Best Independent Living in Montana

Overview of The Iris Senior Living

The Iris Senior Living community provides world class hospitality and care for retirees. With an emphasis on independent living, services are catered to the residents, ensuring compassionate and dignified care all around. The retirement home is filled with an abundance of opportunities waiting to be discovered, ensuring to help each one fulfill a purposeful life. The Iris is the home where residents are nurtured and about to explore a new chapter in their lives.

Life at Iris is centered around a range of personalized care services such as 24-hour nursing staff, medication management, incontinence care, ADLs, housekeeping and laundry services, mobility assistance, and emotional and behavioral management. 

Overview of Touchmark on Saddle Drive – Helena

A beautiful senior living community that offers exquisite living options such as cottages or condo-style rooms for residents of independent living, assisted living, and memory care living. Regardless of what kind of living option you are in, management and staff are guaranteed to provide resort-like accommodations with exceptional hospitality. The luxurious and elegant senior living community is beautiful, offering a dedicated environment wherein every need of each old is met.  Touchmark on Saddle Drive strives to provide its residents with a comfortable lifestyle of everyday living, making it an ideal place to call a new home.

Many studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments have a full kitchen, walk-in closets, air conditioning, central heating, washer, and dryer. Inclusive services include scheduled transportation, housekeeping, religious services, and a full-service salon. Touchmark also provides a private dining room, guest suites, activity rooms, and courtyards– to name a few.

Overview of Bozeman Lodge

Bozeman Lodge Independent and Assisted Living is situated in the stunning Gallatin Valley. This assisted living community is surrounded by the beauty of Montana’s majestic views, Bozeman Lodge stands as an exceptional option for seniors looking for the ideal lifestyle during their golden years.
Bozeman Lodge is a community that holds a firm belief that life should be filled with enrichment. The core of their mission revolves around establishing and maintaining nurturing and cozy surroundings for those in their care. Bozeman Lodge is committed to offering activities that add joy to life, dependable, polite service, and delectable cuisine as part of its unwavering approach. Embrace a life of fulfillment and contentment at Bozeman Lodge, where each day is an opportunity to thrive.

Located in a neighborly and secure atmosphere, The Springs at Butte offers a haven of tranquility for its residents. What truly sets this community apart is its commitment to providing a fulfilling senior living experience through a variety of engaging activities and events. With a range of options available, including independent living cottages, assisted living apartments, and memory care studios, residents have the freedom to choose what suits their lifestyle best. Meals are a delight, prepared with fresh ingredients, and there’s a strong emphasis on staying active and connected within the community.

Beyond the amenities like the on-site salon, barbershop, community center, greenhouse, and raised gardens, it’s the sense of vibrant living and peaceful coexistence that truly makes this community stand out. With a seamless blend of assisted living and memory care living, The Springs at Butte creates an environment that caters to individual needs while fostering a lively community spirit.

An affordable senior living facility with high-end service and beautifully designed interiors, The Village of Senior Residence is an independent living, assisted living, and memory care near Old Fort. Management and staff of the community understand that each resident is unique and has different needs, which is why they provide a program that personalizes care that is tailored to fit the needs of each individual. Life at The Village is about maintaining its accommodating hospitality and compassion for seniors over the years with an unmatched quality that many have been looking for in Missoula.

The Village’s services are straightforward and genuinely deliver with utmost professionalism found in its wellness checks, fitness activities, and social outings; as well as housekeeping, transportation, maintenance services, and meals provided.  

Overview of Highgate at Bozeman

Located in picturesque Southwest Montana, Highgate at Bozeman presents a harmonious blend of Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care options for seniors. This captivating assisted living community offers a serene and homelike atmosphere, highlighted by views of the Bridger and Madison mountains. This community is located close to essential amenities such as shopping, banking, and grocery stores, ensuring the utmost convenience for senior residents. 
Highgate at Bozeman enjoys a privileged setting in one of the Rocky Mountain West’s most diverse small towns. Situated just north of the iconic Yellowstone National Park, residents immerse themselves in a captivating environment that celebrates nature’s splendor and fosters a strong sense of community. Highgate at Bozeman stands as a haven where seniors can embrace their golden years while relishing in the beauty and vibrant charm of the surrounding region.

Overview of Rainbow Senior Living of Great Falls

Located in the heart of Great Falls, Rainbow Senior Living is a welcoming community that offers residential assisted living and independent living options. With a dedicated professional care staff and a range of convenient features, Rainbow Retirement aims to provide comfort and hospitality to its residents.

This senior living community collaborates with community members to customize living options that align with their individual preferences and aspirations. Whether you require short-term or long-term care, their flexible approach allows you to receive the level of support that suits your current health needs and lifestyle choices. With a focus on empowering residents to lead fulfilling lives, Rainbow Senior Living is committed to creating a vibrant and inclusive community in the heart of Great Falls. 

Overview of St. John‘s United

St. John’s United operates a 104-bed nursing facility at 3940 Rimrock Road, Billings, Montana, administered by Karna Rhodes and owned by Gerald Pearsall. This voluntary non-profit church-affiliated community is car-dependent (Walk Score 6), 7.9 miles from downtown Billings with immediate access to Fuller Family Medicine. Current census: 26 residents (25% occupancy), average stay 129 days. Payer mix: 63% Medicare (28 days typical), 36% private pay (5–6 months), 1% Medicaid (18–19 years).
Staffing (Q4 2025): 262 total personnel including 29 RNs, 14 LPNs, and 164 CNAs. Total nursing delivers 5 hours 16 minutes per resident per day (35% above Montana average); weekend nursing reaches 4 hours 43 minutes (38% above state norm). Staff-to-resident ratio of 3.32:1 significantly exceeds benchmarks.
Care modalities include nursing home, independent and assisted living, memory care, home care, and hospice. Amenities: private rooms, aquatic center, fitness center, restaurant-style dining, housekeeping, and storage. 2023 financials: $34.4 million revenue, $19.6 million payroll, $984,311 net income. The facility ranks first statewide in payroll investment.
Quality outcomes show mixed results. Long-stay residents experience falls with major injury at 3.0% (31% better than state), pressure ulcers at 4.3% (32% better), and urinary tract infection at 2.0% (27% better). However, weight loss reaches 11.4% (85% worse), functional decline scores 23.4 (8% worse), and antipsychotic use stands at 20.8% (9% worse). No monetary penalties in three years.
The inspection record reveals significant compliance challenges. Over 34 months (August 2023–July 2025), four inspections yielded 33 deficiencies; 686% above Montana’s per-inspection average. July 2025 annual inspection cited 6 deficiencies: grievance policy gaps, medication errors exceeding 5%, incomplete care plans, expired food disposal, hand hygiene failures, and infection control breaches. A concurrent complaint investigation identified 2 deficiencies for delayed abuse/investigative findings reporting (2 days late).
August 2024 routine inspection documented 15 deficiencies spanning medication assessment, delayed abuse reporting, assessment accuracy, care planning, fall prevention, psychotropic medication governance, dietary and kitchen sanitation failures, and vaccination gaps. An August 2024 complaint investigation substantiated 2 deficiencies: delayed neglect reporting and 3-hour late insulin delivery. April 2024 complaint investigation found 1 deficiency: incorrect antiepileptic dosing for 27 days.
August 2023 routine inspection identified 7 deficiencies including unmet caregiver preferences, dementia care planning gaps, pressure ulcer management, missing equipment, absent nonpharmacological interventions, medication errors, and refrigerator temperature control failures. An August 2023 complaint investigation confirmed 1 deficiency for absent nonpharmacological documentation preceding antipsychotic initiation.
All violations carry moderate severity; no critical or serious citations exist. Deficiency patterns center on medication management, care planning, incident reporting timeliness, infection prevention, dietary operations, and failure to implement nonpharmacological approaches before chemical restraint, demonstrating compliance persistence without documented systemic resolution

Overview of Mission Ridge

A member of the St. John’s senior living home, Mission Ridge is a senior home nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Billings, Montana. At Mission Ridge, residents experience vibrant senior care living. The retirement home is the definition of high quality care, offering luxurious amenities and personalized services that redefine senior living. Within a secure and supportive environment, a dedicated team works tirelessly to create a sanctuary where confusion dissipates, memories are cherished, and patience is ever-present.

Mission Ridge strives to provide a stress-free and enjoyable environment for its residents, ensuring that the community is safe and secure. Moreover, they house professional and caring staff who assist with everyday living and provide residents with a 24-hour emergency call system. Finally, private apartments include a balcony or patio and a washer/dryer unit available. 

For over 20 years, Golden Eagle Plaza has maintained a level of compassion and care for many seniors over the years– maintaining a healthy relationship between staff and residents because of the warm and welcoming approach always practiced. The affordable assisted living, independent living, and memory care community has been able to achieve a well-balanced wellness for its residents. Golden Eagle has soared to the top of what it means to offer quality senior care.

Community features include a gym, a game room, a garden, a library, and spacious private apartments that residents can choose from. Essential services include social and recreational activities, maintenance services, housekeeping and laundry, a full-service salon, and two meals (brunch and dinner) served daily.