Colonial Manor of Elma, Elma, IA · The Vardell Report

The Essentials

Summary

Across 6 inspections from May 2024 to April 2026, state surveyors documented 16 findings at Colonial Manor of Elma; 16 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 2 enforcement actions in the window.

Inspections: 6; 2024–2026, complaint and standard
Findings: 16; Deficiencies cited by state inspectors
Corrected: 16; Of 16 findings, with a recorded correction date
Penalties: 2; 2 fines; payment not published

Findings by Year

Findings
Of which, actual harm (level G or above)

* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.

Findings by year
Year	Inspections	Findings	Of which, actual harm (level G or above)
2024	2	4	1
2025	2	4	0
2026	2	8	1

What the Record Shows

16 of 16 findings have a recorded correction date.
CMS lists 2 enforcement actions in the window: 2 fines totaling $31,906, their payment not published.
5 visits in this window included a complaint investigation. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
The latest standard inspection, February 19, 2026, recorded 7 findings (most serious: Level D).

What to Ask About

Infection Control, Cited in Two Inspections

Report at a Glance

Facility: Colonial Manor of Elma
Address: 407 9th Street, Elma, IA 50628
CMS Certification Number: 165386
Provider Type: Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
Certified Beds: 40
Ownership: For profit - Limited Liability company
Record Window: May 2, 2024 to October 1, 2026

Chronology

Inspection History

Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.

Apr 92026
Complaint investigation
1 finding
- F600Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.Level GActual harmCorrected Apr 24, 2026
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Feb 192026
Standard health inspection
7 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
- F602Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F605Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F641Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F644Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F690Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F692Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 21, 2026
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $23,888 imposed April 9, 2026. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of February 19, 2026, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Aug 282025
Complaint investigation
1 finding
- F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 27, 2025
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Feb 132025
Standard health inspection
3 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
- F550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 15, 2025
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Mar 15, 2025
- F637Assess the resident when there is a significant change in conditionLevel BPotential for minimal harmCorrected Mar 15, 2025
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Dec 52024
Complaint investigation
1 finding
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level GActual harmCorrected Oct 17, 2024
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
May 22024
Standard health inspection
3 findings
- F801Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 2, 2024
- F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 2, 2024
- F688Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 2, 2024
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $8,018 imposed December 5, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of May 2, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.

Context

Patterns Worth Examining

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

1
Infection Control, Cited in Two Inspections
Inspectors cited F880 in February 2025 and February 2026. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
242425252626F880 across all 6 inspections, oldest to newest

For Your Next Visit

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

01
Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?
Infection Control: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
02
How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?
No staffing citation appears in this window. Staffing levels are published separately by CMS and are worth asking about directly.
03
What led to the 2026 fine, and has it been paid?
A $23,888 civil money penalty was imposed April 9, 2026. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. The record holds two enforcement actions in the window.

The Evidence

Sources and Coverage

Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Iowa state survey agency.

Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection May 2, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Dec 5, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Feb 13, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Aug 28, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Feb 19, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Apr 9, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Penalties, Provider Data Catalog
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
View Dataset ↗
Provider Information, Provider Data Catalog
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 165386
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
View Dataset ↗

Coverage

Record windowMay 2, 2024 – October 1, 2026

CMS publishes about three inspection cycles; inspections before May 2024 are not in this release.
CMS refreshes these files monthly, after statements of deficiencies are processed, so an inspection from the last two months may not appear yet.

What This Report Cannot Tell You

Complaints not investigated onsite: Allegations screened out by the state before an onsite visit are not published.
Complaint allegations: CMS publishes the deficiencies a complaint survey cited, not the allegation itself.
Facility-reported incidents: Self-reported incidents appear only if they led to an inspection.
Follow-up visits: CMS's files list standard, complaint and infection control surveys, not revisits; a correction date is the one CMS records.
Fire safety inspections: Published by CMS separately and not included in this record yet.
Staffing levels and ownership history: Published by CMS separately and not included in this record.
Whether fines were paid: CMS publishes the fines imposed, not whether or when they were paid.

Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.

Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.