Melrose Meadows Retirement Community
Assisted Living & Independent Living · Iowa City, IA

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

Assisted Living & Independent Living · Iowa City, IA

Overview of Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

Located in the heart of Iowa City, Melrose Meadows Retirement Community stands as a welcoming haven for seniors seeking assisted living. Offering a range of private senior apartments, this community provides a sanctuary where residents are free from the burdens of upkeep and monotony. With a reputation that shines brightly over the years, Melrose Meadows prides itself on transparency in its fee structure and offers a blend of independent and assisted living facilities.

Its strategic proximity to the University of Iowa hospitals and clinics ensures seamless access to world-class healthcare, supported by a dedicated on-site staff available around the clock. Amidst the vibrant energy of Iowa City, Melrose Meadows Retirement Community thrives as a place where seniors experience a fulfilling and supportive environment. Thoughtfully designed spaces create a sense of warmth and comfort, encouraging residents to embrace life to the fullest.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 52 Rank #209 / 334Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 209th 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 #87 / 258Years in operation — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 87th 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.
23 years
Walk Score Info Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options. Rank #343 / 424Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 343rd 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.
23 / 100
Occupancy rate Info Occupancy lower than 85% suggests more openings may be available. Rank #160 / 295Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 160th 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.
57.7% This home usually has availability
Lower than the Iowa average: 63.7%
Occupied beds
30 / 52
BBB Rating Info An independent rating from the Better Business Bureau based on factors such as complaint history, transparency, and business practices.
A+ Not Accredited
How BBB ratings work

About this community

License Details

Facility TypeAssisted Living Programs
StatusActive
IssuanceOctober 23, 2002
ExpirationOctober 23, 2026
CountyJohnson
License NumberS0159
Year Opened10/23/2002

Ownership & Operating Entity

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community is administered by Jody Thomas.

Staffing & Medical

1 service
24-Hour Staffing

Contact Information

Fax3192481183

Amenities & Lifestyle

Dining
Touring HoursMonday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

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.

Since 2003 · 23 years of data These figures come from state-published data and the state inspection reports we hold on file. The period covered can vary depending on document availability.
Includes all inspection records for this property, which could include management/ownership changes.
18 violations 13 inspections

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.

Since 2003 vs. Iowa state average
Overall vs. IA average 0 Worse No metrics in this bucket. 2 Better Metrics better than Iowa average:
• Total violations (33% below)
• Violations per inspection (20% below)

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

This FacilityIA Averagevs. IA Avg
Total violations Info Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types. 1827 This facility has 33% fewer total violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (18 vs. IA avg 27).↓ 33% better
Violations per inspection Info Average violations per inspection. 1.41.76 This facility has 20% fewer violations per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (1.4 vs. IA avg 1.76).↓ 20% 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. 1313 This facility has total inspections in line with the Iowa average (13 vs. IA avg 13).— At avg

What does this home offer?

Pets allowed icon
Pets allowed icon

Pets Allowed

Room sizes icon
Room sizes icon

Room Sizes: 385 / 526 / 608 - 627 / 771 / 845 sq. ft

Housing options icon
Housing options icon

Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

Care cost icon
Care cost icon

Care Cost

Transportation services icon
Transportation services icon

Transportation Services

Fitness and recreation icon
Fitness and recreation icon

Fitness and Recreation

Managed by Jody Thomas, RN

Executive Director

Jody Thomas, RN, serves as the Executive Director at Melrose Meadows Retirement Community. Recognized as the 2015 Administrator of the Year by the Iowa Assisted Living Association, Jody brings dedicated leadership and a commitment to wellness and quality care for residents.

Living Spaces & Floor Plans for Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

2 bedroom
1 Bedroom
1 Bedroom
Studio
2 bedroom

Places of interest near Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

Address 2.9 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Iowa City's city center to Melrose Meadows Retirement Community's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 1.88 miles to nearest hospital (UI Department of Pathology | University of Iowa College of Medicine)

Calculate Travel Distance to Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

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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. 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.
FeatherStone at Hickory Hill
AL
MC
Iowa City (Hoover)
170
Facility 170
IA AVG 71
Rank #9 / 334
Yes
13
Facility 13
IA AVG 46
Rank #377 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 18
Rank #236 / 258
29.4%
Facility 29.4%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #284 / 295
-2
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 7
Rank #1 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
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

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

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community 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 Melrose Meadows Retirement Community

What neighborhood is Melrose Meadows Retirement Community in?

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community is in the Weber neighborhood of Iowa City.

Is Melrose Meadows Retirement Community in a walkable area?

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community has a walk score of 23. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

What is the license number of Melrose Meadows Retirement Community?

According to IA state health department records, Melrose Meadows Retirement Community's license number is S0159.

When does Melrose Meadows Retirement Community's license expire?

According to IA state health department records, Melrose Meadows Retirement Community's license expires on October 23, 2026.

What is the occupancy rate at Melrose Meadows Retirement Community?

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community's occupancy is 57.7%.

How long has Melrose Meadows Retirement Community been in business?

Melrose Meadows Retirement Community has been operating for approximately 23 years, based on available licensing and registration records.

Are pets allowed at Melrose Meadows Retirement Community?

Yes, Melrose Meadows Retirement Community allows residents to bring their pets.

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