Comparison Chart
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
24/7 care needed
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
Hospice Care
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
24/7 care needed
Respite Care
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
24/7 care needed
Respite Care
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
24/7 care needed
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
Respite Care
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
24/7 care needed
For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Mary Greeley Medical Center provides unparalleled 24/7 nursing care. This remarkable 220-bed hospital excels in delivering top-notch and cost-effective medical services. Their commitment to senior health is unwavering, offering rigorous screening options and a range of programs that truly elevate lives.
For individuals aged 60 and above, Mary Greeley Medical Center provides a safe haven with its reliable services. From orthopedics and cancer care to cardiac care and beyond, they cover a comprehensive spectrum of medical needs. Additionally, they extend their expertise to services like foot care, blood pressure screenings, and invaluable health education. In essence, they stand as a testament to the best care nursing homes, ensuring seniors receive exceptional and compassionate care in a state-of-the-art facility.
Type of Care Available
Heartwood House
Heartwood House is a cherished haven for seniors in Ames, Iowa. This beloved community provides round-the-clock support to seniors, ensuring their well-being 24 hours a day. Specializing in memory care, Heartwood House offers a range of services including diabetic care, medication management, wheelchair-accessible showers, and respite care. The facility boasts both indoor and outdoor common areas, all meticulously secured for residents’ safety. Convenient resident parking is available, enhancing accessibility.
Beyond its comprehensive care services, Heartwood House is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere. Seniors here enjoy a plethora of engaging activities, ensuring their days are filled with joy and companionship. It’s a tastefully designed community where residents find comfort, camaraderie, and a fulfilling lifestyle. Heartwood House is especially well-regarded for its Alzheimer’s care, providing residents with a warm, inviting, and secure environment, making it an ideal choice for those seeking top-tier memory care living.
Type of Care Available
Care Initiatives
Care Initiatives, located in West Des Moines, Iowa, is a care facility offering a spectrum of services that offer skilled nursing, long-term care, rehabilitation, and hospice care. Their unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of those they serve is evident in their approach. Every interaction with residents is valued, and they prioritize personal growth for each individual. Care Initiatives boasts a team of dedicated professionals, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants, who provide various services, spanning dietary support, social services, and engaging activities.
In terms of skilled nursing services, Care Initiatives excels in providing specialized care such as tube feedings, wound care management, and access to beauty and barbershop services. They also offer bariatric accommodations and cater to the unique needs of veterans. Additionally, their rehabilitation services are top-notch, featuring accelerated care, state-of-the-art therapy equipment, and expert care in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Care Initiatives is renowned for its expertise, making it a trusted community where seniors can be assured of safe and high-quality care.
Type of Care Available
Risen Son Christian Village
Located just outside Ohama, Risen Son Christian Village is a community deeply rooted in faith, offering a holistic approach to senior living. Within its welcoming embrace, residents have access to a range of exceptional services, including assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term healthcare support. Embracing a philosophy of spaciousness and tranquility, the home offers comfortable and thoughtfully designed apartments. These living spaces become sanctuaries where residents can find solace and contentment, surrounded by an atmosphere of faith and love. With compassionate caregivers available around the clock, residents can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their needs are attended to with utmost care and dedication.
The community exudes a distinct small-town charm, creating an intimate and close-knit environment that fosters genuine connections among residents and staff. It’s a place where neighbors become friends, and a true sense of community thrives. Residents can bid farewell to the burdens of household chores and upkeep, allowing them to focus on embracing the fullness of their lives. With meticulous attention to cleanliness and aesthetics, Risen Son Christian Village emanates a sense of professionalism and elegance, creating an ambiance that enhances the overall living experience.
Type of Care Available
CountrysideHealth Care Center
Countryside Health Care Center is an esteemed facility in Sioux City, Iowa. This privately-owned center offers a diverse range of care options, including Reliant Rehab therapy, short-term and long-term skilled nursing, and respite care, ensuring specialized attention for each resident. Their holistic approach caters to residents’ physical, mental, and social needs, creating a fulfilling experience for each individual. Conveniently located near Highway 20 in Sioux City, this senior care facility serves families across the Siouxland areas, fostering a supportive community.
At Countryside Health Care Center, a dedicated team with extensive knowledge and experience ensures personalized and compassionate care for every resident. This assisted living community’s unwavering commitment to residents’ well-being creates a welcoming environment where seniors can thrive and achieve optimal health and happiness.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets Allowed
Building Type: Single-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Type of Care Available
The Villages at Marion
The Villages at Marion is an independent living and assisted living community that boasts its warm and welcoming atmosphere. The senior living home is a resident-centered community, where individuals can thrive and reach their fullest potential, becoming happier, more peaceful versions of themselves. The Villages at Marion is committed to ensuring that residents feel right where they belong by offering residents compassionate and kind support in a cozy and home-like setting.
The community life at The Villages is inclusive of services and amenities which include restaurant-style dining, meals served daily, personal and scheduled transportation, and engaging activities.
What does this home offer?
Housing Options: Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
Building Type: 3-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Type of Care Available
Trailside Gardens
Trailside Gardens, previously known as The Villages at Marion, is an affordable independent living community in Marion, IA, that features thoughtfully furnished accommodations. The community strives to provide older adults with a home away from home, especially with its cozy floor plans. Recreational activities, meal plans, and maintenance services are also provided, so residents can maintain their independence with ease. With its commitment to improving residents’ well-being, the community ensures affordability while maintaining high standards.
Board games, chair exercises, and holiday celebrations are just some of the activities prepared for residents’ leisure and wellness. A spacious dining room and lively gathering spaces also ensure residents can freely interact with their friends. With its beautiful setting near Thomas Park and easy access to public transportation, residents are guaranteed a convenient and laid-back retirement. This independent living community is a trusted choice for senior living in Iowa, as it has affordable living spaces and dedicated activities that aim to help older adults live comfortably in their later years.
What does this home offer?
Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: 3-story
Dining Services
Social and Recreational Activities
Type of Care Available
Fairmeadows Village
Fairmeadows Village is an active 55+ retirement home that heeds a home-like atmosphere. Its management encourages residents to live vibrantly by socializing and making meaningful memories with people their age. Families of residents can trust that Fairmeadows is committed to maintaining loving and dignified care and supervision for their loved ones.
Community services and amenities center on residents’ comfort and stability– restaurant-style dining with private dining options, engaging events and entertainment, enriching programs, transportation, arts and crafts, library, and wellness centers.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets Allowed
Housing Options: 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: Single-story
Fitness and Recreation
Type of Care Available
Elite Lodge of Ashworth
Elite Lodge of Ashworth offers a comfortable home-like setting for round-the-clock support and assistance for senior independent living. As Iowa’s premier retirement home, expect to be treated with kindness and an immense amount of patience for a more personal touch approach to resort-style living. Elit Lodge ensures a serene atmosphere and an efficient service that puts its residents at the top of their priority.
As its name suggests, an elite-level of care and superior service is provided. The home has a registered nurse available 24/7, maintenance-free services, housekeeping, and laundry weekly, an emergency call system, a dining room, a resident parking, spacious independent living apartments, a full-service salon, social activities, and stimulating programs available.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets Allowed
Housing Options: 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: Single-story
Fitness and Recreation
Type of Care Available
Brookdale Sioux City
Brookdale Sioux City is a premier assisted living community in Sioux City, Iowa. Residents at this community enjoy a range of exceptional services tailored to their individual needs, ensuring a personalized and comfortable living experience. As a pet-friendly community, Brookdale Sioux City fosters a warm and home-like atmosphere, providing a welcoming environment for cherished residents.
Benefiting from its strategic location, Brookdale Sioux City offers easy access to four hospitals within a 25-mile radius, with St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City being the closest. This proximity brings peace of mind to the community’s residents and their families, knowing that healthcare facilities are conveniently within reach. Brookdale Sioux City prides itself on providing a variety of key amenities, including inviting outdoor areas, ample parking, and a refreshing pool for relaxation. Engaging social outings are organized to foster a sense of connection and camaraderie among residents, creating a vibrant and thriving community. Additionally, each unit at Brookdale Sioux City is thoughtfully equipped with a washer and dryer, further enhancing the convenience and comfort of living in this exceptional community.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets Allowed
Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: Two-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Type of Care Available
Assisted Living Magazine Ranking Methodology
View Full Ranking MethodologyHow Assisted Living Magazine Evaluates & Scores Nursing Homes
Assisted Living Magazine ranks nursing homes using a rigorous, data-driven scoring model built specifically for skilled nursing.
Because this care level is regulated, clinical outcomes and compliance carry significantly more weight than transparency or digital presence.
Each community receives a ranking based on the factors below, weighted according to their importance in predicting resident safety, care quality, and long-term stability.
Update cadence: Reviewed quarterly, with prompt updates when new reviews, reports, or complaints are filed.
What We Prioritize MostThe largest share of every nursing home’s score — 45% of the total weighting — comes from clinical and regulatory indicators, including:
- Overall, staffing, and inspection ratings
- Long-stay and short-stay quality measures
- Nurse-to-resident and staff-to-resident ratios
- Health deficiencies and regulatory history
- Accreditations and positive local news reporting
These factors directly reflect resident safety, care quality, and compliance.
Operational Stability & Resident SupportAnother 35% of the score comes from operational and stability signals, such as:
- Nurse hours per patient per day
- Occupancy levels and cleanliness citations
- Administrative stability and ownership quality
- Readmission rates and registered-nurse turnover
The remaining 20% of the score includes contextual elements such as:
- Year built or renovated
- Penalties, fines, and preventable readmissions
- Revenue per bed
- Administrator tenure
These factors help round out the overall picture but carry less weight because our methodology prioritizes clinical outcomes and regulatory consistency above all else.
The result is a clear, data-driven ranking system that elevates nursing homes delivering exceptional care and long-term resident safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:
- Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
- Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
- State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
- Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.
Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.
We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up.
- Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
- Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
- Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
- Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
- Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
- Senior-focused concierge medicine
- Senior-focused nutritionist
- Senior-focused personal training
- Memory care specialists
- Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
- Custom hearing aids
- Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
- Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
- Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Check out our resident interviews
Check out our cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:
- Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
- Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
- State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
- Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.
Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.
Check out our cost guide.
We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up.
- Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
- Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
- Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
- Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
- Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
- Senior-focused concierge medicine
- Senior-focused nutritionist
- Senior-focused personal training
- Memory care specialists
- Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
- Custom hearing aids
- Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
- Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
- Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Check out our resident interviews
Your Senior Care Partner, Every Step of the Way
We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.
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