Bickford of Iowa City
Assisted Living & Memory Care · Iowa City, IA

Bickford of Iowa City

Assisted Living & Memory Care · Iowa City, IA

Overview of Bickford of Iowa City

Bickford of Iowa City provides assisted living and memory care in Iowa City, IA. Assisted living includes help with daily activities such as grooming and medication management, while memory care provides a supervised setting for someone who may be at risk of wandering. The combination may suit a resident whose needs could grow from help with daily tasks to memory-focused care without leaving the community.

The community has 65 beds and is located in the Longfellow neighborhood. Its Montessori Memory Care program gives residents in the memory care setting a named program designed for that level of care. Restaurant-style meals are served three times a day, allowing residents to eat prepared meals on site, and transportation is available for resident travel.

Pets are allowed, so a resident may bring a pet when moving in. A Walk Score of 33 places the area in a car-dependent setting, where most errands require a car or a ride, so residents who no longer drive will need one of those options for most errands. Paige Enlow serves as the administrator, and Ashley Ballard is the director.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 65 Rank #155 / 334Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 155th out of 334 homes we track in Iowa for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Iowa facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.

Years of operating Info A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care. This is the number of years in operation under current management. Rank #46 / 258Years in operation — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 46th out of 258 homes we track in Iowa for years in operation. Shows how long this facility has been in operation compared to other Iowa facilities. Longer operating histories may benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
27 years
Walk Score Info Car-dependent. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation. Rank #290 / 424Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 290th out of 424 homes we track in Iowa for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Iowa facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
33 / 100
Occupancy rate Info Occupancy lower than 85% suggests more openings may be available. Rank #255 / 295Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 255th out of 295 homes we track in Iowa for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Iowa average, with its Statewide rank out of 295. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
40% This home usually has availability
Lower than the Iowa average: 63.7%
Occupied beds
26 / 65

About this community

License Details

Facility TypeAssisted Living Programs For People With Dementia
StatusActive
IssuanceOctober 29, 1998
ExpirationDecember 1, 2026
CountyJohnson
License NumberS0023
Year Opened10/29/1998

Ownership & Operating Entity

Bickford of Iowa City is administered by Paige Enlow.

Additional Services

1 service
Montessori Memory Care

Contact Information

Contact Bickford of Iowa City

Inspection History

In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing conducts unannounced health and safety surveys to monitor compliance and protect residents in long-term care settings.

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, violation, 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.

Overall vs. IA average 2 Worse Metrics worse than Iowa average:
• State violations (100% above)
• Violations per inspection (14% above)
1 Better Metrics better than Iowa average:
• Violations (48% below)

Violations Info Violations are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityIA Averagevs. IA Avg
Violations Info Total violations cited across all inspections on record. Iowa reports these as a federal and a state component, shown below; the two add up to this total. 1427 This facility has 48% fewer violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (14 vs. IA avg 27).↓ 48% better
State violations Info Part of the Violations total above — the share cited under Iowa state licensing requirements. Federal + state add up to the total. 147 This facility has 100% more state violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (14 vs. IA avg 7).↑ 100% worse
Violations per inspection Info Average violations per inspection. 2.01.76 This facility has 14% more violations per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (2 vs. IA avg 1.76).↑ 14% worse

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

This FacilityIA Averagevs. IA Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility. 713 This facility has had 46% fewer total inspections than the Iowa average (7 vs. IA avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 46% fewer

What does this home offer?

Pets allowed icon
Pets allowed icon

Pets Allowed

Building type icon
Building type icon

Building Type: Two-story

Transportation services icon
Transportation services icon

Transportation Services

Fitness and recreation icon
Fitness and recreation icon

Fitness and Recreation

Managed by Ashley Ballard

Executive Director

Places of interest near Bickford of Iowa City

Address 3.4 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Iowa City's city center to Bickford of Iowa City's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Bickford of Iowa City

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Compare Assisted Living around Iowa City

Info below is compiled from the IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Inspection events categorized as complaint-related by the state regulator.
Count of incident-based investigations (e.g. reported events) in the regulatory record for the reporting period.
Legacy Senior Living
AL
IL
Iowa City (Lucas)
136
Facility 136
IA AVG 71
Rank #23 / 334
Yes
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 46
Rank #343 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
25
Facility 25
IA AVG 18
Rank #68 / 258
52.2%
Facility 52.2%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #178 / 295
A+7
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 7
Rank #150 / 299
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #253 / 299
Oaknoll Assisted Living
AL
IL
NH
Iowa City (Longfellow)
80
Facility 80
IA AVG 71
Rank #87 / 334
No
91
Facility 91
IA AVG 46
Rank #2 / 424
-
21
Facility 21
IA AVG 18
Rank #103 / 258
41.3%
Facility 41.3%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #249 / 295
-2
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 7
Rank #1 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
Oaknoll Retirement Residence
AL
IL
NH
Iowa City (Roosevelt)
70
Facility 70
IA AVG 71
Rank #129 / 334
No
33
Facility 33
IA AVG 46
Rank #290 / 424
Private Rooms
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 18
Rank #7 / 258
81.4%
Facility 81.4%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #81 / 295
-13
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 7
Rank #59 / 299
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #205 / 299
Bickford of Iowa City
AL
MC
Iowa City (Longfellow)
65
Facility 65
IA AVG 71
Rank #155 / 334
Yes
33
Facility 33
IA AVG 46
Rank #290 / 424
-
27
Facility 27
IA AVG 18
Rank #46 / 258
40.0%
Facility 40.0%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #255 / 295
-7
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 7
Rank #285 / 299
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #295 / 299
Melrose Meadows Retirement Community
AL
IL
Iowa City (Weber)
52
Facility 52
IA AVG 71
Rank #209 / 334
Yes
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 46
Rank #343 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 18
Rank #87 / 258
57.7%
Facility 57.7%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #160 / 295
A+13
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 7
Rank #191 / 299
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #205 / 299

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 on this page. See how we rank facilities

Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Iowa

Bickford of Iowa City is located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Iowa.

Get Financial aid guidance

Elderly Waiver

Iowa Medicaid Elderly Waiver

Age 65+
General Iowa resident, Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
IA

Rural focus; waitlists possible.

Benefits
In-home care (5-7 hours/day) Meals ($6/meal) Respite (240 hours/year) Adult day care ($60/day)

Iowa Family Caregiver Support

IA NFCSP

Age Caregiver of someone 60+
General Iowa resident.
Income Limits No strict limit; prioritizes low-income.
Asset Limits Not applicable.
IA

Limited slots; rural emphasis.

Benefits
In-home respite (4-6 hours/day) Adult day care (~$60/day) Short-term facility care (up to 5 days)

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Iowa Medicare Savings Program

Age 65+ or disabled
General Iowa resident, Medicare Part A/B.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month (QMB), ~$3,380/month (SLMB), ~$3,598/month (QI)—individual.
Asset Limits $9,430 (individual), $14,130 (couple).
IA

Three tiers; no waitlist.

Benefits
Covers Part B premiums ($174.70/month) Deductibles ($240/year) Copays (~20%)

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Iowa PACE

Age 55+
General Iowa resident, nursing home-level care need, safe with PACE support.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, Medicaid-eligible
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
IA

Limited to western Iowa (e.g., Council Bluffs); expanding slowly.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Medical care Meals Transportation Therapy Respite

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

Iowa VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Age 65+ or disabled veteran/spouse
General Iowa resident, wartime service, need for ADL help (A&A) or homebound.
Income Limits (2025) Net income < ~$1,984/month (veteran with dependent, A&A); pension offsets income.
Asset Limits ~$155,356 net worth limit
IA

High veteran demand in rural areas.

Benefits
Cash (~$1,433-$2,642/month veteran, ~$951-$1,318 spouse) for care costs (e.g., in-home, assisted living)

Able Up Iowa

Able Up Iowa

Age 65+ or disabled
General Iowa resident, ability to repay loan, need for assistive tech or mods.
Income Limits (2025) No strict limit; must demonstrate repayment capacity.
Asset Limits Not specified; credit-based.
IA

Loans up to $25,000; statewide via Easterseals partnership.

Benefits
Loans for wheelchairs Ramps Walk-in tubs (~$500-$10,000 avg.) Reducing reliance on paid care

Frequently Asked Questions about Bickford of Iowa City

What neighborhood is Bickford of Iowa City in?

Bickford of Iowa City is in the Longfellow neighborhood of Iowa City.

Is Bickford of Iowa City in a walkable area?

Bickford of Iowa City has a walk score of 33. Car-dependent. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.

What is the license number of Bickford of Iowa City?

According to IA state health department records, Bickford of Iowa City's license number is S0023.

When does Bickford of Iowa City's license expire?

According to IA state health department records, Bickford of Iowa City's license expires on December 1, 2026.

What is the occupancy rate at Bickford of Iowa City?

Bickford of Iowa City's occupancy is 40%.

How long has Bickford of Iowa City been in business?

Bickford of Iowa City has been operating for approximately 27 years, based on available licensing and registration records.

Are pets allowed at Bickford of Iowa City?

Yes, Bickford of Iowa City allows residents to bring their pets.

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