Lyon Specialty Care
1010 South Union, Rock Rapids, IA 51246 · Lyon County · (712) 472-3748
45 certified beds, about 36 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1994
Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
4 of 5
Health inspections
4 of 5
Staffing
3 of 5
Quality measures
4 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 165215 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on June 19, 2025, inspectors cited 0 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5, the national average 9.2).
None of its 18 health citations since May 2023 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 2.77 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Iowa and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.57 of those hours.
50.0% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Iowa average 44.0%).
CMS links it to Care Initiatives, an affiliated group of 43 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
1005/23
103/24
407/24
006/25
302/26
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 18 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
12D
6E
0F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
February 2, 2026Complaint inspection · 3 citations
- E Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, facility record review, staff interviews and facility policy review the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse to the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) within 2 hours of an allegation of abuse for 1 of 4 residents reviewed for abuse (Resident #1). The facility reported a census of 40 residents.
- E Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, staff interviews and facility record review, the facility failed to separate vulnerable residents from the staff member of an alleged abuse incident (Residents #1). The facility reported a census of 40 residents.
- D Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review and staff interviews the facility failed to provide and maintain accurate resident records to reflect an incident occurring in the facility for 1 of 4 residents (Residents #1). The facility reported a census of 40 residents.
June 19, 2025Standard inspection · 0 citations
July 25, 2024Standard inspection · 4 citations
- E 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of the menu, observation, and staff interviews the facility failed to serve the full portions of food and failed to consistently fill and empty scoop utensils when preparing meals for residents (Resident #1 and #30). The facility identified a census of 37 residents.
- D 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, staff interviews, and facility policy, the facility failed to completed a bed hold notice with the resident and or the resident's responsible party prior to departing from the facility for a planned therapeutic leave for 1 of 3 residents reviewed (Residents #33). The facility reported a census of 37 residents.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, record review and interviews the facility failed to properly use a mechanical lift in a manner that prevented accidents and hazards for 1 of 2 residents reviewed (Resident #23). The facility reported a census of 37 residents.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, infection control policy, clinical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to provide proper hand hygiene with incontinence care with 1 of 2 residents observed (Resident #38). The facility reported a total census of 37 residents.
March 5, 2024Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, facility policy, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), resident, family, and staff interviews, the facility failed to provide assessment and interventions for the necessary care and services when the facility failed to provide COVID testing for a resident that was symptomatic for 1 of 3 residents reviewed (Resident #4). The facility reported a census of 38 residents.
May 24, 2023Standard inspection · 10 citations
- E Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility records, facility policy, resident interview, and staff interview, the facility failed to provide adequate staffing to care for residents. The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, staff interviews and facility policy the facility failed to ensure dietary staff wore beard nets to cover facial hair in the kitchen. The facility identified a census of 39 residents.
- E Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to provide infection control in the laundry room. The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to safely administer medication to 1 of 39 residents reviewed (Resident #10). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review and staff interview the facility failed to notify the Long Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman for 1 of 2 residents reviewed who transferred to the hospital (Resident #16). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to submit a Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) when 2 of 14 residents had a significant change (Residents #10 and #5). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, facility policy and staff interview the facility failed to complete a baseline care plan within 48 hours of admission for 2 of 14 residents reviewed (Resident #6 and #15). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to develop a care plan that reflected a resident's condition for 1 of 14 residents (Resident #17). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to revise care plans to reflect a resident's current status for 3 of 14 residents reviewed (Residents #10, 22, and #15). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
- D 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to obtain an stop date for an as needed (PRN) psychotropic medication for 1 of 5 residents reviewed (Resident #6). The facility reported a census of 39 residents.
Fire safety inspections
7 fire safety citations on file: 3 on June 19, 2025, 1 on July 25, 2024, 3 on May 24, 2023.
Every fire safety citation7 citations
- F Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- F Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
- F Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
- E Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
- D Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 2.77 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.57 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 2.52 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 1.49 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.71 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 50.0% | 44.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 40.0% | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 1 |
CMS expects 2.88 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 2.88 on weekdays and 2.52 on weekends, 12% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.05 in April to June 2025 to 2.77 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 2.77 | 0.57 | 2.88 | 2.52 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 36 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 2.83 | 0.53 | 2.90 | 2.65 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 39 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.02 | 0.48 | 3.12 | 2.79 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 37 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.05 | 0.60 | 3.22 | 2.60 | 0.0% | 1 of 91 | 39 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Iowa, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.80 | 0.71 | 3.98 | 3.36 | 4.7% | 0.3% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 10.5 | 17.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 18.0 | 16.6 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 28.3 | 19.4 | 15.4 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: CARE INITIATIVES. CMS links this home to Care Initiatives, a group of 43 nursing homes averaging 2.9 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care Initiatives | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 11/12/2010 |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | 5% or greater mortgage interest | Organization | 02/01/2025 | |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate director | Individual | 06/01/2020 | |
| Bowen, Lane | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Carothers, Mary Jane | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2023 | |
| Childs, Kevin | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2023 | |
| Corless, Peter | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Krein, Keith | Corporate director | Individual | 06/29/2022 | |
| Rust, Elizabeth | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2023 | |
| Sturm, Denise | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Upmeyer, Linda | Corporate director | Individual | 06/29/2022 | |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/01/2020 | |
| Dixon, David | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/01/2016 | |
| Drake, Emily | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/04/2023 | |
| Gilyard, Tanya | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/23/2025 | |
| Kuhn, Jeramy | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/25/2008 | |
| McDyer, Jessica | Corporate officer | Individual | 02/22/2023 | |
| Volm, Johanna | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Boeve, Destiny | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Donelan, Keegan | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 02/13/2022 | |
| Whyms, Brian | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 04/14/2025 | |
| Donelan, Keegan | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 04/14/2025 | |
| Whyms, Brian | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 07/31/2025 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 5 problems in this area, most recently on February 2, 2026: "Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on July 25, 2024: "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."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on February 2, 2026: "Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on July 25, 2024: "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."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 2.52 hours per resident per day, below the Iowa average of 3.37.
- How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 1 administrator who left in the period it measured.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Good Samaritan - George George, 10.3 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Parkview Manor Nursing Home Ellsworth, 10.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Tuff Memorial Home Hills, 11.4 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- Fellowship Village Inwood, 15 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- Hegg Memorial Health Center Rock Valley, 16 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Good Samaritan Society - Mary Jane Brown Luverne, 16.3 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 32 citations
- Pleasant Acres Care Center Hull, 16.3 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- Mn Veterans Home-Luverne Luverne, 17.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 10 citations
Iowa contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Iowa. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Health Facilities, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Iowa Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 866-236-1430. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: Iowa Health Facility Database, Entity Search, where Iowa publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Lyon Specialty Care's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Lyon Specialty Care 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 3 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Lyon Specialty Care get at its last inspection?
- 0 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on June 19, 2025. The Iowa average is 6.5.
- Has Lyon Specialty Care been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Lyon Specialty Care accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Lyon Specialty Care?
- CMS lists 24 owners and managers, and links the home to Care Initiatives. Legal business name: CARE INITIATIVES.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.