Page 3 of Best Senior Communities in Iowa

Overview of Spurgeon Manor

Spurgeon Manor is a 55-bed nonprofit skilled nursing and memory care community in Dallas Center, Dallas County, Iowa, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, and assisted living services to residents across the greater Des Moines area. It is administered by Crystal Scroggin.

Spurgeon Manor holds a 5-star CMS overall rating — the highest possible — with every sub-rating performing above Iowa averages. Staffing is the standout: nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 36 minutes per resident per day, roughly 27% above the Iowa average of 4 hours and 25 minutes, ranking the facility 18th among 241 Iowa skilled nursing facilities.

Across 21 inspections since 2020 — 40% more visits than the Iowa average of 15 — the facility averaged 1.4 deficiencies per inspection, 22% below the Iowa mean of 1.8. The most recent inspection on December 10, 2025, accepted the facility’s plan of correction. Two substantiated complaints appear in the record: one involving timely abuse reporting (February 2023) and one involving the posting of required information (August 2024). No fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or license actions have been issued.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 89%, well above the Iowa average of 75.4%, reflecting consistent local demand. The facility accepts both Medicare and Medicaid and maintains 24-hour staffing. On-site services include physician services, laboratory, pharmacy, podiatry, and optometry. Amenities include a chapel, private dining rooms, and an exercise room. The facility received a 2021 Silver Achievement in Quality Award.

Spurgeon Manor is best suited for residents seeking long-term skilled nursing or memory care in a small nonprofit community with strong staffing ratios and a consistent compliance record in Dallas Center, Iowa.

Overview of Mill Valley Care Center

Serving the community for more than 50 years, Mill Valley Care Center is a skilled nursing home in Iowa owned by Robert Dempewolf. The 46-bed facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have several options for arranging both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. The community has 76% occupancy, and residents stay an average of 211 days, including rehabilitation patients and those receiving ongoing nursing care.

Rehabilitation and recovery services are the main focus of the facility. Residents have access to rehabilitation services and outpatient therapy as they work toward greater independence. Daily nurse staffing averages just under 5 hours per resident. Registered nurses provide about 47 minutes of care daily, nurse aides contribute 2 hours and 51 minutes, and LPN/LVN staff provide another 33 minutes. The facility also has 24-hour staffing to support residents.

State inspections have examined resident transfer safety practices, resident dignity and responsiveness to care requests, and the management of specialized care procedures. These areas have been a part of the facility’s quality focus.

Residents receive meals twice each day and have access to rehabilitation and outpatient therapy services on-site. The community has a Walk Score of 64, which is a moderately walkable area. Some nearby services and errands are within walking distance, but most trips require driving.

Overview of On with Life Long Term Care

Operating for 30 years, On with Life Long Term Care is a nursing facility in Polk City, Iowa, operated by On With Life Extended. The 40-bed community has an occupancy rate of 95% and serves residents who need skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services.

Neurorehabilitation is the facility’s primary focus. There are inpatient and outpatient programs available alongside long-term skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, and respite care. Plus, there are specialized services such as neuropsychological evaluations and day programs for residents with neurological conditions.

Daily nurse staffing averages 6 hours and 13 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide nearly 1 hour and 48 minutes of direct care each day, while nurse aides contribute 4 hours and 56 minutes. Licensed practical nurses add another 1 hour and 12 minutes of daily support. This staffing ratio accommodates the facility’s focus on hands-on care and specialized rehabilitation services.

The community’s location in Polk City has a Walk Score of 43, making the area somewhat walkable. Some nearby services may be within walking distance, but most errands require transportation. The setting has a quieter environment away from busier commercial districts.

State inspections over the past six years identified issues in several operational areas. However, the facility has was able to address deficiencies in medication management, sanitation practices, and infection control protocols. The most recent annual inspection found that the home was substantially compliant. There were no new deficiencies cited due to its ongoing improvements to operational standards.

Overview of Clarence Nursing Home

Clarence Nursing Home manages a 46-bed skilled medical building at 409 Lombard Street in Clarence, Iowa, operating as a core element of the local Clarence Senior Living Campus since 1968. Overseen by Clarence Nursing Home Inc and administrator Jason Tjaden, the facility sustains a 91 percent occupancy rate. Financial processing integrates individual private payments with standard state Medicaid and federal Medicare network credentials. Stays average 292 days, which reflects a steady operational balance between transitional post-hospital physical therapy and permanent clinical housing.

The daily floor plan delivers an average of 4 hours and 2 minutes of direct hands-on care to each individual. Certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses split these 24-hour shift rotations to provide bedside medical assistance and structured physical rehabilitation routines. For community transit, the surrounding rural neighborhood scores a 34 out of 100 for walkability, which means visiting guests and staff members rely on cars to handle most regional errands.

Official compliance documentation indicates that the building functions in substantial compliance with public health regulations and maintains a deficiency rate that tracks favorably against broader Iowa nursing property averages. Local coordinators analyze these regular health evaluation logs to verify internal procedural safety and align staff clinical training protocols with current state operating guidelines.

Interested individuals can call the main desk to verify active room layouts, request information regarding campus physical therapy options, or schedule an afternoon walkthrough of the property.

Overview of Newton Village

Located on North 5th Avenue West in Newton, Iowa, Newton Village. 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.

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.

Sunrise Terrace Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a 46-bed non-profit facility in Winfield, Iowa, run by owner Mathew Anderson and administrator Lindsay Remick. Operating for 50 years as a community church ministry, the building maintains a 78 percent occupancy rate and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Stays here average about 180 days, meaning the daily population is a balanced mix of short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term residents.

Medical care on the floor is supported by 24-hour nursing coverage and an on-staff physician, with a team that provides an average of 4 hours and 28 minutes of direct care to each resident daily. Registered nurses account for 49 minutes of that daily time, helping coordinate pain management, restorative care, and on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapies. For day-to-day amenities, the campus includes an outdoor patio, a beauty salon, a spa with a whirlpool, and restaurant-style dining with a salad bar. The surrounding rural neighborhood requires a vehicle for travel and errands.

Regulatory surveys conducted by state inspectors show the facility held a clean record, maintaining full compliance with no health deficiencies or complaints. This clean track record leaves the home with a citation rate of zero.

Families can call the front desk to check on current room openings, ask about the schedule for therapy services, or schedule a tour of the gardens and building.

Heartland Care Center has operated a 38-bed clinical senior community on East Fenton Street in Marcus, Iowa, since 1994. Under the leadership of administrator Tim Nielsen, the facility maintains an average occupancy level near 76 percent. Accounts are processed through public networks like Medicare and state Medicaid alongside regular private billing, establishing an operational framework where temporary rehab stays are blended with long-term nursing placements.

Residents here receive an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes of direct, hands-on attention from the floor nursing roster each day. Registered nurses dedicate 1 hour and 50 minutes of this daily schedule to handle more complex clinical treatments, collaborating with licensed practical nurses and certified aides to oversee medication distribution and respiratory support.

The property features indoor dining spaces, a beauty salon, and routine spiritual programming, while the surrounding neighborhood registers a walkability score of 31 out of 100, showing that personal cars are necessary for typical regional errands.

Past health audits from state oversight agencies focused on routine documentation checks across care planning records, medication management lines, and standard infection control practices. The management uses these official state surveys to adjust internal clinical policies and maintain ongoing training requirements for the floor staff.

Prospective families can contact the main desk to check on open room availability, ask about dietary accommodations, or coordinate a morning to visit the campus.

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.

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.