Chatham Oaks Inc.

Overview of Chatham Oaks

Chatham Oaks sits at 4515 Melrose Ave in Iowa City, offering both memory care and assisted living under one roof. It’s a small place, just 16 beds, run by administrator Lydia Olson-Kelley. Smaller communities like this one tend to mean staff actually know residents by name.

Here’s the honest logistical note: the neighborhood scores a 1 out of 100 on walkability. That’s about as car-dependent as it gets. Family visiting will want to plan on driving, not walking, for errands or outings nearby.

On the care side, Chatham Oaks provides what’s described as an intermediate level of support, built for residents who need a secure, supervised setting but not necessarily the most intensive nursing care available. Nursing services run around the clock, so there’s coverage day and night. The community also offers independent living options alongside its memory care and assisted living services, which gives some room for residents whose needs shift over time without necessarily requiring a move somewhere else.

Iowa’s Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing reviews this community periodically, the way it does with every long-term care facility in the state. The themes that come up in that review process for Chatham Oaks center on medication management and how well care plans and documentation are kept up to date.

This is a small, closely-staffed memory care and assisted living community in a quiet, car-dependent part of Iowa City, with round-the-clock nursing and some flexibility built in as residents’ needs evolve.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 16 Rank #331 / 334Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 331st 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.

About this community

License Details

Facility TypeResidential Care Facilities
StatusActive
IssuanceFebruary 1, 2026
ExpirationJanuary 2, 2027
CountyJohnson
License Number520457

Ownership & Operating Entity

Chatham Oaks Inc. is administered by Lydia Olson-Kelley.

Contact Information

Contact Chatham Oaks Inc.

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 1 Worse Metrics worse than Iowa average:
• State violations (114% above)
2 Better Metrics better than Iowa average:
• Violations (44% below)
• Violations per inspection (26% 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. 1527 This facility has 44% fewer violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (15 vs. IA avg 27).↓ 44% 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. 157 This facility has 114% more state violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (15 vs. IA avg 7).↑ 114% worse
Violations per inspection Info Average violations per inspection. 1.31.76 This facility has 26% fewer violations per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (1.3 vs. IA avg 1.76).↓ 26% better

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. 1213 This facility has had 8% fewer total inspections than the Iowa average (12 vs. IA avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 8% fewer

Places of interest near Chatham Oaks Inc.

Address 3.5 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Iowa City's city center to Chatham Oaks Inc.'s address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Chatham Oaks Inc.

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Address

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. 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
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
Chatham Oaks Inc.
AL
Iowa City (Weber)
16
Facility 16
IA AVG 71
Rank #331 / 334
No-----12
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 7
Rank #93 / 299
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #281 / 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

Chatham Oaks Inc. 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 Chatham Oaks Inc.

What neighborhood is Chatham Oaks Inc. in?

Chatham Oaks Inc. is in the Weber neighborhood of Iowa City.

What is the license number of Chatham Oaks Inc.?

According to IA state health department records, Chatham Oaks Inc.'s license number is 520457.

When does Chatham Oaks Inc.'s license expire?

According to IA state health department records, Chatham Oaks Inc.'s license expires on January 2, 2027.

Are pets allowed at Chatham Oaks Inc.?

No, Chatham Oaks Inc. has a no-pet policy.

What is the best email address for Chatham Oaks Inc.?

The team at Chatham Oaks Inc. can be reached at lydia.olsonkelley@unitypoint.org.

Who is the administrator of Chatham Oaks Inc.?

Lydia Olson-Kelley is the administrator of Chatham Oaks Inc..

How many beds does Chatham Oaks Inc. have?

Chatham Oaks Inc. has 16 beds.

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