Page 22 of Best Senior Communities in Iowa

Overview of River Valley Place of Ottumwa

River Valley Place of Ottumwa offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care in Ottumwa, IA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision. Respite care offers a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

The combination of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, as well as a family needing short term support while a primary caregiver travels or recovers. River Valley Place of Ottumwa has 100 beds, and Shelby Frank serves as the administrator. A Walk Score of 77 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Pets are allowed, enabling a resident to bring a pet when moving into the community.

Overview of Everystep

Everystep provides home care, hospice care, and skilled nursing in Des Moines, Iowa. Home care supports a person in their own residence, hospice care focuses on comfort and support at the end of life, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care around the clock. The range of services fits families whose needs include in-home assistance, hospice support, or ongoing clinical care.

Everystep is in Des Moines’ East Village neighborhood and has 45 beds. Its programs include Hospice & Home Health Care, Community Health, Grief & Loss, Amanda the Panda, and Bereavement, bringing together direct care services with support related to loss. Leann Uhlenhopp serves as the administrator.

Overview of Pleasantview Assisted Living

Pleasantview Assisted Living offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, hospice care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing in Kalona, IA. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living adds help with daily tasks. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Nursing home care supports long-term residence, while hospice care serves a resident receiving end-of-life care.

With multiple care levels, Pleasantview Assisted Living can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time without requiring a move to another community. The community has 56 beds, a smaller size that can allow staff and residents to get to know each other. A Walk Score of 50 means the area is somewhat walkable, with some errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives may be able to complete certain nearby errands independently.

Pleasantview Assisted Living opened in 1958 and is administered by Marcille Ward. The community is faith-based, which may suit someone seeking a faith-based setting. Its programs include Skilled Care, Dementia Care, a Dementia Support Group, and Volunteer Opportunities; the support group offers a forum for dementia-related support, while volunteer opportunities allow participation in volunteer work.

Overview of Wesley Acres

A community that strives in exceedingly making its residents comfortable, the Wesley Acres offers the best balance of urban living and assistance with everyday living.  A proud member of the Wesley Senior Living Group, Acres places integrity at the heart of its mission; ensuring that residents can feel inspired in creating a better life with the continuum of care being provided. Wesley Acres is an elegant senior living home that aims to enhance and enrich the lives of its residents. 

Wesley offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their engaging activities and programs to name a few are the recreational activities, fitness activities, and entertainment programs available for residents to take part in at the library, media room, or outdoor social areas.

Overview of Briarwood Health Care Center

Briarwood Health Care Center of Iowa City offers a haven of reliable and comprehensive services, encompassing rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite care. The center’s serene setting creates an atmosphere akin to heaven, providing a well-maintained and inviting community for its residents. One of the center’s standout features is its specialization in skilled therapy services, tailored to aid individuals transitioning from hospital-based settings to their previous levels of independence. With a patient-centered approach at its core, the center boasts a vibrant and dynamic events calendar, accompanied by a monthly newsletter that keeps residents engaged and informed.

Around-the-clock nursing services ensure that residents receive the support they need, including specialized treatments such as IV medications, wound care, and therapeutic services like occupational, physical, or speech therapy. The center’s commitment to individualized care extends to customized nutrition services, reflecting its dedication to meeting residents’ unique needs. The center’s excellence is further underscored by its high nursing home ratings, a testament to its unwavering commitment to quality care. As a reputable establishment, the Briarwood Health Care Center is fully compliant with nursing home rules and regulations, ensuring a safe and well-regulated environment for residents.

Denver Sunset Home is a nursing home and skilled nursing facility in Denver, IA. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, so residents who need ongoing clinical support can receive it within the community. The home opened in 1965 and has 31 beds, creating a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know one another.

Starting rates are $9,750 for a semi-private room, $10,200 for a private room, and $10,650 for a super-single room, giving families clear accommodation costs to compare. Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay are accepted. Medicaid can help support a longer stay when savings may not cover it, while Medicare applies to short-term skilled care after a hospital stay rather than long-term residence, and private pay allows care to be funded directly.

Total nurse staffing is 4 hours 26 minutes per resident per day, representing the nursing time allocated to each resident across a day. Rehabilitation services are available, so residents can receive therapy within the community rather than arranging care elsewhere. Sunday church services provide access to religious worship, and pets are allowed for residents who want to keep a pet with them. Blair Boynton serves as administrator, and Denver Sunset Home may be a good fit for someone who prefers a smaller skilled nursing community.

Overview of Brio of Johnston Assisted Living

Brio of Johnston Assisted Living is a 68-bed nursing home and assisted living community at 6901 Peckham Street in Johnston, Iowa. It opened seven years ago and now operates at 54 percent occupancy. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay give families multiple routes for coverage. The starting monthly price is $2,000.

Short-term rehabilitation is the facility’s core clinical program, anchored by 24-hour staffing totaling 5 hours 18 minutes of nursing care per resident day. Staffing breakdowns include registered nurses providing 58 minutes daily, nurse aides delivering 2 hours 50 minutes, and LPNs or LVNs contributing 48 minutes per day. The average stay length runs 64 days, which reflects the community’s shorter-stay rehabilitation model. Brio of Johnston Assisted Living sits in a car-dependent part of Johnston, so visiting family and residents typically need a vehicle for most errands and outings. It offers a cutting-edge wellness center along with a library, walking trails, and a pet recreation area for those wanting activity and connection. A chapel, salon, general store, and guest room round out the amenities. Occupants can access respite care services, valuable for families needing momentary placement or relief during a care transition.

State inspections have found Brio of Johnston Assisted Living operating with no major compliance issues, with recent inspection activity clearing complaint investigations.

The community’s focus on rehabilitation and respite care naturally fits people healing from an acute hospital stay or injury, or those needing temporary care relief.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – Holstein

Located in Holstein, Iowa, Good Samaritan Society – Holstein is a 60-bed nursing home owned by Troy Anderson. The facility has an occupancy rate of 82%, and residents stay an average of 262 days. The resident population includes both short-term rehabilitation patients and those receiving longer-term care.

Rehabilitation is at the center of the home’s care programs. The facility offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, along with caregiver support. It’s a setting that serves residents recovering from surgery, injury, or hospitalization who need skilled nursing care and structured therapeutic support.

Daily nursing care averages about 4 hours and 13 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nursing aides, and licensed practical nurses make up the care team, so hands-on clinical support is part of daily life. Good Samaritan Society accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. This way, families have several ways to arrange coverage for both short-term rehabilitation and ongoing care.

State inspections have focused on care documentation and planning, the implementation of advance directives, oral health practices, nursing oversight, and infection control procedures. The facility continues to work through these areas as part of maintaining safe and coordinated care. They’re important topics families may want to discuss during a visit.

Holstein has a Walk Score of 46. Some nearby services are within walking distance, but most trips require transportation. It’s a quieter small-town setting that may appeal to some families. The facility also works with family members and caregivers throughout a resident’s stay, whether it’s for short-term recovery or longer-term care.

Overview of Sunny View Care Center

Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny, IA, provides nursing home, skilled nursing, hospice care, and respite care. Nursing home and skilled nursing services offer residential support with licensed nursing oversight for residents who need ongoing care. Hospice focuses on comfort for someone nearing the end of life, while respite care provides a short term stay for a family caregiver who needs temporary coverage while traveling or recovering. Some stays are brief; others are ongoing.

The center has 94 beds, giving families a sense of its available capacity without indicating how care is delivered. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 47 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident. Sunny View Care Center may be a good fit for someone whose needs include nursing oversight, comfort focused hospice support, or a temporary respite stay. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, and Vanessa Young serves as the administrator.