Nursing homes › Iowa › Salem Lutheran Home
2027 College Avenue, Elk Horn, IA 51531 · 7127644201 · 64 certified beds
Per CMS filings, this facility is affiliated with Good Samaritan Society, a group operating 91 facilities in 9 states. Group record: average rating 3.0/5, 7 abuse citation icons, 5 facilities on the Special Focus list, $2,237,184 in federal fines. This facility rates below its group average (3.0/5).
Total nurse staffing: 3.86 (Iowa median: 3.69). RN hours: 0.64. Weekend total: 3.17. Nursing staff turnover: 63%.
All-time on record: 46 deficiency citations. Below: citations from 2023 onward (severity letters explained in methodology).
| Survey date | Deficiency | Sev. | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-22 | Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. | G | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2026-05-22 | Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. | D | complaint | corrected 2026-06-05 |
| 2025-12-15 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. | D | complaint | corrected 2025-12-22 |
| 2025-10-08 | Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. | D | complaint | corrected 2025-10-10 |
| 2025-06-26 | Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. | D | Health | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. | D | Health | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. | D | complaint | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. | D | Health | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. | D | complaint | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. | D | Health | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2025-06-26 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | D | Health | corrected 2025-07-11 |
| 2024-10-22 | Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. | E | complaint | corrected 2024-11-01 |
| 2024-10-22 | Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money. | D | complaint | corrected 2024-11-01 |
| 2024-08-11 | Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. | F | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident. | E | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. | E | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | E | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-08-11 | Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited. | D | Health | corrected 2024-09-05 |
| 2024-05-15 | Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. | D | complaint | corrected 2024-05-31 |
| 2024-05-15 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | D | complaint | corrected 2024-05-31 |
| 2023-06-06 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. | G | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. | G | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis. | E | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. | E | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. | E | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. | D | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. | D | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money. | D | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
| 2023-06-06 | Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. | D | Health | corrected 2023-06-26 |
No federal fines or payment denials on record.
| Name | Role | Type | % | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH | 5% Or Greater Direct Ownership Interest | Organization | 100% | since 02/14/2003 |
| BLAKESTAD, ALAN | Corporate Officer | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 03/01/2020 |
| GUDE, PAUL | Corporate Officer | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 03/01/2021 |
| NIELSEN, PHIL | Corporate Officer | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 03/06/2016 |
| SCHECHINGER, TAMI | Corporate Officer | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 03/01/2021 |
| AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH | Operational/Managerial Control | Organization | NOT APPLICABLE | since 02/14/2003 |
| THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY | Operational/Managerial Control | Organization | NOT APPLICABLE | since 11/20/2007 |
| NORBY, NICKLOS | Operational/Managerial Control | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 02/14/2020 |
| SHELL, STEPHEN | Operational/Managerial Control | Individual | NOT APPLICABLE | since 08/01/2025 |
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (July 2026 release) — provider file, deficiency file, ownership file, penalty file. CCN 165155. Corrections: data@carerecords.org.