Best Nursing Homes in Iowa

Find all the care you need with the astounding senior living community of Rotary Senior Living in Eagle Grove, IA, which offers an array of care options including assisted living, independent living, memory care, long-term care, and rehabilitation. With its dedication to delivering the highest quality of care and support, the community provides a team of licensed and well-trained professionals helping seniors with their needs 24/7. Families can also rest easy with the knowledge that their loved ones are well-cared for.

The community fosters a vibrant and welcoming environment, ensuring residents have the freedom to live as they please. Healthy and delicious meals await residents every mealtime for a delightful dining experience. Rotary Senior Living is great for seniors looking to enjoy their golden years in one place.

Overview of The Bridges at Ankeny

The Bridges at Ankeny is an assisted living with memory care community located northwest of the city. And because it sits just outside of bustling towns, the residents enjoy a feel of country living while still having the convenience of easy travel to local shops and restaurants, for outside activities. This senior community offers top care for its residents by providing 24 hour care service from licensed and professional nursing staff, social services, chef planned meals, pharmacy services, and memory care services among other things. The Bridges at Ankeny offers a lot of amenities, too. Aside from living in private or semi-private rooms which are also available for short term stays, residents get to enjoy different indoor and outdoor common areas for socializing or doing other fun activities with the other residents.

In terms of assisted living costs, The Bridges of Ankeny accepts both Medicare and Medicaid health plans. They also offer bespoke care plans to ensure that each resident’s needs are met, and their lifestyle choices achieved. This senior living community also gives importance to the role of the residents’ family in ensuring that their loved ones are not only empowered to live their remaining years to the fullest, but also kept healthy in both body and mind.

Overview of Northridge Village

Northridge Village is a 68-bed continuing care community at 3300 George Washington Carver Avenue in Ames, Iowa. Managed by Pivotal Healthcare and led by Executive Director Kayla Zellmer, the facility offers a spectrum of care from independent living to a 38-bed skilled nursing unit. Current occupancy for the nursing component is reported at 63%, while the broader campus provides specialized memory care at “Maggie’s Place”. The property is conveniently located in Story County near local medical facilities and retail centers.

Oversight records from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing indicate a history of severe regulatory findings and resident harm. While the nursing unit achieved a citations-per-inspection rate of zero in January 2026, contributing to a high overall CMS rating, the facility has faced over $80,000 in fines for past failures. These violations include three resident deaths between 2021 and 2024 attributed to unaddressed infections, improper transfer protocols, and deactivated safety equipment. In February 2024, the community was fined $6,000 after a resident died following a fall where her emergency pendant had been mistakenly disabled.

Bedside care is currently managed by a staff that provides 4 hours and 27 minutes of nursing time per resident daily, a figure that exceeds the Iowa average. Despite this statistical strength, state investigators previously documented insufficient nursing coverage, noting instances where call-light responses were delayed by up to 34 minutes. Professional services include both long-term medical support and short-term rehabilitation, though past 2-star health inspection ratings suggest foundational gaps in care planning and infection control. Management has historically contested these findings, asserting that evidence of compliance was often overlooked during surveys.

The communal environment features a wellness center, spa, and fitness programs designed for diverse activity levels. Shared social features include on-site church services, card clubs, and movie nights intended to foster resident engagement. However, internal professional reviews from 2026 highlight ongoing concerns regarding management stability and periods of high staff turnover. The facility remains pet-friendly and continues to offer scheduled transportation for off-site appointments and community trips.

This campus fits seniors who want a full range of care levels and many on-site activities. Before deciding, families should ask about the fix for the 2024 emergency equipment failure and request recent records of how fast staff respond to call lights.

Overview of St Francis Manor

Located in a highly walkable neighborhood, St Francis Manor is a skilled nursing home with a strong focus on rehabilitation services. The 78-bed facility has been serving the community for 49 years. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay give families several options for arranging care.

Rehabilitation is a central part of the facility’s care model. St Francis Manor operates an on-site Rehabilitation Clinic and provides hospital-to-home skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Residents recovering from surgery, illness, and other acute health events can transition directly into structured care within the community. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy support a wide range of rehabilitation needs. Residents who require ongoing support are provided with long-term nursing care and restorative services.

Daily nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 19 minutes per resident. Registered nurses provide approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of care each day. They are supported by nurse aides and licensed nurses. This level of staffing provides consistent clinical oversight and hands-on assistance throughout the day.

Wellness and activity are important parts of residents’ daily lives. There’s an on-site S.H.A.P.E. Fitness program, along with a walking track, exercise equipment, and fitness classes for residents who want to maintain strength and mobility. St Francis Manor also has a home healthcare service, so residents can continue receiving care in a setting they are familiar with.

The facility currently has 54 residents living in 78 beds, resulting in an occupancy rate of 69%. State inspections show that the facility has been working to maintain compliance. The most recent review found no health deficiencies. Families considering St Francis Manor should take a tour and explore the therapy areas, fitness amenities, and daily care environment.

Overview of Prairie Gate

Prairie Gate is a 36-bed nursing home, independent living, and memory care community in Council Bluffs, Iowa, offering independent living, memory care, enriched living, long-term care, and transitional care. The facility opened in September 2020 and is operated by Benjamin Eddy under nonprofit ownership. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Since opening, Prairie Gate has undergone 19 inspections and recorded 36 deficiencies — roughly 33% above the Iowa average of 27 — with no federal fines or license actions in that period. Two complaint investigations in 2025 were substantiated, both involving allegations of physical abuse or rough handling of residents, and a third substantiated a failure to report suspected abuse within required timeframes. Earlier inspections cited recurring deficiencies in accident prevention, dignity of care, infection control, and food safety. The facility has accepted multiple plans of correction, and the most recent annual survey in July 2025 cited two deficiencies — a resident fall during a wheelchair transfer and an infection-control lapse.

On staffing, registered nurse hours average 1 hour and 1 minute per resident per day, about 39% above the Iowa average, and certified nursing aide hours are similarly elevated at 3 hours and 18 minutes per resident per day. That staffing investment stands alongside some weak short-stay outcome measures: the rate of falls causing major injury among short-stay residents is 6.1%, compared with an Iowa average of 0.8%, and only 34.6% of residents met expected self-care ability at discharge, compared with a state benchmark of 53.7%.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 94% — well above Iowa’s 75% average — with 34 of 36 beds filled, reflecting strong local demand for the facility’s capacity. The payer mix is Medicare-dominant, accounting for 84% of new admissions, with an average stay of 5 days.

Prairie Gate’s care model and payer structure are best suited for residents seeking short-term post-acute rehabilitation stays in the Council Bluffs area, with care types also available for memory care and independent living residents. However, families should review the facility’s findings on abuse-related complaints and short-stay measures before making a placement decision.

Overview of Newaldaya Lifescapes

Located in the heart of Cedar Falls, IA, Newaldaya Lifescapes offers a vibrant and welcoming community for seniors. This community features a range of care options, including extended care, memory care, skilled nursing, and recreational therapy. Residents can choose from more than 15 unique floor plans in pet-friendly neighborhoods, designed for comfort and independence. The community’s prime location also provides easy access to Cedar Valley Bike Trails and Dry Run Creek, as well as local dining, shopping, and entertainment.

The community thrives with exceptional amenities such as the River Rock Café, New Day Salon and Spa, and a 24-hour wellness center. Residents can engage in various social and recreational activities to stay active and connected. Newaldaya Lifescapes is dedicated to enhancing lives through compassionate care, offering peace of mind in a lively, family-oriented environment.

Karen Acres Health Care Center is a rehabilitation facility and nursing home located in Urbandale, IA, just above Karen Acres Elementary School. The main services they offer are rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their long-term care residents receive 24/7 RN or LPN provided assistance, grooming and feeding assistance, medication management, as well as mobility assistance for those who need it.

This long term nursing home also provides hospice care, as well as respite care with a minimum of 7 day required stay. Karen Acres Health Care Center also offers bespoke care plans that will surely cater to the patient’s needs, in order for them to keep their cognitive and physical health at the highest level.

With a proud history dating back to 1975, Simpson Memorial Home has established itself as a trusted provider of high-quality senior care. It has been a remarkable non-profit residence situated in Wilton, Iowa, offering a diverse range of exceptional care services, including independent living, assisted living places, nursing home facilities, and a specialized dementia unit. Their unwavering commitment to providing a nurturing environment where seniors feel valued and supported sets them apart.
The home goes above and beyond to ensure that disabled adults can enjoy comfortable living, providing accessible spaces and round-the-clock emergency call capabilities. The shared spaces at Simpson Memorial Home are also tastefully decorated, fostering a warm and inviting atmosphere for socialization and relaxation. For those seeking independent living, the townhomes offer an unparalleled sense of homeliness, featuring spacious porches and convenient car garages. Additionally, the home provides essential services such as housekeeping, transportation, and delectable dining options.

Linn Manor Care Center is a 38-bed nursing home in Marion, Iowa, providing skilled nursing care, including memory care services, within Linn County. The facility is operated by Grand Haven Homes, Inc., a privately owned company, and accepts private pay.

Across inspections over the past 6 years, Linn Manor averaged 6.5 deficiencies per year — roughly 48% above the Iowa average of 4.4. The record includes a 2022 Immediate Jeopardy finding tied to resident sexual abuse, an attempted resident suicide, and inadequate staff competencies for managing residents with mental health and psychosocial needs.

A 2023 annual survey cited seven deficiencies, including failures to report and investigate alleged abuse in a timely manner and a deficient fall-prevention program. A substantiated complaint in October 2025 found the facility failed to prevent multiple falls for one resident — including a hip fracture — and failed to develop adequate care plan interventions for that resident’s PTSD-related behaviors. A follow-up visit in December 2025 found no deficiencies and confirmed that the facility was in substantial compliance. The Inspection Reports subpage carries the full record.

The facility’s staffing averages 3 hours and 39 minutes per resident per day, about 17% below the Iowa average of 4 hours 25 minutes. Long-stay quality measures score above the Iowa average. Its occupancy rate is 92%, well above the state average of 75%, indicating consistent local demand.

Linn Manor Care Center is oriented toward long-stay skilled nursing and memory care in Marion and is well-suited to residents whose care needs align with a small, privately operated nursing home setting. However, families should review the facility’s prior Immediate Jeopardy findings and resident safety history before making a placement decision.

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.