St Francis Manor

2021 FOURTH AVENUE, GRINNELL, IA 50112 (641) 236-7592
Non profit - Corporation 78 Beds Independent Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
90/100
#72 of 392 in IA
Last Inspection: April 2025

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

St. Francis Manor in Grinnell, Iowa, has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and stands out positively among nursing homes. It ranks #72 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 4 in Poweshiek County, meaning only one local option is rated higher. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from one in 2023 to none anticipated for 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a perfect 5-star rating and a turnover rate of 39%, which is lower than the state average of 44%, suggesting that staff are experienced and familiar with the residents. There have been no fines, indicating good compliance, and there is more RN coverage than 86% of Iowa facilities, which is beneficial for catching potential issues. However, there was one concern noted during an inspection regarding the failure to implement specific fall prevention interventions for a resident at risk of falls, which could potentially lead to serious injuries. While this is a weakness, the facility's overall performance and commitment to improvement are encouraging for families considering care options for their loved ones.

Trust Score
A
90/100
In Iowa
#72/392
Top 18%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Getting Better
1 → 0 violations
Staff Stability
○ Average
39% 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 74 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Iowa nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★★
5.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2023: 1 issues
2025: 0 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover below average (39%)

    9 points below Iowa average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.

The Bad

Staff Turnover: 39%

Near Iowa avg (46%)

Typical for the industry

The Ugly 1 deficiencies on record

Jul 2023 1 deficiency
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Accident Prevention (Tag F0689)

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, observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to implement Car...

Read full inspector narrative →
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, facility policy review, observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to implement Care Plan interventions based on a root cause analysis of a resident's specific fall risks in order to prevent a fall with a major injury for 1 of 3 residents reviewed for falls(Resident #103). The facility reported a census of 54 residents. Findings: The Entry Minimum Data Set (MDS) Assessment Tool, dated 5/31/23, stated the resident admitted to the facility on [DATE]. The 1/19/17 facility policy Resident Falls, directed staff regarding the procedure following a fall. The policy did not address the implementation of interventions to prevent falls for residents who had not fallen but had risks. A 5/31/23 11:59 a.m., a Nurse's Note stated the resident admitted for respite cares(temporary care of a person when their primary caregiver required a break). A 5/31/23 Fall Risk Evaluation stated the resident was at risk for falls due to intermittent confusion, 1-2 falls in the past 3 months, poor vision, and balance problems. The Baseline Care Plan, dated 5/31/23, stated the resident had a history of falls. The following section Interventions was blank. The Care Plan had a crossed out entry which stated the resident was an assist of 1 with a gait belt. This entry stated d/c(discontinue) and there was another undated entry which stated the resident required a mechanical lift. The Baseline Care Plan lacked further interventions related to the resident's risk of falls. A 6/1/23 admission Note stated the resident took herself to the bathroom using her walker. A 6/1/23, 1:09 a.m. admission Note documented the resident awake in bed and wondering why she was here. A 6/1/23 3:30 p.m. Nurse's Note stated a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) noticed the resident sitting on the floor between her bed and the recliner. Her right leg had external rotation and the resident transferred to the hospital. A 6/2/23 Hospital History and Physical stated the resident fell and had a right femoral(referring to the femur leg bone) neck fracture. A 6/12/23 9:23 a.m. admission Note stated the resident readmitted to the facility following a hospital stay for a diagnosis of hip fracture and surgery. A 6/13/23 Physical Therapy (PT) Evaluation and Plan of Treatment stated the resident fell and sustained a right femoral neck fracture which required surgical repair. On 7/11/23 at 12:25 p.m., Staff A, CNA and Staff B, CNA transferred the resident from her wheelchair to her bed using a mechanical lift. On 7/12/23 at 10:01 a.m., Staff C, Registered Nurse (RN) stated on the morning of the resident's fall, the resident went to the bathroom by herself and Staff C educated her to utilize the call light. Staff C stated at the time of the fall, she heard a noise and walked in and observed the resident sitting on the floor with her back up against the wall. She stated she noticed some rotation of her leg and transferred her to the hospital. On 7/12/23 at 11:32 a.m. Staff E, Certified Medication Aide (CMA) stated she and Staff F, CNA discovered the resident on the floor in her room with her back against the bed. She stated the resident had a hold of her call light but it was not on. Staff E stated it seemed the resident thought the call light was a phone and someone was calling her. She stated they informed the nurse and she assessed her. On 7/12/23 at 11:47 a.m., Staff F stated on the morning of the resident's fall, she observed the resident walking down the hallway after breakfast alone with her walker and the resident asked what she was suppose to do. Staff F stated she redirected her back to her chair. On 7/12/23 at 12:29 p.m., Staff D, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) stated he worked the night the resident arrived and stated he sat at the Nursing Station and the resident suddenly appeared. He stated he did not know why the resident was up but thought maybe she was just confused or bored. On 7/12/23 at 1:43 p.m., Staff G, Care Plan Coordinator, stated upon admission, staff carried out a Fall Assessment and if they were a high risk, they would come up with something extra. She stated if residents started getting up on their own, they would implement another intervention. On 7/12/23 at 2:17 p.m., the Director of Nursing (DON) stated PT evaluated the resident upon admission and deemed her an assist of 1. She stated she was not aware that the resident got up on her own prior to the fall but would want to know so they could have looked into it differently.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • 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.
  • • Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is St Francis Manor's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns St Francis Manor 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 St Francis Manor Staffed?

CMS rates St Francis Manor's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 39%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at St Francis Manor?

State health inspectors documented 1 deficiencies at St Francis Manor during 2023. These included: 1 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates St Francis Manor?

St Francis Manor 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 78 certified beds and approximately 54 residents (about 69% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in GRINNELL, Iowa.

How Does St Francis Manor Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, St Francis Manor's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (39%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting St Francis Manor?

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 St Francis Manor Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, St Francis Manor 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 St Francis Manor Stick Around?

St Francis Manor has a staff turnover rate of 39%, 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 St Francis Manor Ever Fined?

St Francis Manor 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 St Francis Manor on Any Federal Watch List?

St Francis Manor 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.