Sunrise Hill Care Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Sunrise Hill Care Center has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and generally recommended for families considering it for their loved ones. Ranking #75 out of 392 facilities in Iowa places it in the top half, and it is the best option among the four nursing homes in Tama County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, as issues have increased from one in 2023 to two in 2024. Staffing is relatively strong with a 4/5-star rating and a turnover rate of 23%, significantly lower than the state average, although it has concerning RN coverage, being below 94% of other facilities. While there have been no fines, which is a positive sign, recent inspector findings revealed serious incidents, including a resident falling and fracturing a hip due to improper assistance and another resident being left unattended, leading to similar injuries. These incidents highlight the need for improved supervision and adherence to safety protocols, indicating both strengths and weaknesses in the care provided.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Iowa
- #75/392
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 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 ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 23 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Iowa. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 3 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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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 (23%) · 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
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Staff turnover is low (23%)
25 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 3 deficiencies on record
Jul 2024
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
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure that 1 of 3 residents...
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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 observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to provide safety interventions required for 2 out of ...
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Apr 2023
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 facility and Hospital records review, staff interviews and facility policy review, the facility failed to provide adequ...
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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+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 3 deficiencies on record, including 2 serious (caused harm) violations. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is Sunrise Hill Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Sunrise Hill Care Center 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 Sunrise Hill Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Sunrise Hill Care Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 23%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Sunrise Hill Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 3 deficiencies at Sunrise Hill Care Center during 2023 to 2024. These included: 2 that caused actual resident harm and 1 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Sunrise Hill Care Center?
Sunrise Hill Care Center 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 76 certified beds and approximately 50 residents (about 66% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in TRAER, Iowa.
How Does Sunrise Hill Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Sunrise Hill Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (23%) 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 Sunrise Hill 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 Sunrise Hill Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Sunrise Hill 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 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 Sunrise Hill Care Center Stick Around?
Staff at Sunrise Hill Care Center tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 23%, the facility is 22 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 Sunrise Hill Care Center Ever Fined?
Sunrise Hill 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 Sunrise Hill Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Sunrise Hill 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.