Best Assisted Living in Harlan, IA

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 3 assisted living communities in Harlan, IA using IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank assisted living in IA
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Harlan, IA our team has analyzed — not a count of every assisted living provider in Harlan, IA.
3 homes
Other senior care options in Harlan:
Avg Walk Score: 44/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Harlan, IA. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 77The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Harlan, IA. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Assisted Living around Harlan

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. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. 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. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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.
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.
Hansen House Harlan
AL
MC
Harlan
118
Facility 118
IA AVG 71
Rank #41 / 334
No
32
Facility 32
IA AVG 46
Rank #300 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 18
Rank #189 / 258
44.9%
Facility 44.9%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #228 / 295
6
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 7
Rank #93 / 299
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #205 / 299
Elm Crest Retirement Community
AL
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Harlan
64
Facility 64
IA AVG 71
Rank #158 / 334
No
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 46
Rank #185 / 424
-
32
Facility 32
IA AVG 18
Rank #27 / 258
39.1%
Facility 39.1%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #261 / 295
3
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 7
Rank #206 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
Elm Crest Senior Living Community
AL
CCRC
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Harlan
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 71
Rank #215 / 334
No
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 46
Rank #185 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
94.0%
Facility 94.0%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #19 / 295
17
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 7
Rank #36 / 299
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #274 / 299

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 3 analyzed for Harlan. See how we rank facilities

Overview of Hansen House Harlan

Hansen House Harlan offers assisted living and memory care in Harlan, Iowa. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps a private apartment. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone who may be at risk of wandering.

Both care levels are available on one campus. That may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since moving to a different level of care does not require leaving the community. Hansen House Harlan has 118 beds, with studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom layouts; a studio offers one private living space, while a two bedroom layout can work for a couple moving together or for someone who wants a companion.

The area has a Walk Score of 32, making it car dependent, so most errands require a car or a ride. Mindy Shaffer serves as the administrator.

Contact Hansen House Harlan

Overview of Elm Crest Retirement Community

Elm Crest Retirement Community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in Harlan, Iowa. Independent living provides a private living arrangement with community services and no daily care, while assisted living includes help with everyday tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medication. Memory care is provided in a secured setting with supervision, and skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

Several care levels are available here. That may suit a resident whose needs could grow over time and who may be able to move between types of care without leaving the community. Elm Crest has 64 beds, giving families a clear sense of its licensed capacity.

Rehabilitation therapy is available through the community’s Skilled Care and Health Center, allowing residents to receive rehabilitation services within the community’s care offerings. Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and Leah Muhlbauer serves as the administrator. A Walk Score of 50 means the area is somewhat walkable, with some errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives may be able to reach certain nearby destinations independently.

Contact Elm Crest Retirement Community

Overview of Elm Crest Senior Living Community

Committed to enhancing seniors’ quality of life, Elm Crest Senior Living Community is a distinct senior living community set in the harmonious city of Harlan, IA, providing a wide array of living options such as assisted living, independent living, memory care, health center, and rehabilitation therapy services. The community doubles its efforts to foster a warm and welcoming environment for seniors to make the most out of their days in beautifully designed and cozy one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Receive top-notch care and support from a reliable and highly qualified team and live a glorious retirement without worries with Elm Crest.

With over 65 years of experience in helping seniors, Elm Crest continuously provides the finest experience to create wonderful moments. Moreover, the community meticulously crafts care plans that best fit residents’ unique needs and preferences to ensure they are well-cared for. Surrounded by refreshing spaces and placed near hospitals, Elm Crest provides easy access to medical needs and the utmost comfort that seniors deserve.

Contact Elm Crest Senior Living Community

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Assisted Living in Harlan, IA

What is the average cost of assisted living in Harlan, IA?

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Harlan, IA is approximately $4,300. Actual rates vary by community, level of care, and floorplan.

What is the price range for assisted living in Harlan, IA?

Assisted living in Harlan, IA typically ranges from $3,800–$6,400 per month, depending on the community, room type, and care needs.

What is the typical staff-to-resident ratio at assisted living facilities in Harlan, IA?

Assisted living facilities in Harlan, IA typically operate with a staff-to-resident ratio in the range of 1:6 to 1:15.

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in Iowa?

Assisted living in Iowa supports residents with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) while preserving independence. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and adds 24/7 secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and structured routines designed to reduce confusion and wandering.

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Iowa?

Assisted living in Iowa is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does Iowa Medicaid cover assisted living?

Iowa Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for assisted living, but most states (including Iowa) offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can offset the cost of care services delivered inside a licensed community. Eligibility, waitlists, and covered services vary — check directly with the state Medicaid agency.

What is assisted living?

Assisted living combines private or semi-private apartments with help on activities of daily living (meals, bathing, dressing, medication management) and a social calendar — for residents who need some support but do not need 24/7 medical care.