We arrange tours, appointments, and even moving support so you don’t have to
The Overall CMS Rating is scored from 1 to 5 stars and combines results from health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
The Overall CMS Rating is scored from 1 to 5 stars and combines results from health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Green Hills Retirement Community offers a vibrant lifestyle designed to support those in their golden years. This sprawling 33-acre property, nestled near Iowa State University, provides an exquisite living experience for individuals aged 55 and above. The community boasts beautifully appointed living spaces, ranging from apartments to townhomes, ensuring residents have a variety of comfortable options to choose from.Beyond the luxurious accommodations, Green Hills offers a plethora of wellness opportunities, engaging activities, and delightful restaurant-style dining experiences, creating a fulfilling environment for its residents.
They provide specialized memory care services, catering to individuals with dementia, alongside independent living options. The community is characterized by a compassionate atmosphere, where residents can enjoy their lives to the fullest. Moreover, Green Hills features a Medicare five-star rated health care center, offering both short-term and long-term services, including comprehensive rehabilitation programs. With all these amenities and services under one roof, Green Hills Retirement Community truly becomes a premier choice for residential assisted living.
The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.
Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.
This home is ranked 10th out of 241 homes in Iowa. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
| Staff type | Hours / Day / Resident | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Weekend Total Nursing
Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.
| 4h 17m per day | ▲ 28% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 25m per day |
Similar to the Iowa average: 75.4%Green Hills Retirement Community is administrated by Rachel Ferguson.
Key information about the people who lead and staff this community.
In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing conducts unannounced health and safety surveys to monitor compliance and protect residents in long-term care settings.
This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Iowa state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.
Deficiencies
| This Facility | IA Average | vs. IA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total deficiencies
Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.
| 8 | 27 | This facility has 70% fewer total deficiencies than a typical Iowa nursing home (8 vs. IA avg 27).↓ 70% better |
|
Deficiencies per year
Average deficiencies per year since 2020.
| 1.3 | 4.5 | This facility has 71% fewer deficiencies per year than a typical Iowa nursing home (1.3 vs. IA avg 4.5).↓ 71% better |
|
Deficiencies per inspection
Average deficiencies per inspection.
| 0.7 | 1.8 | This facility has 61% fewer deficiencies per inspection than a typical Iowa nursing home (0.7 vs. IA avg 1.8).↓ 61% better |
Inspections
| This Facility | IA Average | vs. IA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total inspections
Combined count of all routine and focused inspections. Excludes complaint investigations.
| 11 | 15 | This facility has 27% fewer total inspections than a typical Iowa nursing home (11 vs. IA avg 15).↓ 27% better |
An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.
The most recent inspection on November 19, 2025, found the facility in substantial compliance with no deficiencies cited. Earlier inspections showed a mixed record, including a November 21, 2024 survey that identified deficiencies related to resident dignity during dining, care planning, medication errors resulting in hospitalization, and food handling practices. Complaint investigations were generally unsubstantiated, with the exception of the 2024 incident that led to the cited deficiencies; no fines or enforcement actions were listed in the available reports. Prior complaints were mostly unsubstantiated, and the facility has addressed some issues through performance improvement projects and updated policies. The overall trend suggests improvement since the 2024 deficiencies, with the most recent inspection showing compliance.
Read the full inspection reports for this facility, including detailed findings and corrective actions.
Show Inspection ReportsIowa average 4.9
Last Health inspection on Nov 2024
Iowa average 21.7
Iowa average 4.11
Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.
7 of 8 citations resulted from standard inspections; and 1 of 8 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).
100% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 0.6
100% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 0.9
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.
18% better than Iowa average
0% compared with Iowa average
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Manages medical care and health needs.
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
9.7 hoursNo contractors work on this role.
Assists with medical care and medications.
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
10.9 hoursNo contractors work on this role.
Helps with daily care and mobility.
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
6.8 hoursNo contractors work on this role.
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Total hours from contractors
925 contractor hours this quarter
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 57 | 0 | 57 | 11,996 | 92 | 100% | 6.8 |
| Registered Nurse | 11 | 0 | 11 | 3,657 | 92 | 100% | 9.7 |
| Medication Aide/Technician | 15 | 0 | 15 | 2,074 | 92 | 100% | 8.4 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1,127 | 64 | 70% | 6.8 |
| Administrator | 1 | 0 | 1 | 495 | 66 | 72% | 7.5 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 480 | 64 | 70% | 7.5 |
| Dental Services Staff | 1 | 0 | 1 | 457 | 58 | 63% | 7.9 |
| Speech Language Pathologist | 0 | 4 | 4 | 344 | 63 | 68% | 4.9 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 0 | 2 | 2 | 300 | 55 | 60% | 5.5 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 2 | 0 | 2 | 250 | 23 | 25% | 10.9 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician | 0 | 3 | 3 | 167 | 58 | 63% | 2.7 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | 1 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 15 | 16% | 5.7 |
| Occupational Therapist | 1 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 20 | 22% | 4.2 |
| Qualified Social Worker | 0 | 1 | 1 | 61 | 41 | 45% | 1.5 |
| Physical Therapy Aide | 0 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 7 | 8% | 4.9 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 3% | 6.3 |
Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.
Source: CMS Penalties Database
No penalties in the past 3 years
No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline.
13.6
33% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 10.2
A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence.
28.9
34% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 21.6
Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
25.2%
34% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 18.8%
Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened
27.4%
39% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 19.7%
Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
33.9%
29% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 26.2%
Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
5.1%
41% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 3.6%
Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers
4.3%
In line with Iowa averageIowa average: 4.4%
Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
3.2%
30% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 2.5%
Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
5.9%
19% worse than Iowa averageIowa average: 5.0%
Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms
0.0%
100% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 3.9%
Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
0.6%
97% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 19.0%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
6% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 94.4%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
100.0%
5% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 95.3%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
18% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 85.1%
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
0.9%
50% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 1.8%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
97.9%
33% better than Iowa averageIowa average: 73.3%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
47% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
53% of new residents, often for short stays.
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)
Total residents
44Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
Part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community offering multiple care levels
Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.
Data sourced from CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics quarterly report. Payer mix reflects the current resident census by primary payment source.
Historical financial and operational data for Green Hills Retirement Community based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.
The portion of the home's budget spent on staff, including nurses, caregivers, and other employees who support care and operations.
Rank #56 / 242Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 56th out of 242 homes in Iowa. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the Iowa average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
All remaining costs needed to run the home, such as food, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and administrative expenses.
Minimum Age: 55 Years Old
Pets Allowed
Room Sizes: 536 / 644 / 816 / 1,050 - 1,489 sq. ft
Housing Options: 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: Mid-rise
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
This home supports both short-term rehab and long-term care, with residents staying for a wide range of durations.
Erica H. serves as the Administrator at Green Hills Retirement Community, providing dedicated leadership to ensure a warm and supportive environment for residents. She works closely with the medical and nursing teams to uphold the community's commitment to quality care and resident well-being.
3.1 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Ames's city center to Green Hills Retirement Community's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 2.73 miles to nearest hospital (Mary Greeley Medical Center)
Add your location
Green Hills Retirement Community is located in Ames, Iowa.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Iowa.
The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
| Northridge Village |
NH Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence. | Ames | 68 | 63.2% | -16% | 4.57 | -56% | +6% | $0 | 16 | 4.0 | 3 | 37 | A | 5 | Kayla Zellmer | $12.4M | $5.2M | 41.6% | 165613 | ||||
| Green Hills Retirement Community |
NH Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
IL Independent Living Lifestyle-focused communities for older adults offering dining, activities, and transportation with minimal personal care. Best for active, independent seniors who want community without medical support.
MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Ames (Hamilton Drive) | 56 | 78.6% | +4% | 5.86 | -11% | +36% | $0 | 8 | 4.0 | - | 44 | - | 18 | Green Hills Residents' Association | $8.6M | $5.4M | 62.6% | 165577 |
Green Hills Retirement Community is in the Hamilton Drive neighborhood of Ames.
Green Hills Retirement Community has a walk score of 18. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.
According to IA state health department records, Green Hills Retirement Community's license number is 850536.
According to IA state health department records, Green Hills Retirement Community's license expires on July 1, 2026.
Green Hills Retirement Community's occupancy is 79%.
The team at Green Hills Retirement Community can be reached at [email protected].
Rachel Ferguson is the administrator of Green Hills Retirement Community.
Care Cost Calculator: See Prices in Your Area
Nursing Home Data Explorer
Don’t Wait Too Long: 7 Red Flag Signs Your Parent Needs Assisted Living Now
The True Cost of Assisted Living in 2025 – And How Families Are Paying For It
Understanding Senior Living Costs: Pricing Models, Discounts & Financial Assistance
Thank you for your interest!
Our team will be in touch shortly to help with next steps.
