Page 19 of Best Nursing Homes in Iowa

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 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 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.

Emmetsburg Care Center coordinates short-term convalescence alongside medical housing from a 46-bed skilled nursing property located at 2405 21st Street in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Financial accounts flow dynamically through traditional out-of-pocket billing pathways or standard state Medicaid and federal Medicare network credentials. Residential intervals track to an average length of stay around 109 days, creating an operational baseline that favors fast-paced post-hospital therapy over indefinite, permanent placements.

The medical staff coordinates an average of 3 hours and 28 minutes of hands-on nursing attention for every individual daily. Certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses distribute this 24-hour setup to administer customized speech, occupational, and physical therapies within an internal rehab-to-home framework. For community movement, the surrounding area registers a walkability score of 63 out of 100, providing an accessible town environment where visitors can navigate simple regional errands or local retail stops without a vehicle.

Individuals 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. The business coordinators are also available to review personal healthcare options and show how insurance policies interface with monthly room statements.

Overview of Harmony West Des Moines

Harmony West Des Moines is a 113-bed skilled nursing facility at 5010 Grand Ridge Drive in West Des Moines, Iowa. Affiliated with Legacy Healthcare, the center provides specialized post-acute care, including orthopedic rehabilitation, stroke recovery, and advanced wound management. Centrally located in the Des Moines metro, the campus offers proximity to major health systems and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and various state assistance programs.

The facility is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing and is CMS-certified. As of May 2026, the community holds a 1-star overall rating, reflecting performance categorized as “Much Below Average”. While quality measures are rated at 3 stars, the health inspection component carries a 1-star rating based on 14 citations during the most recent standard survey cycle, which is more than double the Iowa average of 6.1. Recent reports include zero deficiencies for infection control inspections over the past three years.

Staffing levels present a mixed clinical picture. Registered Nurse (RN) hours are 38 minutes per resident day, which is 14% below the Iowa average of 44 minutes. Conversely, physical therapist hours are notably high at 6 minutes, 200% above the state average of 2 minutes. Clinical outcomes for short-stay residents are generally strong, with zero falls with major injury and a rehospitalization rate 15% better than the state average. The nursing staff turnover rate is 62.9%, which is higher than the state mean of 43.9%.

The campus offers a residential setting focused on recovery and short-term placement. Shared clinical and social amenities include:24-hour nursing support, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and specialized memory care wings. The facility provides respite care for families needing temporary placement and offers social programming to support long-term residents. Located in a car-dependent suburban area, the community coordinates medical transportation for its residents.

Prospective residents and their families should evaluate the current bedside care standards and staffing stability during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on the corrective actions taken following the 2025 health inspection citations and to confirm that current RN staffing levels meet the individual clinical needs of the resident.

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.

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.

Overview of Harvest Acres Nursing & Rehab

Harvest Acres Nursing & Rehab handles community clinical care through a 35-bed medical layout at 204 North Keokuk Washington Road in Keota, Iowa. Under the local ownership of Scott Mow, the building stabilizes its ongoing resident accounts by processing private funding streams alongside formal Medicare and state Medicaid certifications. The overall census hovers near an 80 percent occupancy baseline, with residential stay lengths averaging around 442 days to reflect a slow-paced blend of transitional physical therapy and traditional extended nursing placements.

Floor care schedules balance an average of 3 hours and 53 minutes of hands-on attention for every individual each day. Certified nursing aides provide over two hours of this direct care baseline, while registered nurses contribute 35 minutes and licensed practical nurses deliver 37 minutes to manage routine physical treatment lines and therapeutic recovery tracks.

For off-site errands, the local neighborhood maps out a walkability score of 32 out of 100, which means visiting families and staff members rely on personal vehicles to navigate standard regional trips. Prospective residents can get in touch with the main office to verify current bed layouts, look over the recovery calendar, or plan an afternoon walkthrough of the clinical therapy spaces.