Page 12 of Best Independent Living in Iowa

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 226 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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We analyzed These are the facilities in Iowa our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Iowa.
226 homes
Other senior care options in Iowa:

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-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our 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. RESC (Residential Care): Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting. 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. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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.
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.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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.
Wesley Acres
IL
ADC
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Des Moines (Greenwood)
80
Facility 80
IA AVG 76
Rank #48 / 165
Yes
72
Facility 72
IA AVG 43
Rank #32 / 222
-
73.8%
Facility 73.8%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #22 / 154
?23
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 6
Rank #111 / 155
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 1
Rank #130 / 155
Solon Nursing Care Center
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Solon
96
Facility 96
IA AVG 76
Rank #40 / 165
No
54
Facility 54
IA AVG 43
Rank #77 / 222
-
68.8%
Facility 68.8%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #71 / 154
?28
16
Facility 16
IA AVG 6
Rank #144 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Creekside
IL
AL
MC
NH
Grundy Center
40
Facility 40
IA AVG 76
Rank #127 / 165
No
63
Facility 63
IA AVG 43
Rank #49 / 222
- 87.5% ?11
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 6
Rank #1 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center
IL
AL
HC
MC
NH
RESC
SNF
Des Moines (East Village)
51
Facility 51
IA AVG 76
Rank #115 / 165
No
91
Facility 91
IA AVG 43
Rank #1 / 222
-
56.9%
Facility 56.9%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #76 / 154
?18
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 6
Rank #100 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Linn Manor Care Center
IL
NH
SNF
Marion
38
Facility 38
IA AVG 76
Rank #144 / 165
No
89
Facility 89
IA AVG 43
Rank #8 / 222
-
92.1%
Facility 92.1%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #20 / 154
B-22
12
Facility 12
IA AVG 6
Rank #140 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Gardens at Ridgecrest Village
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Davenport
30
Facility 30
IA AVG 76
Rank #157 / 165
Yes
90
Facility 90
IA AVG 43
Rank #7 / 222
24
Facility 24
IA AVG 15
Rank #28 / 131
46.7%
Facility 46.7%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #126 / 154
-4
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 6
Rank #154 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Garnett Place
IL
AL
MC
RC
Cedar Rapids
49
Facility 49
IA AVG 76
Rank #118 / 165
Yes
69
Facility 69
IA AVG 43
Rank #39 / 222
25
Facility 25
IA AVG 15
Rank #25 / 131
49.0%
Facility 49.0%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #147 / 154
D-8
12
Facility 12
IA AVG 6
Rank #137 / 155
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 1
Rank #104 / 155
Grand Haven Retirement Community Moments
IL
AL
MC
Eldridge
36
Facility 36
IA AVG 76
Rank #147 / 165
Yes
58
Facility 58
IA AVG 43
Rank #68 / 222
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 15
Rank #48 / 131
38.9%
Facility 38.9%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #132 / 154
-7
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 6
Rank #150 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Meadowview of Johnston
IL
AL
MC
Johnston
170
Facility 170
IA AVG 76
Rank #5 / 165
Yes-
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 15
Rank #105 / 131
48.2%
Facility 48.2%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #103 / 154
-4
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 6
Rank #57 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Edencrest at Adel
IL
AL
MC
Adel
88
Facility 88
IA AVG 76
Rank #44 / 165
No
60
Facility 60
IA AVG 43
Rank #61 / 222
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 15
Rank #121 / 131
--2
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 6
Rank #1 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other IA independent living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 226 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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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.

Contact Wesley Acres

Overview of Solon Nursing Care Center

Outpatient Therapy is a listed program at Solon Nursing Care Center, which means rehabilitation without checking in. Physician Services, Skilled Rehabilitation Nursing, and Long-Term Nursing Care are named on the same list. Five care types operate across 96 beds in Solon. A resident can move up a level as needs grow without leaving the community, which is the practical reason a building carries this many care types.

Independent living is defined by what nobody does for you. No one sets the day’s schedule, and community services replace errands rather than the routine.

Assisted living picks up bathing, dressing, and medication. Memory care goes further, for a person who can get lost on a route they’ve known for their whole life.

Licensed nursing support runs continuously, so what shapes a resident’s day is the care they need rather than the hour on the clock. Nursing time lands at 4 hours and 57 minutes per resident daily.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. Melissa Reed serves as administrator. The area scores 54 for walkability, which puts a few errands within reach for a resident who’s given up driving, with the rest left to getting help from a relative with a car.

Contact Solon Nursing Care Center

Overview of Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center

An indoor walking track circles Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center, and there is a pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center. A workshop, a library, and a movie theater fill out the day.

Seven care types operate across 51 beds in Des Moines: independent living, residential care, assisted living, memory care, home care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing. A resident whose needs change does not leave to get the next level.

Independent living means private living with no daily care attached. Assisted living adds bathing, dressing, and medication to that.

Memory care answers a narrower problem. Getting up and going out at an hour when nobody is awake is not something a family supervises from another house.

The area scores 91 for walking, high enough that a coffee or a haircut stays an ordinary outing rather than a scheduled trip. Rehabilitation services cover recovery from an illness or injury.

Respite sometimes needs no clinical justification at all. A person needs somebody in the building overnight, not therapy or procedures.

Nursing coverage on the skilled side reaches 5 hours and 56 minutes per resident each day and does not thin after dark. Medicare and private pay are accepted, and private funds cover what Medicare’s limited window does not. Daniel Boor serves as administrator.

Contact Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center

Overview of Linn Manor Care Center

A Walk Score of 89 puts Linn Manor Care Center in Mario, IA, in the very walkable category of communities. Most errands here can be done entirely on foot, which is pretty useful. A resident who has given up driving is not stuck helpless indoors because of it.

The building carries nursing home care, skilled nursing care, and independent living accommodations. Licensed nursing works on-site at all hours, and independent living sits at the other end with no managed daily care attached. A resident moving from one regimen of care to another can do so without having to move to a different address.

Thirty-eight beds is a small count for these types of facilities. Nursing time runs 4 hours per resident per day, spread across that short list of people rather than the crowds larger communities accommodate.

Private pay is what the home bills, so families only have the option to pay directly. Teresia Kanini is the administrator.

Contact Linn Manor Care Center

Overview of Gardens at Ridgecrest Village

Gardens at Ridgecrest Village offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care in Davenport, IA. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication. 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.

The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since changing care levels can happen without leaving the community. The community has 30 beds, making it a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know each other. Gardens at Ridgecrest Village opened in 1966 and is administered by Lorrie Blumberg. A Walk Score of 90 is classified as a walker’s paradise, meaning daily errands do not require a car and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently.

Named programs include Oakwood Place Assisted Living, Oakwood Gardens Memory Care, and Crest Health Care Skilled, identifying the community’s assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing settings. Chef-prepared meals are served daily, so residents have prepared dining without cooking each meal themselves, and rehabilitation services are available for recovery or ongoing therapy needs. Respite care offers a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover, while the pet policy allows residents to bring pets.

Contact Gardens at Ridgecrest Village

Overview of Grand Haven Retirement Community Moments

Grand Haven Retirement Community Moments offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Eldridge, IA. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while a resident keeps a private apartment. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Because the community offers multiple care levels, it may be a good fit for a resident whose needs grow over time and who may be able to move care levels without leaving the community.

The memory care program provides a secure setting and additional support for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The community has 36 beds, and Daniel Collins serves as administrator. Pets are allowed, so a resident can keep a pet at the community. Scheduled transportation is available for planned trips.

A Walk Score of 58 is somewhat walkable, meaning some errands can be done on foot, giving a resident who no longer drives the option to handle some errands independently.

Contact Grand Haven Retirement Community Moments

Garnett Place

202 35Th St Dr Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Overview of Garnett Place

Garnett Place is a retirement community in Iowa that strives to create magical experiences in the lives of retirees. Situated near Elmcrest Country Club and Golf Course and Riverside Park, this community offers unique mundane retirement living amidst the changing seasons of Cedar Rapids. Garnett Place offers a range of senior lifestyles, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care. The open layout of the living spaces creates a personalized feel, with private bathrooms for added privacy. They also give access to a beautiful landscaped courtyard, allowing seniors to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. 

This home offers housekeeping, transportation, and dining services to make life easier for residents. They also provide wireless emergency pendants, 24-hour emergency response, garbage removal, and laundry services for added convenience. Seniors can even bring their furry friends along! Other amenities include a cinema, salon, and barber. The living spaces come equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a full kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave oven, and window coverings. If one wishes to live a meaningful and hassle free life, Garnett Place is the place to be.

Contact Garnett Place

Overview of Meadowview of Johnston

Meadowview of Johnston offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Johnston, IA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while a resident maintains a private living space; 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.

Having all three care levels in one community can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time without requiring a move to a different community. The community has 170 beds, placing it among larger communities with more residents, staff, and usually more programming.

Restaurant style dining with chef inspired meals gives residents an on site dining setting, while the fitness center, movie theater, and salon or barber shop support exercise, entertainment, and personal grooming within the community. Residents can use the courtyard patio with a fire pit as an outdoor gathering space, and pets are allowed, so residents with pets can keep them with them; Michele Forbes serves as the administrator.

Contact Meadowview of Johnston

Overview of Edencrest at Adel

Edencrest at Adel offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Adel, Iowa. Independent living provides a private living space with community services and no daily care, while assisted living adds help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication. Memory care is provided in a secured setting with supervision for someone who may be at risk of wandering. Having all three care levels in one community can allow a resident’s needs to grow over time without requiring a move.

Respite care is also available for short stays. This can suit a family caregiver who needs time to travel or recover. The community has 88 beds and private apartments, so residents have their own living space within the larger setting. Edencrest at Adel may be a good fit for someone who wants independent living, assisted living, memory care, or a short respite stay in one community.

Starting prices are $2,900 per month for independent living, $2,900 for assisted living, and $5,600 for memory care. The higher memory care rate reflects the secured setting and supervision required for that level of care, while the independent living and assisted living rates correspond to their different daily support needs. Costs begin at different levels.

Outdoor gardens and patios provide space to spend time outside on the property, while transportation options and outings offer scheduled trips without requiring residents to arrange each outing independently. A salon and spa room, along with a fitness center, provide on site places for personal care and exercise. Maria Pimentel serves as the administrator, and a Walk Score of 60 means the area is somewhat walkable, with some errands possible on foot for a resident who wants to get out independently.

Contact Edencrest at Adel

Creekside

503 Wical Way, Grundy Center, IA 50638-2096
Overview of Creekside

Creekside handles local senior care through a 40-bed property located at 503 Wical Way in Grundy Center, Iowa. The building runs with a steady 92 percent occupancy rate, meaning open rooms are well-utilized by local residents. Families can handle regular bills through a mix of private payments, Medicare coverage, or state Medicaid programs. Stays here average about 164 days, which shows the campus balances quick post-hospital therapy turnarounds with traditional, extended nursing care setups.

Residents receive an average of 5 hours and 11 minutes of hands-on attention from the floor nursing staff every day. Registered nurses dedicate 56 minutes of this daily routine to handle medical tracking and treatments, working alongside licensed practical nurses and certified assistants who cover standard medication distribution and daily tasks. For normal routines, the facility has its own dining options, while the surrounding neighborhood has a decent layout that allows visiting family members to handle a few local errands on foot.

These regular surveys look at administrative logs and floor workflows to make sure everything lines up with baseline public health guidelines. Local supervisors use these state reports as a tool to adjust internal policies and keep continuing education programs up to date for the floor shifts.

Prospective representatives can contact the intake desk to check on open room availability, ask about the current therapy programs, or arrange a time to look around the building. The front office can also help you look over insurance coverage details and explain how state aid networks coordinate with standard monthly housing fees.

Contact Creekside

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
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Independent Living in Iowa at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 43/ 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: 76The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Iowa. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
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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 226 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.