Denver Sunset Home

Nursing Home & Skilled Nursing · Denver, IA

CMS overall rating

235 North Mill Street, Denver, Ia 506220383 View map

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Denver Sunset Home accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay.

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Denver Sunset Home accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay.

Overview of Denver Sunset Home

Operated by Sheila Baird, Denver Sunset Home is a nonprofit nursing facility in Denver, Iowa. It provides long-term skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation to residents of Bremer County. The 31-bed facility is dually licensed as a Nursing Facility and Skilled Nursing Facility and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility earned a 5-star CMS overall rating, roughly 54% above Iowa averages, with above-average scores across Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality measures. Across inspections from 2020 to 2025, the facility received an average of 4.2 deficiencies per year, close to Iowa’s average of 4.4.

The most recent annual survey in March 2025 identified four administrative deficiencies involving notification timing, bed holds documentation, assessment coding, and care plan completeness. The facility achieved full compliance by April 1, 2025. In 2022, a substantiated complaint involved inadequate supervision and training for standing lift use, resulting in a resident fall. There were no fines, Immediate Jeopardy findings, or license actions recorded.

Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 30 minutes per resident per day, about 2% above Iowa’s average of 4 hours and 25 minutes. The facility’s occupancy rate is 87%, well above the state’s average of 75.4%, showing consistent demand in a small community.

The facility offers private and semi-private rooms with private half baths, individual thermostat controls in each resident room, emergency generator backup, and Sunday church services. A resident pet cat contributes to the facility’s home-like setting.

Denver Sunset Home is best suited for residents seeking long-term skilled nursing or memory care in a small, community-rooted setting in Bremer County. Its consistent compliance record and nonprofit structure are oriented toward continuity of care.

Facility Direct Line (319) 984-5372 denversunsethome@gmail.com

Quality ratings

Measured by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Staffing hours breakdown

Hours per resident per day — compared to state averages

Total nursing care / resident

4h 30m per day

vs avg

1 of 6 metrics below state avg

Standout metric Physical Therapist is +31% above state avg

Staff type	Hours / Day / Resident	vs state avg
Registered Nurse (RN) RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes.	47m per day	▲ 7% State avg: 44m per day · National avg: 41m per day
LPN / LVN Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care.	31m per day	▼ 9% State avg: 34m per day · National avg: 52m per day
Nurse Aide Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life.	2h 40m per day	▲ 5% State avg: 2h 32m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day
Weekend Total Nursing Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.	3h 36m per day	▲ 8% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day
Physical Therapist Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation.	3m per day	▲ 31% State avg: 2m per day · National avg: 4m per day
Weekend RN Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent.	36m per day	▲ 19% State avg: 30m per day · National avg: 28m per day

Capacity and availability

113 days

31-bed community

A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.

43 years in operation

A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care.

Walk Score: 51 / 100

Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate

87%

Higher than the Iowa average: 75.4%

Occupied beds

27 / 31

Average occupied beds in Iowa homes 51 beds

Facility TypeFree Standing Nursing Facility / Skilled Nursing Facility

StatusActive

IssuanceJanuary 12, 1983

CountyBremer

License Number90099

CMS Certification Number165603

Certification TypeFALSE

Denver Sunset Home is administered by Blair Boynton.

Accept Medicaid

Accept Medicare

Rehabilitation Services

Doctor on Staff

24-Hour Staffing

Nursing Facility

Skilled Nursing Facility

Fax3199845197

Pets not allowed

Admission CriteriaDoctor’s certification that the prospective resident requires NF or SNF level of care. Preadmission evaluation/screening completed by our staff RN to determine if resident qualifies for NF level of care as defined by State and Federal guidelines.

HousekeepingYes

Linen ServiceYes

Utilities IncludedYes

Semi-Private

Private

And Super-Single Rooms With Private ½ Baths

Internet/E-Mail Access

Mail Delivered 6 Days/Week

Sunday Church Service

Individualized Thermostat Controls In Each Resident Room For Heat And Air Conditioning

Emergency Generator Power

Homelike

Family Environment

Very Kind And Loving Staff

Individual Birthday Party Provided Each Resident On Their Special Day

Radcliff (Pet Cat)

Religious Services

Semi-Private$9,750 per month

Private$10,200 per month

Super Single$10,650 per month

Since 2020 · 6 years of data 25 deficiencies 15 inspections

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Iowa state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2020 vs. Iowa state average

Overall vs. IA average

Latest Inspection April 15, 2025

Deficiencies Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.	This Facility	IA Average	vs. IA Avg
Total deficiencies Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.	25	27	This facility has 7% fewer total deficiencies than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (25 vs. IA avg 27).↓ 7% better
Deficiencies per year Average deficiencies per year since 2020.	4.2	4.5	This facility has 7% fewer deficiencies per year than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (4.2 vs. IA avg 4.5).↓ 7% better
Deficiencies per inspection Average deficiencies per inspection.	1.7	1.8	This facility has 6% fewer deficiencies per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (1.7 vs. IA avg 1.8).↓ 6% better

Inspections State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.	This Facility	IA Average	vs. IA Avg
Total inspections Combined count of all routine and focused inspections. Excludes complaint investigations.	15	15	This facility has total inspections in line with the Iowa average (15 vs. IA avg 15).— At avg

Inspection Reports Summary An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.

The most recent April 15, 2025 plan of correction accepted substantial compliance effective April 1, 2025 with no deficiencies cited.
The March 27, 2025 annual inspection found 4 deficiencies including failure to provide timely Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage, bed hold policy notification, inaccurate resident assessment coding, and incomplete baseline care plans.
The May 9, 2024 inspection cited 3 deficiencies related to bed hold policy issuance, improper insulin administration, and missing oxygen therapy parameters.

Show Inspection Reports

Inspections since 2023

Total health inspections 3

State average N/A

Last Health inspection on Mar 2025

Total health citations

State average N/A

Citations per inspection

2.67

State average N/A

Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.

All 8 citations resulted from standard inspections.

Breakdown of citation severity (last 3 years)

Critical health citations

In line with State average

State average: N/A

Serious health citations

In line with State average

State average: N/A

0 critical citations State average: N/A

0 serious citations State average: N/A

3 moderate citations State average: N/A

5 minor citations State average: N/A

Citations history (last 3 years)

Care Planning minor citation Mar 27, 2025

Corrected

Care Planning moderate citation Mar 27, 2025

Corrected

Resident Rights minor citation Mar 27, 2025

Corrected

Resident Rights minor citation Mar 27, 2025

Corrected

Total staff 107

Employees 39

Contractors 68

Staff to resident ratio 4.12 : 1

0% compared with State average

State average ratio: 0 : 0

Avg staff/day 19

Average shift 6.5 hours

0% compared with State average

State average: 0 hours

Total staff hours (quarter) 11,322

Nursing staff breakdown

6.2 hours

7.8 hours

6.9 hours

Contractor staffing

1,423 contractor hours this quarter

Certified Nursing Assistant: 41 Registered Nurse: 7 Physical Therapy Aide: 4 Respiratory Therapy Technician: 4 Qualified Social Worker: 3 Speech Language Pathologist: 2 Physical Therapy Assistant: 2 Occupational Therapy Aide: 2 Mental Health Service Worker: 1 Medication Aide/Technician: 1 Occupational Therapy Assistant: 1

Staff by category


Certified Nursing Assistant	26	41	67	6,715	92	100%	6.9
Licensed Practical Nurse	5	0	5	1,312	89	97%	7.8
Registered Nurse	3	7	10	1,289	92	100%	6.2
Dietitian	1	0	1	466	68	74%	6.9
Administrator	1	0	1	461	59	64%	7.8
Nurse Practitioner	1	0	1	446	65	71%	6.9
Clinical Nurse Specialist	1	0	1	266	44	48%	6
Respiratory Therapy Technician	0	4	4	111	47	51%	2.4
Physical Therapy Aide	0	4	4	64	46	50%	1.4
Medication Aide/Technician	1	1	2	59	9	10%	6.5
Occupational Therapy Aide	0	2	2	34	11	12%	3
Mental Health Service Worker	0	1	1	29	14	15%	2
Qualified Social Worker	0	3	3	20	20	22%	1
Occupational Therapy Assistant	0	1	1	19	3	3%	6.3
Physical Therapy Assistant	0	2	2	19	24	26%	0.8
Speech Language Pathologist	0	2	2	13	12	13%	1.1

67 Certified Nursing Assistant

% of Days 100%

5 Licensed Practical Nurse

% of Days 97%

10 Registered Nurse

% of Days 100%

1 Dietitian

% of Days 74%

1 Administrator

% of Days 64%

1 Nurse Practitioner

% of Days 71%

1 Clinical Nurse Specialist

% of Days 48%

4 Respiratory Therapy Technician

% of Days 51%

4 Physical Therapy Aide

% of Days 50%

2 Medication Aide/Technician

% of Days 10%

2 Occupational Therapy Aide

% of Days 12%

1 Mental Health Service Worker

% of Days 15%

3 Qualified Social Worker

% of Days 22%

1 Occupational Therapy Assistant

% of Days 3%

2 Physical Therapy Assistant

% of Days 26%

2 Speech Language Pathologist

% of Days 13%

View All Staffing Data

No penalties in the past 3 years

No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.

High-risk clinical events score 10.5

In line with State average

State average: 10.2

Functional decline score 20.3

6% better than State average

State average: 21.6

Long-stay resident measures

Average State avg: 3.3

Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased 20.3%

8% worse than State average

State average: 18.8%

Walking Ability Worsened 20.7%

5% worse than State average

State average: 19.7%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence 19.8%

24% better than State average

State average: 26.2%

Falls with Major Injury 1.0%

71% better than State average

State average: 3.6%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers 8.9%

103% worse than State average

State average: 4.4%

Urinary Tract Infection 1.1%

56% better than State average

State average: 2.5%

Lost Too Much Weight 1.4%

71% better than State average

State average: 5.0%

Depressive Symptoms 0.0%

100% better than State average

State average: 3.9%

Antipsychotic Use 5.4%

71% better than State average

State average: 19.0%

Pneumococcal Vaccine 99.0%

5% better than State average

State average: 94.4%

Influenza Vaccine 100.0%

5% better than State average

State average: 95.3%

Hospitalizations per 1,000 days 2.92

97% worse than State average

State average: 1.48

ED visits per 1,000 days 1.66

21% better than State average

State average: 2.09

Short-stay resident measures

Significantly below average State avg: 2.6

Pneumococcal Vaccine 91.6%

8% better than State average

State average: 85.1%

Antipsychotic medication increase 0.0%

100% better than State average

State average: 1.8%

Re-hospitalized after SNF stay 23.1%

8% worse than State average

State average: 21.3%

Emergency department visits 22.3%

70% worse than State average

State average: 13.1%

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

19% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 20 days

Private pay

66% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 2 - 3 months

Medicaid

15% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.

Typical stay 11 - 12 months

Total residents 26

Medicare

3.8% of residents

Medicaid

50% of residents

Private pay or other

46.2% of residents

Financial Trends

Historical financial and operational data for Denver Sunset Home from 2012–2023, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.

Key figures below are for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.

Occupancy Rate 81.6% ↓ 1.4pp vs 2022

Net Patient Income -$21.6K ↑ ~$164.9K vs 2022

Payroll Costs $1.6M ↑ ~$277.9K vs 2022

Operating Margin -0.8% ↑ 6.9pp vs 2022

Metric	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Occupancy %	96.3%	96.3%	95.7%	93.6%	93.3%	86.4%	93.1%	96.8%	86.4%	85.4%	83.0%	81.6%
Beds	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31
Net Income	$12,549	-$41,541	$256,776	$5,263	-$190,136	-$100,732	-$118,157	-$32,772	$393,736	$230,702	$251,119	$169,829
Gross Revenue	$1,850,923	$1,750,205	$2,038,847	$1,916,164	$1,842,204	$1,917,451	$2,025,466	$2,182,471	$2,338,267	$2,357,940	$2,581,466	$2,877,456
Operating Expenses	$1,789,238	$1,813,490	$1,838,981	$1,912,271	$2,031,600	$2,026,944	$2,164,178	$2,211,643	$2,382,846	$2,340,759	$2,613,449	$2,709,722
Net Patient Income	-$10,182	-$100,688	$140,988	-$17,721	-$203,916	-$124,235	-$139,502	-$34,870	-$116,312	-$56,608	-$186,486	-$21,625
Net Patient Revenue	$1,779,056	$1,712,802	$1,979,969	$1,894,550	$1,827,684	$1,902,709	$2,024,676	$2,176,773	$2,266,534	$2,284,151	$2,426,963	$2,688,097
Payroll Costs	$1,201,369	$1,184,309	$1,224,165	$1,268,827	$1,377,773	$1,214,745	$1,249,620	$1,388,500	$1,462,366	$1,329,561	$1,280,428	$1,558,326
Operating Margin %	-0.6%	-5.9%	7.1%	-0.9%	-11.2%	-6.5%	-6.9%	-1.6%	-5.1%	-2.5%	-7.7%	-0.8%
Medicare %	3.4%	1.8%	2.0%	1.1%	0.7%	0.6%	0.0%	0.0%	2.4%	2.2%	3.8%	3.6%
Medicaid %	38.6%	43.9%	41.1%	40.2%	38.7%	36.0%	39.9%	48.5%	48.6%	53.3%	51.2%	48.4%
Private %	58.0%	54.3%	56.9%	58.8%	60.6%	63.3%	60.1%	51.5%	49.0%	44.5%	45.0%	48.0%
Net Patient Revenue/Day	$163	$157	$183	$179	$173	$195	$192	$199	$231	$237	$258	$291
Cost/Day	$164	$166	$170	$181	$192	$207	$205	$202	$243	$242	$278	$293
Avg Length of Stay	390.2 days	640.8 days	569.9 days	706.3 days	705.6 days	391.1 days	658.7 days	912.8 days	204.2 days	132.3 days	105.5 days	112.6 days

Finances and operations

Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.

Net patient revenue

$2.7M

Net patient income

-$21.6K

Nonprofit Nonprofit Corporation

Net patient revenue

$2.7M

Net patient income

-$21.6K

Other income

$236.4K

Payroll costs

$1.6M 58% of net patient revenue

Other operating costs

$1.2M

Total costs

$2.7M

TYPE OF STAY

Primarily short stays

Residents typically stay for brief periods, with frequent admissions and discharges throughout the year.

Most new residents arrive under private pay (66% of admissions), and a typical private pay stay runs around 2 - 3 months.

Coverage residents most often arrive under.

Medicare 19%

Private pay 66%

Medicaid 15%

Coverage residents most often leave under.

Medicare 20%

Private pay 65%

Medicaid 16%

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The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.


Bethany Home Retirement Center	NH IL MC SNF	Dubuque (Eagle Point District)	-	66	-	69	1 Bed / 2 Bed
Sunrise Retirement Community	NH AL IL MC RC SNF	Sioux City	-	74	A+	22	Studio
Green Hills Retirement Community	NH AL IL MC SNF	Ames (Hamilton Drive)	-	56	-	18	1 Bed / 2 Bed
Meth Wick Community	NH AL IL MC RC SNF	Cedar Rapids (The Meth-Wick Community)	-	69	-	23	-
Denver Sunset Home	NH SNF	Denver	-	31	-	51	-

Nursing Home Explorer

Is Denver Sunset Home in a walkable area?

Denver Sunset Home has a walk score of 51. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

What is the license number of Denver Sunset Home?

According to IA state health department records, Denver Sunset Home's license number is 90099.

What is the occupancy rate at Denver Sunset Home?

Denver Sunset Home's occupancy is 87%.

Are pets allowed at Denver Sunset Home?

No, Denver Sunset Home has a no-pet policy.

Does Denver Sunset Home operate as a for-profit or non-profit?

Denver Sunset Home is registered as a non-profit in IA.

Who is the administrator of Denver Sunset Home?

Blair Boynton is the administrator of Denver Sunset Home.

How many beds does Denver Sunset Home have?

Denver Sunset Home has 31 beds.

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Denver Sunset Home

Overview of Denver Sunset Home

Quality ratings

Staffing hours breakdown

Capacity and availability

About this community

Occupancy

License Details

Ownership & Operating Entity

Payment & Insurance

Therapy & Rehabilitation

Staffing & Medical

Additional Services

Contact Information

Additional Policies & Features

Amenities & Lifestyle

Pricing & Financial Information

Contact Denver Sunset Home

Inspection History

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Iowa state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Deficiencies Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

Inspections State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

Inspection Reports Summary An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.

Health Inspection History

Inspections since 2023

Breakdown of citation severity (last 3 years)

Citations history (last 3 years)

Staffing Data

Nursing staff breakdown

Registered Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

Certified Nursing Assistant

Contractor staffing

Staff by category

67 Certified Nursing Assistant

5 Licensed Practical Nurse

10 Registered Nurse

1 Dietitian

1 Administrator

1 Nurse Practitioner

1 Clinical Nurse Specialist

4 Respiratory Therapy Technician

4 Physical Therapy Aide

2 Medication Aide/Technician

2 Occupational Therapy Aide

1 Mental Health Service Worker

3 Qualified Social Worker

1 Occupational Therapy Assistant

2 Physical Therapy Assistant

2 Speech Language Pathologist

Penalties and fines

Quality of care over time

Long-stay resident measures

Short-stay resident measures

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

Private pay

Medicaid

Facility Characteristics

Financial Trends

Financial Performance

Payroll & Labor Costs

Payer Mix (percentage)

Finances and operations

Who this home usually serves

Primarily short stays

Admissions

Discharges

Places of interest near Denver Sunset Home

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