Best Senior Communities in Iowa

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 512 senior communities in IA using IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank senior communities in IA
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Iowa our team has analyzed — not a count of every senior community provider in Iowa.
512 homes
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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. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving. SC (Senior Communities):
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.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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.
Sunrise Retirement Community
SC
AL
IL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Sioux City
74Yes 22 Studio52 90.5% A+?2536
Friendship Village
SC
AL
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Waterloo
72Yes 52 2 Bed / 3 Bed50 83.3% -?17-3
St Francis Manor
SC
AL
HOS
NH
SNF
Grinnell
78No 82 -49 69.2% -?134-
Green Hills Retirement Community
SC
AL
CCRC
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Ames
56Yes 18 1 Bed / 2 Bed40 78.6% A+?1423
Stonehill Care Center
SC
AL
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Dubuque
185No 89 -21 85.4% -?178-
Martina Place
SC
AL
Johnston (Winwood Apartments)
120No 67 Private / Studio / 1 Bed29 43.3% -A+221
Friendship Home Association
SC
HOS
MC
NH
PC
SNF
Audubon
46No 52 -43 91.3% -B+185-
Valley View Village
SC
AL
HOS
IL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Des Moines (Fairmont Park)
79Yes 38 Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed55 96.2% -C2772
Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center
SC
MC
NH
SNF
Des Moines (East Village)
46No 91 -39 87.0% -B+196-
Crestview Nursing & Rehab
SC
HOS
IL
MC
NH
PC
SNF
Webster City
70No 58 -30 82.9% -C+203-
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Overview of Sunrise Retirement Community

Welcome to Sunrise Retirement Community, a distinguished assisted living community nestled in Sioux City, Iowa. Sunrise takes great pride in its resident-centered care philosophy, focusing on individual needs and promoting the “freedom of choice” for the beloved residents. The community’s approach aims to create an inviting and less institutionalized environment, allowing residents to experience increased independence, privacy, and flexibility in their daily lives. At Sunrise, the team tailors services to cater to each resident’s unique preferences and requirements, ensuring they receive the best possible care that suits them best.

As part of Sunrise Retirement Community’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the residents, the community has embraced the Eden approach, fostering meaningful connections with children, pets, and green spaces, further enriching their daily experiences. The funding sources for Sunrise include Medicare, Medicaid, third-party arrangements, and private payment options, ensuring that compassionate care is provided while addressing residents’ financial considerations. At Sunrise Retirement Community, the staff deeply cares for the residents, establishes meaningful connections every day, leads with boldness, and serves faithfully, creating a nurturing and fulfilling environment for all. 

Contact Sunrise Retirement Community

Overview of Friendship Village

Conveniently located near MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center in Waterloo, IA, Friendship Village is an astounding community that offers independent living, assisted living, and long-term care. The community also features beautifully furnished and spacious floor plans, ensuring residents are comfortable and safe. Residents can also keep their peace of mind with the community helping with housekeeping and chores.

Fun recreational activities and enriching programs are conducted, encouraging residents to live actively and maintain social connections. Residents also enjoy a delightful dining experience with delicious and well-balanced meals to meet their dietary needs and preferences. Pets are welcome to stay to ease residents’ loneliness. The community is ideal for those seeking independence in retirement, especially with its vibrant and welcoming environment.

Contact Friendship Village

St Francis Manor

2021 Fourth Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112-2064
Overview of St Francis Manor

St Francis Manor provides nursing home care, assisted living, hospice care, and skilled nursing in Grinnell, Iowa. Nursing home care supports residents who need ongoing assistance, while skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while a resident keeps a private living space. Hospice care focuses on comfort and end of life needs.

The Rehabilitation Clinic offers inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy, so residents can receive rehabilitation during a stay or through scheduled visits. Home Healthcare, along with hospital to home skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, supports care after a resident returns home. S.H.A.P.E. Fitness includes fitness classes, exercise equipment, and a walking track for structured movement activities.

St Francis Manor has 78 beds, with total nurse staffing of 5 hours and 39 minutes per resident each day. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, and Dion Schrack serves as the administrator. A Walk Score of 82 out of 100 places the area in the very walkable band, meaning most errands can be done on foot; a resident who no longer drives can still reach nearby shops, a pharmacy, or cafes independently.

The range of nursing, assisted living, hospice, and rehabilitation services may suit a resident whose care needs change over time. That breadth can allow related services to remain available as needs shift, from daily assistance and rehabilitation to around the clock nursing or hospice support.

Contact St Francis Manor

Overview of Green Hills Retirement Community

Green Hills Retirement Community offers a vibrant lifestyle designed to support those in their golden years. This sprawling 33-acre property, nestled near Iowa State University, provides an exquisite living experience for individuals aged 55 and above. The community boasts beautifully appointed living spaces, ranging from apartments to townhomes, ensuring residents have a variety of comfortable options to choose from.Beyond the luxurious accommodations, Green Hills offers a plethora of wellness opportunities, engaging activities, and delightful restaurant-style dining experiences, creating a fulfilling environment for its residents.

They provide specialized memory care services, catering to individuals with dementia, alongside independent living options. The community is characterized by a compassionate atmosphere, where residents can enjoy their lives to the fullest. Moreover, Green Hills features a Medicare five-star rated health care center, offering both short-term and long-term services, including comprehensive rehabilitation programs. With all these amenities and services under one roof, Green Hills Retirement Community truly becomes a premier choice for residential assisted living.

Contact Green Hills Retirement Community

Overview of Stonehill Care Center

Stonehill Care Center offers skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Dubuque, IA. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, and memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. The range of care settings may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since different care levels are available within the same community.

Stonehill Care Center has 185 beds, a size that brings more residents, staff, and usually more programming. Its 85% occupancy means the community is operating below full bed capacity. Total nurse staffing is 4h 50m per resident/day, representing the daily hands-on nursing time allocated to each resident.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted; Medicare applies to short-term skilled care after a hospital stay, Medicaid may help cover a long stay when personal savings are limited, and private pay allows a family to pay directly. A Walk Score of 89 / 100 places the area in the very walkable band, meaning most errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Matt Jahn serves as the administrator. Outpatient therapy provides rehabilitation services through the community, while personal training gives residents access to structured exercise with a trainer.

Contact Stonehill Care Center

Overview of Martina Place

Age without worries at Martina Place, a blissful retreat in Johnston, IA, offering assisted living. Residents do not have to worry about their daily living activities and personal needs with a compassionate and well-trained team available around the clock. Housekeeping and laundry services are also provided, ensuring residents have a worry-free lifestyle.

With fun recreational activities and enriching programs, residents will not run out of things to do for leisure and wellness. Mealtimes promote social connections with delicious and healthy dining options, striving to provide the finest dining experience. Medication management is also provided for convenience and safety. Residents enjoy a blissful retirement accompanied by the community’s nurturing and inviting environment.

Contact Martina Place

Friendship Home Association

714 North Division Street, Audubon, IA 50025-1300
Overview of Friendship Home Association

Five care types share the roof at Friendship Home Association in Audubon, IA. They are skilled nursing, nursing home care, memory care, hospice care, and palliative care.

A list that long only works with somebody licensed present for all of it, and staff are there around the clock. Memory care is a secured setting with supervision for a resident at risk of wandering; the secured half is the architecture, while the supervised half is the staff. Palliative care runs while treatment continues; hospice starts after treatment is stopped.

The home counts 46 beds, and the smaller-sized community suits those who want an environment where staff and residents know each other. The range also suits nursing support with memory care or the comfort-focused end of it.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, so the payer question will have an answer one way or another most of the time. Nursing time for one resident across a day arrives at 5 hours and 19 minutes.

A Walk Score of 52 is somewhat walkable, so a visit can be just a stop-in, or it can be a built afternoon depending on where the plan to go is. The administrator of record is Rae Ann Tucker.

Contact Friendship Home Association

Overview of Valley View Village

Valley View Village 2571 is a high-standard nursing home in Des Moines, IA, that offers a wide range of care options, from independent living to rehabilitation. Promoting a welcoming environment, the community strives to maintain connections for older adults’ happiness and wellness. Delicious dining, recreational activities, and pet-friendly spaces are among the community’s unique features that make it an ideal retirement destination. With its dedication to residents’ welfare, personalized care plans are crafted to meet their healthcare needs and lifestyle preferences.

Hobby groups, fun excursions, and spiritual activities are just some of the activities that residents can join for leisure and wellness. The community also features a variety of amenities, including a library, well-maintained gardens, and walking paths, dedicated to enriching residents’ living experiences. As a community of its own, Valley View Village has all the local amenities needed for residents’ needs and leisure. This retirement community is one of Iowa’s finest choices for senior living, especially for its wide range of care options and extensive amenities.

Contact Valley View Village

Overview of Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center

Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center is a nursing home in Des Moines offering skilled nursing and memory care. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Memory care offers a supervised setting for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia who may be at risk of wandering. The combination may be a good fit for someone with dementia who also needs ongoing nursing oversight.

Opened in 1931, the center has 46 beds, with an 87% occupancy rate meaning most beds are occupied. Every room is private, so residents do not share their room. Short term rehabilitation supports a temporary stay focused on recovery, while respite care provides a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Residents of all faiths can live at Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center. Medicare and Medicaid provide public payment routes, while private pay means the resident or family pays directly. Angela Meyer serves as administrator.

The center is in the East Village neighborhood, where a Walk Score of 91 falls in the walker’s paradise band. Daily errands do not require a car, and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently.

Contact Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center

Crestview Nursing & Rehab

2401 South Des Moines Street, Webster City, IA 50595-3099
Overview of Crestview Nursing & Rehab

Crestview Nursing & Rehab provides nursing home and skilled nursing care, along with hospice, palliative, independent living, memory care, and respite care in Webster City, Iowa. Nursing home and skilled nursing services include licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Hospice supports end of life care, while palliative care focuses on relief from serious illness symptoms. Respite care provides a short stay when a family’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. Several care levels in one community can suit a resident whose needs change over time without requiring a move to a different community, making Crestview a possible fit for someone who may need more support later.

The community has 70 beds, with total nurse staffing of 3 hours and 51 minutes per resident per day. That figure represents the daily hands on nursing time assigned per resident. Stacy Geopfert serves as the administrator.

A salon and spa gives residents access to personal care services, and rehabilitation services provide therapy as part of the available care. Transportation is available through the community. Dining includes open breakfast hours from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., lunch at 12:00 p.m., and supper at 5:00 p.m.; family and friends may eat with residents, and snacks are provided between meals. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. The area has a Walk Score of 58 out of 100, making it somewhat walkable, so some errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives may be able to manage certain nearby errands independently.

Contact Crestview Nursing & Rehab

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 Senior Communities in Iowa

What is senior living?

Senior communities are residential settings designed for adults aged 55 or older, with options ranging from active independent living to assisted living and memory care.

How many senior communities are listed on this page?

This page features 512 senior communities in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right senior community 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 senior communities 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.

Senior Communities in Iowa at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 45/ 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: 73The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Iowa. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90