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Nursing home report

St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home

Spencer, IA · Medicare-certified · 79 beds

Needs attention
Non-profit
Data as of July 1, 2026
2 of 5 overall

St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home in Spencer, IA has a 2-star overall rating, with a very poor 1-star health inspection rating but a 5-star staffing rating. It has $90,076 in fines in the last 24 months, a recent federal penalty flag, and reported nurse staffing of 3.71 hours per resident per day versus the 4.1 federal benchmark.

Facility ratings

Health inspections

Staffing

3.7098 hrs/resident/day

Quality measures

Last inspection: September 4, 2025Penalties, last 24 months: $90,076recent federal penalty

Federal guidance recommends at least 4.1 nursing hours per resident each day. This facility reports 3.7098.

Staffing detail

Registered nurses
0.85
Licensed practical nurses
0.36
Nurse aides
2.50
Weekend nursing
3.44

Hours per resident per day.

Total staff turnover: 44%
Registered nurse turnover: 21%

Resident outcomes

Each measure compares a year ago with the most recent quarter. Green means the facility moved the right way; red means the wrong way.

Negative outcomes

Lower is better — fewer affected residents. A decrease is good (green); an increase is concerning (red).

Long-stay residents on antipsychotic medication

21.4%16.3%Improving

Residents with a fall causing major injury

1.5%6%Worsening

Residents with pressure ulcers (bedsores)

11%2.9%Improving

Residents with a urinary tract infection

1.5%1.5%No change

Residents who lost too much weight

10.3%5.6%Improving

Residents who were physically restrained

0%0%No change

Residents needing more help with daily activities

26.3%24.1%Improving

Residents whose ability to walk got worse

16.8%20.7%Worsening

Long-stay residents on antianxiety or sleep medication

15.3%7.1%Improving

Short-stay residents newly given an antipsychotic

0%0%No change

Residents with a long-term catheter

7.3%5.2%Improving

Residents with new or worsening incontinence

17.8%20.3%Worsening

Residents with depressive symptoms

1.5%0%Improving

Positive outcomes

Higher is better — e.g. vaccinations. An increase is good (green); a decrease is concerning (red).

Long-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine

90.8%

Long-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine

92.4%98.5%Improving

Short-stay residents given the seasonal flu vaccine

58.3%

Short-stay residents given the pneumonia vaccine

92.1%85.4%Worsening

What the inspectors found

The nursing home failed to keep the area free of hazards and provide enough supervision to prevent accidents. Cited September 2025 — isolated incident, immediate jeopardy to residents.

View the original federal record

F-Tag 689 — 42 CFR §483.25(d) — S/S: J

The home failed to ensure residents were treated with dignity and could make their own choices and communicate freely. Cited September 2025 — limited pattern, potential for harm.

View the original federal record

F-Tag 550 — 42 CFR §483.10(a) — S/S: E

The home failed to properly train staff about dementia care and how to recognize and report abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Cited September 2025 — limited pattern, potential for harm.

View the original federal record

F-Tag 943 — 42 CFR §483.95 — S/S: E

The nursing home failed to provide and carry out an infection prevention and control program to help keep residents from getting or spreading infections. Cited August 2024 — limited pattern, potential for harm.

View the original federal record

F-Tag 880 — 42 CFR §483.80(a) — S/S: E

The home failed to honor residents’ choices about treatment, research participation, and advance care instructions. Cited August 2024 — limited pattern, potential for harm.

View the original federal record

F-Tag 578 — 42 CFR §483.10 — S/S: E

Recent history

  1. STAFFING

    Reported nurse staffing was below the federal recommendation of 4.1 hours per resident per day.

  2. PENALTY

    A federal fine of $81,679 was recorded.

  3. INSPECTION

    Health inspection found 9 health deficiencies.

    See what inspectors found
  4. PENALTY

    A federal payment denial was recorded.

  5. PENALTY

    A federal fine of $8,397 was recorded.

  6. INSPECTION

    Health inspection found 7 health deficiencies.

    See what inspectors found
  7. INSPECTION

    Health inspection found 4 health deficiencies.

    See what inspectors found

Penalties & enforcement

On record with Medicare: 2 fines · $90,076 in total fines · 1 payment denial.

  • Federal fine

    Sep 4, 2025

    $81,679
  • Medicare/Medicaid payment denial

    Aug 22, 2024

    21 days
  • Federal fine

    Aug 22, 2024

    $8,397

Operator & ownership

Ownership
Non profit - Corporation
Occupancy
72.5 residents on an average day (92% of 79 beds)
Resident voice
Resident council
Medicare history
Certified for 23 years

Things at a nursing home change — inspections, staffing, ownership, news.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — public records, updated monthly. GoodStanding presents official records with plain-language summaries. Always visit a facility in person.