Page 9 of Best Nursing Homes in Iowa

Other senior care options in Iowa:
Overview of Norwalk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Norwalk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center keeps three care types on its list in Norwalk, IA, nursing home care, skilled nursing, and respite care. Licensed nurses on site 24/7 is a named program here, not just implied. A caregiver taking time away still has to leave the person somewhere with nurses in it, which is what respite care names. Together they answer ongoing nursing support and temporary family cover.

Forty-five beds keep the building small, with closer staff-resident contact. Restorative rehabilitation and rehabilitation services give structure to recovery work or to holding onto function. A doctor on staff and physician visits are both named, so a medical question is handled inside the nursing setting.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are the options, and the three are three answers to how long. Medicare covers the skilled weeks after a hospital discharge, Medicaid a longer stay when savings will not stretch, and private pay however long a family decides. Andrew Harris has the administrator’s post.

Contact Norwalk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Centerville Specialty Care

1208 East Cross Street, Centerville, IA 52544-3599
Overview of Centerville Specialty Care

Centerville Specialty Care provides nursing home and skilled nursing care in Centerville, IA. Skilled nursing gives residents access to licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while long term care supports people who need ongoing assistance and nursing oversight. Rehabilitation Services are available for residents who need rehabilitation as part of their care, including someone recovering from an illness, injury, or procedure.

The community has 46 beds. That places it among smaller communities where staff and residents can get to know each other. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 1 minute per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several listed ways to cover care. Jason Van Der Veer serves as the administrator.

Contact Centerville Specialty Care

Overview of Friendship Haven

Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, IA, is a non-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that offers independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. With a nurturing, home-like environment, the community ensures older adults can live comfortably during their stay. Light housekeeping, nutritious meals, and medication management are among the excellent services provided to improve residents’ living experiences. Residents also receive the utmost attention and care to recover and return to their routines with ease through personalized care plans.

Strength exercises, social events, and various recreational activities ensure residents can make friends and have fun. Safe trails, accessible common areas, and a garden also provide residents with more opportunities for recreation and wellness. Located near the Fort Museum and Frontier Village and bus stops along Kenyon Road, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. This CCRC has a wide range of care options and a clean setting, making it a great choice for senior living in Iowa.

Contact Friendship Haven

Overview of The Views of Marion

Sixty beds, all private rooms, spread across a two-story building in Marion, Iowa: that’s the physical shape of The Views of Marion. The community covers nursing home, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care, which means it’s built to hold residents across a wider range of needs than a single-care-type building would. Seven years in, it’s past the startup phase.

A Walk Score of 37 puts it in “somewhat walkable” territory, so most errands or outings mean a car ride rather than a short walk. Inside, though, safety features carry some of that weight back: personal emergency response systems and panic buttons give residents a way to call for help fast, and common areas mix indoor and outdoor space so there’s somewhere to go besides a private room.

Registered nurses, licensed nurses, and nurse aides each contribute to daily care, with nurse aides providing roughly two and a half hours of hands-on time per resident every day. That’s the category most families notice first, since it’s the most direct, hands-on part of care.

Right now, 29 of the 60 beds are filled, a 48% occupancy rate, and the average resident stays about six months. Medicare and private pay are both accepted. Dallas Urbain administers the community. State inspections, run by Iowa’s Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, have tended to center on medication management, staffing credentials, and how care gets documented.

Put together, The Views of Marion can be described as a nursing home built for a broad range of residents, from those needing intensive daily support to those in a shorter recovery stay, with staffing and safety infrastructure sized to match.

Contact The Views of Marion

Vista Woods Care Center

Three Pennsylvania Place, Ottumwa, IA 52501-2165
Overview of Vista Woods Care Center

Vista Woods Care Center provides skilled nursing and long term nursing care in Ottumwa, IA. Around the clock nursing care gives residents access to nursing support throughout the day and night, while skilled therapy services support rehabilitation needs within the community. Long term nursing care can suit someone who needs ongoing nursing oversight rather than a short rehabilitation stay.

The community has 60 beds. Vista Woods Care Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, giving families payment routes for covered care or private payment. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 25 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nursing time allocated to each resident. Ronald Stursma serves as the administrator, and Vista Woods Care Center may be a good fit for a resident who needs continuous nursing care along with skilled therapy services.

Contact Vista Woods Care Center

Overview of Accura HealthCare of Ames

Offering skilled nursing services, Accura HealthCare of Ames is a nursing home in Ames, Iowa, that has been operating for 26 years. Administered by Eric Olson, the community also offers skilled nursing services as well as hospice, palliative, and respite care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are also accepted.

With a 75-bed capacity, the community has an occupancy rate of 89% and an average stay of 131 days. It also supports both short-term and long-term residents, providing recovery-focused care as well as ongoing nursing needs. Rehabilitation services and respite care are also available.

Approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes of direct care is provided per resident each day. This total includes care provided by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. This also provides a useful measure of the hands-on assistance available throughout the community.

Areas of concern identified through state inspections include recordkeeping, medication administration, food storage, and sanitation practices. However, corrective measures have also been implemented to address these concerns.

Located in a moderately walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 59, the community requires transportation to access most local amenities, though some errands can be reached on foot. Combining a long-standing presence, a consistently occupied setting, and multiple payment options, Accura HealthCare of Ames can be a good consideration for families exploring care options.

Contact Accura HealthCare of Ames

Overview of Oelwein Health Care Center

Oelwein Health Care Center in Oelwein, Iowa, provides 24-hour skilled nursing, memory care, hospice services, and short-term respite stays. Secured memory care accommodations feature continuous monitoring for individuals prone to wandering, while respite stays give family caregivers temporary time away. Patients recovering from physical or joint issues can access dedicated orthopedic treatments and rehabilitation therapies on site.

Director Craig A. oversees the 61-bed facility. Clinical records log 3 hours and 47 minutes of direct daily nursing care per resident. The property features open dining, an outdoor walking trail, and a 77 walk score that gives mobile residents quick foot access to local stores, pharmacies, and coffee shops. Payment structures accommodate Medicare, Medicaid, and private funds.

Individuals looking for comprehensive nursing care, memory support, or short-term relief can contact Oelwein Health Care Center to ask about room openings, review financial plans, or schedule a tour.

Contact Oelwein Health Care Center

Overview of Valley View Village

Valley View Village 2571 is a high-standard nursing home in Des Moines, IA, that offers a wide range of care options, from independent living to rehabilitation. Promoting a welcoming environment, the community strives to maintain connections for older adults’ happiness and wellness. Delicious dining, recreational activities, and pet-friendly spaces are among the community’s unique features that make it an ideal retirement destination. With its dedication to residents’ welfare, personalized care plans are crafted to meet their healthcare needs and lifestyle preferences.

Hobby groups, fun excursions, and spiritual activities are just some of the activities that residents can join for leisure and wellness. The community also features a variety of amenities, including a library, well-maintained gardens, and walking paths, dedicated to enriching residents’ living experiences. As a community of its own, Valley View Village has all the local amenities needed for residents’ needs and leisure. This retirement community is one of Iowa’s finest choices for senior living, especially for its wide range of care options and extensive amenities.

Contact Valley View Village

Overview of Community Memorial Health Center

Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa, combines assisted living, memory care, nursing home services, and skilled nursing within a single campus. Assisted living residents receive help with personal routines like bathing, dressing, and managing medication while maintaining private apartments. Dedicated memory care units feature secured environments for individuals prone to wandering, and on-site rehabilitation offers therapy services during recovery stays.

This 62-bed facility operates under administrator Steven Ziller. Daily care records show a total nurse staffing average of 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident. Setting a car-dependent standard, the local neighborhood holds a 43 walk score, meaning trips off campus typically call for arranged transportation. Financial options accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private payment methods.

Interested families can connect with Community Memorial Health Center to check unit availability, tour the grounds, and determine specific service plans.

Contact Community Memorial Health Center

Overview of Sunrise Hill Care Center

Sunrise Hill Care Center is a nursing home in Traer, IA offering nursing care, assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Nursing care supports residents who require ongoing nursing attention, while assisted living provides help with daily tasks. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, and memory care provides a secured setting with supervision.

The combination of care types may be a good fit for a resident whose needs grow over time without requiring a move to another community. Sunrise Hill Care Center has 76 beds. Care and Rehab is a named program, and rehabilitation services are available for residents who need therapy as part of their care.

Total nurse staffing is 4h 14m per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nurse staffing time allocated to each resident. The community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Daniel Larmore serves as administrator.

A Walk Score of 45 places the area in a car dependent setting, meaning most errands require a car or a ride. A resident who no longer drives would need one of those options for errands.

Contact Sunrise Hill Care Center

Rankings on this page follow the same method as page 1: see how we rank these nursing homes.

Nursing Homes in Iowa at a glance

Avg Overall CMS Rating: 3.3/ 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: 3.8/ 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.
National Average: 3.0/ 5