We arrange tours, appointments, and even moving support so you don’t have to
2
Ranked on Data, Not Dollars
We rank communities on objective measures like inspection records, quality scores, and care data, so you can find trusted options without the guesswork.
3
Personalized Guidance
From lifestyle matching to help with insurance and financial assistance, we make sure the community is the right fit
Explore Open Rooms
1Contact details
2What type of senior care service are you looking for?
3What budget do you have in mind for senior care?
4How soon do you need to find care?
5Additional details
Thank you for your interest!
A member of our team will be in touch by phone or email shortly to help with next steps.
Why trust this guide?
Our editorial team analyzed 253 nursing homes in IA using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in IA
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-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our 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 TableAL (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.
RC (Respite Care):
Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
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.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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.
$3.9M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$2.7M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
68.5%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other IA nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 253 on this page. See how we rank facilities
Welcome to Westwood Specialty Care, an 85-bed skilled nursing facility offering rehabilitation services, skilled nursing care, long-term care, and hospice care. As a part of Care Initiatives, Iowa’s largest not-for-profit skilled nursing and long-term care provider, Westwood Specialty Care is deeply committed to delivering exceptional care to its residents. Dedicated to providing dignified and customized care for diverse needs, Westwood Specialty Care extends its care to the well-being of families as well. At Westwood Specialty Care, they welcome Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and are proud to be a contracted provider for the Veterans Affairs Community Nursing Home Program, ensuring that a wide range of seniors can access their compassionate transitional health care services. Their dedication to compassion and excellence has been acknowledged by the American Health Care Association with the 2018 Bronze Award, showcasing their commitment to outstanding care. Experience the warmth and care at Westwood Specialty Care, where they strive to meet the unique needs of every individual they serve.
Emmetsburg Care Center in Emmetsburg, Iowa, accommodates residents needing assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, hospice care, and respite options. Assisted living assists with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication administration while preserving apartment-style living. Memory care units utilize secured environments for individuals prone to wandering, whereas short-term respite stays support primary caregivers requiring temporary time away. Hospice programs focus on comfort for those managing life-limiting conditions.
Operating as a 46-bed facility, the location incorporates dedicated physical rehabilitation programs alongside a specialized Rehab to Home initiative designed to prepare individuals for returning home. Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 8 minutes per resident on a daily basis. The campus holds a walk score of 63, situating it near neighborhood areas where select errands can be handled on foot. Accepted payment methods encompass Medicare, Medicaid, and direct private payment.
Individuals exploring long-term residency or rehabilitation services can contact Emmetsburg Care Center directly to discuss current room openings, schedule a walk-through, or learn about admission requirements.
Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden, Iowa, provides long-term nursing home care, assisted living support, memory care, and skilled nursing services. Assistance with daily tasks helps residents maintain independence, while memory care programs utilize secured environments to safeguard individuals experiencing memory loss. In-house therapy gym services allow residents to complete physical rehabilitation programs on site.
The facility maintains 64 beds and logs an average of 3 hours and 47 minutes of daily nursing care per resident. Financial accommodations cover Medicare for short-term rehabilitation, Medicaid for extended stays, and direct private payment. Located in an area with a 49 walk score, the setting relies primarily on vehicular transport for off-site errands.
Prospective families evaluating local care environments can contact Hillcrest Health Care Center to inquire about room availability, review financial guidelines, or plan a tour of the community.
Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation provides nursing home and skilled nursing care in Fort Dodge, IA. Skilled nursing means licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock, while the nursing home provides long term care. The community may be a good fit for a resident who needs either short term rehabilitation or long term care in a skilled nursing setting.
There are 65 beds. In house therapy and rehabilitation services allow residents to receive therapy at the facility rather than leaving for those services. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, and total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 18 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nurse staffing time available for each resident.
Six care types are at one address at Prestige Care Center of Fairfield in Fairfield, IA. The community has memory care, hospice care, palliative care, respite care, skilled nursing, and nursing home care. Skilled nursing and nursing home care keep a licensed nurse present at every hour. Memory care adds a layer of security and supervision for somebody whose dementia has made wandering a risk to their own health and safety.
Hospice care is comfort care at the end of life. Palliative care handles the symptoms of a serious illness while treatment carries on. Respite is booked for a set stretch while the usual caregiver travels or recovers.
That range of care types suits a family after nursing support, memory care, or a short caregiving break. The building holds 73 beds. Nursing per resident runs 3 hours and 32 minutes across a day.
Medicare, private pay, and Medicaid are the payment routes available, and private money covers what neither of the other two programs reaches. The title of administrator belongs to Talisa Jacobs.
A Walk Score of 87 is high, and so somebody who no longer drives can still get around the area on foot.
West Bend Health and Rehabilitation provides nursing home, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in West Bend, IA. Assisted living helps residents with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while they keep their own living space. Memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, so a resident whose needs grow may be able to receive a higher level of care without changing communities.
The community has 130 beds, placing it in the mid sized range without indicating a particular level of personal interaction or programming. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 13 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident. An on staff doctor and staffing around the clock provide medical and staff coverage throughout the day and night. In house therapy lets a resident receive rehabilitation without arranging transportation to an outside location, and the Stay Active program is available as a named community program.
Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several ways to cover eligible care or services. A Walk Score of 41 places the area in a car dependent setting, so most errands require a car or a ride. Someone who no longer drives would generally need transportation for errands outside the community.
Stone Cottage Care Center is based in Sigourney, IA, with hospice care, assisted living, skilled nursing, respite care, and nursing home care under the license. Assisted living is the step below, covering dressing, bathing, and managing medications. Skilled nursing is the licensed cover on site, and both levels share the same night.
End-of-life care is what hospice covers here. Respite care answers a usual caregiver’s need for temporary relief.
Rehabilitation services and short-term rehabilitation both appear, so recovery work can happen during a stay meant to end. With 41 beds, the building is small enough that knowing everybody is the default. Changing needs over time fit here, and so does a family after something short.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. A resident’s day draws 3 hours and 59 minutes of nursing. A Walk Score of 45 lands in the car-dependent band despite falling near the middle of the scale, and getting to most errands takes a driver.
Harvest Acres Nursing & Rehab is a 35-bed nursing home in Keota, Iowa, offering skilled nursing, memory care, hospice care, and respite care. The community can accommodate those living with memory-related conditions, as well as short-term stays, through hospice and respite care. Residents also have access to nursing services with licensed nurses on-site.
Additionally, short-term rehabilitation is available for residents who need temporary recovery support and therapy. Occupancy is at 82%, with an average length of stay of 442 days. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 41 minutes per resident each day, reflecting the daily nursing time assigned per resident.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are also accepted, giving families public program and self-pay payment routes. Meanwhile, a Walk Score of 32 out of 100 places the area in a car-dependent setting, so residents who do not drive will generally need a car or transportation services for most errands.
Sunny Hill Care Center operates a 57-bed nursing facility in Tama, Iowa, offering skilled nursing, respite stays, hospice support, rehabilitation therapy, and outpatient care. Inpatient rehabilitation targets functional recovery after illness or injury, while outpatient programs deliver therapy services to individuals residing in the broader community. Short-term respite stays accommodate family caregivers needing temporary relief.
Facility operations run under administrator Megan Thiessen. Staffing records indicate an average of 3 hours and 50 minutes of daily nurse coverage per resident. Accepted payment sources include Medicare for qualified post-hospital rehabilitation, Medicaid for extended stays, and direct private payment.
Interested representatives can contact Sunny Hill Care Center to confirm room availability, tour the grounds, or evaluate insurance coverage and private payment options.
In Tabor, IA, Tabor Manor Care Center is set up for nursing home care, hospice care, respite care and skilled nursing. Stays under those four headings run to very different lengths, and the licensed nursing clock is what does not change across them. Hospice care here is aimed at the person rather than the illness, and respite care covers the weeks a family caregiver spends away or getting better.
At 46 beds, the population is small enough that recognition is ordinary rather than remarkable, which is the appeal for a resident who would rather not be a stranger. Rehabilitation services are available to anyone whose stay includes recovery work.
Most stays start on one payer and finish on another. Medicare picks up the weeks of skilled care that a hospital discharge sets off. Medicaid enters once a long stay has outlasted a family’s savings, and private pay runs the whole length if it has to.
Nursing reaches each resident for 4 hours and 12 minutes daily. Mitchell Worcester is the administrator.
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.
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
Avg Overall CMS Rating:3.1/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Iowa. 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:3.5/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Iowa. 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:2.9/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Iowa. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Iowa
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 253 nursing homes in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in Iowa?
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 Iowa, 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 Iowa?
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.
If you move into a community through us, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never changes your cost or which options we recommend. Learn more
Need Help?
Let us help you or a loved one find the perfect senior home.
