Page 17 of Best Assisted Living in Iowa

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 319 assisted living communities in 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 Iowa our team has analyzed — not a count of every assisted living provider in Iowa.
319 homes
Other senior care options in Iowa:
Avg Monthly Cost: $5,500The average monthly cost across facilities in Iowa. Reflects published or estimated base rates and can vary with care level, room type, and amenities. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: $5,600
Avg Walk Score: 46/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Iowa. 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: 71The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Iowa. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Assisted Living around Iowa

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. 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. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
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.
Bishop Drumm Retirement Center
AL
IL
NH
SNF
Johnston
150
Facility 150
IA AVG 71
Rank #19 / 334
No
64
Facility 64
IA AVG 46
Rank #102 / 424
--
76.0%
Facility 76.0%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #114 / 295
38
24
Facility 24
IA AVG 7
Rank #296 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
The Gardens of Cedar Rapids
AL
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Cedar Rapids
40
Facility 40
IA AVG 71
Rank #261 / 334
Yes
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 46
Rank #402 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 18
Rank #247 / 258
87.5%
Facility 87.5%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #50 / 295
22
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 7
Rank #93 / 299
6
Facility 6
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #289 / 299
Lakeside Village
AL
IL
MC
RC
Panora
128
Facility 128
IA AVG 71
Rank #29 / 334
Yes
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 46
Rank #398 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
18
Facility 18
IA AVG 18
Rank #125 / 258
29.7%
Facility 29.7%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #283 / 295
8
10
Facility 10
IA AVG 7
Rank #237 / 299
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #236 / 299
Bickford of Marion
AL
MC
Marion (Hickory Haven Estates Condos)
46
Facility 46
IA AVG 71
Rank #229 / 334
Yes
69
Facility 69
IA AVG 46
Rank #82 / 424
-
27
Facility 27
IA AVG 18
Rank #46 / 258
76.1%
Facility 76.1%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #110 / 295
8
20
Facility 20
IA AVG 7
Rank #290 / 299
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #253 / 299
Bickford of Urbandale
AL
MC
Urbandale
73
Facility 73
IA AVG 71
Rank #117 / 334
Yes
28
Facility 28
IA AVG 46
Rank #323 / 424
-
26
Facility 26
IA AVG 18
Rank #60 / 258
53.4%
Facility 53.4%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #170 / 295
10
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 7
Rank #191 / 299
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #205 / 299
Bickford of Clinton
AL
Clinton
65
Facility 65
IA AVG 71
Rank #155 / 334
Yes
40
Facility 40
IA AVG 46
Rank #245 / 424
-
28
Facility 28
IA AVG 18
Rank #38 / 258
49.2%
Facility 49.2%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #198 / 295
5
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 7
Rank #150 / 299
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #281 / 299
Emery Place
AL
MC
RC
Robins
106
Facility 106
IA AVG 71
Rank #54 / 334
Yes
15
Facility 15
IA AVG 46
Rank #368 / 424
-
11
Facility 11
IA AVG 18
Rank #160 / 258
48.1%
Facility 48.1%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #209 / 295
9
13
Facility 13
IA AVG 7
Rank #261 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
Thornton Heights Assisted Living
AL
HOS
NH
RC
SNF
Lansing
26
Facility 26
IA AVG 71
Rank #325 / 334
No
14
Facility 14
IA AVG 46
Rank #371 / 424
1 Bed / 2 Bed
22
Facility 22
IA AVG 18
Rank #97 / 258
-6
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 7
Rank #36 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
Southcrest Manor II
AL
Sw Waukon
32
Facility 32
IA AVG 71
Rank #308 / 334
No
68
Facility 68
IA AVG 46
Rank #85 / 424
-
20
Facility 20
IA AVG 18
Rank #114 / 258
43.8%
Facility 43.8%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #232 / 295
7
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 7
Rank #1 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299
Park Vista Retirement Living
AL
IL
MC
RC
Camanche
82
Facility 82
IA AVG 71
Rank #83 / 334
Yes
33
Facility 33
IA AVG 46
Rank #290 / 424
-
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 18
Rank #177 / 258
34.1%
Facility 34.1%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #276 / 295
3
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 7
Rank #1 / 299
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 299

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 319 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Bishop Drumm Retirement Center coordinates continuous senior services within a 150-bed campus at 5837 Winwood Drive in Johnston, Iowa. Operated by Sylvania Franciscan Health under administrator Adam Braden, the community maintains an average occupancy level near 76 percent, meaning openings are typically available for new intake. The business office accepts private funding streams, Medicare credits for brief rehabilitation, and standard state Medicaid options. Individual resident stays average of roughly 172 days, establishing a local population structure that balances transitional post-hospital physical therapy with permanent clinical residential housing.

On-site health routines ensure that each individual receives an average of 3 hours and 58 minutes of direct care from the nursing team daily. Certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses split these floor hours to provide speech-language pathology and physical therapy alongside routine treatment protocols. These practitioners work within a wider aging-in-place campus that features independent and assisted living settings alongside adult day programs, while the surrounding town neighborhood records a walkability score of 64 out of 100, letting visitors complete a few basic tasks nearby without relying solely on a car.

Earlier evaluations by state inspectors noted procedural gaps regarding staffing distribution, pressure ulcer prevention tracking, and standard infection control lines. The administrative team updated floor patterns and corrected these points, leading to a late 2025 re-inspection to certify that the entire building had returned to substantial compliance with baseline public healthcare guidelines.

Prospective representatives can contact the main registration desk to confirm immediate room availability, ask about the details of the adult day schedule, or plan a morning to see the therapy common rooms. The intake office can also assist with medical coverage, cross-referencing to outline how personal funds or public assistance networks apply to standard monthly billing statements.

Contact Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Overview of The Gardens of Cedar Rapids

The Gardens of Cedar Rapids is a senior care community on Dean Road SW in the southwest part of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It offers a full continuum of care under one roof, spanning independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, which means a resident can often stay in a familiar place as their needs change over time. The community is owned by Jbrb Investments LLC and accepts both Medicare and private pay, giving families a couple of clear routes to cover short-term rehabilitation or longer-term nursing care.

This is a small, single-story community with 40 beds, and it tends to run comfortably occupied at around 88 percent. Housing comes in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options, and the single-level layout can make day-to-day movement easier for residents with mobility limitations. Pets are welcome, which matters to many families weighing a move for a loved one.

On the clinical side, total nursing care averages about 4 hours and 15 minutes per resident each day, so hands-on daily support is a meaningful part of the setting. State inspection themes over the years have centered on medication management and care-delivery practices, alongside stretches of clean compliance. Families touring the community can ask how those areas are handled day to day.

The community sits in a car-dependent pocket of Cedar Rapids, with a Walk Score of 7, so most errands and visits will involve a short drive. That residential setting can suit residents and family who prefer a quiet neighborhood over a busy commercial area.

Contact The Gardens of Cedar Rapids

Overview of Lakeside Village

Set within the area of Panora, IA, Lakeside Village is an idyllic senior living community, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The community guarantees their much needed independence with the benefit of added care and assistance with their daily living activities. In addition to a personal emergency call system, a round the clock team is available to attend to residents’ needs, concerns, and emergencies, giving them peace of mind and comfort.

Free from the hassles of maintaining their living spaces, residents can fully devote their time to enrichment and enjoyment with an array of activities to engage in. Restaurant style meals are also provided each day to give residents the nutrients and energy they need to stay active. An array of beautiful amenities are offered as well to make residents stay within the community more pleasing and enjoyable.

Contact Lakeside Village

Overview of Bickford of Marion

At 46 beds, Bickford of Marion is a smaller community, and that scale is part of its identity. The two-story building on Linden Dr, part of the Bickford Senior Living Group network, offers assisted living and memory care in Marion’s Hickory Haven Estates neighborhood, 1.4 miles from the city center. Misty Cottrell serves as Executive Director.

The Montessori Memory Care program is the facility’s most distinctive offering. It’s a named, structured approach to cognitive care rather than a generic memory unit, and it’s the clearest signal of what the community is built around. Licensed nurses and CNAs staff the building, transportation is available, there’s a fitness area on-site, and the community is pet-friendly.

Occupancy sits at 76%, with 35 of 46 beds filled, in a building that has been operating for 27 years. The neighborhood is moderately walkable (Walk Score 69), with some day-to-day destinations reachable on foot. State inspections have tended to center on medication management, care planning and documentation, and food service, which are common operational focus areas rather than indicators of direct care concerns.

Bickford of Marion is a practical fit for families prioritizing a structured memory care approach within a mid-sized regional network, in a community small enough that residents are unlikely to get lost in the shuffle.

Contact Bickford of Marion

Overview of Bickford of Urbandale

Bickford of Urbandale is an assisted living with memory care community, located in Urbandale, IA. It can be found east of Brookview Park, and below Beaver Creek. This senior living community prides itself with their Higher Path approach to caring for their residents. This approach aims to help seniors live healthier, happier, and longer, and they do this by providing services such as; 24/7 access to primary care, daily activity assistance from certified caregivers, medication management, wander management, security, and intelligent fall detection among other things. The rooms, whether studio or one bedroom units, are also equipped with strategically located pull cords, for assistance requests any time it’s needed.

At Bickford of Urbandale, assisted living costs wouldn’t be something to worry abouts as they also offer assistance for choosing Medicare Health Plans for their residents. This helps ensure that residents receive the proper care they need, while living a high quality of life, without breaking their banks.

Contact Bickford of Urbandale

Overview of Bickford of Clinton

Located in the welcoming neighborhood of Clinton, IA, the Bickford of Clinton is a distinguished senior living community offering assisted living services. Here, residents can choose from spacious and stunning accommodations with several floor plans. With a highly skilled and compassionate team, residents can receive round-the-clock personalized care and help depending on their immediate needs through its residents’ monitoring system.

Discover its top-tier amenities and services as this community is committed to providing higher standard of senior care. Indulge in 3-day delectable and nutritious meals, home maintenance, access to laundry facilities, weekly housekeeping, medication management, spiritual care, and transportation assistance. Engage in a full calendar of activities such as outings, community involvement programs, and theme days. With Bickford of Clinton, seniors are assured of a living experience worth remembering.

Contact Bickford of Clinton

Emery Place

901 South Mentzer Road, Robins, IA 52328
Overview of Emery Place

Emery Place offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care in Robins, IA. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Respite care is available for short stays, which can suit a family caregiver who needs to travel or recover.

Emery Place has 106 beds, and pets are allowed, so a resident may bring a pet to the community. Sara Etter serves as the administrator. Emery Place may be a good fit for someone who needs supervised memory care or for a family arranging a short-term stay while a caregiver travels or recovers.

Contact Emery Place

Overview of Thornton Heights Assisted Living

Make every moment count at Thornton Heights Assisted Living, a distinguished community in Lansing, IA, offering assisted living. Featuring beautifully furnished and secure one- and two-bedroom floor plans, the community ensures residents are comfortable and safe. Residents also receive exceptional care tailored to their daily living activities and personal needs around the clock.

A jam-packed calendar of engaging activities and enriching programs is conducted to keep residents active and socially connected. Delicious and well-balanced meals are also served three times daily to meet residents’ dietary needs and preferences. Emergency pendants are also provided for convenience and safety. The community is ideal for those looking to live comfortably in retirement, especially with its nurturing and welcoming environment.

Contact Thornton Heights Assisted Living

Overview of Southcrest Manor II

Southcrest Manor II is an assisted living community in Waukon, Iowa, with 32 beds. Its smaller size means staff and residents have fewer people to know, which may suit someone who prefers a more familiar setting. Assisted living here includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident lives in an apartment.

Housing consists of one bedroom apartments, giving residents a separate bedroom rather than a studio layout. As a HUD Section 8 property, rent for qualified households is based on 30 percent of income, although income restrictions affect eligibility. Southcrest Manor II may be a good fit for a qualified adult age 62 or older, or a person with a disability of any age, who needs daily assistance and wants a one bedroom apartment. A Walk Score of 68 places the area in the somewhat walkable band, so some errands can be completed on foot and a resident who no longer drives may be able to manage certain trips independently. Continental breakfast is included, and a noon meal is available for an additional midday meal. Jennifer Woods serves as the administrator.

Contact Southcrest Manor II

Overview of Park Vista Retirement Living

Park Vista Retirement Living offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care in Camanche, IA. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication, while independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision, and respite care offers a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs temporary coverage.

The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since moving to another level can occur without leaving the community. Park Vista Retirement Living has 82 beds, and Susan Kincaid serves as the administrator.

Pets are allowed, so a resident may be able to continue living with a pet. A salon and spa are available for grooming services within the community.

A Walk Score of 33 places the area in a car-dependent setting, meaning most errands require a car or a ride, including for residents who no longer drive.

Contact Park Vista Retirement Living

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.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Assisted Living in Iowa

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.

How many assisted living facilities are listed on this page?

This page features 319 assisted living facilities in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right assisted living facility in Iowa?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Iowa, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting assisted living facilities in Iowa?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.