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Compare Memory Care around Iowa
The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
| Bethany Home Retirement Center | MC IL NH SNF | Dubuque (Eagle Point District) | 66
Facility
66
IA AVG
71
Rank
#181 / 406 | No |
69
Facility
69
IA AVG
45
Rank
#103 / 528 | 1 Bed / 2 Bed | - | - | 12 | 4
Facility
4
IA AVG
7
Rank
#122 / 306 | 2
Facility
2
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#241 / 306 |
| Sunrise Retirement Community | MC AL IL NH RC SNF | Sioux City | 74
Facility
74
IA AVG
71
Rank
#136 / 406 | Yes |
22
Facility
22
IA AVG
45
Rank
#411 / 528 | Studio | - | 90.5% | 25 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
7
Rank
#89 / 306 | 6
Facility
6
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#294 / 306 |
| Green Hills Retirement Community | MC AL IL NH SNF | Ames (Hamilton Drive) | 56
Facility
56
IA AVG
71
Rank
#233 / 406 | Yes |
18
Facility
18
IA AVG
45
Rank
#430 / 528 | 1 Bed / 2 Bed | 40
Facility
40
IA AVG
19
Rank
#24 / 284 | 78.6% | 11 | 2
Facility
2
IA AVG
7
Rank
#55 / 306 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#258 / 306 |
| Meth Wick Community | MC AL IL NH RC SNF | Cedar Rapids (The Meth-Wick Community) | 69
Facility
69
IA AVG
71
Rank
#167 / 406 | No |
23
Facility
23
IA AVG
45
Rank
#405 / 528 | - | - | 81.4% | - | - | - |
| Mill Pond | MC AL IL NH SNF | Ankeny | 60
Facility
60
IA AVG
71
Rank
#213 / 406 | Yes |
16
Facility
16
IA AVG
45
Rank
#439 / 528 | Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed | 23
Facility
23
IA AVG
19
Rank
#109 / 284 | 98.3% | 16 | 5
Facility
5
IA AVG
7
Rank
#147 / 306 | 1
Facility
1
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#210 / 306 |
| Wesley Acres | MC ADC AL IL NH SNF | Des Moines (Greenwood) | 80
Facility
80
IA AVG
71
Rank
#105 / 406 | Yes |
72
Facility
72
IA AVG
45
Rank
#89 / 528 | - | - | 91.3% | 21 | 8
Facility
8
IA AVG
7
Rank
#204 / 306 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#258 / 306 |
| West Ridge Care Center | MC NH SNF | Cedar Rapids | 60
Facility
60
IA AVG
71
Rank
#213 / 406 | No |
48
Facility
48
IA AVG
45
Rank
#241 / 528 | - | 34
Facility
34
IA AVG
19
Rank
#34 / 284 | 75.0% | 15 | 4
Facility
4
IA AVG
7
Rank
#122 / 306 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#258 / 306 |
| Friendship Village | MC AL IL NH SNF | Waterloo | 72
Facility
72
IA AVG
71
Rank
#143 / 406 | Yes |
52
Facility
52
IA AVG
45
Rank
#202 / 528 | 2 Bed / 3 Bed | 50
Facility
50
IA AVG
19
Rank
#8 / 284 | 91.7% | 17 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
7
Rank
#1 / 306 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#258 / 306 |
| Mayflower Home | MC AL IL NH SNF | Grinnell | 40
Facility
40
IA AVG
71
Rank
#324 / 406 | No |
82
Facility
82
IA AVG
45
Rank
#39 / 528 | - | - | 77.5% | 11 | 3
Facility
3
IA AVG
7
Rank
#89 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
| Mount Carmel Bluffs | MC NH IL | Dubuque (South Switch Junction) | 60
Facility
60
IA AVG
71
Rank
#213 / 406 | No |
2
Facility
2
IA AVG
45
Rank
#500 / 528 | 1 Bed / 2 Bed | 5
Facility
5
IA AVG
19
Rank
#233 / 284 | 93.3% | 10 | 2
Facility
2
IA AVG
7
Rank
#55 / 306 | 2
Facility
2
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#241 / 306 |
| Spurgeon Manor | MC AL IL NH SNF | Dallas Center | 55
Facility
55
IA AVG
71
Rank
#239 / 406 | No |
47
Facility
47
IA AVG
45
Rank
#246 / 528 | - | - | 89.1% | 21 | 8
Facility
8
IA AVG
7
Rank
#204 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
| Creekside | MC AL IL NH | Grundy Center | 40
Facility
40
IA AVG
71
Rank
#324 / 406 | No |
63
Facility
63
IA AVG
45
Rank
#134 / 528 | - | - | - | 3 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
7
Rank
#1 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
| Newton Village INC | MC AL HOS IL NH SNF | West Newton | 70
Facility
70
IA AVG
71
Rank
#156 / 406 | No |
67
Facility
67
IA AVG
45
Rank
#112 / 528 | - | 6
Facility
6
IA AVG
19
Rank
#224 / 284 | 52.9% | 3 | 1
Facility
1
IA AVG
7
Rank
#31 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
| Wilton Retirement Community | MC AL NH SNF | Wilton | 34
Facility
34
IA AVG
71
Rank
#372 / 406 | No |
42
Facility
42
IA AVG
45
Rank
#284 / 528 | - | 12
Facility
12
IA AVG
19
Rank
#180 / 284 | 85.3% | 14 | 4
Facility
4
IA AVG
7
Rank
#122 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
| Traditions Memory Care of Newton | MC HOS NH RC SNF | Newton | 46
Facility
46
IA AVG
71
Rank
#273 / 406 | No |
67
Facility
67
IA AVG
45
Rank
#112 / 528 | - | - | 100.0% | 12 | 5
Facility
5
IA AVG
7
Rank
#147 / 306 | 0
Facility
0
IA AVG
0.9
Rank
#1 / 306 |
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.
Azria Health Longview runs a dual-care senior community providing skilled nursing and assisted living services at 1010 Longview Road in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The property, operated under owner Douglas Williams, is built to support a 100-bed capacity. Business operations process regular monthly accounts using traditional out-of-pocket payments, standard Medicare plans, and state Medicaid options. Stays average roughly 137 days per individual, pointing to an everyday routine that coordinates short-term therapy recovery with ongoing clinical nursing care.
Floor staff provide an average of 3 hours and 29 minutes of direct, hands-on attention to each resident daily. Certified nursing assistants handle the majority of this bedside timeline at 2 hours and 34 minutes, while licensed practical nurses offer 53 minutes, and registered nurses add 32 minutes of clinical tracking. These shift rotations cover 24-hour treatment monitoring, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized post-acute tracks alongside an on-site physician presence. For local transit, the surrounding neighborhood holds a walkability score of 53 out of 100, showing a moderately accessible layout where visitors can manage a few simple errands on foot.
Daily residential services focus on scheduled meals, complimentary Wi-Fi access, laundry assistance, and a beauty salon. The campus layout includes open space for pet visits and offers specialized respite care setups to ease short-term family transitions. These combined on-site programs are designed to cover basic healthcare demands and support physical rehabilitation plans without requiring frequent travel away from the facility.
Interested individuals can reach the main desk to check on current bed vacancies, ask about the assisted living apartments, or coordinate a time to look around the grounds. The intake staff can also help review health plan benefits to demonstrate how insurance networks or public aid options coordinate with standard monthly room invoices.
Regency Assisted Living operates a 60-bed skilled nursing property at 815 High Road in Norwalk, Iowa. Owned by Carla Hall and managed under administrator Victoria Lehman, the facility maintains a quiet baseline census, currently holding an occupancy rate around 42 percent with roughly 25 residents. Financial coordinators process transactions through individual out-of-pocket billing channels alongside state Medicaid options and standard federal Medicare programs. Stays here average about 151 days, which reflects an everyday operational design that merges brief physical therapy rehabilitation cases with extended clinical nursing placements.
State safety logs map out historical compliance patterns over the facility’s 20-year operating history. Regular public health evaluations handled by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing highlighted several repeat administrative themes, pointing out explicit procedural gaps in medication management practices, general resident supervision, and health record documentation. Local supervisors use these periodic regulatory summaries to shape employee skill training modules and adjust daily clinical workflows across the floor shifts to meet public healthcare codes.
For local transit, the surrounding town layout records a walkability score of 70 out of 100, showing a highly accessible neighborhood environment where visiting family members can complete routine errands on foot. On-site shift routines support this setting by providing a daily average of 3 hours and 10 minutes of direct, hands-on care to each individual. Certified nurse aides cover the largest block of this bedside timeline at 2 hours and 17 minutes, working alongside licensed practical nurses who provide 1 hour and registered nurses who add 21 minutes of clinical tracking, respite support, and continuous treatment monitoring.
Prospective residents can call the main office desk to check on current bed layouts, ask about the details of the short-term rehabilitation therapies, or schedule a day to see the grounds.
Founded in 1895, Lutheran Living Senior Campus runs a 155-bed continuing care retirement community on Lutheran Drive in Muscatine, Iowa. This nonprofit facility is managed by executive director Andrew Harris and operates under a church affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Standard billing balances private payment options with Medicare coverage networks, and the overall property runs near an 80 percent occupancy rate. Typical stays average about 166 days, indicating an environment that coordinates transitional physical rehabilitation alongside permanent residential placements.
An average of 4 hours and 21 minutes of hands-on attention is provided to each resident daily by the on-floor medical team. Certified nursing aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses maintain this 24-hour setup to supervise standard physical therapies alongside secure memory care programs. For daily amenities, residents have access to an internal salon, an outdoor courtyard, and spiritual care resources led by a full-time chaplain, while the surrounding town neighborhood provides a walkable layout for visitors running local errands.
Past inspection reports from state oversight departments noted some administrative and clinical areas for improvement, specifically highlighting corrections needed for care planning records, general resident supervision routines, and behavioral health support structures. The administrative leaders use these formal survey findings to modify ongoing training requirements for the floor staff and update internal safety guidelines.
Prospective residents can reach out to the marketing office to check on current apartment availability, verify specific memory care openings, or schedule a morning to tour the therapy spaces. The business desk can also assist with insurance verification and clarify how individual out-of-pocket costs or Medicare benefits align with monthly fees.
Accura Healthcare of Lake City is an 80-bed skilled nursing and long-term care community in Lake City, Iowa, providing short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, and respite services to residents in Calhoun County. It is operated by Accura Healthcare of the Heartland LLC and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.
CMS rates the facility at 1 star overall — the lowest tier nationally. The 1-star rating is driven primarily by the facility’s health inspection performance, while staffing levels are noticeably stronger. Adjusted nursing staffing averages 5 hours 10 minutes per resident per day, ranking 31st among 241 Iowa skilled nursing facilities and running roughly 20% above the state average of 4 hours 18 minutes. The facility has received two federal fines in the past three years — $35,000 in January 2025 and $3,000 in September 2023.
Services include 24-hour skilled nursing, a Life Enrichment Program, and an on-site outdoor patio and courtyard.
The combination of strong staffing levels and a 1-star inspection rating positions this facility well for residents and families who prioritize access to hands-on nursing care. However, families should review the inspection record independently before making a placement decision.
At its 64-bed skilled nursing property located at 2121 Avenue L, Hillcrest Health Care Center manages regional patient accounts through a mix of private payments, Medicare credits, and state Medicaid options. The facility emphasizes sustained, continuity-based setups rather than temporary recoveries, with residential admissions averaging near a full calendar year. These longer operational timelines establish a stable daily baseline for seniors requiring ongoing clinical monitoring in the Hawarden area.
Round-the-clock shift support relies on an internal clinical team comprised of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides who distribute floor hours to implement medical treatment logs and assist with daily physical tasks. This group works directly with incoming individuals to construct personal recovery profiles, which are paired with an internal social engagement program to manage therapeutic communication.
For neighborhood accessibility, the local surroundings register a walkability score of 49 out of 100, indicating that visiting family members or staff will typically require a personal car for basic community travel and appointments.
Prospective families can contact the business manager to check on active bed availability, ask about the schedule of in-house therapy sessions, or coordinate a time to view the property. The administrative department is also set up to review individual insurance parameters and outline how public aid networks or personal assets apply to monthly billing statements.
“Owned by Corey Fuchs, Prestige Care Center of Fairfield is a skilled nursing home in Fairfield, Iowa. The 73-bed community has an occupancy rate of 81%, and residents stay an average of 298 days. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering the cost of care.
The facility’s location is in a highly walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 87, meaning most errands and nearby destinations are within walking distance. This accessibility can be helpful for residents and visiting family members spending time in the area.
Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 24 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, and licensed vocational nurses work across shifts to provide hands-on support. This staffing structure can support both medical and personal care needs within the community.
State inspections show the home’s efforts to maintain compliance and safety standards. The facility addressed earlier concerns, and a follow-up inspection confirmed substantial compliance. Families considering the home should take a tour of the facility, ask about current operations and programs, and speak with staff about how they meet residents’ medical and personal care needs.”
Located at 455 31st Street in Marion, Iowa, Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation is a nursing home owned by Ryan Coane and administered by Ailson De Jong. The 91-bed facility provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and dementia support. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, so families have several options for covering short-term rehabilitation and longer-term residential care.
The community has an occupancy rate of 77%, and residents stay an average of 134 days. The facility’s location in a highly walkable neighborhood offers convenient access to nearby services for visiting family members and staff.
Rehabilitation is a major focus of the community. Physical therapy staffing exceeds state averages. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 28 minutes per resident, combining registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and certified nurse aide support. The facility operates 24 hours a day and provides care for residents needing dementia support, rehabilitation services, and skilled nursing care.
Meals are prepared by chefs and served according to every resident’s dietary requirements to accommodate a range of nutritional needs and preferences.
State inspections by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing addressed recurring issues related to care delivery, documentation, and resident safety. The facility meets regulatory standards and welcomes family tours to discuss how these operational areas are managed.
West Bend Health and Rehabilitation is a 45-bed skilled nursing facility at 203 Fourth Street NW in West Bend, Iowa. Affiliated with The Ensign Group, the center serves Kossuth, Palo Alto, and Humboldt counties with 24-hour nursing and rehabilitative services. The campus is centrally located with a Walk Score of 41 and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.
The facility is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. CMS data as of 2026 shows an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, reflecting an “Average” performance. While the quality measure rating is high at 4 stars, the health inspection rating is lower at 2 stars. A May 2025 standard survey identified six deficiencies, including issues with infection control, resident rights documentation, and care planning coordination. No fines or immediate jeopardy findings are currently on record.
The medical model emphasizes in-house therapy with professional oversight for short-term recovery and long-term care. Staffing data reveals a strong focus on rehabilitation, with physical therapist hours per resident day at 6 minutes—200% above the Iowa state average. Registered nurse (RN) hours also exceed the state average, though licensed practical nurse (LPN) and nurse aide hours are lower than typically seen in Iowa facilities. Quality metrics show that short-stay residents experience major injury falls at a rate of 2.9%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 0.8%.
The facility provides a residential setting with landscaped grounds and a calendar of social and recreational activities.Services include:Housekeeping, laundry, and chef-prepared meals tailored to nutritional needs. The community fosters a home-like environment, though the 53.3% nursing staff turnover rate is higher than the state average of 43.9%, which may impact the consistency of care relationships.
Interested individuals should evaluate the current staffing model and therapy outcomes during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on current fall prevention protocols for short-stay residents and to verify how nighttime and weekend nursing coverage is managed following the 2025 health inspection results.
Navigate Mc at Featherstone at Hickory Trail is a 32-bed memory care facility that launched in August 2024 at 2450 Hickory Trail, Iowa City, Iowa, in Johnson County. Administered by Tracy Sherzer, the community operates under Iowa Assisted Living Programs for People with Dementia license S0492, issued August 15, 2024, and active through August 15, 2026. Because the facility is a recent addition to the state’s healthcare landscape, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing has not yet published routine inspection records; consequently, the citations-per-inspection rate is currently zero.
The campus provides 24-hour staffing, licensed nursing care, and various rehabilitation services. Residents have access to bird-themed floor plans, including the Sparrow studio, Dunlin one-bedroom, and the Branta or Sandhill two-bedroom units. While the site features professional catering and wellness programming, available records do not currently specify Medicaid or Medicare participation, occupancy metrics, or specific pricing.
Interested individuals should consider the community’s status as a startup operation when reviewing its regulatory profile. Since there is no established history of deficiency reports to evaluate performance, a direct visit is recommended to verify staffing credentials and dementia-specific protocols. Inquiries regarding the current admission process or the timeline for the first routine state evaluation can be made through the administrative office at (319) 595-2270.
Ranking Methodology
How we rank these memory care communities
Every community above is evaluated across six weighted categories using public data including state inspection records, review platforms, BBB profiles, and operator-published materials.
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 Memory Care in Iowa
What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in Iowa?
Assisted living in Iowa supports residents with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) while preserving independence. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and adds 24/7 secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and structured routines designed to reduce confusion and wandering.
Does Iowa Medicaid cover memory care?
Iowa Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for memory care, but most states (including Iowa) offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can offset the cost of care services delivered inside a licensed community. Eligibility, waitlists, and covered services vary — check directly with the state Medicaid agency.
What is memory care?
Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, with secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and routines built to reduce confusion and wandering.
How many memory care communities are listed on this page?
This page features 233 memory care communities in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right memory care 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 memory care 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.

















