Happy Siesta Health Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Happy Siesta Health Care Center has a Trust Grade of D, indicating below-average performance and some significant concerns. It ranks #274 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the bottom half of facilities statewide, and #4 out of 5 in Plymouth County, meaning there are only a few local options that are better. The facility is worsening, as the number of issues identified increased from 1 in 2024 to 4 in 2025. Staffing is a weakness, with only a 1-star rating and a concerning 0% turnover, which may suggest staff are not satisfied. The home also incurred $9,835 in fines, reflecting average compliance issues. In terms of care, there have been critical incidents, including a failure to prevent a resident at risk for elopement from leaving the facility unattended, and a serious incident where a resident fell while being transported, resulting in a cervical fracture. Additionally, there were concerns about food safety practices in the kitchen, where staff did not consistently follow hygiene standards while preparing meals. While there are some strengths, such as the facility's efforts to address critical issues, the overall picture presents significant risks for potential residents.
- Trust Score
- D
- In Iowa
- #274/392
- Safety Record
- High Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- Turnover data not reported for this facility.
- Penalties ○ Average
- $9,835 in fines. Higher than 52% of Iowa facilities. Some compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- RN staffing data not reported for this facility.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Below Iowa average (3.0)
Below average - review inspection findings carefully
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Jun 2025
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview, the facility failed to notify the physician in a timely manner of a change in condit...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0605
(Tag F0605)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure staff implemented resident specific interventions for ...
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CONCERN
(D)
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 record review and staff interview, the facility failed to complete assessment after incidents for 1 of 2 residents revi...
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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 and staff interview, the facility failed to prepare and serve food with professional standards for food service safety. The facility had a census of 50 residents.
Findings include...
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Apr 2024
1 deficiency
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record reviews, staff interviews, hospital record reviews, facility investigation and policy review the facili...
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Jul 2023
1 deficiency
1 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, staff interviews, facility record review and facility policy review, the facility failed to ens...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Licensed and certified facility. Meets minimum state requirements.
- • Multiple safety concerns identified: 1 life-threatening violation(s), 1 harm violation(s). Review inspection reports carefully.
- • 6 deficiencies on record, including 1 critical (life-threatening) violation. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
- • Grade D (41/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
About This Facility
What is Happy Siesta Health Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Happy Siesta Health Care Center an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is considered below average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. A rating at this level reflects concerns identified through health inspections, staffing assessments, or quality measures that families should carefully consider.
How is Happy Siesta Health Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Happy Siesta Health Care Center's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes.
What Have Inspectors Found at Happy Siesta Health Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at Happy Siesta Health Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 1 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death), 1 that caused actual resident harm, and 4 with potential for harm. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.
Who Owns and Operates Happy Siesta Health Care Center?
Happy Siesta Health 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 62 certified beds and approximately 50 residents (about 81% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Remsen, Iowa.
How Does Happy Siesta Health Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Happy Siesta Health Care Center's overall rating (2 stars) is below the state average of 3.0 and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Happy Siesta Health Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Happy Siesta Health Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Happy Siesta Health Care Center has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 1 Immediate Jeopardy citation (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 2-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.
Do Nurses at Happy Siesta Health Care Center Stick Around?
Happy Siesta Health Care Center has not reported staff turnover data to CMS. Staff turnover matters because consistent caregivers learn residents' individual needs, medications, and preferences. When staff frequently change, this institutional knowledge is lost. Families should ask the facility directly about their staff retention rates and average employee tenure.
Was Happy Siesta Health Care Center Ever Fined?
Happy Siesta Health Care Center has been fined $9,835 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Iowa average of $33,177. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Happy Siesta Health Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Happy Siesta Health 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.