Best Independent Living in Iowa

Overview of Friendship Village

Friendship Village in Waterloo, IA, provides nursing home services via skilled nursing as well as memory care. Independent living and assisted living complete the list. The first option is private living with community-operated services but lacks daily assistance, while the second includes direct help for dressing, bathing, or managing medications when difficulties arise.

Memory care is designed for individuals with dementia who are at risk of wandering away, operating within a secured setting under staff supervision. Skilled nursing maintains a licensed nurse on-site at all times. If a resident’s requirements increase over time, the care may adapt while the location remains constant. There are 72 beds in total.

Short-term rehabilitation is available for brief care during someone’s recovery. Respite care gives temporary assistance during the period when a family’s regular caregiver is away or recovering from their own issues.

The property has walking paths and a spa, while residents also enjoy the fitness center and the beauty salon. Pets are permitted, allowing a resident to keep theirs. The band is somewhat walkable, and the Walk Score is 52, indicating that a few errands can be accomplished by walking.

Medicare can pay for a brief skilled stay. Medicaid is able to finance qualified long-term care. Private pay refers to the family paying directly, and all three methods are accepted here. The administrator is Ellie Uhlenhopp.

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. 

Overview of Green Hills Retirement Community

Six care types are offered at Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames, IA. They are nursing home care, memory care, independent living, skilled nursing, assisted living, and continuing care retirement community status.

Both nursing levels carry licensed nursing on-site at all hours. Independent residents live privately, drawing on community services but not on daily care. Each assisted living apartment belongs to its resident, and the staff handles bathing, dressing, and medication with them. Dementia-related wandering is met with supervision within a secured area in memory care.

Residents must be at least 55. At 56 beds, Green Hills is on the smaller side, the size at which faces become familiar to staff and residents alike. Housing is apartments and townhomes, in one- and two-bedroom sizes. A single resident can manage in one bedroom, and two bedrooms make room for spouses or a companion.

Green Hills logs 5 hours and 1 minute of nursing for every resident, every day. After a hospital stay, Medicare can pick up short-term skilled care, and private pay covers the rest out of personal or family funds. Rachel Ferguson serves as administrator.

Wheelchair users can get around the community, and pets can come along. On-site, you’ll find the fitness center, a spa, and the salon, plus rehabilitation services. When the family’s regular caregiver is traveling or unwell, respite care offers a brief stay.

Green Hills suits adults 55 and older who want everything from independent living to nursing care within reach, with memory support and rising care needs included.

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 3m 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.

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.

Overview of Oaknoll Retirement Residence

Oaknoll Retirement Residence provides independent living, assisted living, and nursing care in Iowa City, Iowa. Residents in independent living reside autonomously without daily assistance, whereas assisted living adds support for daily personal tasks and managing medications. Nursing care supplies higher-level clinical oversight, allowing residents to step up their assistance within the same community as health requirements change over time.

Accommodations across this 70-bed campus consist of single private rooms. Facility amenities feature an exercise pool, salon and spa, wellness center, art studio, and movie theater, along with physical rehabilitation services and local transportation. Temporary respite stays give primary caregivers time away, and short-term rehabilitation supports post-illness or injury recovery.

Administrator Taylor Wheeler oversees daily operations. Neighborhood navigation carries a walk score of 33, indicating a car-dependent location where most off-site errands require a vehicle.

Prospective residents looking for a multi-stage community can age in place while taking advantage of varied recreational, wellness, and medical resources.

Overview of Northridge Village

Northridge Village offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing care in Ames, Iowa. Independent living means private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living includes help with dressing, bathing, medication, and other 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.

Several care levels are available in one community. If a resident’s needs grow, they may be able to move within Northridge Village instead of leaving the setting, which may suit someone who could need more support over time. With 38 beds, the community is a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know each other.

One bedroom and two bedroom layouts are available. A two bedroom option can suit a couple moving together or someone who wants a companion. Short term rehabilitation supports recovery from an illness, injury, or procedure, while long term nursing care supports ongoing medical needs, and Kayla Zellmer serves as the administrator.

Starting monthly prices are $3,590 for independent living, $6,140 for assisted living, and $8,860 for memory care, with the different rates tied to the listed living and care levels. Northridge Village accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Pets are allowed, so a resident can bring a pet to the community.

The community is in the Somerset neighborhood of Ames, Iowa. A Walk Score of 44 out of 100 places the area in a car dependent setting, meaning most errands require a car or a ride. Transportation and off site outings can support trips to grocery stores and restaurants, while the courtyard and garden provide outdoor spaces for residents to use.

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Starting Price $3,770/Month Pricing updated on October 7th, 2026

In the Lucas neighborhood of Iowa City, IA, Legacy Senior Living accommodates independent living and offers assisted living. No daily care is attached to a resident at the assisted living level, while they are able to avail themselves of the community’s offerings and services as they need them. The assisted living half is where that daily care attaches.

Housing here comes as studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units, with 136 beds in all. A resident’s growing needs are met by changing care level within the community and not by changing address. A family thinking ahead is paying for that convenience.

Residents can choose to keep a pet. The administrator is Jacobi Feckers.

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Starting Price $3,440/Month Pricing updated on October 7th, 2026

Heritage House offers nursing home, adult day care, assisted living, independent living, memory care, nursing care, and skilled nursing in Atlantic, IA. Nursing home, nursing care, and skilled nursing provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Assisted living helps with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while residents keep their own apartment, while independent living provides private living without daily care.

Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone who may be at risk of wandering. Adult day care gives a person a daytime care setting without requiring residence at the home, and respite care supports a short term stay when a family’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. The available housing includes studio and one bedroom apartments, while gardens and an orchard of lemon trees give residents outdoor spaces to use.

The range of care levels may make Heritage House a good fit for a resident whose needs may grow over time, since moving between levels can occur without leaving the community. Heritage House has 108 beds, and total nurse staffing is 4h 49m per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nurse staffing time recorded for each resident. Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families public program and direct payment routes for covering care; Medicare generally applies to short term skilled care after a hospital stay, while Medicaid may help when savings do not cover a long stay.

Peter Gray serves as the administrator. A Walk Score of 73 places Heritage House in a very walkable area, where most errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently.

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 49 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.