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Assisted Living in Iowa

Overview of assisted living in Iowa

In Iowa, assisted living offers quality care and services to residents in a comfortable, homey community for an average cost of about $4,800 per month. Iowans enjoy the state’s low cost of living and fairly temperate Midwestern climate. Residents and visitors alike take advantage of Iowa’s unique attractions and activities, from the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to the world’s oldest ice cream parlor in Wilton.

Cost of assisted living in Iowa

Iowa’s average cost of assisted living is about $4,800 per month. This is slightly lower than the national average of about $5,100 per month.[01] Assisted living costs vary from community to community and tend to increase as floor plans get more spacious, amenities get more luxurious, and care levels get more advanced. That said, Iowa’s cost of assisted living ranges between about $3,000 and $6,400 per month.[01]

Assisted living costs can also vary depending on the exact location of a community. In general, you can expect to see higher assisted living costs in locations that have a higher cost of living. Overall, Iowa’s cost of living is less expensive than the national average.[02] This could explain why the state’s cost of assisted living is also slightly less expensive.

The assisted living costs above are reflective of actual prices paid by families with a senior loved one who is referred to one of A Place for Mom’s partner communities in Iowa. Our figures account for all fees paid, including care, services, and amenities. While many families use personal savings to cover these costs, most use a combination of payment methods, which are covered in the following section.

Compare costs of Iowa vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

Iowa

$4,232/mo

US National average

$4,544/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

Iowa

$4,232/mo

Wisconsin

$4,228/mo

Illinois

$5,043/mo

Missouri

$3,792/mo

Minnesota

$4,106/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in Iowa vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

Iowa

$4,232/mo

Waterloo, IA

$3,769/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in Iowa

Average monthly costs

Paying for assisted living in Iowa

There are a variety of payment methods and financial aid programs to help pay for senior care, including private pay options, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA health care benefits. You can probably expect to use a combination of these options.

“Private pay” simply means you’re paying for something with personal funds. Whether that means dipping into a savings account, selling a life insurance policy, or leveraging your home equity, there are a variety of private pay options that will help pay for assisted living in Iowa. Click on the articles below to learn about your options.

Selling a house can generate funds to help pay for assisted living in Iowa.

Reverse mortgage loans convert a portion of your home equity into cash, which can be used to pay for assisted living in Iowa.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) can cover long-term care insurance premiums and health care costs in Iowa.

Life insurance policies can be sold or surrendered to pay for assisted living in Iowa.

Long-term care insurance covers some or all assisted living services in Iowa, depending on the policy.

Social Security benefits can help pay for assisted living in Iowa.

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Iowa

18
18 Photos available

Independence Village of Pella

2602 Fifield Rd, Pella, IA 50219
9.7
Review Score
99 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Close-knit community. Very active! Variety of activities. Clean & very spacious apartments. Very homey, good care, very pretty place.

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11
11 Photos available
28
28 Floor plans available

Woodlands Creek Senior Living

12675 Woodlands Pkwy, Clive, IA 50325
9.6
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mom, my sister and I are 100% happy with our choice. Mom's care has been wonderful. I feel she has lived longer because of their facility. Honestly, the staff at Woodlands Creek are just the best. The...

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16
16 Photos available

Independence Village of Waukee

1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, Waukee, IA 50263
9.6
Review Score
126 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Carol L - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

After several hospitalizations, care was not to acceptable standards - until we experiences Independence Village. Care here is exceptional!

Get Pricing

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in West Des Moines

See top facilities
16
16 Photos available

Independence Village of Waukee

1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, Waukee, IA 50263
9.6
Review Score
126 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Carol L - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

After several hospitalizations, care was not to acceptable standards - until we experiences Independence Village. Care here is exceptional!

Get Pricing
13
13 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan Creek

525 South 60th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266
9.3
Review Score
19 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
DZ - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

It was closest to my sisters house in West, Moines, and a brother only lived a mile from it. They told me I had watched mom or taken care of mom for eight years. It was their turn and so they wanted to place...

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20
20 Photos available

Bickford of West Des Moines

5050 Hawthorne Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
8.0
Review Score
20 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Julie B - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

In the last 18 months I’ve toured many senior living options to find a place for my mom. Bickford in West Des Moines didn’t hit my radar right away and I wish it had. The staff is kind, the nurse has been...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Des Moines

See top facilities
11
11 Photos available
28
28 Floor plans available

Woodlands Creek Senior Living

12675 Woodlands Pkwy, Clive, IA 50325
9.6
Review Score
59 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mom, my sister and I are 100% happy with our choice. Mom's care has been wonderful. I feel she has lived longer because of their facility. Honestly, the staff at Woodlands Creek are just the best. The...

Get Pricing
16
16 Photos available

Independence Village of Waukee

1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, Waukee, IA 50263
9.6
Review Score
126 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Carol L - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

After several hospitalizations, care was not to acceptable standards - until we experiences Independence Village. Care here is exceptional!

Get Pricing
17
17 Photos available

Independence Village of Ankeny

1275 SW State Street, Ankeny, IA 50023
9.5
Review Score
66 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Linda H - I live or lived in this community

Strengths: flexibility of kitchen to meet nutritional needs. Caregivers helpful & willing to go the extra mile and consistent. Physical, occupational, & speech therapies on site - excellent. Excellent...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Cedar Rapids

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12
12 Photos available

Corridor Crossing Place

136 36th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
9.4
Review Score
42 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Geoff - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We picked this community because overall I liked the personal attention that they give to my loved one, and they work with her. They have been very friendly. They don't have much turnover. They been pretty...

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19
19 Photos available

The Views of Cedar Rapids

3005 F Avenue Northwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
8.9
Review Score
35 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

They know the residents by name, they all seem to take part in the care and socialization of the residents. Very friendly and personable

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10
10 Photos available

Boyson Heights Senior Living

765 Boyson Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
8.7
Review Score
14 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Brad B - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The facility is very new and clean. It's in a nice part of town close to healthcare, personal services and shopping. The staff is friendly and helpful. I would recommend Boyson Heights. Compared to other...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Iowa City

See top facilities
10
10 Photos available
22
22 Floor plans available

Legacy Pointe

1020 S Scott Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52240
9.0
Review Score
24 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
CD - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff appeared to be more attentive and several professionals who were providing home health for my husband said it was their favorite place. I would recommend it to others.

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12
12 Photos available

Corridor Crossing Place

136 36th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
9.4
Review Score
42 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Geoff - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We picked this community because overall I liked the personal attention that they give to my loved one, and they work with her. They have been very friendly. They don't have much turnover. They been pretty...

Get Pricing
12
12 Photos available

Keystone Place at Forevergreen

1275 W Forevergreen Rd, North Liberty, IA 52317
9.4
Review Score
31 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Chuck S - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Staff is engaging, friendly and experienced. Employees are treated well and therefore the facility has low employee turnover.

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Assisted living requirements and regulations in Iowa

In Iowa, for licensing purposes, assisted living communities are referred to as Assisted Living Programs. Assisted Living Programs are licensed by the Department of Inspections and Appeals, Health Facilities Division. The Department of Inspections and Appeals defines Assisted Living Programs as housing with a homelike environment that provides the following services to at least three tenants:[05]

  • Personal care
  • Health-related care
  • Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as cooking and housekeeping
  • 24-hour response staff

Assisted Living Programs in Iowa are also expected to encourage family involvement and resident participation in decisions about their dignity, privacy, and independence.

In some cases, an Assisted Living Program can be certified as a dementia care unit, as long as they meet certain requirements. The Department of Inspections and Appeals is in charge of approving a facility’s memory care program after reviewing their policies, admission and discharge criteria, safety procedures, and plans for staffing and servicing the facility.[06]

A few examples of specific requirements that assisted living communities licensed as Assisted Living Programs in Iowa must follow include the following:[05]

  • A facility’s program may provide up to four activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing and toileting, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as meal preparation and household chores.
  • Any health-related care performed by a registered or licensed nurse is limited to a part-time basis and cannot exceed 28 hours per week.
  • A facility must assess each tenant’s functional, cognitive, and health status within 30 days of occupancy. The same assessments should also be performed at least annually to evaluate changing needs and determine continued eligibility.
  • There can be only one resident per single occupancy apartment. In a double-occupancy apartment, there can be either one or two residents. Each apartment must have its own bathroom with a toilet, sink, and bathing facilities.
  • There are no staffing requirements. However, all assisted living programs must be overseen by a registered nurse, and sufficiently trained staff must be available at all times to fully meet residents’ needs.

Ease of access to assisted living records in Iowa

We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online. This information could include inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.

Access to Iowa assisted living records: High

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Iowa is high. Here are the key findings that informed this rating:

  • Iowa has generally transparent assisted living records but was marked down in our rankings because mandatory inspections occur only once every two years.
  • Iowa has slightly above-average openness and accessibility of assisted living information.

 How to look up Iowa assisted living licenses and records

  • Visit the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals’ Direct Care Worker Registry and Health Facility Database.
  • In the form “Entity Search” on the right, enter your city and county names. Be sure to select “Assisted Living Program” as the entity type.
  • Click “Search,” and scroll to find the provider you’re inquiring about. Then, click “View” on the right to view a report on any complaints filed, inspections conducted, and licensure of the facility.

How we arrived at our Iowa rating

We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

  1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
  2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
  3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
  4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
  5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? Yes
  6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? Yes
  7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? Yes or N/A
  8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? No
  9. Is capacity shown? Yes
  10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? No
  11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? Yes
  12. Can the state fine a facility? Yes
  13. What is the frequency of inspections? Every 24 months
  14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No

References

  1. A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

  2. Livingcost.org. Cost of living in Iowa.

  3. Iowa Total Care. Benefits overview.

  4. National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). (2022). Assisted living state regulatory review.

Top cities in Iowa for assisted living

8.7
Ames, IA
9 facilities
7.8
Iowa City, IA
13 facilities
7.8
Cedar Rapids, IA
29 facilities
7.6
West Des Moines, IA
37 facilities
7.3
Des Moines, IA
41 facilities
5.8
Sioux City, IA
15 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in Iowa cities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.