Best Assisted Living in Iowa

Privately owned by Tracy Hanson, Keystone Nursing Care Center is a skilled nursing facility in Keystone, Iowa, part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community. The 55-bed community serves short-term rehabilitation and long-term care residents in Benton County. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility was rated 4 stars overall by the CMS, largely driven by a Health Inspection record about 35.6% above Iowa averages. Since 2020, inspectors have identified 8 total deficiencies, about 70% below Iowa’s average rate. The most recent standard survey from September 2025 found that the facility was fully compliant with no citations.

A substantiated complaint in early 2025 involved a care plan transfer protocol failure, which resulted in a resident’s fall and injury. The facility terminated the staff member and achieved verified compliance by February 2025. No federal fines or enforcement actions were recorded.

Nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 16 minutes per resident daily, which is 20% above the Iowa average, placing the facility 24th out of 241 Iowa skilled nursing homes. The CCRC structure provides a pathway through multiple levels of care within one setting. The facility also operates an on-site Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program and maintains an active resident council.

Keystone Nursing Care Center is best suited for residents seeking skilled nursing care in a small, community-based setting, including those entering for post-acute rehabilitation or longer-term placement within a continuing care framework in rural Benton County.

Overview of Newton Village INC

Located on North 5th Avenue West in Newton, Iowa, Newton Village INC. is a skilled nursing home owned by Paul Anderson. The community provides short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care. Staffing is available around the clock, and the facility accepts Medicare and private pay. That gives families some flexibility when arranging coverage.

The 70-bed home has an occupancy rate of 53%. Residents stay an average of 117 days, including those recovering through post-acute rehabilitation and receiving longer-term skilled care. Registered nurses provide about 1 hour and 35 minutes of care per resident each day. Nursing aides average 2 hours and 49 minutes, while total direct nursing care comes to about 5 hours and 9 minutes per resident daily. It’s a staffing model built around both hands-on support and nursing oversight.

Newton Village is in a moderately walkable area with a Walk Score of 67. Some errands and services are within walking distance, but many trips still require transportation. Residents have access to landscaped gardens, walking paths, and patios for outdoor time. There’s also a library, fitness center, beauty salon, and barber shop. Meals are served in a communal setting with chef-inspired dining, and residents can join in lots of activities and events.

Respite care and rehabilitation services are part of the community’s care programs. State inspections have been cleanly documented. Recent certification found no deficiencies or investigated complaints. The facility is in good standing based on those findings. Families considering Newton Village can expect a well-staffed setting that focuses on rehabilitation and skilled care.

Overview of Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center

Owned by Mark Allen, Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center is a nursing home in Des Moines, Iowa. The facility accepts Medicare and private pay, giving families flexibility in how they cover skilled nursing care. With an average stay of 119 days, the 51-bed home accommodates short-term post-acute rehab residents and those needing longer-term care. The facility’s current occupancy is 61%, which is a moderate census.

The center has a substantial clinical backbone. Daily nurse staffing averages nearly 6 hours per resident each day. Registered nurses contributed about 1 hour and 15 minutes of that, supported by nursing aides providing 3 hours and 24 minutes. This staffing structure can support the home’s rehabilitation focus. Other services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The facility also offers respite care for families seeking short-term support, and there’s 24-hour nursing oversight to provide continuous clinical presence.

Amenities and activities are designed for engagement and wellness. Residents can access an indoor walking track and fitness center, a heated pool and hot tub, a fully stocked library, a woodworking shop, and a movie theater. The dining room serves meals from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, so there’s a consistent schedule for daily dining.

The surrounding neighborhood’s Walk Score of 91 is very walkable. This can be convenient for visiting family members navigating the area on foot. The facility’s regulatory standing shows a generally compliant operation, with oversight attention on clinical documentation, care planning, and staff training.

Overview of English Valley Nursing Care Center

Owned by Michael Elwood, English Valley Nursing Care Center is a 44-bed nursing home with deep roots in its community, having served residents for 55 years. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing access to care for families with different coverage options. The home has an occupancy rate of 80%. Residents stay an average of 278 days, including short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

Clinically, the facility provides consistent daily nursing support. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 52 minutes per resident daily. Residents are also cared for by registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses. They work alongside one another to deliver hands-on care. Staff support is supplemented by daily wellness checks and security services to keep residents safe at all times.

Inspection records show that the facility has been substantially compliant. There were no deficiencies noted in recent surveys. The home’s past inspections focused on fall prevention and medication management. However, the facility continues to monitor and strengthen these areas.

Residents are served meals that are prepared on-site, laundry and housekeeping support daily routines, and social and leisure programming are great opportunities to stay engaged. The facility has outdoor space with a picnic area, and residents can start gardening.

The surrounding neighborhood is somewhat walkable, with a Walk Score of 31. Some errands are within walking distance, but most trips will require transportation for residents and visiting families.

Overview of Wilton Retirement Community

Located on Ovesen Drive in Wilton, Iowa, Wilton Retirement Community is a nursing home owned by Simpson Memorial Home. The 34-bed community serves a rural area with a Walk Score of 42. Some nearby services can be reached on foot, while most trips require transportation. The facility has been operating for 12 years and has an occupancy rate of 85%. Residents stay an average of 162 days, including short-term rehabilitation placements and longer-term care residents.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering both acute and ongoing nursing care. Daily nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 52 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide about 49 minutes of care each day, working alongside nurse aides and licensed practical nurses. This level of staffing supports medical oversight and hands-on assistance with daily activities throughout the community.

State inspections have reviewed the importance of strong medication management practices, resident safety procedures, staff training, and accurate documentation. These areas are important components of quality care in long-term care settings. The community is also part of a larger care network that includes assisted living residences and a dedicated memory care unit.

Families considering Wilton Retirement Community should take a tour of the facility to meet staff, view the environment. It’s a great way to learn more about the community’s approach to daily care routines and resident support.

Overview of United Presbyterian Home

The United Presbyterian Home operates a 55-bed skilled nursing unit as part of its 35-acre continuing care retirement campus in Washington, Iowa. The facility coordinates billing through Medicare and Medicaid, offering options for people recovering from short-term hospital stays as well as those needing long-term residential placements. Stays here average about 171 days, and visitors will find the local neighborhood highly walkable, scoring an 81 out of 100 for foot travel.

Residents get around 4 hours and 52 minutes of direct daily care from the on-floor nursing staff and nurse aides. To minimize travel for medical checkups, the team partners with specialized therapists to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy right on campus. The property also runs an independent home health service for residents transitioning back to apartments, cottages, or studios, and features a wellness center equipped with an indoor walking track and a warm water therapy pool.

Reviews by state inspectors over the last 16 years have consistently monitored environmental management, staff supervision, and clinical documentation to ensure regulatory safety guidelines are met.

Prospective families can reach out to the admissions office to check on current bed availability, learn about the campus home health services, or schedule a tour of the grounds. The main desk can also explain the entry paperwork and outline how Medicaid or Medicare applies to the community’s different care programs.

Chautauqua Guest Home #2 provides skilled nursing care from its 53-bed property at 602 Eleventh Street in Charles City, Iowa. Managed by administrator Misty Hobert under owner David Ayers, the facility usually runs at about 83 percent occupancy. Families can handle regular bills through private out-of-pocket payments, standard Medicare, or state Medicaid programs. Stays here average around 409 days, which shows the building blends short-term physical rehabilitation for people coming out of the hospital with traditional, extended nursing care.

Residents get an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes of hands-on attention from the floor nursing staff every day. Certified nursing assistants cover the largest share of this time at 2 hours and 58 minutes, while registered nurses add 53 minutes and licensed practical nurses provide 25 minutes of clinical oversight. This team handles daily treatments and medication schedules, while the surrounding neighborhood scores a 77 out of 100 for walkability, making it easy for visiting family members to take care of local errands on foot.

Recent state surveys noted a few areas that needed improvement, specifically regarding food safety protocols and pain medication administration lines, which the management team corrected. Local supervisors use these state reports to update floor routines and keep continuing education programs current for the staff.

Families looking into local care options can call the front desk to check on open room availability, ask about the rehabilitation setup, or schedule a time to look around the facility.

Anamosa Care Center is a 64-bed home at 1209 East Third Street in Anamosa, Iowa. Run by Sheri Sigler, the facility has been a staple in the community for over 40 years, providing everything from long-term medical care and hospice to short-term rehab for people recovering from surgery. Payment structures adapt to diverse situations, accepting public health coverage lines via traditional Medicare and state Medicaid alongside standard private funding options. Individual stays average roughly 345 days, meaning the daily scheduling balances temporary post-hospital rehabilitation with extended medical placements.

Residents get a little over four hours of direct care each day. A team of nurses aides and stays on top of medications, monitors everyone’s health, and leads the physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions. The neighborhood is also really easy to get around, scoring a 72 out of 100 for walkability, which makes it simple for visiting families to walk to nearby spots or run quick errands.

Official evaluations by state health inspectors routinely track floor workflows, focusing on themes such as resident care standards and daily dignity practices to verify compliance with public codes. Administrative supervisors review these inspection results to guide continuing education programs and adjust internal protocols across the nursing shifts.

Families looking into care can call the main office to see if there are any open rooms, ask how outpatient therapy is scheduled, or set up a time to come take a look around.

Regency Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Carroll is a 46-bed skilled nursing facility located at 500 East Valley Drive in Carroll, Iowa. Administered by James Feauto, the center has served the community since 1999, providing a clinical spectrum that includes IV therapy, wound care, and tracheotomy support. The facility is centrally located with a Walk Score of 80 and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.

Regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, the community holds a 5-star overall rating from CMS, indicating performance “Much Above Average”. Between 2020 and 2025, 18 inspections yielded 19 total deficiencies, resulting in an average of 1.1 per inspection—39% below the state average. While a November 2025 annual survey found full compliance, an August 2024 investigation cited a high-harm deficiency and an $8,750 fine following a resident death linked to a delayed urinalysis.

Staffing data reveals an LPN-heavy model, with Licensed Practical Nurse hours at 55 minutes per resident day, 62% above the Iowa average. Conversely, Registered Nurse (RN) hours are 31 minutes, which is 30% below the state average. Quality metrics are generally strong, with long-stay hospitalizations 28% better than average and short-stay discharge outcomes 29% better than the state mean. However, the facility reported a short-stay major injury fall rate of 1.5%, which is 97% higher than the Iowa average.

The campus offers a pet-friendly atmosphere with amenities such as family gathering rooms, a beauty salon, and in-room cable TV.Shared services include: Complimentary laundry, professional housekeeping, and Wi-Fi access for residents and guests. The community fosters engagement through social activities and has received Telligen’s B.E.S.T. in Class award for quality excellence. Current occupancy stands at 72%, which is consistent with regional averages.

Prospective representatives should evaluate the current bedside care standards during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on the corrective measures implemented after the 2024 and 2025 reporting and dignity findings, and to confirm that the current fall prevention protocols for short-term residents meet 2026 safety standards.

Overview of Solon Nursing Care Center

Owned by Lucille Atkinson, Solon Nursing Care Center is a skilled nursing facility in Solon, Iowa. The community with 96 beds serves older adults who need post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care. Programs include rehabilitation nursing and specialized support for residents living independently within the facility. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted from families looking for options for arranging care.

The facility is in a moderately walkable area with a Walk Score of 54, so some daily errands can be completed on foot. The community has an occupancy rate of 69%. Residents stay an average of 155 days, including short-term rehabilitation patients and those receiving longer-term care. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 14 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses provide hands-on support and clinical oversight.

Outpatient therapy services are available on-site, so residents don’t have to leave the facility to access rehabilitation care. The facility also coordinates physician services within the community, which streamlines medical oversight.

State inspections have reviewed call light response times, fall prevention practices, infection control procedures, and staffing levels. Families touring the facility should ask how these areas are managed daily and what procedures are in place to support resident care and safety.