Page 18 of Best Nursing Homes in Iowa

Overview of Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Bishop Drumm Retirement Center coordinates continuous senior services within a 150-bed campus at 5837 Winwood Drive in Johnston, Iowa. Operated by Sylvania Franciscan Health under administrator Adam Braden, the community maintains an average occupancy level near 76 percent, meaning openings are typically available for new intake. The business office accepts private funding streams, Medicare credits for brief rehabilitation, and standard state Medicaid options. Individual resident stays average of roughly 172 days, establishing a local population structure that balances transitional post-hospital physical therapy with permanent clinical residential housing.

On-site health routines ensure that each individual receives an average of 3 hours and 58 minutes of direct care from the nursing team daily. Certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses split these floor hours to provide speech-language pathology and physical therapy alongside routine treatment protocols. These practitioners work within a wider aging-in-place campus that features independent and assisted living settings alongside adult day programs, while the surrounding town neighborhood records a walkability score of 64 out of 100, letting visitors complete a few basic tasks nearby without relying solely on a car.

Earlier evaluations by state inspectors noted procedural gaps regarding staffing distribution, pressure ulcer prevention tracking, and standard infection control lines. The administrative team updated floor patterns and corrected these points, leading to a late 2025 re-inspection to certify that the entire building had returned to substantial compliance with baseline public healthcare guidelines.

Prospective representatives can contact the main registration desk to confirm immediate room availability, ask about the details of the adult day schedule, or plan a morning to see the therapy common rooms. The intake office can also assist with medical coverage, cross-referencing to outline how personal funds or public assistance networks apply to standard monthly billing statements.

Overview of Prestige Care Center of Fairfield

“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.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – Red Oak

Located in Red Oak, Iowa, Good Samaritan Society – Red Oak is a 53-bed skilled nursing home owned by William Butz. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so there are several ways families can cover the cost of care. The community has 70% occupancy and serves residents with different care needs. Residents stay an average of 248 days, which includes people recovering from illness or injury as well as residents who require ongoing skilled nursing care.

Daily nursing support averages 3 hours and 48 minutes per resident. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses make up the care team. That staffing level supports daily hands-on support, medication management, and medical oversight. Rehabilitation therapy services are available on-site, too. It’s a service for residents while recovering from surgery, stroke, or a hospital stay.

Inspection findings over recent years have centered on care protocols and resident safety practices. Areas reviewed included assessment accuracy, hospital care transitions, pressure ulcer prevention and management, fall prevention systems, medication administration safeguards, food safety and handling, and infection control procedures. The facility was able to address prior findings, and the most recent re-inspection confirmed substantial compliance with state requirements.

The home has a Walk Score of 41. Some nearby services are within walking distance, but most appointments and errands require transportation. Families considering skilled nursing care in the Red Oak area should take a tour and learn more about its rehabilitation services and care programs.

Overview of Sunny Hill Care Center

Sunny Hill Care Center is a 57-bed nursing home in Tama, Iowa, managed by Premier Senior Management LLC and led by administrator Megan Thiessen. The building runs at an 84 percent occupancy rate and coordinates billing through private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because lengths of stay average around 209 days, the daily makeup of the building consists of a fairly even blend of short-term rehab patients and long-term residents.

On the floor, the clinical staff delivers about 3 hours and 47 minutes of direct daily care to each resident. This hands-on time includes 45 minutes from registered nurses, 2 hours and 3 minutes from nurse aides, and 7 minutes from licensed practical nurses who help run the on-site hospice, respite care, and physical therapies. The building also handles outpatient care to help people transitioning back home, while the local neighborhood scores a 49 out of 100 for walkability, making a car necessary for most errands.

State records show that recent inspection findings focused on standard resident care procedures, medication management, and fall prevention. A subsequent re-inspection verified that the facility completed all required corrective actions, returning the property to full regulatory compliance.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the admissions office to check on current bed availability, ask about the outpatient therapy options, or schedule a walkthrough. The front office can also explain the billing paperwork and outline how different insurance plans apply to the fees.

Overview of Tabor Manor Care Center

Tabor Manor Care Center is a 46-bed skilled nursing facility in Tabor, Iowa. Owned by Timothy Worcester, the property has been operating for 50 years, maintains an 85 percent occupancy rate, and accepts private pay alongside Medicare and Medicaid. Stays here average around 315 days, which indicates that the building primarily serves a long-term resident population alongside individuals undergoing short-term rehabilitation.

The floor staff provides about 3 hours and 56 minutes of direct daily care to each resident. A 24-hour coordinated nursing model splits this hands-on time among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who manage physical therapies and ongoing clinical needs. Outside the building, the small-town setting yields a walkability score of 33 out of 100, meaning you can reach a few basic local medical services on foot, but most daily errands require a vehicle.

State reports highlighted a few operational areas for improvement, specifically regarding internal medical documentation accuracy, infection control protocols, and family communication following resident incidents. The administration utilizes these inspection notes to sharpen its training programs and update staff guidelines.

Prospective residents can call the administrative office to check on current bed availability, ask about the schedule for physical therapy, or set up a time to visit the building.

Overview of West Bend Health and Rehabilitation

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.

Overview of Stone Cottage Care Center

Based in Sigourney, Iowa, Stone Cottage Care Center is a 41-bed nursing home owned and operated by Gabriel Sebbag and the Samara Family. The home currently houses 31 residents and works with multiple funding options, accepting private pay alongside Medicare and Medicaid. Because lengths of stay average about 547 days, the daily routine focuses mostly on long-term residential care, though they also take in patients for short-term recovery.

The building runs with a staff-to-resident ratio of around 2 to 1, with the nursing team providing about 3 hours and 18 minutes of direct care per resident each day. Registered nurses handle direct clinical oversight on the floor, while on-site physical and occupational therapists provide regular sessions to help people regain their functional mobility after a hospital stay. To keep families involved, the facility sets up active resident and family councils so people can weigh in on community decisions.

For anyone planning a visit, the small-town neighborhood scores a 45 out of 100 for walkability, meaning a car will be necessary for most regular trips.

Interested individuals can call the admissions desk to see which rooms are open, find out how the resident council functions, or coordinate a time to tour the building. The front office can also walk you through the standard entry paperwork and explain how insurance coverage applies to extended care stays.

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.