Page 50 of Best Senior Communities in Iowa

Overview of Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Bishop Drumm Retirement Center coordinates continuous senior services within a 150-bed campus at 5837 Winwood Drive in Johnston, Iowa. Operated by Sylvania Franciscan Health under administrator Adam Braden, the community maintains an average occupancy level near 76 percent, meaning openings are typically available for new intake. The business office accepts private funding streams, Medicare credits for brief rehabilitation, and standard state Medicaid options. Individual resident stays average of roughly 172 days, establishing a local population structure that balances transitional post-hospital physical therapy with permanent clinical residential housing.

On-site health routines ensure that each individual receives an average of 3 hours and 58 minutes of direct care from the nursing team daily. Certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses split these floor hours to provide speech-language pathology and physical therapy alongside routine treatment protocols. These practitioners work within a wider aging-in-place campus that features independent and assisted living settings alongside adult day programs, while the surrounding town neighborhood records a walkability score of 64 out of 100, letting visitors complete a few basic tasks nearby without relying solely on a car.

Earlier evaluations by state inspectors noted procedural gaps regarding staffing distribution, pressure ulcer prevention tracking, and standard infection control lines. The administrative team updated floor patterns and corrected these points, leading to a late 2025 re-inspection to certify that the entire building had returned to substantial compliance with baseline public healthcare guidelines.

Prospective representatives can contact the main registration desk to confirm immediate room availability, ask about the details of the adult day schedule, or plan a morning to see the therapy common rooms. The intake office can also assist with medical coverage, cross-referencing to outline how personal funds or public assistance networks apply to standard monthly billing statements.

Located at 455 31st Street in Marion, Iowa, Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation is a nursing home owned by Ryan Coane and administered by Ailson De Jong. The 91-bed facility provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and dementia support. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, so families have several options for covering short-term rehabilitation and longer-term residential care.

The community has an occupancy rate of 77%, and residents stay an average of 134 days. The facility’s location in a highly walkable neighborhood offers convenient access to nearby services for visiting family members and staff.

Rehabilitation is a major focus of the community. Physical therapy staffing exceeds state averages. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 28 minutes per resident, combining registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and certified nurse aide support. The facility operates 24 hours a day and provides care for residents needing dementia support, rehabilitation services, and skilled nursing care.

Meals are prepared by chefs and served according to every resident’s dietary requirements to accommodate a range of nutritional needs and preferences.

State inspections by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing addressed recurring issues related to care delivery, documentation, and resident safety. The facility meets regulatory standards and welcomes family tours to discuss how these operational areas are managed.

Overview of Prestige Care Center of Fairfield

“Owned by Corey Fuchs, Prestige Care Center of Fairfield is a skilled nursing home in Fairfield, Iowa. The 73-bed community has an occupancy rate of 81%, and residents stay an average of 298 days. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering the cost of care.

The facility’s location is in a highly walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 87, meaning most errands and nearby destinations are within walking distance. This accessibility can be helpful for residents and visiting family members spending time in the area.

Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 24 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, and licensed vocational nurses work across shifts to provide hands-on support. This staffing structure can support both medical and personal care needs within the community.

State inspections show the home’s efforts to maintain compliance and safety standards. The facility addressed earlier concerns, and a follow-up inspection confirmed substantial compliance. Families considering the home should take a tour of the facility, ask about current operations and programs, and speak with staff about how they meet residents’ medical and personal care needs.”

Overview of Sunny Hill Care Center

Sunny Hill Care Center is a 57-bed nursing home in Tama, Iowa, managed by Premier Senior Management LLC and led by administrator Megan Thiessen. The building runs at an 84 percent occupancy rate and coordinates billing through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because lengths of stay average around 209 days, the daily makeup of the building consists of a fairly even blend of short-term rehab patients and long-term residents.

On the floor, the clinical staff delivers about 3 hours and 47 minutes of direct daily care to each resident. This hands-on time includes 45 minutes from registered nurses, 2 hours and 3 minutes from nurse aides, and 7 minutes from licensed practical nurses who help run the on-site hospice, respite care, and physical therapies. The building also handles outpatient care to help people transitioning back home, while the local neighborhood scores a 49 out of 100 for walkability, making a car necessary for most errands.

State records show that recent inspection findings focused on standard resident care procedures, medication management, and fall prevention. A subsequent re-inspection verified that the facility completed all required corrective actions, returning the property to full regulatory compliance.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the admissions office to check on current bed availability, ask about the outpatient therapy options, or schedule a walkthrough. The front office can also explain the billing paperwork and outline how different insurance plans apply to the fees.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – Red Oak

Located in Red Oak, Iowa, Good Samaritan Society – Red Oak is a 53-bed skilled nursing home owned by William Butz. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so there are several ways families can cover the cost of care. The community has 70% occupancy and serves residents with different care needs. Residents stay an average of 248 days, which includes people recovering from illness or injury as well as residents who require ongoing skilled nursing care.

Daily nursing support averages 3 hours and 48 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses make up the care team. That staffing level supports daily hands-on support, medication management, and medical oversight. Rehabilitation therapy services are available on-site, too. It’s a service for residents while recovering from surgery, stroke, or a hospital stay.

Inspection findings over recent years have centered on care protocols and resident safety practices. Areas reviewed included assessment accuracy, hospital care transitions, pressure ulcer prevention and management, fall prevention systems, medication administration safeguards, food safety and handling, and infection control procedures. The facility was able to address prior findings, and the most recent re-inspection confirmed substantial compliance with state requirements.

The home has a Walk Score of 41. Some nearby services are within walking distance, but most appointments and errands require transportation. Families considering skilled nursing care in the Red Oak area should take a tour and learn more about its rehabilitation services and care programs.

Overview of Navigate Mc at Featherstone at Hickory Trail

Navigate Mc at Featherstone at Hickory Trail is a 32-bed memory care facility that launched in August 2024 at 2450 Hickory Trail, Iowa City, Iowa, in Johnson County. Administered by Tracy Sherzer, the community operates under Iowa Assisted Living Programs for People with Dementia license S0492, issued August 15, 2024, and active through August 15, 2026. Because the facility is a recent addition to the state’s healthcare landscape, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing has not yet published routine inspection records; consequently, the citations-per-inspection rate is currently zero.

The campus provides 24-hour staffing, licensed nursing care, and various rehabilitation services. Residents have access to bird-themed floor plans, including the Sparrow studio, Dunlin one-bedroom, and the Branta or Sandhill two-bedroom units. While the site features professional catering and wellness programming, available records do not currently specify Medicaid or Medicare participation, occupancy metrics, or specific pricing.

Interested individuals should consider the community’s status as a startup operation when reviewing its regulatory profile. Since there is no established history of deficiency reports to evaluate performance, a direct visit is recommended to verify staffing credentials and dementia-specific protocols. Inquiries regarding the current admission process or the timeline for the first routine state evaluation can be made through the administrative office at (319) 595-2270.

Overview of Azria Health Longview

Azria Health Longview runs a dual-care senior community providing skilled nursing and assisted living services at 1010 Longview Road in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The property, operated under owner Douglas Williams, is built to support a 100-bed capacity. Business operations process regular monthly accounts using traditional out-of-pocket payments, standard Medicare plans, and state Medicaid options. Stays average roughly 137 days per individual, pointing to an everyday routine that coordinates short-term therapy recovery with ongoing clinical nursing care.

Floor staff provide an average of 3 hours and 29 minutes of direct, hands-on attention to each resident daily. Certified nursing assistants handle the majority of this bedside timeline at 2 hours and 34 minutes, while licensed practical nurses offer 53 minutes, and registered nurses add 32 minutes of clinical tracking. These shift rotations cover 24-hour treatment monitoring, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized post-acute tracks alongside an on-site physician presence. For local transit, the surrounding neighborhood holds a walkability score of 53 out of 100, showing a moderately accessible layout where visitors can manage a few simple errands on foot.

Daily residential services focus on scheduled meals, complimentary Wi-Fi access, laundry assistance, and a beauty salon. The campus layout includes open space for pet visits and offers specialized respite care setups to ease short-term family transitions. These combined on-site programs are designed to cover basic healthcare demands and support physical rehabilitation plans without requiring frequent travel away from the facility.

Interested individuals can reach the main desk to check on current bed vacancies, ask about the assisted living apartments, or coordinate a time to look around the grounds. The intake staff can also help review health plan benefits to demonstrate how insurance networks or public aid options coordinate with standard monthly room invoices.

Northgate Care Center operates a 50-bed medical community at 960 4th Street NW in Waukon, Iowa. The facility manages its accounts through private billing methods alongside standard Medicare and Medicaid authorizations. Residents generally stay for an average of 103 days, meaning the daily census is composed of temporary post-hospital rehab patients living alongside individuals who require extended skilled nursing supervision.

Round-the-clock assistance is managed by a team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who coordinate routine physical therapy and outpatient medical exercises. Practical features inside the building include basic cable television access and private family gathering areas, while the surrounding neighborhood scores a 68 out of 100 for walkability, which means visiting guests can manage a handful of basic daily errands on foot.

Families can contact the administrative office to check on current bed availability, ask about the outpatient therapy schedules, or plan a morning to visit the common rooms. The financial staff can also look over your insurance policies and explain how state aid or private funds apply to monthly care costs.

Overview of Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 115-bed skilled nursing facility at 4614 NW 84th Street in Urbandale, Iowa. Owned by Cedar View Holdings LLC and administered by Gianni Beer, the center provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite stays for Polk County residents. The campus is somewhat walkable with a Walk Score of 43 and maintains a daily census of approximately 85 residents.

Operational Records and ComplianceThe facility is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). CMS data as of early 2026 assigns Royal Oaks a 1-star overall rating, categorized as “Much Below Average”. While the quality measure rating is “Average,” the health inspection rating is 1 star, reflecting 59 total citations over recent years, a rate nearly triple the Iowa average. Federal fines totaling $51,555 have been imposed since 2023, and the facility has faced one payment suspension.

Staffing metrics show a focus on therapy, with physical therapist hours at 4 minutes per resident day, 100% above the state average. However, Registered Nurse (RN) hours are 39% below the Iowa average, and weekend RN coverage is 33% below the state mean. Clinical outcomes show zero short-stay falls with major injury, and rehospitalization rates are 48% better than the state average. Conversely, the long-stay hospitalization rate is 57% higher than the Iowa average, and nursing staff turnover is 61.9%.

The campus provides customized care plans within a 24/7 clinical setting. Resident services include housekeeping, laundry, and chef-prepared meals with dietary oversight. The social calendar features pet visits and personalized activities, and residents are permitted to furnish their own living spaces. However, recent state surveys identified multiple environmental and care deficiencies, including failures in behavioral health services and the absence of an effective pest control program.

Families should evaluate the facility’s recent corrective actions during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on the October 2025 staffing and safety citations and to confirm that the infection control and pest management protocols mentioned in 2024 and 2025 reports have been fully addressed.