Best Nursing Homes in Fort Dodge, IA

Overview of Marian Home

Marian Home is a 90-bed nonprofit nursing home in Fort Dodge, Iowa, offering skilled nursing, independent living, memory care, and rehabilitation services to residents in Webster County. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay and is managed by a nonprofit.

Across 16 inspections since 2019, Marian Home recorded 11 total deficiencies — 59% below the Iowa average of 27. The most recent standard inspection, completed in April 2025, found no deficiencies. One substantiated incident in 2024 involved a resident fall resulting in a fracture, attributed to staff not using a gait belt during a transfer; staff education was implemented afterward. No fines or enforcement actions appear in the record.

The facility’s staffing stands out as a genuine differentiator. Nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 16 minutes per resident per day compared with Iowa’s average of 4 hours and 25 minutes, placing Marian Home 24th out of 241 Iowa SNFs on adjusted nursing hours — a meaningful gap for residents with higher care needs. The facility also provides therapy services, along with community living areas, social programs, and group activities in Halverson Hall, and offers 24-hour staffing. The occupancy rate is 78%, close to the Iowa average, indicating moderate availability.

The combination of a clean recent inspection record, well-above-average nurse staffing, and a continuum that spans independent living, skilled nursing, and memory care makes it best suited for residents seeking a long-term residential setting where care intensity can increase without requiring relocation.

Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation is a 65-bed skilled nursing facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa, offering short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. The facility, operated by Gateway Healthcare LLC, accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents in Webster County.

CMS rates the facility 1 star overall, with a 1-star Health Inspection rating, driven by inspection performance that is 64.9% below the Iowa average. Across 12 inspection events over the past seven years — three standard surveys and nine complaint investigations — the facility recorded 42 citations in total, including four at the most severe level, and a single $10,000 federal fine. No civil penalties have been issued in the past three years.

Staffing is below state norms. Total nursing care averages 3 hours and 17 minutes per resident per day, roughly 24% below Iowa’s average of 4 hours and 18 minutes, ranking the facility 228th of 241 Iowa skilled nursing facilities. Payroll represents 45.9% of revenue, well below the Iowa peer range of 61–69%, reinforcing the staffing gap. The facility’s occupancy rate is notably high at 93.3%, ranking 36th among 401 Iowa facilities — consistent with strong local demand despite its 1-star rating.

Quality measure outcomes are broadly below average across both long-stay and short-stay populations, with hospitalization rates, walking-ability decline, and weight loss each running meaningfully above Iowa norms. Services include in-house therapy and a Stay Active program; no specialized memory care unit or secured programming is listed.

The facility’s rehabilitation services, Medicare-oriented admission mix — 50% of new residents, with a typical stay of 23 days — and high occupancy orient it toward short-term post-acute stays for residents returning from the hospital. Families considering long-term placement should weigh the extended quality-measure and staffing data alongside the current availability.

Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, IA, is a non-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that offers independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. With a nurturing, home-like environment, the community ensures older adults can live comfortably during their stay. Light housekeeping, nutritious meals, and medication management are among the excellent services provided to improve residents’ living experiences. Residents also receive the utmost attention and care to recover and return to their routines with ease through personalized care plans.

Strength exercises, social events, and various recreational activities ensure residents can make friends and have fun. Safe trails, accessible common areas, and a garden also provide residents with more opportunities for recreation and wellness. Located near the Fort Museum and Frontier Village and bus stops along Kenyon Road, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. This CCRC has a wide range of care options and a clean setting, making it a great choice for senior living in Iowa.