Page 29 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. RESC (Residential Care): Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative 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.
Amera Senior Living
AL
IL
MC
RC
Sioux City
170
Facility 170
IA AVG 71
Rank #9 / 334
Yes
91
Facility 91
IA AVG 46
Rank #2 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed----
Nora Springs Care Center
AL
NH
SNF
Nora Springs
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 71
Rank #215 / 334
No
33
Facility 33
IA AVG 46
Rank #290 / 424
--
88.2%
Facility 88.2%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #48 / 295
--
Ossian Care Center
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Ossian
46
Facility 46
IA AVG 71
Rank #229 / 334
No
38
Facility 38
IA AVG 46
Rank #254 / 424
--
80.4%
Facility 80.4%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #87 / 295
20
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 7
Rank #206 / 299
Harmony West Des Moines
AL
HOS
NH
PC
RESC
RC
SNF
West Des Moines
55
Facility 55
IA AVG 71
Rank #198 / 334
No
9
Facility 9
IA AVG 46
Rank #394 / 424
--
97.6%
Facility 97.6%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #6 / 295
--
Hillcrest Health Care Center
AL
MC
NH
SNF
L Hawarden
64
Facility 64
IA AVG 71
Rank #158 / 334
No
49
Facility 49
IA AVG 46
Rank #191 / 424
--
83.8%
Facility 83.8%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #67 / 295
--
Woodlands Creek Senior Living
AL
IL
MC
Clive
-Yes
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 46
Rank #359 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 18
Rank #87 / 258
---
Keystone Nursing Care Center
AL
HC
NH
RC
SNF
Keystone
55
Facility 55
IA AVG 71
Rank #198 / 334
No
22
Facility 22
IA AVG 46
Rank #348 / 424
--
70.9%
Facility 70.9%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #129 / 295
14
6
Facility 6
IA AVG 7
Rank #175 / 299
Guttenberg Care Center
AL
NH
SNF
Guttenberg
46
Facility 46
IA AVG 71
Rank #229 / 334
No
26
Facility 26
IA AVG 46
Rank #330 / 424
--
71.7%
Facility 71.7%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #128 / 295
--
South Hills Senior Living
AL
Waterloo
116
Facility 116
IA AVG 71
Rank #42 / 334
Yes
11
Facility 11
IA AVG 46
Rank #387 / 424
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed----
River Valley Place of Fort Madison
AL
MC
RC
Fort Madison
70
Facility 70
IA AVG 71
Rank #129 / 334
Yes--
18
Facility 18
IA AVG 18
Rank #125 / 258
37.1%
Facility 37.1%
IA AVG 63.7%
Rank #267 / 295
10
13
Facility 13
IA AVG 7
Rank #261 / 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 Amera Senior Living

Beautifully set in the thriving neighborhood of Sioux City, IA, Amera Senior Living is an exceptional community that offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The community has purposely built and spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans, ensuring residents’ comfort and safety. Residents also enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle with maintenance services and plenty of convenient apartment features.

With a variety of exciting events and engaging programs, residents will not run out of things to do for leisure and wellness. Delightful and healthy meals are also available, striving to satisfy residents’ dietary needs and preferences. The community is ideal for those looking to downsize in retirement, especially with its warm and welcoming environment.

Contact Amera Senior Living

Overview of Nora Springs Care Center

Nora Springs Care Center operates a 50-bed skilled nursing and assisted living facility at 907 West Congress Street in Nora Springs, Iowa. The building runs with an occupancy rate near 90 percent and maintains federal certifications to process resident billing through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Lengths of stay average about 134 days, establishing a daily residential census that combines temporary post-hospital therapy patients with long-term nursing placements.

Therapy schedules are structured around an internal Rehab-to-Home setup that provides physical, occupational, and speech exercises alongside outpatient options. The on-floor staffing plan provides an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes of direct daily care per resident, with licensed practical nurses contributing 52 minutes of that total.

For daily activities, the community features therapeutic recreation programs and dedicated rooms for private family gatherings, while the surrounding town neighborhood offers modest walkability, where a car is necessary for most distant errands.

Prospective families can reach out to the intake coordinator to check on current bed layouts, look over the therapy calendar, or plan an afternoon to tour the rehabilitation spaces. The business desk is also available to verify individual insurance parameters and explain how public aid programs cover short-term recovery expenses.

Contact Nora Springs Care Center

Overview of Ossian Care Center

A 46-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation home in Ossian, Iowa, is Ossian Care Center. It caters to residents needing post-acute recovery, ongoing nursing care, or memory support. Ossian Senior Hospice Incorporated-owned and Rachael Marshall-administered, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing flexible ways for families to navigate care financing. It’s near full occupancy at 80 percent, and residents stay on average about 242 days, a span reflecting short-term rehab stays and longer-term residency.

The home is built around rehabilitation services, focusing on short-term rehab for occupants returning from hospital stays. Staffing is a visible strength: the facility provides 5 hours 15 minutes of total nursing care per resident day, meaningfully above many comparable homes. That staffing level breaks down to 3 hours 10 minutes of attentive certified nurse aide time per resident daily, along with contributions from licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. The higher aide hours per resident translate to more direct help with bathing, dressing, meals, and daily activities. Located in Ossian, the neighborhood scores 38 for walkability, meaning some errands are walkable, though most outings need a car. This layout is typical of rural Iowa communities and suits families who don’t rely on pedestrian access. Ossian Care Center offers assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, so it can serve residents across different care needs in one setting.

State inspectors have centered their attention on medication management, kitchen sanitation, and care coordination practices. The facility has worked to address such areas and maintain compliance with state standards.

For families touring the home, it’s worth asking how the facility coordinates care among its different care levels and what programs support each resident’s recovery or daily engagement. Plus, it fits families who don’t depend on pedestrian access.

Contact Ossian Care Center

Harmony West Des Moines

5010 Grand Ridge Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Overview of Harmony West Des Moines

Harmony West Des Moines provides nursing home care, skilled nursing, assisted living, hospice care, palliative care, residential care, and respite care in West Des Moines, IA. Skilled nursing has licensed nurses on site around the clock. Assisted living and residential care help with daily living needs, while hospice supports residents nearing the end of life and palliative care focuses on comfort during serious illness. Respite care offers a short stay for a family caregiver who needs to travel or recover.

The range of care levels, along with respite care, may suit a resident whose needs may grow over time or a family seeking temporary support. The community has 55 beds, placing it in the smaller community range where staff and residents may get to know each other. Nearly all beds are filled at the time represented by the 98% occupancy rate, which may affect availability.

Total nurse staffing is 3h 33m per resident per day. This represents the overall nurse staffing time allocated to each resident daily. Rehabilitation includes orthopedic care and programs for stroke and other neurological conditions, giving residents support focused on these recovery needs. Short term rehabilitation provides a time limited setting focused on recovery.

Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families can use the payment source that applies to their situation. Karah D. serves as the director.

Contact Harmony West Des Moines

Overview of Hillcrest Health Care Center

At its 64-bed skilled nursing property located at 2121 Avenue L, Hillcrest Health Care Center manages regional patient accounts through a mix of private payments, Medicare credits, and state Medicaid options. The facility emphasizes sustained, continuity-based setups rather than temporary recoveries, with residential admissions averaging near a full calendar year. These longer operational timelines establish a stable daily baseline for seniors requiring ongoing clinical monitoring in the Hawarden area.

Round-the-clock shift support relies on an internal clinical team comprised of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides who distribute floor hours to implement medical treatment logs and assist with daily physical tasks. This group works directly with incoming individuals to construct personal recovery profiles, which are paired with an internal social engagement program to manage therapeutic communication.

For neighborhood accessibility, the local surroundings register a walkability score of 49 out of 100, indicating that visiting family members or staff will typically require a personal car for basic community travel and appointments.

Prospective families can contact the business manager to check on active bed availability, ask about the schedule of in-house therapy sessions, or coordinate a time to view the property. The administrative department is also set up to review individual insurance parameters and outline how public aid networks or personal assets apply to monthly billing statements.

Contact Hillcrest Health Care Center

Overview of Woodlands Creek Senior Living

Woodlands Creek’s vision is to create a warm and welcoming independent living environment where seniors feel at home, fostering meaningful relationships and endless possibilities. Their mission revolves around promoting engaging social interactions and providing personalized care to nurture a sense of belonging. Woodlands prioritizes residents’ well-being, ensuring their needs are met with compassion and respect.

Residents at Woodlands Creek enjoy a vibrant lifestyle with a range of scheduled activities for independent living seniors. The community also offers comprehensive services for assisted living and memory care residents, including transportation, access to senior physicians, and round-the-clock nursing staff, ensuring comfort and security for all residents.

 

Contact Woodlands Creek Senior Living

Overview of Keystone Nursing Care Center

Keystone Nursing Care Center operates a 55-bed facility in Keystone, IA, combining nursing home care, skilled nursing, assisted living, home care, and respite stays. Assistance spans daily personal support, clinical oversight, in-home aid, and short-term relief for family caregivers.

Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 43 minutes per resident across the community. Under administrator Tracy Bruns, the center recorded a 71 percent occupancy rate. Payment options cover Medicare, Medicaid, and private funds depending on qualification and service level.

Interested individuals can connect with the Keystone Nursing Care Center team to discuss care options, verify bed openings, or plan an in-person tour.

Contact Keystone Nursing Care Center

Overview of Guttenberg Care Center

Guttenberg Care Center operates in Guttenberg, Iowa, providing nursing home, skilled nursing, and respite care. Assisted daily tasks and clinical support assist long-term residents, while short-term respite stays offer temporary relief for home caregivers. Operating under the ABCM network, the location emphasizes person-directed care to incorporate individual resident preferences into everyday routines.

Occupancy stands at 72 percent, indicating open capacity during recent reporting. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 17 minutes per resident daily. Funding pathways include Medicare, Medicaid, and private payment depending on individual program eligibility and coverage requirements.

Older adults and their families can contact the Guttenberg Care Center team to review current room availability, discuss shift staffing arrangements, or book an on-site visit.

Contact Guttenberg Care Center

Overview of South Hills Senior Living

South Hills Senior Living is an assisted living community in Waterloo, Iowa. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication, while allowing a resident to maintain a personal living space.

Residents can choose a studio, one bedroom, or two bedroom apartment, making the community a possible fit for someone who needs daily support and prefers either a private or shared living arrangement. The community has 116 beds, allows pets, and is administered by Greg Zumbach.

Contact South Hills Senior Living

Overview of River Valley Place of Fort Madison

Lisa Elmore administers the daily operations at River Valley Place of Fort Madison, a 70-bed senior living community located at 5025 River Valley Road in Fort Madison, Iowa. Drawing on 17 years of service in Lee County, this facility operates at approximately 37 percent occupancy, housing 26 residents across a care spectrum that covers standard assisted living, short-term respite stays, and specialized dementia care.

The facility structures its long-term enrollment into separate service models, specifically anchoring its cognitive care around the specialized “Better Days” memory care program to manage progressive dementia. The surrounding physical environment is entirely car-dependent, carrying a walkability score of 0 out of 100, which requires staff and visiting relatives to use vehicles for all off-site travel.

Reports managed by Iowa’s Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing indicate an ongoing administrative focus on stabilizing staff levels, executing physician care plans, monitoring resident safety, and standardizing exit-door alarm protocols.

Interested individuals and family caregivers evaluating local senior housing can visit the campus during scheduled weekday touring hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Contact River Valley Place of Fort Madison

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.