Best Nursing Homes in Atlantic, IA

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 3 nursing homes in Atlantic, IA using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in IA
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Atlantic, IA our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Atlantic, IA.
3 homes
Other senior care options in Atlantic:
Avg Overall CMS Rating: 3.7/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Atlantic, IA. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating: 3.7/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Atlantic, IA. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating: 3.0/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Atlantic, IA. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.0/ 5

Compare Nursing Homes around Atlantic

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
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. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Iowa average is: 60.3% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Heritage House
NH
ADC
AL
IL
MC
SNF
Atlantic
108
Facility 108
IA AVG 72
Rank #57 / 403
57.4%
Facility 57.4%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #225 / 362
-14%
4.96
Facility 4.96
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #42 / 231
+47%+15%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
10
Facility 10
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #61 / 232
5.0
Facility 5.0
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #157 / 232
-62-
73
Facility 73
IA AVG 47
Rank #86 / 504
-
$6.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $6.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #101 / 224
$6.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $6.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #33 / 224
98.3%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 98.3%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #4 / 224
165561
Southern Hills Specialty Care
NH
SNF
Osceola
90
Facility 90
IA AVG 72
Rank #83 / 403
95.6%
Facility 95.6%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #14 / 362
+43%
3.85
Facility 3.85
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #153 / 231
+21%-10%
$36.9k
Facility $36.9k
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #196 / 239
8
Facility 8
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #44 / 232
2.0
Facility 2.0
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #19 / 232
-86-
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 47
Rank #496 / 504
Eric Klouse
$8.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $8.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #65 / 224
$4.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #77 / 224
53.8%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 53.8%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #153 / 224
165293
Atlantic Specialty Care
NH
SNF
Atlantic
90
Facility 90
IA AVG 72
Rank #83 / 403
84.3%
Facility 84.3%
IA AVG 67%
Rank #95 / 362
+26%
3.68
Facility 3.68
IA AVG 4.30
Rank #184 / 231
-39%-14%
$0
Facility $0
IA AVG $53.4k
Rank #1 / 239
54
Facility 54
IA AVG 21.7
Rank #209 / 232
6.8
Facility 6.8
IA AVG 4.1
Rank #207 / 232
-76-
9
Facility 9
IA AVG 47
Rank #468 / 504
Leah Muhlbauer
$7.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $7.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $6.9M
Rank #80 / 224
$3.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $3.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG $4.2M
Rank #110 / 224
48%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 48%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
IA AVG 60.3%
Rank #197 / 224
165288

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 3 analyzed for Atlantic.

Heritage House

1200 Brookridge Cir, Atlantic, IA 50022-2304
Overview of Heritage House

Heritage House provides assisted living and memory care from its 68-room, two-story building at 5200 Hollister Avenue in the Goleta area of Santa Barbara, California. Run by administrator Alejandra Nunez under the Heritage House Group, this home has been open for 23 years and usually runs at about 85 percent occupancy. Families cover the costs here through private, out-of-pocket payments. The building blends standard assisted living with specialized support for people navigating Alzheimer’s and dementia.

An in-house kitchen team makes home-style meals served across an on-site pub, café, and main dining room. On the floor, the care team provides a weekend average of 3 hours and 41 minutes of nursing attention per resident, with nurse aides covering 2 hours and 48 minutes of daily hands-on help alongside scheduled registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The private rooms are set up with kitchenettes and wheelchair-accessible showers. Outside, the neighborhood scores a 67 out of 100 for walkability, so visiting family can easily handle a few quick errands on foot.

State inspectors haven’t found a single problem here lately, locking in a track record of zero deficiencies over recent evaluation cycles. The management team uses these clean reports to back up their current safety routines, local transportation services, and daily social programs. Residents also have access to open shared spaces around the property, including a fitness center, billiards lounge, media room, and ballroom.

Families checking out local care options can call the front desk to check on current room openings, ask how the memory care program is set up, or book a time to walk through the building.

Contact Heritage House

Overview of Southern Hills Specialty Care

Dedicated to providing high-quality senior living, Southern Hills Specialty Care in West Lakes Parkway, West Des Moines, IA, is a reliable senior living community that offers a wide range of care services. These include assisted living, memory care, skilled care, therapy services, wound care management, and hospice. With a team of compassionate and highly skilled professionals delivering top-tier care and assistance around the clock, seniors can thrive and live their lives to the fullest.

A variety of planned activities and engaging programs are also provided to ensure residents have fun and meet friends. Special diets are also accommodated to ensure health needs and cravings are met through delicious and nutritious meals. Southern Hills Specialty Care is great for seniors looking to make the most out of their best years.

Contact Southern Hills Specialty Care

Overview of Atlantic Specialty Care

Atlantic Specialty Care is a nursing home in Atlantic, IA, offering long-term care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Promoting a compassionate and welcoming environment, the community ensures older adults are well-cared for throughout their stay. With 24-hour care, nutritious meals, and laundry services, residents receive the utmost attention and care to live comfortably in retirement. Individualized care plans tailored to residents’ unique needs and preferences to help them recover and return to their routines with ease.

Baking, painting, and volunteering activities provide residents with more opportunities to learn and gain meaningful experiences. Lively gathering areas and spacious rooms also ensure residents can rest and freely interact with their surroundings. Residents also experience a stress-free retirement, as it is conveniently located in the quiet residential area of Atlantic. Providing exceptional standards of care and a clean setting, this nursing home is an ideal choice for senior living in Iowa.

Contact Atlantic Specialty Care

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Atlantic, IA

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Iowa?

Assisted living in Iowa is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does Iowa Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — Iowa Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.

What is nursing home care?

Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.

How many nursing homes are listed on this page?

This page features 3 nursing homes in Atlantic, IA. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Atlantic, IA?

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 Atlantic, IA, 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 nursing homes in Atlantic, IA?

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.