Page 11 of Best Independent Living in Iowa

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 228 independent living communities in IA using IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in IA
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Iowa our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Iowa.
228 homes
Other senior care options in Iowa:
Avg Walk Score: 47/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Iowa. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 72The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Iowa. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around Iowa

Info below is compiled from the IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Inspection events categorized as complaint-related by the state regulator.
Count of incident-based investigations (e.g. reported events) in the regulatory record for the reporting period.
NewAldaya Lifescapes
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Cedar Falls
112
Facility 112
IA AVG 72
Rank #50 / 403
No
64
Facility 64
IA AVG 47
Rank #125 / 504
-
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 19
Rank #267 / 285
91.1% -17
6
Facility 6
IA AVG 7
Rank #171 / 295
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #232 / 295
Davenport Lutheran Home
IL
AL
HC
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Davenport
98
Facility 98
IA AVG 72
Rank #74 / 403
No
44
Facility 44
IA AVG 47
Rank #268 / 504
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 19
Rank #267 / 285
67.3% -23
9
Facility 9
IA AVG 7
Rank #221 / 295
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #201 / 295
Silvercrest Garner Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
Davenport
-Yes
55
Facility 55
IA AVG 47
Rank #186 / 504
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
26
Facility 26
IA AVG 19
Rank #75 / 285
-A+---
Independence Village of Pella
IL
AL
MC
Pella
14
Facility 14
IA AVG 72
Rank #401 / 403
Yes
21
Facility 21
IA AVG 47
Rank #414 / 504
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
23
Facility 23
IA AVG 19
Rank #106 / 285
35.7% A+23
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 7
Rank #202 / 295
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #291 / 295
The Villages at Marion
IL
Marion
-No
63
Facility 63
IA AVG 47
Rank #134 / 504
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
28
Facility 28
IA AVG 19
Rank #52 / 285
-A+---
Keystone Senior Suites
IL
AL
MC
Keystone
24
Facility 24
IA AVG 72
Rank #395 / 403
Yes
12
Facility 12
IA AVG 47
Rank #454 / 504
1 Bed
28
Facility 28
IA AVG 19
Rank #52 / 285
37.5% -11
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 7
Rank #121 / 295
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 295
Independence Village Of Des Moines (Beaverdale Estates)
IL
AL
Des Moines (Beaverdale)
-Yes
62
Facility 62
IA AVG 47
Rank #140 / 504
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 19
Rank #259 / 285
-A---
Edencrest at Timberline
IL
AL
MC
RC
Urbandale
40
Facility 40
IA AVG 72
Rank #323 / 403
Yes
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 47
Rank #498 / 504
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 19
Rank #253 / 285
27.5% -3
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 7
Rank #32 / 295
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 295
Lakeside Village
IL
AL
MC
RC
Panora
128
Facility 128
IA AVG 72
Rank #32 / 403
Yes
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 47
Rank #475 / 504
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
18
Facility 18
IA AVG 19
Rank #147 / 285
29.7% -21
10
Facility 10
IA AVG 7
Rank #233 / 295
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #232 / 295
Summit Pointe Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
Marion
178
Facility 178
IA AVG 72
Rank #6 / 403
Yes
89
Facility 89
IA AVG 47
Rank #17 / 504
-
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 19
Rank #211 / 285
52.2% -6
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 7
Rank #121 / 295
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 0.9
Rank #1 / 295

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 228 on this page.

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Overview of NewAldaya Lifescapes

Located in the heart of Cedar Falls, IA, NewAldaya Lifescapes offers a vibrant and welcoming community for seniors. This community features a range of care options, including extended care, memory care, skilled nursing, and recreational therapy. Residents can choose from more than 15 unique floor plans in pet-friendly neighborhoods, designed for comfort and independence. The community’s prime location also provides easy access to Cedar Valley Bike Trails and Dry Run Creek, as well as local dining, shopping, and entertainment.

The community thrives with exceptional amenities such as the River Rock Café, New Day Salon and Spa, and a 24-hour wellness center. Residents can engage in various social and recreational activities to stay active and connected. NewAldaya Lifescapes is dedicated to enhancing lives through compassionate care, offering peace of mind in a lively, family-oriented environment.

Contact NewAldaya Lifescapes

Overview of Davenport Lutheran Home

Davenport Lutheran Home covers a lot of ground for one address: nursing home care, assisted living, home care, independent living, memory care, respite care, and skilled nursing, all at 1130 W 53rd St in Davenport, Iowa. It’s a single-story, 98-bed community with private and semi-private rooms, built to handle both short-term rehab stays and longer-term residents.

Sixty-six of those 98 beds are currently filled, a 67% occupancy rate. The neighborhood scores 44 on walkability, somewhat walkable, so a handful of errands are doable on foot while most still require a car. Karen Wilson administers the community.

Registered nurses put in about 32 minutes per resident daily. Licensed practical nurses add roughly 55 minutes on top of that. Nurse aides, who handle most of the direct hands-on care, contribute close to three full hours. Add it together and residents are getting nearly five hours of nursing attention every day.

Transportation services and fitness and recreation programming round out the practical side of daily life. There’s a memory care unit here too, built around a secured environment specifically for residents who need that kind of oversight. Coverage-wise, Davenport Lutheran Home takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have several routes to explore for funding care.

On the regulatory side, inspections at facilities like this one tend to focus on infection prevention, care planning and documentation, dietary and food service, and resident rights, the same handful of areas regulators look at across nursing homes generally.

MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center sits about two miles out, close enough to matter if hospital access is part of the decision. What Davenport Lutheran Home offers, in the end, is real range: multiple care levels, substantial nursing hours behind the numbers, and a dedicated memory care option inside one Davenport campus.

Contact Davenport Lutheran Home

Overview of Silvercrest Garner Senior Living

Silvercrest Garner Senior Living provides exceptional memory care and assisted living services tailored to each individual’s needs. The community prides itself on providing the best services, striving to be one of the top-ranked assisted living homes in the city. 

Silvercrest boasts elegant designs and upscale amenities such as its dining room, brightly-lit lounge areas, spacious apartments, courtyard, and arts and crafts studio. 

Contact Silvercrest Garner Senior Living

Overview of Independence Village of Pella

Situated in Pella, IA, Independence Village of Pella is a reliable senior living community that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. The community features an array of beautifully designed accommodations, ranging from studios to one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, providing a comfortable living space to residents. Care needs are fully met with personalized care plans and professionally trained employees available 24/7 to provide care and assistance.

There’s no shortage of enriching things to do with a vibrant calendar of activities, events, and programs offered by the community. Dining experience is improved with chef-prepared meals that are carefully curated to satisfy unique dietary needs and food preferences. Residents never have to worry about chores with housekeeping, laundry services, and other supportive services provided by a dedicated team. Here, residents have what they need to live a carefree and fulfilling lifestyle.

Contact Independence Village of Pella

Overview of The Villages at Marion

The Villages at Marion is an independent living and assisted living community in Marion, Iowa, set about a mile from the city center at 345 Marion Boulevard. The community describes itself as resident centered, with a warm and home like setting built around compassionate, individualized support. With 28 years in operation, it has a long history serving older adults in the area, which can reflect steady experience delivering day to day care. The three story building offers both private and semi private rooms, giving families a couple of options depending on a resident’s needs and budget.

Because The Villages offers both independent living and assisted living, it can suit residents who are largely self sufficient as well as those who need a hand with everyday activities, and it may allow a resident to stay in a familiar place as their needs change over time. Daily life is supported by restaurant style dining with meals served each day, along with fitness and recreation and a schedule of engaging activities. The community also provides personal and scheduled transportation, which helps residents keep up with appointments, errands, and outings without needing to arrange their own rides.

The neighborhood scores 63 out of 100 for walkability, meaning some errands can be handled on foot while others will involve a short drive, and the roughly one mile distance to central Marion keeps shops and services close by. That kind of setting can appeal to residents and visiting family who value an established, convenient location. For families weighing this community, an in person tour is a good way to see the room options, dining, and activity programming firsthand and get a feel for the atmosphere the community emphasizes.

Contact The Villages at Marion

Overview of Keystone Senior Suites

Make the most of your best years at Keystone Senior Suites, a distinguished community in Keystone, IA, offering assisted living. Residents can keep their peace of mind with a compassionate and well-trained team that provides top-notch care tailored to their daily living activities and personal needs around the clock. With housekeeping and laundry services, residents enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle.

Dedicated to enhancing residents’ living experience, a thoughtfully curated calendar of enriching activities and stimulating programs is conducted. Mealtimes are something to look forward to, with delicious and healthy dining options served to meet residents’ dietary needs and preferences. The community is a good option for those needing assistance to live comfortably in retirement, especially with its quality services and well-maintained amenities.

Contact Keystone Senior Suites

Overview of Independence Village of Des Moines (beaverdale Estates)

Make the most of your retirement years at the vibrant senior living community of Independence Village Of Des Moines (Beaverdale Estates) in Des Moines, IA, offering independent living. The community features pet-friendly apartments featuring large windows with plenty of natural light, along with convenient access to housekeeping for a maintenance-free living. The community is conveniently located near numerous parks, recreational facilities and walking trails, as well as excellent health care facilities, including the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

The community fosters a vibrant living experience and social connection through their diverse array of social, cultural and recreational activities, as well as exercise, fitness and wellness programs. A talented culinary team carefully prepares diverse menu options catered to residents’ dietary needs and preferences. Amenities include a business center and library, beauty salon and barbershop, and community activity room, including a game room and lounge, for relaxing gathering spaces.

Contact Independence Village Of Des Moines (Beaverdale Estates)

Edencrest at Timberline

14001 Douglas Pkwy, Urbandale, IA 50323
Overview of Edencrest at Timberline

Step into a nurturing environment with Edencrest at Timberline, a blissful senior living community in Urbandale, IA, designed to help residents achieve their highest potential. Offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care, the community makes sure its residents successfully age in place. Residents thrive and feel secure in their well-designed accommodations with access to gorgeous outdoor spaces and indoor conveniences.

Dedicated to its residents’ holistic wellness, the community provides various wellness programs and fitness classes. Access to a range of therapy services is available through Fox Rehabilitation, helping residents maintain their overall functions. Fresh, healthy meals are served daily alongside housekeeping and laundry services for a chore-free retirement experience.

Contact Edencrest at Timberline

Overview of Lakeside Village

Set within the area of Panora, IA, Lakeside Village is an idyllic senior living community, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The community guarantees their much needed independence with the benefit of added care and assistance with their daily living activities. In addition to a personal emergency call system, a round the clock team is available to attend to residents’ needs, concerns, and emergencies, giving them peace of mind and comfort.

Free from the hassles of maintaining their living spaces, residents can fully devote their time to enrichment and enjoyment with an array of activities to engage in. Restaurant style meals are also provided each day to give residents the nutrients and energy they need to stay active. An array of beautiful amenities are offered as well to make residents stay within the community more pleasing and enjoyable.

Contact Lakeside Village

Overview of Summit Pointe Senior Living

Summit Pointe Senior Living is a 178-bed assisted living facility at 3505 English Glen Avenue in Marion, Iowa. Administered by Melinda Haley, the community serves Linn County under license S0398, which is valid through December 4, 2026. Current data shows a 52% occupancy rate with 93 residents, reflecting growth from previous years despite remaining below the Iowa state average of 75.4%. The location is highly accessible with a Walk Score of 89, allowing most errands to be completed on foot.

Since 2019, the facility has recorded eight total deficiencies across seven inspections, averaging 1.1 annually, a rate 72% below the state average. While the July 2020 infection control survey and November 2021 recertification both resulted in a citations-per-inspection rate of zero, more recent investigations have identified recurring gaps. A June 2025 complaint investigation substantiated a deficiency regarding incomplete food temperature monitoring, affecting the entire resident population.

Clinical care is provided at this seven-year-old campus through a 24-hour staffing model that includes licensed nurses and CNAs. A January 2024 recertification identified three deficiencies involving improper medication administration and failures to update service plans for both current and discharged residents. Furthermore, an August 2024 investigation cited staff for failing to follow training protocols, specifically regarding improper gait belt use during resident ambulation. The community offers a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation services.

The residential environment features diverse amenities such as fitness centers, outdoor spaces, and organized entertainment. While the facility has demonstrated an upward occupancy trend, historical records highlight persistent documentation issues, including incomplete nurse reviews and non-individualized service plans that failed to address specific pain management or oxygen care needs. Currently, the facility has no documented history of fines, license suspensions, or formal enforcement actions.

Prospective representatives should evaluate the facility’s recent increase in complaint-driven inspections alongside its favorable overall deficiency metrics. It is recommended to verify current staff training execution and to confirm that food safety temperature logs are being maintained according to state policy. Families may contact the administrative office to discuss corrective actions related to medication oversight and to ensure the community’s operational protocols meet their 2026 care expectations.

Contact Summit Pointe Senior Living

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Iowa

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 228 independent living communities in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Iowa?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Iowa, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in Iowa?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.