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 offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care in Ottumwa, IA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision. Respite care offers a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

The combination of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, as well as a family needing short term support while a primary caregiver travels or recovers. River Valley Place of Ottumwa has 100 beds, and Shelby Frank serves as the administrator. A Walk Score of 77 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Pets are allowed, enabling a resident to bring a pet when moving into the community.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A mid-sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities. 100 Rank #62 / 283Bed count — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 62nd out of 283 assisted living communities 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 compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.

Medium-capacity home · Offers a balance of services and community atmosphere.

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 #103 / 229Years in operation — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 103rd out of 229 assisted living communities 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 compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
19 years
Walk Score Info Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk. Rank #34 / 294Walk Score — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 34th out of 294 assisted living communities 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 compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
77 / 100
Occupancy rate Info Occupancy lower than 85% suggests more openings may be available. Rank #237 / 253Occupancy rate — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 237th out of 253 assisted living communities we track in Iowa for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Iowa average, with its Statewide rank out of 253. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Iowa that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
30% This home usually has availability

Based on 30 residents and 100 beds. Source: state inspection report (Apr 2026)

Lower than the Iowa average: 61.3%

About This Community

Pricing & Financial Information

The below pricing was updated on

Starting Price
$3,850/Month

License Details

Facility TypeAssisted Living Programs For People With Dementia
StatusActive
IssuanceJuly 19, 2007
ExpirationJuly 19, 2027
CountyWapello
License NumberS0259

Ownership & Operating Entity

River Valley Place of Ottumwa is administered by Shelby Frank.

Additional Services

7 services
Respite CareRespite care provides families and unpaid caregivers with short-term relief from caregiving duties. Care can range from a few hours to a few weeks.
Mobility Assistance
Personalized Care & Assistance
Wellness Programs
Housekeeping
Laundry & Linen
TransportationListed as: Scheduled transportation

Contact Information

Additional Policies & Features

Pets Allowed

Amenities & Lifestyle

Activities
Music
Touring HoursMonday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM

Room Accommodations

Studio Floor plans as listed by the community: Studio (340 sq ft) · Studio (Memory Care) (340 sq ft) 340 sq ft
1 Bedroom Floor plans as listed by the community: One Bedroom (442 sq ft) · Grand One Bedroom (447 sq ft) · One Bedroom Premier (530 sq ft) · One Bedroom Luxury (720 sq ft) · One Bedroom (Memory Care) (442 sq ft) Floor plans: Grand, Premier, Luxury 442–720 sq ft
2 Bedroom 720 sq ft

Contact River Valley Place of Ottumwa

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 3 Worse Metrics worse than Iowa average:
• Violations (28% above)
• State violations (335% above)
• Violations per inspection (106% above)
0 Better No metrics in this bucket.

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. 3023.4 This facility has 28% more violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (30 vs. IA avg 23.4).↑ 28% worse
State violations Info Part of the Violations total above — the share cited under Iowa state licensing requirements. Federal + state add up to the total. 306.9 This facility has 335% more state violations than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (30 vs. IA avg 6.9).↑ 335% worse
Violations per inspection Info Average violations per inspection. 3.31.6 This facility has 106% more violations per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (3.3 vs. IA avg 1.6).↑ 106% 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. 912.7 This facility has had 29% fewer total inspections than the Iowa average (9 vs. IA avg 12.7). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 29% fewer

Places of interest near River Valley Place of Ottumwa

Address 0.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Ottumwa's city center to River Valley Place of Ottumwa's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to River Valley Place of Ottumwa

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Address

Compare Assisted Living around Ottumwa

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. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
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.
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.
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.
Pennsylvania Place
AL
IL
MC
Ottumwa
102
Facility 102
IA AVG 75
Rank #59 / 283
No
77
Facility 77
IA AVG 45
Rank #34 / 294
6
Facility 6
IA AVG 18
Rank #179 / 229
32.4%
Facility 32.4%
IA AVG 61.3%
Rank #235 / 253
5
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 5
Rank #77 / 258
River Valley Place of Ottumwa
AL
MC
RC
Ottumwa
100
Facility 100
IA AVG 75
Rank #62 / 283
Yes
77
Facility 77
IA AVG 45
Rank #34 / 294
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 18
Rank #103 / 229
30.0%
Facility 30.0%
IA AVG 61.3%
Rank #237 / 253
9
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 5
Rank #155 / 258
The Kindred House
AL
ADC
Ottumwa (Ottumwa Industrial Park)
62
Facility 62
IA AVG 75
Rank #155 / 283
No
27
Facility 27
IA AVG 45
Rank #218 / 294
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 18
Rank #208 / 229
-1
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 5
Rank #1 / 258

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each assisted living community is ranked against every other IA assisted living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 3 on this page. See how we rank facilities

Financial assistance

Programs that may help with care and living costs in Iowa

River Valley Place of Ottumwa is in Ottumwa, Iowa. These programs may support different care settings or living expenses. A listing does not confirm this community participates; our concierge team can help confirm.

Get financial aid guidance
Cash support · veterans

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

VA Pension Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits (Federal)

Who it is for
Veterans or survivors with VA pension eligibility and an Aid and Attendance or Housebound medical need
Income limit
No single monthly income cutoff. VA compares countable annual income, after permitted deductions, with the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate for the household and benefit category.
Asset limit
Net-worth limit is $163,699 from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Net worth includes countable assets plus annual income; exclusions and transfer rules apply.

Eligibility

General
Veterans or eligible survivors who qualify for VA Pension or Survivors Pension and meet the additional Aid and Attendance or Housebound criteria. Service, discharge, family status and pension eligibility rules also apply.
IA specifics
A federal VA pension benefit; Aid and Attendance and Housebound enhancements cannot be received together.

What it provides

  • A higher pension ceiling for eligible Aid and Attendance or Housebound recipients. Actual pension equals the applicable annual maximum minus countable income; the two enhancements cannot be paid together.
In-home or residential support

State Supplementary Assistance (SSA)

Iowa State Supplementary Assistance (SSA)

Income limit
Below the income limit for the relevant SSA group.
Asset limit
Resources at or below $2,000 for a single person or $3,000 for a married couple living together.

Eligibility

General
Iowa residents who are aged, blind or disabled under Social Security standards, receive SSI or would receive it except for excess income, and meet the relevant assistance-category limits.

What it provides

  • State-funded supplements for qualifying special needs; including family life homes; in-home health-related care and residential care facilities.
In-home & community support

Elderly Waiver

Iowa Medicaid Elderly Waiver

Eligibility

General
Iowa residents age 65 or older who meet Medicaid and nursing-facility-level-of-care requirements.

What it provides

  • Authorized waiver services can include case management; adult day care; homemaker; respite; home health; meals; assistive devices; modifications and transportation.
Caregiver support

Family Caregiver Support Program

Family Caregiver Support Program (Iowa)

Who it is for
Family or informal caregivers of an adult 60+ or of someone of any age with dementia

Eligibility

General
Adult family or informal caregivers of adults age 60 or older or people of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The federal program also supports specified older-relative caregiver categories.

What it provides

  • Caregiver information and access assistance; counseling and training; support groups; respite and limited supplemental services under the federal caregiver-support framework.
Returning home: disability-specific

Money Follows the Person (Intellectual Disability or Brain Injury)

Iowa Money Follows the Person (Intellectual Disability or Brain Injury)

Eligibility

General
People in Iowa with an intellectual-disability or brain-injury diagnosis who have lived in a qualifying facility at least 60 consecutive days and want to move into the community. Iowa Medicaid must complete eligibility determination before discharge.

What it provides

  • Transition services and enhanced supports for the first year after an approved move into the community.
Medicare costs

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Iowa Medicare Savings Program

Who it is for
Medicare beneficiaries with limited income who need help with premiums or cost sharing

Eligibility

General
Medicare beneficiaries meeting the applicable state Medicare Savings Program eligibility rules.
IA specifics
Applications are administered by the state Medicaid program.

What it provides

  • Assistance with Medicare premiums and; for qualified QMB beneficiaries; Medicare-covered deductibles and coinsurance. The qualifying category determines which costs are paid.
Know before you visit

Frequently Asked Questions about River Valley Place of Ottumwa

Quick answers from public records and the community's own listing.
01 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.
02 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.
03 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.
04 What is the occupancy rate at River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
River Valley Place of Ottumwa's occupancy is 30%.
05 How long has River Valley Place of Ottumwa been in business?
River Valley Place of Ottumwa has been operating for approximately 19 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
06 Are pets allowed at River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
Yes, River Valley Place of Ottumwa allows residents to bring their pets.
07 What is the best email address for River Valley Place of Ottumwa?
The team at River Valley Place of Ottumwa can be reached at dmerlino@betterlivingsl.com.