Best Independent Living in Iowa

Overview of Holy Spirit Retirement Home

Serving the Sioux City community for nearly three decades, Holy Spirit Retirement Home is a small nursing home owned and operated by The Diocese of Sioux City. The home provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation support. Pastoral attention to spiritual needs is also available. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, so families have different ways to arrange care coverage.

Residents receive an average of 3 hours and 57 minutes of total nursing support each day. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses are all part of the care team. Daily hands-on support is a central part of the nursing model, and residents have access to consistent clinical care throughout their stay.

The facility has 52 beds, which maintains a smaller, residential feel while supporting a dedicated rehabilitation program. Residents stay an average of 190 days, including those recovering through post-acute rehabilitation and receiving longer-term care. The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 91. Many nearby services and destinations are within walking distance, which can make visits easier for family members.

Spiritual care is part of daily life through the home’s Spiritual Life program. The program exists because of the facility’s religious identity and the values associated with Diocese ownership. The community also offers independent apartment-style housing, so residents have an option as their care needs change over time.

State inspections focused on documentation practices, staff training in areas such as dementia care, and the completeness of resident agreements and care plans. The facility continues to address and monitor these areas as part of its daily operations. Families touring the home may want to ask how these matters are monitored daily.

Overview of The Village of Ackley

Owned by Korey Deberg, the Village of Ackley is a nursing home in Iowa. With 38 beds, the smaller community serves residents who need skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services. The area has a Walk Score of 44, so the facility is somewhat walkable. Some nearby services are accessible on foot, while most trips require transportation.

The facility focuses on short-term rehabilitation and respite care and also provides ongoing nursing support. Residents stay an average of 360 days, including those recovering from acute health events and those transitioning into longer-term care. The community has an occupancy rate of 84%, with 32 residents living in its 38 beds.

Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 11 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide 1 hour and 7 minutes of care each day, while nurse aides contribute 2 hours and 30 minutes of direct support. This level of staffing provides substantial hands-on assistance for residents. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for arranging care.

Home-cooked meals are an important part of daily life within the community. Residents receive three hearty meals each day because of the facility’s personal approach to care. This style of dining may appeal to residents and families who value a more home-like atmosphere.

Recent state inspections reviewed areas such as abuse and neglect prevention, timely reporting of resident concerns, communication with families regarding health changes, staffing levels, and clinical documentation. Families touring the community should ask about these core operational areas before making a placement decision.

Overview of St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home

Owned by St Luke Homes, St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home is a facility that provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation care. The 79-bed home is well integrated into its neighborhood, with a Walk Score of 81, so most errands and services are within walking distance. Its occupancy rate of 86% shows that there is strong community trust in the setting.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families flexibility in their coverage arrangements. Residents stay an average of 182 days, including post-acute rehabilitation residents and those receiving longer-term nursing care.

Clinically, the home offers structured rehabilitation services and nursing care. It’s a practical choice for residents recovering from surgery or hospitalization. Total nurse staffing averages roughly 4 hours and 54 minutes per resident each day, with registered nurses available 54 minutes per day per resident, nursing aides providing 2 hours and 28 minutes of hands-on care, and licensed practical nurses contributing an additional 30 minutes.

Dining is traditional in the facility. There are continental and hot breakfast choices alongside lunch and dinner served in the main dining room. Residents have a variety and opportunity for structured meals.

State inspections identified areas where the home has worked to improve procedures, including response times to resident requests and the integrity of care protocols. A re-inspection in fall 2025 documented that prior concerns had been corrected. The facility has been operating in substantial compliance.

Overview of Solon Nursing Care Center

Owned by Lucille Atkinson, Solon Nursing Care Center is a skilled nursing facility in Solon, Iowa. The community with 96 beds serves older adults who need post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care. Programs include rehabilitation nursing and specialized support for residents living independently within the facility. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted from families looking for options for arranging care.

The facility is in a moderately walkable area with a Walk Score of 54, so some daily errands can be completed on foot. The community has an occupancy rate of 69%. Residents stay an average of 155 days, including short-term rehabilitation patients and those receiving longer-term care. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 14 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses provide hands-on support and clinical oversight.

Outpatient therapy services are available on-site, so residents don’t have to leave the facility to access rehabilitation care. The facility also coordinates physician services within the community, which streamlines medical oversight.

State inspections have reviewed call light response times, fall prevention practices, infection control procedures, and staffing levels. Families touring the facility should ask how these areas are managed daily and what procedures are in place to support resident care and safety.

Overview of Hillcrest Home, INC

Owned by Mission Interests Committee Inc., Hillcrest Home, Inc is a 61-bed nursing facility providing short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care. The facility has an occupancy rate of 70%. Residents stay an average of 160 days. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families multiple ways to cover care costs.

Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 22 minutes per resident each day. Residents are supported by registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses on staff. This level of hands-on support shows the facility’s commitment to daily clinical care/

In recent inspections, Hillcrest has demonstrated substantial compliance with regulatory standards. The facility has worked through earlier challenges with medication administration and grievance handling, and those areas show marked improvement in regulatory findings.

The location has a Walk Score of 38, so some nearby services are within walking distance. However, most visits and errands are more convenient with transportation. Residents and families will find that the neighborhood is a quiet, accessible part of Iowa for daily life and visits.

Overview of United Presbyterian Home

The United Presbyterian Home operates a 55-bed skilled nursing unit as part of its 35-acre continuing care retirement campus in Washington, Iowa. The facility coordinates billing through Medicare and Medicaid, offering options for people recovering from short-term hospital stays as well as those needing long-term residential placements. Stays here average about 171 days, and visitors will find the local neighborhood highly walkable, scoring an 81 out of 100 for foot travel.

Residents get around 4 hours and 52 minutes of direct daily care from the on-floor nursing staff and nurse aides. To minimize travel for medical checkups, the team partners with specialized therapists to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy right on campus. The property also runs an independent home health service for residents transitioning back to apartments, cottages, or studios, and features a wellness center equipped with an indoor walking track and a warm water therapy pool.

Reviews by state inspectors over the last 16 years have consistently monitored environmental management, staff supervision, and clinical documentation to ensure regulatory safety guidelines are met.

Prospective families can reach out to the admissions office to check on current bed availability, learn about the campus home health services, or schedule a tour of the grounds. The main desk can also explain the entry paperwork and outline how Medicaid or Medicare applies to the community’s different care programs.

The Rehabilitation Center of Belmond operates a 44-bed skilled nursing facility located at 1107 7th Street NE in Belmond, Iowa. Financial accounts are managed through public insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid along with private pay, providing families with multiple paths to handle medical bills. Lengths of stay average around 130 days, meaning the daily routine balances short-term recovery care for post-hospital patients with traditional extended-stay setups.

An average of 3 hours and 42 minutes of direct daily care is delivered to each resident by the hands-on nursing team. This round-the-clock staffing plan utilizes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who work together to coordinate transitional medical recovery and routine physical wellness. The building features on-site laundry services and a private family gathering room for daily amenities, while the local neighborhood scores a 60 out of 100 for walkability, making a vehicle helpful for most out-of-town trips.

Prospective representatives can touch base with the front office to check on current bed availability, learn about the physical rehab programs, or book a time to see the family room. The administrative staff can also look over your insurance policies and explain how private payment structures operate.

Overview of Perry Lutheran Home

The Perry Lutheran Home operates a 26-year-old continuing care retirement campus on Willis Avenue in Perry, Iowa, under the management of administrator Melissa Gannon. The building houses 70 residents, runs at about 80 percent occupancy, and handles accounts through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Lengths of stay average 315 days, indicating that the daily routine integrates short-term therapy patients into an established, long-term residential community.

The hands-on clinical team delivers an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes of direct care to each resident every day. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides balance this 24-hour schedule to coordinate standard therapies, respite care, and independent home health services. The church-affiliated nonprofit property sits in a neighborhood that scores a 74 out of 100 for walkability, allowing visiting families to manage a variety of local trips on foot.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the main desk to ask about the independent or assisted living availability, request details on the home care services, or schedule an afternoon to see the campus. The front office can also explain the admission paperwork and clarify how different insurance options apply to the monthly fees.

Set along Highway 18 West in Clear Lake, Iowa, Oakwood Care Center functions as an 80-bed church-affiliated nonprofit nursing home. The community covers patient expenses through private pay networks alongside standard Medicare and Medicaid authorizations. With a steady base of 60 residents, the everyday routine balances transitional rehabilitation therapy with longer-term skilled nursing attention, maintaining a stable average length of stay around 134 days.

Clinical care routines are structured around a floor team that provides an average of 3 hours and 25 minutes of direct attention per resident daily. Registered nurses deliver 28 minutes of this hands-on schedule, collaborating with licensed practical nurses and nursing aides to direct both indoor recovery sessions and ongoing physical check-ups.

The community features practical features like open dining configurations, cable television, and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building, while the surrounding neighborhood provides a moderate layout where basic retail services are reachable on foot.

State files from the local health department indicate a reliable administrative history, with overall inspection outcomes showing solid compliance with medical safety rules. The facility currently operates at about a two-thirds census baseline, allowing the management to offer flexible room matching and immediate placement openings for incoming admissions.

Prospective residents can get in touch with the admissions manager to check on current room layouts, learn about the physical therapy setups, or schedule a morning to walk through the building.

The Mayflower Home operates a 40-bed skilled nursing wing at its Broad Street campus in Grinnell, Iowa, under the management of administrator Kellie McGriff. This community accommodates residents aged 55 and older, coordinating patient accounts through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Stays here average roughly 331 days, indicating a residential population where long-term care plans are integrated with temporary post-hospital rehabilitation.

Daily care routines are supported by an on-floor nursing team providing an average of 5 hours and 2 minutes of direct attention per resident. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides distribute this 24-hour schedule to manage wound protocols, medication delivery, and active physical therapies. Residents have access to recreational programs organized by the internal residents’ association, while the surrounding Grinnell neighborhood scores a high 82 out of 100 for walkability, allowing visiting families to manage most local trips on foot.

Past inspections by state regulators identified some necessary updates in care documentation and quality procedures, which the administration resolved; the most recent complaint investigation confirmed the home remains in substantial compliance. Current occupancy levels hover around 78 percent, giving the management room to accommodate incoming admissions.

Families can reach out to the admissions office to check on current bed availability, request details on the residents’ association events, or set up a time to view the campus.