Sunny Hill Care Center

Nursing Home, Hospice Care, Respite Care & Skilled Nursing · Tama, IA

CMS overall rating

1708 Harding Street, Tama, Ia 523391098 View map

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Sunny Hill Care Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay.

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Sunny Hill Care Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay.

Overview of Sunny Hill Care Center

Sunny Hill Care Center is a 57-bed nursing home in Tama, Iowa, managed by Premier Senior Management LLC and led by administrator Megan Thiessen. The building runs at an 84 percent occupancy rate and coordinates billing through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because lengths of stay average around 209 days, the daily makeup of the building consists of a fairly even blend of short-term rehab patients and long-term residents.

On the floor, the clinical staff delivers about 3 hours and 47 minutes of direct daily care to each resident. This hands-on time includes 45 minutes from registered nurses, 2 hours and 3 minutes from nurse aides, and 7 minutes from licensed practical nurses who help run the on-site hospice, respite care, and physical therapies. The building also handles outpatient care to help people transitioning back home, while the local neighborhood scores a 49 out of 100 for walkability, making a car necessary for most errands.

State records show that recent inspection findings focused on standard resident care procedures, medication management, and fall prevention. A subsequent re-inspection verified that the facility completed all required corrective actions, returning the property to full regulatory compliance.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the admissions office to check on current bed availability, ask about the outpatient therapy options, or schedule a walkthrough. The front office can also explain the billing paperwork and outline how different insurance plans apply to the fees.

Facility Direct Line (641) 484-4061

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

3h 47m per day

vs avg

4 of 6 metrics below 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.	45m per day	■ Avg 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.	7m per day	▼ 79% 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 3m per day	▼ 19% 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.	2h 35m per day	▼ 23% 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.	1m per day	▼ 32% 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.	30m per day	■ Avg State avg: 30m per day · National avg: 28m per day

Capacity and availability

209 days

57-bed community

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

Walk Score: 49 / 100

Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate

84%

Higher than the Iowa average: 75.4%

Occupied beds

48 / 57

Average occupied beds in Iowa homes 51 beds

Facility TypeFree Standing Nursing Facility / Skilled Nursing Facility

StatusActive

ExpirationAugust 1, 2026 Expires in 17 days

CountyTama

License Number860470

CMS Certification Number165462

Certification TypeFALSE

Sunny Hill Care Center is administered by Megan Thiessen.

Accept Medicaid

Accept Medicare

Rehabilitation Services

Respite Care

Email mthiessen@sunnyhillcarecenter.com

Fax6414843103

Pets not allowed

Rehabilitation Therapy

Since 2020 · 6 years of data 36 deficiencies 18 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 December 23, 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.	36	27	This facility has 33% more total deficiencies than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (36 vs. IA avg 27).↑ 33% worse
Deficiencies per year Average deficiencies per year since 2020.	6	4.5	This facility has 33% more deficiencies per year than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (6 vs. IA avg 4.5).↑ 33% worse
Deficiencies per inspection Average deficiencies per inspection.	2	1.8	This facility has 11% more deficiencies per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (2 vs. IA avg 1.8).↑ 11% worse

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.	18	15	This facility has had 20% more total inspections than the Iowa average (18 vs. IA avg 15). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 20% more

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

The August 21, 2025 complaint investigation substantiated a resident fall causing a nondisplaced humeral fracture due to failure to use a gait belt and improper wheelchair positioning.
The February 5, 2024 annual inspection found five deficiencies, including failure to follow physician orders for catheter care, inadequate post-fall assessment, and improper psychotropic medication use.
The September 30, 2025 re-inspection confirmed all prior deficiencies were corrected and the facility was in substantial compliance as of September 8, 2025.

Show Inspection Reports

Inspections since 2022

Total health inspections 6

State average N/A

Last Health inspection on Aug 2025

Total health citations

State average N/A

Citations per inspection

2.5

State average N/A

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

6 of 15 citations resulted from standard inspections; 5 of 15 resulted from complaint investigations; and 4 of 15 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).

Breakdown of citation severity (last 4 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

2 critical citations State average: N/A

2 serious citations State average: N/A

9 moderate citations State average: N/A

2 minor citations State average: N/A

Citations history (last 4 years)

Quality of Care serious citation Aug 21, 2025

Corrected

Administration moderate citation Feb 06, 2025

Corrected

Care Planning moderate citation Feb 06, 2025

Corrected

Resident Rights minor citation Feb 06, 2025

Corrected

Total staff 56

Employees 52

Contractors 4

Staff to resident ratio 1.19 : 1

0% compared with State average

State average ratio: 0 : 0

Avg staff/day 22

Average shift 7.6 hours

0% compared with State average

State average: 0 hours

Total staff hours (quarter) 15,306

Nursing staff breakdown

10.2 hours

11.7 hours

7.5 hours

Contractor staffing

567 contractor hours this quarter

Certified Nursing Assistant: 3 Registered Nurse: 1

Staff by category


Certified Nursing Assistant	28	3	31	9,256	92	100%	7.5
Registered Nurse	7	1	8	2,694	92	100%	10.2
Dietitian	1	0	1	532	61	66%	8.7
Medication Aide/Technician	2	0	2	464	45	49%	10.1
Clinical Nurse Specialist	1	0	1	461	61	66%	7.6
RN Director of Nursing	1	0	1	432	62	67%	7
Nurse Practitioner	1	0	1	380	47	51%	8.1
Administrator	1	0	1	356	46	50%	7.7
Other Dietary Services Staff	3	0	3	300	40	43%	7.1
Licensed Practical Nurse	1	0	1	129	11	12%	11.7
Physical Therapy Assistant	1	0	1	108	34	37%	3.2
Respiratory Therapy Technician	2	0	2	107	33	36%	2.9
Physical Therapy Aide	1	0	1	65	26	28%	2.5
Respiratory Therapist	1	0	1	14	7	8%	1.9
Qualified Social Worker	1	0	1	11	5	5%	2.2

31 Certified Nursing Assistant

% of Days 100%

8 Registered Nurse

% of Days 100%

1 Dietitian

% of Days 66%

2 Medication Aide/Technician

% of Days 49%

1 Clinical Nurse Specialist

% of Days 66%

1 RN Director of Nursing

% of Days 67%

1 Nurse Practitioner

% of Days 51%

1 Administrator

% of Days 50%

3 Other Dietary Services Staff

% of Days 43%

1 Licensed Practical Nurse

% of Days 12%

1 Physical Therapy Assistant

% of Days 37%

2 Respiratory Therapy Technician

% of Days 36%

1 Physical Therapy Aide

% of Days 28%

1 Respiratory Therapist

% of Days 8%

1 Qualified Social Worker

% of Days 5%

View All Staffing Data

Total fines amount $25K

48% lower than State average

State average: $48K

Number of fines 2

18% more fines than State average

State average: 1.7

Payment Denials 0

100% fewer payment denials than State average

State average: 0.5

Fines amount comparison

This facility $25K

State average $48K

Penalty History

Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.

2 penalties in the past 3 years

Multiple penalties were reported in the last 3 years.

Civil Money Penalty Feb 8, 2024

$14K

Civil Money Penalty Oct 3, 2023

$11K

Last updated: Jan 2026

High-risk clinical events score 12.8

25% worse than State average

State average: 10.2

Functional decline score 21.4

In line with State average

State average: 21.6

Long-stay resident measures

Average State avg: 3.3

Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased 20.8%

11% worse than State average

State average: 18.8%

Walking Ability Worsened 31.1%

58% worse than State average

State average: 19.7%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence 12.3%

53% better than State average

State average: 26.2%

Falls with Major Injury 5.9%

63% worse than State average

State average: 3.6%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers 2.0%

55% better than State average

State average: 4.4%

Urinary Tract Infection 2.2%

13% better than State average

State average: 2.5%

Lost Too Much Weight 4.4%

11% better than State average

State average: 5.0%

Depressive Symptoms 5.9%

51% worse than State average

State average: 3.9%

Antipsychotic Use 4.9%

74% better than State average

State average: 19.0%

Pneumococcal Vaccine 99.5%

5% better than State average

State average: 94.4%

Influenza Vaccine 98.0%

In line with State average

State average: 95.3%

Hospitalizations per 1,000 days 1.35

9% better than State average

State average: 1.48

ED visits per 1,000 days 1.82

13% better than State average

State average: 2.09

Short-stay resident measures

Significantly above average State avg: 2.6

Pneumococcal Vaccine 95.4%

12% better than State average

State average: 85.1%

Antipsychotic medication increase 0.0%

100% better than State average

State average: 1.8%

Influenza Vaccine 92.0%

25% better than State average

State average: 73.3%

Re-hospitalized after SNF stay 11.3%

47% better than State average

State average: 21.3%

Emergency department visits 11.5%

12% better than State average

State average: 13.1%

Falls with major injury 0.0%

100% better than State average

State average: 0.8%

Ability to care for self at discharge 63.6%

19% better than State average

State average: 53.7%

Successful return to home or community 52.9%

5% better than State average

State average: 50.6%

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

65% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 23 days

Private pay

21% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 1 - 2 years

Medicaid

14% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.

Typical stay 2 - 3 years

Total residents 47

Medicare

6.4% of residents

Medicaid

46.8% of residents

Private pay or other

46.8% of residents

Programs & Services

Residents Group

Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities

Active Resident Council

Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.

Financial Trends

Historical financial and operational data for Sunny Hill Care Center from 2011–2023, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.

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

Occupancy Rate 76.6% ↑ 7.1pp vs 2022

Net Patient Income $367.4K ↓ ~$17.4K vs 2022

Payroll Costs $2.4M ↑ ~$397.5K vs 2022

Operating Margin 7.5% ↓ 1.9pp vs 2022

Metric	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Occupancy %	83.2%	88.6%	87.3%	93.4%	94.6%	95.9%	90.9%	88.2%	90.1%	83.9%	67.6%	69.5%	76.6%
Beds	60	60	60	60	57	57	57	57	57	57	68	68	68
Net Income	-$57,460	$110,252	$168,250	$231,511	$282,057	$146,900	$179,043	$198,792	$243,378	$451,094	$365,713	$384,767	$367,043
Gross Revenue	$2,596,547	$2,932,329	$3,236,190	$3,504,454	$3,491,002	$3,651,152	$3,504,879	$3,384,107	$3,653,301	$4,440,081	$3,982,714	$4,180,844	$4,956,476
Operating Expenses	$2,692,078	$2,837,142	$3,106,697	$3,365,101	$3,317,051	$3,523,020	$3,367,331	$3,242,523	$3,412,910	$3,892,100	$3,412,898	$3,729,987	$4,544,005
Net Patient Income	-$95,531	$95,187	$129,493	$139,353	$173,951	$128,132	$137,548	$141,584	$240,391	$451,094	$366,413	$384,767	$367,383
Net Patient Revenue	$2,596,547	$2,932,329	$3,236,190	$3,504,454	$3,491,002	$3,651,152	$3,504,879	$3,384,107	$3,653,301	$4,343,194	$3,779,311	$4,114,754	$4,911,388
Payroll Costs	$1,597,960	$1,677,223	$1,920,291	$2,100,470	$1,983,930	$2,104,361	$2,006,890	$1,969,566	$1,856,120	$1,835,662	$1,761,207	$2,013,807	$2,411,354
Operating Margin %	-3.7%	3.3%	4.0%	4.0%	5.0%	3.5%	3.9%	4.2%	6.6%	10.4%	9.7%	9.4%	7.5%
Medicare %	3.7%	4.7%	5.1%	5.7%	4.7%	7.0%	5.5%	5.5%	4.3%	4.2%	3.9%	8.3%	6.1%
Medicaid %	50.1%	51.8%	47.7%	40.6%	40.8%	47.0%	45.9%	53.9%	57.9%	54.1%	58.5%	54.5%	53.8%
Private %	46.1%	43.5%	47.2%	53.7%	54.5%	46.0%	48.6%	40.6%	37.9%	41.6%	37.6%	37.3%	40.1%
Net Patient Revenue/Day	$143	$151	$169	$171	$177	$183	$185	$184	$195	$248	$225	$239	$258
Cost/Day	$148	$146	$162	$164	$169	$176	$178	$177	$182	$223	$204	$216	$239
Avg Length of Stay	284.6 days	329.7 days	313.4 days	314.8 days	327.9 days	281.7 days	156.3 days	140.1 days	123.3 days	265.0 days	246.6 days	147.4 days	209.0 days

Finances and operations

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

Net patient revenue

$4.9M

Net patient income

$367.4K

For-profit Operated by a single business entity.

Net patient revenue

$4.9M

Net patient income

$367.4K

Other income

-$340

Payroll costs

$2.4M 49.1% of net patient revenue

Other operating costs

$2.1M

Total costs

$4.5M

TYPE OF STAY

Mostly short-term rehab stays

Most residents typically stay for a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on.

Most new residents arrive under Medicare (65% of admissions), and a typical Medicare stay runs around 23 days.

Coverage residents most often arrive under.

Medicare 65%

Private pay 21%

Medicaid 14%

Coverage residents most often leave under.

Medicare 30%

Private pay 43%

Medicaid 27%

0.0 miles from city center Estimated distance in miles from Tama's city center to Sunny Hill Care Center's address, calculated via Google Maps.

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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	-
Sunny Hill Care Center	NH HOS RC SNF	Tama	-	57	-	49	-

Nursing Home Explorer

Is Sunny Hill Care Center in a walkable area?

Sunny Hill Care Center has a walk score of 49. Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.

What is the license number of Sunny Hill Care Center?

According to IA state health department records, Sunny Hill Care Center's license number is 860470.

When does Sunny Hill Care Center's license expire?

According to IA state health department records, Sunny Hill Care Center's license expires on August 1, 2026.

What is the occupancy rate at Sunny Hill Care Center?

Sunny Hill Care Center's occupancy is 84%.

Are pets allowed at Sunny Hill Care Center?

No, Sunny Hill Care Center has a no-pet policy.

What is the best email address for Sunny Hill Care Center?

The team at Sunny Hill Care Center can be reached at mthiessen@sunnyhillcarecenter.com.

Does Sunny Hill Care Center operate as a for-profit or non-profit?

Sunny Hill Care Center is registered as a for-profit in IA.

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Sunny Hill Care Center

Overview of Sunny Hill Care Center

Quality ratings

Staffing hours breakdown

Capacity and availability

About this community

Occupancy

License Details

Ownership & Operating Entity

Payment & Insurance

Therapy & Rehabilitation

Contact Information

Additional Policies & Features

Amenities & Lifestyle

Contact Sunny Hill Care Center

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 2022

Breakdown of citation severity (last 4 years)

Citations history (last 4 years)

Staffing Data

Nursing staff breakdown

Registered Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

Certified Nursing Assistant

Contractor staffing

Staff by category

31 Certified Nursing Assistant

8 Registered Nurse

1 Dietitian

2 Medication Aide/Technician

1 Clinical Nurse Specialist

1 RN Director of Nursing

1 Nurse Practitioner

1 Administrator

3 Other Dietary Services Staff

1 Licensed Practical Nurse

1 Physical Therapy Assistant

2 Respiratory Therapy Technician

1 Physical Therapy Aide

1 Respiratory Therapist

1 Qualified Social Worker

Penalties and fines

Fines amount comparison

Fines amount comparison

Penalty History

Quality of care over time

Long-stay resident measures

Short-stay resident measures

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

Private pay

Medicaid

Facility Characteristics

Programs & Services

Residents Group

Active Resident Council

Financial Trends

Financial Performance

Payroll & Labor Costs

Payer Mix (percentage)

Finances and operations

Who this home usually serves

Mostly short-term rehab stays

Admissions

Discharges

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