River Valley Place of Ottumwa
Assisted Living, Memory Care & Respite Care · Ottumwa, IA
River Valley Place of Ottumwa
Assisted Living, Memory Care & Respite Care · Ottumwa, IA
Overview of River Valley Place of Ottumwa
River Valley Place of Ottumwa is a 100-unit assisted living and memory care community at 173 East Rochester Street in Ottumwa, Iowa. Administered by Amy McAtee and certified as a dementia-specific program, the facility serves Wapello County with a continuum of care including respite stays and personalized clinical support. The campus is highly accessible with a Walk Score of 77, offering pedestrian proximity to central city services and local errands.
State oversight from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing indicates a history of fluctuating compliance levels. While a November 2024 complaint investigation concluded with zero deficiencies, earlier surveys from 2022 to 2024 identified substantive concerns regarding medication security, staffing levels, and resident-to-resident aggression. In 2024, state inspectors substantiated multiple complaints involving the theft of controlled substances and delayed emergency responses, leading to notification of law enforcement. Despite these findings, the community maintains an active license and has shown documented progress in correcting administrative and care-related deficiencies.
Professional care is delivered under a 24-hour staffing model that coordinates medication administration, activities of daily living, and on-site therapy. Recent occupancy data shows a current census of approximately 28 residents, significantly below the facility’s 100-unit capacity, which has been a declining trend since 2019. Clinical services include specialized memory care programming, speech therapy, and occupational therapy intended to maintain resident independence. The facility provides 24-hour awake staff and an emergency call system in all units to support prompt medical monitoring.
The campus environment provides a residential atmosphere with restaurant-style dining and a specialized “Better Days” memory care program. Shared amenities include: Landscaped outdoor gardens and courtyards.A library, computer lounge, and on-site beauty salon. Private apartments ranging from studio to two-bedroom layouts. Pet-friendly accommodations and social activity centers.
Residents have access to weekly housekeeping and scheduled local transportation, reducing the need for outside errands in a car-dependent region. Prospective representatives should evaluate the current medication management protocols and staffing stability during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on the corrective actions implemented following the 2024 theft and safety citations and to verify that current incident response times meet the resident’s specific clinical or long-term care goals for 2026.
100-bed community Rank #68 / 406Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 68th out of 406 homes 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.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Iowa that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A larger shared setting that may offer more common spaces and organized community services.
18 years in operation Rank #146 / 284Years in operation — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 146th out of 284 homes 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.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Iowa that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care.
Walk Score: 77 / 100 Rank #59 / 528Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 59th out of 528 homes 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.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Iowa that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
About this community
Facility TypeAssisted Living Programs For People With Dementia
StatusActive
IssuanceJuly 19, 2007
ExpirationJuly 19, 2027
CountyWapello
License NumberS0259
River Valley Place of Ottumwa is administered by Amy Mcatee.
Respite Care
Fax6416845827
Touring HoursMonday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
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 2008 · 18 years of data
54 deficiencies
25 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 2008 vs. Iowa state average
Overall vs. IA average
3 Worse
Metrics worse than Iowa average:
• Total deficiencies (100% above)
• Deficiencies per year (100% above)
• Deficiencies per inspection (22% above) 0 Better No metrics in this bucket.
• Total deficiencies (100% above)
• Deficiencies per year (100% above)
• Deficiencies per inspection (22% above) 0 Better No metrics in this bucket.
Latest Inspection
November 19, 2024
Deficiencies
| This Facility | IA Average | vs. IA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total deficiencies
Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.
| 54 | 27 | This facility has 100% more total deficiencies than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (54 vs. IA avg 27).↑ 100% worse |
|
Deficiencies per year
Average deficiencies per year since 2008.
| 3 | 1.5 | This facility has 100% more deficiencies per year than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (3 vs. IA avg 1.5).↑ 100% worse |
|
Deficiencies per inspection
Average deficiencies per inspection.
| 2.2 | 1.8 | This facility has 22% more deficiencies per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (2.2 vs. IA avg 1.8).↑ 22% worse |
Inspections
| This Facility | IA Average | vs. IA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total inspections
Combined count of all routine and focused inspections. Excludes complaint investigations.
| 25 | 15 | This facility has had 67% more total inspections than the Iowa average (25 vs. IA avg 15). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 67% more |
Inspection Reports Summary
An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.
- The November 19, 2024 complaint investigation found no deficiencies and confirmed progress on prior issues from March 26, 2024.
- The March 26, 2024 inspection cited 10 deficiencies including failure to follow abuse reporting laws, inadequate care, unsecured medications, insufficient staffing, and incomplete tenant evaluations and service plans.
- The facility showed repeated staffing shortages and care deficiencies from 2022 through 2024, with some improvements but persistent issues in medication management and tenant evaluations.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed
Places of interest near River Valley Place of Ottumwa
0.0 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Ottumwa's city center to River Valley Place of Ottumwa's address, calculated via Google Maps.
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The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
| Pennsylvania Place | AL IL MC | Ottumwa | 102
Facility
102
IA AVG
71
Rank
#64 / 406 | No |
77
Facility
77
IA AVG
45
Rank
#59 / 528 | 6
Facility
6
IA AVG
19
Rank
#224 / 284 | 32.4% | 5 | 2
Facility
2
IA AVG
7
Rank
#55 / 306 |
| River Valley Place of Ottumwa | AL MC RC | Ottumwa | 100
Facility
100
IA AVG
71
Rank
#68 / 406 | No |
77
Facility
77
IA AVG
45
Rank
#59 / 528 | 18
Facility
18
IA AVG
19
Rank
#146 / 284 | 0 | 25 | 19
Facility
19
IA AVG
7
Rank
#289 / 306 |
| The Kindred House | AL ADC | Ottumwa (Ottumwa Industrial Park) | 62
Facility
62
IA AVG
71
Rank
#201 / 406 | No |
27
Facility
27
IA AVG
45
Rank
#387 / 528 | 1
Facility
1
IA AVG
19
Rank
#268 / 284 | - | - | - |
Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Iowa
River Valley Place of Ottumwa is located in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Iowa.
Frequently Asked Questions about River Valley Place of Ottumwa
Is River Valley Place of Ottumwa in a walkable area?
River Valley Place of Ottumwa has a walk score of 77. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
What is the license number of River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
According to IA state health department records, River Valley Place of Ottumwa's license number is S0259.
When does River Valley Place of Ottumwa's license expire?
According to IA state health department records, River Valley Place of Ottumwa's license expires on July 19, 2027.
Are pets allowed at River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
Yes, River Valley Place of Ottumwa allows residents to bring their pets.
What is the best email address for River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
The team at River Valley Place of Ottumwa can be reached at jjones@rivervalleyplaceottumwa.com.
Who is the administrator of River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
Amy McAtee is the administrator of River Valley Place of Ottumwa.
How many beds does River Valley Place of Ottumwa have?
River Valley Place of Ottumwa has 100 beds.
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