Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering options for their loved ones. It ranks #155 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 3 in Allamakee County, showing limited local competition. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with issues increasing from 1 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a notable strength, earning a 5-star rating with a turnover rate of 46%, which is about average for Iowa, and they have more RN coverage than 77% of facilities, ensuring better oversight. On the downside, recent inspections revealed multiple concerns, including staff serving food at improper temperatures and failing to maintain hygiene standards during meal service, which could pose risks to residents' health.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Iowa
- #155/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 46% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 57 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Iowa. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, and staff interview the facility failed to revise the Care Plan to reflect the use...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, staff interview, and policy review the facility failed to track prophylactic antibiotics (ATB) for 1 of 1 residents reviewed (Resident #12). The facility reported ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0811
(Tag F0811)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, document review, and staff interview the facility failed to safely utilize Paid Nu...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, policy review, document review, consulting dietician and staff interviews, the facility failed to serve approved menu substitutions of similar nutritional content. The facility i...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, policy review, and staff interview the facility failed to prevent bare hands from contacting serving utensils and failed to recognize proper cold food temperatures and served 6 o...
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May 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, policy review, and staff interview the facility failed to keep bare hands off the drinking surface of glasses to prevent possible contamination. The facility reported a census of...
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Feb 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure the physician documented their rati...
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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 B+ (80/100). 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.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered 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 Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 46%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 7 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center?
Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center 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 43 certified beds and approximately 28 residents (about 65% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LANSING, Iowa.
How Does Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (46%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center?
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 Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center 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 4-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 Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center Stick Around?
Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 46%, 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 Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center Ever Fined?
Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center 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 Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Thornton Manor Nursing and Care Center 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.