Report
TheVardellReport
Elm Crest Retirement Community
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
2104 12th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Report
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The Vardell Report.Elm Crest Retirement Community
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Nursing home
- Location
- Harlan, IA
- Record Period
- 2023–2026
- Source Documents
- 9
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 7 inspections from October 2023 to August 2026, state surveyors documented 21 findings at Elm Crest Retirement Community; 20 have a recorded correction and 1 awaits one; CMS lists 2 enforcement actions in the window.
- Inspections
- 7
- 2023–2026, complaint and standard
- Findings
- 21
- Deficiencies cited by state inspectors
- Corrected
- 20
- Of 21 findings, with a recorded correction date
- Penalties
- 2
- 1 fine; payment not published, 1 closed
Findings by Year
- Findings
- Of which, actual harm (level G or above)
* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.
| Year | Inspections | Findings | Of which, actual harm (level G or above) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
What the Record Shows
- 20 of 21 findings have a recorded correction date.
- CMS lists 2 enforcement actions in the window: 1 fine of $14,380, its payment not published; denial of payment imposed November 14, 2024, ended December 14, 2024.
- 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, January 14, 2026, recorded 3 findings (most serious: Level E).
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- Elm Crest Retirement Community
- Address
- 2104 12th Street, Harlan, IA 51537
- CMS Certification Number
- 165372
- Provider Type
- Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
- Certified Beds
- 50
- Ownership
- Non profit - Other
- Record Window
- October 5, 2023 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.
- 2026
Complaint investigation
2 findings
- 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 Aug 25, 2026
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 25, 2026
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2026
Complaint investigation
1 finding
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level GActual harmPast Non-Compliance
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2026
Standard health inspection
3 findings
- F804Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Feb 12, 2026
- F805Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Feb 12, 2026
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Feb 12, 2026
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $14,380 imposed June 10, 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 January 14, 2026, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2025
Complaint investigation
1 finding
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jan 6, 2026
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2024
Standard health inspection
8 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level GActual harmCorrected Dec 3, 2024
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 3, 2024
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 3, 2024
- 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 Dec 3, 2024
- F636Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 3, 2024
- 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 Dec 3, 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 Dec 3, 2024
- F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Dec 3, 2024
Enforcement Action
Denial of payment imposed November 14, 2024. Status: Closed, December 14, 2024. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 14, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2024
Complaint investigation
2 findings
- F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 21, 2024
- F684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 21, 2024
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
- 2023
Standard health inspection
4 findings
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Nov 3, 2023
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Nov 3, 2023
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Nov 3, 2023
- F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Nov 3, 2023
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
Kitchen and Food Safety, Cited in Three Inspections
Inspectors cited F812 in October 2023, November 2024 and January 2026. This citation covers how food is stored, prepared and served. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242425262626F812 across all 7 inspections, oldest to newest - 2
Infection Control, Cited in Three Inspections
Inspectors cited F880 in October 2023, November 2024 and August 2026. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
23242425262626F880 across all 7 inspections, oldest to newest - 3
Accident Hazards and Supervision, No Recorded Correction
F689 was cited in October 2023, November 2024, November 2025 and June 2026. This citation covers whether residents are protected from accident hazards and supervised closely enough to prevent accidents, including falls. The most serious was level G (actual harm). The June 2026 citation has no recorded correction date; its status reads “Past Non-Compliance.” The record does not show whether the problem was fixed.
23242425262626F689 across all 7 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
May we see the kitchen, and what do your own sanitation checks look like week to week?
Kitchen and Food Safety: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
- 02
Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?
Infection Control: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
- 03
What changed in fall prevention and supervision after the last citation, and how do you check that it is still working?
Accident Hazards and Supervision: cited in four inspections, most seriously at level G. The June 10, 2026 citation has no recorded correction date.
- 04
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.
- 05
What led to the 2026 fine, and has it been paid?
A $14,380 civil money penalty was imposed June 10, 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 Oct 5, 2023 · 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 Jul 21, 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 Nov 14, 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 Nov 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 Jan 14, 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 Jun 10, 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 Aug 10, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Penalties, Provider Data CatalogView Dataset ↗
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Provider Information, Provider Data CatalogView Dataset ↗
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 165372
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Coverage
Record windowOctober 5, 2023 – October 1, 2026
- CMS publishes about three inspection cycles; inspections before October 2023 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.