Best Independent Living in Iowa

Sunrise Hill Care Center is a 76-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Traer, Iowa, privately owned and administered by Daniel Larmore. The facility offers nursing care, memory care, assisted living, independent living, and short-term rehabilitation, serving residents across Tama County.

CMS awards Sunrise Hill a 5-star overall rating — 54% above the Iowa average — driven by strong health inspection and quality-measure scores. Across 18 inspections since 2011, the facility recorded 11 total deficiencies, 59% below the Iowa statewide average of 27.

That record carries a caveat: three substantiated complaint investigations between 2023 and 2024 involved supervision failures that led to resident falls resulting in fractures, and a separate July 2024 complaint substantiated allegations of verbal and physical mistreatment of a resident by a CNA who subsequently resigned. No fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or license actions appear in the available reports. The most recent annual survey, completed December 4, 2025, yielded a single administrative deficiency — a missed background check window — with no resident-care deficiencies identified.

Sunrise Hill provides 24-hour staffing and on-site rehabilitation services, including contracted physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Memory care is available on-site. Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 25 minutes per resident per day, in line with Iowa averages, though registered nurse staffing is below the state benchmark — a consideration for residents requiring higher-acuity clinical oversight.

The facility’s average length of stay is 165 days. Its current occupancy rate is 70%, below the Iowa average of 75.4%, suggesting availability for new admissions. Sunrise Hill accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Sunrise Hill Care Center is best suited for residents seeking post-acute rehabilitation or long-term nursing care in a smaller rural setting and is structured to support memory care needs alongside general skilled nursing.

Colonial Manors of Columbus Community is a 39-bed nursing home in Columbus Junction, Iowa, offering nursing and memory care services, and is operated by Dianne Bohling. A privately owned, community-founded facility in Louisa County, it has served the area since 1975 and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. The campus expanded twice — first with independent living duplexes in 1998, then with the Colonial Estates addition in 2010.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars overall. Health Inspection performance is a relative strength, scoring 35.6% above the Iowa average, and total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 29 minutes per resident per day — just above the state’s 4 hours and 25 minutes. Quality Measures is the drag on the overall rating, landing 71.1% below the Iowa average, a meaningful gap for families evaluating long-term clinical outcomes.

The inspection record carries more weight than the ratings. Across roughly a dozen surveys since 2020, the facility has averaged 11.4 deficiencies per year — 159% above Iowa’s average of 4.4. The 2024 annual inspection produced 11 citations covering care planning, MDS assessments, and drug regimen review.

The July 2025 annual survey substantiated an abuse allegation: a CNA was found to have handled a resident roughly during transfers, and the facility failed to properly report or investigate the incident. The facility reached substantial compliance in August 2025 after submitting a plan of correction. No federal fines appear in the past three years.

Colonial Manors is structured for long-term nursing care and memory care residents in Louisa County who prioritize a small-community setting and local continuity of care. Families evaluating long-term placement should weigh the facility’s above-average staffing hours and inspection rating against the deficiency rate and the 2025 abuse finding.

Overview of Azria Health Winterset

Azria Health Winterset is a 70-bed skilled nursing and post-acute rehabilitation facility in Winterset, Iowa, providing long-term care, short-stay rehabilitation, memory care, and respite stays for residents in Madison County. The facility is privately owned and operated by Kristin Merron and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS rates the facility at 2 stars overall, with all three sub-ratings below the Iowa average — Health Inspection 30% below, Staffing 15% below, and Quality Measures 39% below. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 42 minutes per resident per day, roughly 14% below Iowa’s average of 4 hours and 18 minutes, with weekend RN staffing at 17 minutes per day compared with the state’s average of 30. A payment denial was issued in May 2024 and lasted for two days; the facility carries no federal fines, ranking first among 246 Iowa skilled nursing facilities on that measure.

The facility’s on-site therapy — physical, occupational, and speech — supports the rehabilitation program. Lifestyle amenities include chef-prepared menus and a private dining room. The facility’s occupancy rate is 65.8%, below the Iowa average of 75.4%, suggesting current availability.

The facility is structured for residents seeking post-acute rehabilitation or long-term skilled nursing care in Winterset, with current availability and on-site therapy capacity.

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 Westhaven Community

Westhaven Community is a 40-bed nonprofit skilled nursing facility in Boone, Iowa, offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled care. The community is operated as a ministry of the Evangelical Free Church and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Across inspections since 2017, the facility has averaged approximately 2 deficiencies per year — 55% below the Iowa average of 4.4 — a strong long-term compliance picture. That record includes two notable exceptions: a 2023 inspection that found an Immediate Jeopardy citation for failure to re-evaluate a resident’s advance directives and code status.

A separate complaint investigation that year in which a resident sustained a fatal fall and staff were cited for inadequate supervision. The April 2025 standard inspection recorded 8 deficiencies covering medication management, infection control, and respiratory care. The most recent visit, a September 2025 complaint investigation, found no regulatory issues.

CMS rates Westhaven 4 stars overall, with staffing hours 34.8% above the Iowa average — nurse staffing averaging 5 hours and 20 minutes per resident per day places the community 24th out of 241 Iowa skilled nursing facilities. Occupancy is significantly below the state average at 43%, indicating current availability.

The on-site salon is the one amenity listed on the profile; the facility’s broader lifestyle programming is not detailed on the page.

Westhaven Community is best studied for residents seeking independent, assisted, or skilled nursing care in a small, faith-affiliated residential setting in Boone County, with immediate availability across bed types. However, families should review the facility’s prior Immediate Jeopardy finding and fall-related complaint history.

Overview of Newton Village INC

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

Overview of Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center

Owned by Mark Allen, Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center is a nursing home in Des Moines, Iowa. The facility accepts Medicare and private pay, giving families flexibility in how they cover skilled nursing care. With an average stay of 119 days, the 51-bed home accommodates short-term post-acute rehab residents and those needing longer-term care. The facility’s current occupancy is 61%, which is a moderate census.

The center has a substantial clinical backbone. Daily nurse staffing averages nearly 6 hours per resident each day. Registered nurses contributed about 1 hour and 15 minutes of that, supported by nursing aides providing 3 hours and 24 minutes. This staffing structure can support the home’s rehabilitation focus. Other services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The facility also offers respite care for families seeking short-term support, and there’s 24-hour nursing oversight to provide continuous clinical presence.

Amenities and activities are designed for engagement and wellness. Residents can access an indoor walking track and fitness center, a heated pool and hot tub, a fully stocked library, a woodworking shop, and a movie theater. The dining room serves meals from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, so there’s a consistent schedule for daily dining.

The surrounding neighborhood’s Walk Score of 91 is very walkable. This can be convenient for visiting family members navigating the area on foot. The facility’s regulatory standing shows a generally compliant operation, with oversight attention on clinical documentation, care planning, and staff training.

Overview of Scenic Manor

Owned by the Bearden Family Revocable Trust, Scenic Manor is a skilled nursing home that accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. These payment options give families flexibility when arranging both rehabilitation services and ongoing nursing care. With 77 beds, the community has an occupancy rate of 84%, and residents stay an average of 251 days, including short-term rehabilitation patients and those receiving longer-term care.

Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab programs are central to the facility’s care model. Residents recovering from hospitalization, surgery, and other acute health events will find a place here. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 20 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses provide care around the clock, especially for residents who need hands-on support at all times.

The facility is in a neighborhood with a Walk Score of 60. As a moderately walkable area, some errands can be completed on foot, but most trips require transportation. This setting may appeal to families looking for a quieter residential environment while still having access to nearby services.

Dining is important for residents, with attention given to the dining experience and atmosphere. The facility has inspection compliance within its regulatory framework, which particularly focuses on medication management and infection control protocols.

Families considering Scenic Manor should take a tour to see the care environment, meet staff members, and learn more about how the facility supports rehabilitation and recovery.

Overview of Crown Pointe Estates Al Memory Care

Designed for residents with memory care needs, Crown Pointe Estates Al Memory Care is a small assisted living community in Sioux Center, Iowa. The 32-bed community operates under Sioux Center Health and is located on 7th Avenue Southeast. The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 72, so many nearby services and errands are within walking distance.

The home opened 3 years ago and currently operates at full occupancy. Residents tend to remain in the community for an extended period. The average length of stay is 896 days, which includes people living with dementia who need ongoing support, security, and specialized care.

Staffing is a major part of the community’s care model. The facility has 24-hour staffing, and residents receive an average of 5 hours and 49 minutes of nursing care daily. Registered nurses provide 47 minutes of care per resident daily. Nurse aides contribute 3 hours and 32 minutes, while licensed practical nurses provide another 28 minutes. That’s a consistent level of support throughout the day and night. Residents have access to skilled care as well as direct personal assistance.

State inspections found that the community is in good standing. Inspection findings identified no regulatory insufficiencies or deficiencies. A complaint investigation was also completed with no insufficiencies identified. The facility doesn’t have any citations.

Families looking for memory care in the Sioux Center area may find the community’s smaller size appealing. It’s fully occupied, has a long average length of stay, and focuses specifically on caring for people living with dementia. The walkable location can also make visits more convenient for family members.