failed to provide services that met professional standards regarding medication administration for 1 o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to obtain parameters for oxygen administration for 1 of 1 resident reviewed with oxygen (Resident #2). The facility reported a...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to issue the bed hold policy to 2 out of 2 residents reviewed for rece...
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Jan 2023
1 deficiency
MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on Record review and staff interview, the facility failed to issue Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) form Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) 10055 for 2 of 3 r...
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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 (90/100). 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.
- • 40% turnover. Below Iowa's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Denver Sunset Home's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Denver Sunset 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 Denver Sunset Home Staffed?
CMS rates Denver Sunset Home's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 40%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Denver Sunset Home?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at Denver Sunset Home during 2023 to 2025. These included: 3 with potential for harm and 5 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Denver Sunset Home?
Denver Sunset Home is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 31 certified beds and approximately 26 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Denver, Iowa.
How Does Denver Sunset Home Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Denver Sunset Home's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (40%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Denver Sunset 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 Denver Sunset Home Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Denver Sunset 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 Denver Sunset Home Stick Around?
Denver Sunset Home has a staff turnover rate of 40%, which is about average for Iowa nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Denver Sunset Home Ever Fined?
Denver Sunset 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 Denver Sunset Home on Any Federal Watch List?
Denver Sunset 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.