Page 16 of Best Nursing Homes in Iowa

Urbandale Health Care Center is a rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility located in Urbandale, IA, northwest of Meredith Park. Aside from rehabilitation and long-term care, they also provide specialized services like respite care, and hospice care. Their current facility can house 106 patients, with access to a full nursing assistance 24 hours daily. Aside from this, the patients also receive medication administration done by licensed professionals, meal provisions, grooming services, housekeeping, and various therapy depending on patient needs.

Urbandale Health Care Center admission inquiries are open 24/7 including holidays. They also provide tours for those who would like to learn more about this long-term care nursing home. However, due to their capacity limit, admissions to the facility will be based on bed availability.

Overview of Ams Memorial-Greene

Ams Memorial-Greene runs a 31-bed skilled nursing building at 108 South High Street in Greene, Iowa. Owned by Michael Steinkruger, the facility focuses on helping people recover after a hospital stay or manage ongoing medical needs. The front office takes standard private pay, Medicare, and state Medicaid. Stays here average just 52 days, which shows that the daily routine is geared much more toward short-term rehab and therapy rather than lifetime placements.

The building usually sits at about 61 percent occupancy, so they typically have open beds ready for new admissions. Staff work around the clock to provide daily clinical monitoring, outpatient therapy, and respite care. As for the area, the surrounding Butler County neighborhood scores a 43 out of 100 for walkability, which means visiting family members and friends will need a car to get around town or run quick errands.

State inspectors have monitored this home throughout its 34-year history. Past health audits turned up a few procedural issues involving staff distribution, paperwork, and care planning. The management team put together an official plan of correction to fix these issues, and state oversight agencies cleared the building, confirming it meets current health and safety codes.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the front office to check on current room layouts, ask about the rehab schedules, or plan a time to look around the building.

Overview of Bethany Life

Bethany Life operates a nonprofit continuum of senior care from its 126-bed medical community at 212 Lafayette Avenue in Story City, Iowa. Established over half a century ago, the campus manages resident entry through a unique membership model combining an initial entry fee with a predictable monthly rate to secure lifetime care tiers. Business staff process billing through multiple coverage lines, including traditional out-of-pocket funds, standard federal Medicare, and state Medicaid paths. The property runs with a regular occupancy baseline of roughly 89 percent, supporting individual stays that average 229 days.

On-site health teams coordinate an average of 4 hours of daily hands-on care per resident. Certified nursing assistants distribute the largest portion of these floor hours at 2 hours and 42 minutes, while registered nurses contribute 45 minutes, and licensed practical nurses provide 23 minutes of clinical tracking. This staff handles routine treatments, medication management, and dietitian support within dedicated transitional wings, including the LifeBridge Transitional Care track, Cedar Place, and Timberland Village. For local travel, the surrounding downtown area logs a walkability score of 82 out of 100, which allows visitors and residents to complete daily errands entirely on foot.

Daily lifestyle configurations are built around a central hub featuring dining at Tom & Stevie’s Bistro alongside massage therapy, chaplain services, and organized wellness education. To prevent unnecessary travel, the campus integrates personal emergency response systems and home health aides to assist individuals who reside in the adjacent Twin Homes independent living options. These internal systems are structured to help stabilize physical recovery following major surgeries or complex hospital stays while preserving as much personal independence as possible.

Older adults exploring active neighborhood placement details can call the front reception area to confirm room availability, ask about the lifetime membership tiers, or coordinate a time to see the shared dining spaces.

Overview of Harmony Utica Ridge

Focused on post-acute care and specialty recovery programs, Harmony Utica Ridge is a rehabilitation nursing home serving residents recovering from hospitalization, injury, surgery, and stroke. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering short-term rehabilitation services. Residents stay an average of 41 days, which includes residents receiving post-acute rehabilitation rather than long-term residential care.

The facility offers structured rehabilitation services. Residents have access to respite stays and medical support for surgery, stroke, or other conditions requiring intensive therapy. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 42 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide approximately 51 minutes of specialized clinical care daily as part of the facility’s clinical support team.

The community’s Walk Score is 90, which is in a highly walkable area. Many nearby services and amenities are within walking distance for visiting family members. Amenities on-site include high-speed Wi-Fi, social lounges, and full-service dining options.

State inspections have examined care standards in wound and pressure ulcer management, medication administration practices, staffing documentation, infection control, and fall prevention. These are important quality indicators for families evaluating the home.

Overview of Trinity Center at Luther Park

Operating under the Gardens at Luther Park organization, Trinity Center at Luther Park is a 120-bed nursing home that provides short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled care for residents aged 55 and older. The building maintains a high local volume with a 91% occupancy rate and manages an extended 239-day average length of stay. Financial coverage handles a standard mix of Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay sources. The campus is built in an exceptionally walkable downtown neighborhood, making local errands and shops easily accessible on foot.

Daily care lines supply an average of 4 hours and 34 minutes of direct nursing time per resident each day, with a combination of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides covering the floor alongside on-site physical therapists. On the compliance side, public monitoring files from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing indicate that state inspectors have noted recurring administrative issues centered on care documentation, food handling protocols, and basic infection control.

Beyond the medical operations, daily life on the campus is organized around faith-based Christian values, spiritual support programs, regular activities, and local volunteer networks.

Prospective representatives researching faith-based senior care options or multi-level nursing setups can review these state health filings to assess the property’s operational history. The public records outline a busy, highly occupied facility backed by solid daily direct care hours and a walkable location, balanced against some recurring regulatory points regarding kitchen and documentation maintenance.

Overview of Parkview Care Center

Along Highway 34 in Fairfield, Iowa, Parkview Care Center offers dual accommodations as a 70-bed skilled nursing and assisted living property. Owner Tyler Hall and administrator Sarah Flattery oversee the community, which runs at roughly 69 percent occupancy and bills through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Stays here average 271 days, creating a daily census that blends short-term therapy patients with long-term residents.

Daily clinical routines are handled by an on-floor team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who provide an average of 2 hours and 56 minutes of direct care per resident. This 24-hour setup delivers physical recovery therapies alongside memory care programs tailored for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. For visiting family members, the local neighborhood is highly walkable, making it easy to head out and navigate local services on foot.

State agencies monitor the facility through routine standard checks and occasional complaint-based reviews. Past inspection filings noted a few adjustments needed in kitchen staffing guidelines and building maintenance, but subsequent follow-ups confirmed the facility had resolved these issues to meet regulatory standards.

Prospective representatives can contact the administrative office to check on current room configurations, ask about the dementia care schedules, or arrange a walkthrough of the community. The main desk is also equipped to help you check insurance parameters and clarify how Medicare or Medicaid applies to the different care levels.

At its 72-bed medical property on High Avenue West, Crystal Heights Care Center manages resident accounts using a combination of private payments, Medicare credits, and state Medicaid options. Operating under the leadership of administrator Danielle Grove and owner Wesley Wills, the campus sustains a high occupancy rate of nearly 97 percent. Residential placements span an average of 289 days, indicating an environment that balances short-term, post-hospital rehabilitation with extended long-term care programs.

The nursing staff provides about 3 hours and 34 minutes of direct care for each resident every day. Aides, LPNs, and registered nurses share the shifts to handle daily medical needs, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and even on-site dental and podiatry checkups. Having these specialists come directly to the building means residents rarely have to travel out for appointments. If you come to visit, the neighborhood is highly walkable, scoring a 75 out of 100, so you can easily step out and take care of errands on foot.

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing recently reviewed the facility’s daily care routines, infection controls, and staffing levels. Their report gave the home a clean bill of health, confirming that everything meets state operating standards. The administrative staff utilizes these regular health reports to guide internal policy adjustments and direct continuous skill training for the clinical staff.

Older adults looking into local enrollment parameters can contact the front administrative desk to check on active room availability, request an intake guide for on-site physical rehabilitation, or plan a morning to walk through the common lounges.

Overview of Bethany Lutheran Home

A 112-bed skilled nursing community owned by Diana Roberts in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is Bethany Lutheran Home. Operating for 51 years, it maintains an 80 percent occupancy rate, reflecting steady census in a mid-sized facility. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted to provide numerous ways for families to arrange care.

The facility’s clinical focus includes rehabilitation services, with a dedicated Rehab to Home program tailored to support occupants transitioning back to independent living after acute illness, surgery, or hospitalization. Total nursing care averages 4 hours 53 minutes per resident day, distributed across registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides. That daily staffing level bolsters 24/7 support for residents. The home is found in a really walkable area of Council Bluffs with a Walk Score of 77, meaning visiting family members and mobile residents can run most errands on foot and have good access to nearby services. For regular visits and outings, the surrounding neighborhood is accessible and convenient. The average stay duration is 152 days, signaling a mix of short-term rehabilitation patients and longer-term residents.

Care planning, medication administration, staffing, safety protocols, and infection control practices have been addressed by state inspections.

It’s encouraged that families considering the home tour it in person and ask about how clinical areas are managed daily.

Southfield Wellness Community is a 50-bed assisted living and rehabilitation facility at 2416 Southfield Drive in Webster City, Iowa. Administered by Megan Hassebrock, the community has served Hamilton County since 2002 under a license active through September 2026. The facility reports 40% occupancy with 20 residents, which is below the state average. The location is moderately walkable with a Walk Score of 58.

State-level monitoring data reflects a consistent history of high regulatory compliance. Over the last nine years, the facility recorded only one deficiency, resulting in an annual average of 0.1, which is 98% below the state average. The most recent recertification in March 2025 resulted in a citations-per-inspection rate of zero. While long-term compliance remains strong, the facility incurred federal penalties totaling $72,000 between November 2023 and December 2024.

Daily clinical operations utilize a 24-hour nursing model supported by a team of 129 CNAs, LPNs, and medication aides. Bedside support hours for nurse aides run 9% above Iowa averages, and the facility maintains a staff-to-resident ratio of 3.65:1. Services include short-term rehabilitation, respite care, and extended residential support, with a payer mix of 55% private pay, 25% Medicare, and 20% Medicaid. Clinical data shows 100% vaccination rates for long-stay residents and zero major falls among high-risk individuals.

The residential environment provides private family gathering spaces and basic cable services for residents. Despite established care quality, the community faced financial challenges in 2023 with a reported $703,000 operating loss. Historical records from 2008 noted a single deficiency involving inconsistent health assessments, but all subsequent complaint investigations have been unsubstantiated. The campus is designed to accommodate both post-acute recovery and long-term assisted care.

Interested individuals should consider the community’s 23-year history and its strong clinical metrics regarding vaccination and fall prevention. It is advisable to discuss the recent federal penalties with the administrator to understand the specific corrective measures implemented over the last year. Families may contact the Webster City office to verify current availability and confirm that the facility’s established care protocols meet their 2026 requirements.

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.