Iowa assisted living facilities and personal care communities

Discover Assisted Living Centers in Iowa

Under Iowa law, assisted living is defined as a housing structure with a resident population of 3 or more adults and staff to provide but are not limited to the following services: 24-hour supervision, health-related care, personal care with daily living, meals, room and board in a homelike environment. Other names for these assisted living programs providing personal care are "elder group homes" and "residential care facilities".

Currently, there are 223 assisted living communities operating in Iowa.

Assisted Living Communities in Iowa – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Des Moines	$2,800	$4,000	$3,612
Cedar Rapids	$2,500	$4,000	$3,687
Iowa City	$2,500	$4,000	$3,500
Davenport	$2,800	$4,000	$3,595

The average cost of assisted living in Iowa is $3,500 per month. Compared to the national median, Iowa’s average cost for senior care homes falls directly below the national average cost of $3,600 for long-term care. Within the state of Iowa, major metropolis areas follow the same trend as the statewide average cost with little variation of average costs between areas.

For more information about assisted living costs in Iowa, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in Iowa

Nestled in the mid-west of the United States, Iowa offers a multitude of spectacular outdoor activities, unlike any other state. Pikes Peak State Park offers walking trails to vantage points with breath taking views from the bluff, 500 feet above the intersection of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. The park includes a boardwalk to visit underneath Bridal Veil Falls.

For those partial to the water, Okoboji is a large recreation area with a massive lake perfect for all types of water-related activities such as boating, fishing, parasailing and the like! Okoboji also offers miles of walking trails and beautiful picnic areas. The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium may not allow you in the water but the museum and aquarium will let you observe and learn about the natural wildlife call the largest and most notable river in America home!

For those looking for inspiration, Iowa offers many eye-opening attractions. Most notable is the Iowa State Capital for its unique large domes made from 23-karat gold, which can be seen from anywhere in Des Moines. Deep in the rock formations of Iowa, you will find the Grotto of Redemption compiled of 9 hand-carved grottos complete with different life events of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ. Between the cornfields of Iowa, you will find the impeccably well-kept Field of Dreams location from the iconic 1989 movie. For those looking for more than rows of corn stalks, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center allows tours of exotic and tropical plant life from around the world.

Iowa’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

A largely rural state with friendly Midwesterners, Iowa was built on the backbone of agriculture. Even though there are a couple bigger cities like Des Moines or Cedar Rapids, the state is mottled with small rural towns and rolling farmland. People in this state love spending their time outdoors.

In the heartland of America, Iowa experiences all four distinct seasons like most of the continental U.S. January brings the coldest days in winter with temperatures below freezing in the 10-20 degree Fahrenheit range. The average snowfall accumulates to 30 inches per year. During the summer, July sees the hottest days with temperatures climbing to the high 80-degree Fahrenheit range. The state records about 50 thunderstorms annual, and approximately 34 inches of precipitation fall upon the state annually.

Iowa’s Assisted Living Homes Regulations & Laws

Assisted living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. Regulations and oversight on Iowa’s assisted living facilities falls under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Health Facilities Division. The complete legal document outlining the regulations of assisted senior homes can be viewed online. Records concerning violations, inspections, citations and the other like public records on individual assisted senior homes in Iowa can be obtained via the Department of Inspections and Appeals, Health Facilities Division website.

Crime & Safety in Iowa

When looking for a new place to live, it is always important to consider the safety of the community you are in. Iowa has crime rates lower than the national average so finding a safe community should not be an issue. If you are not sure where to start your search, look at some the safest communities in Iowa:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Bloomfield	0.00	2.25
Grundy Center	0.36	3.31
Marendo	1.57	3.94

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for Iowa Assisted Living Communities

Iowa Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver

For those looking for financial assistance, Iowa Medicaid offers the Iowa Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver for elderly who are eligible for nursing care. Although it does not explicitly state support for assisted living services, the waiver allows the individual to continue care services in a personal care home or in an assisted living community. To find out if you are eligible for this Medicaid option, please visit the official site for the waiver program.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Centers in Iowa

While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. To obtain a complete list of resident rights guaranteed under Iowa law, please visit the site for the Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman office.

Iowa Assisted Living Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

Iowa assisted living homes are required to provide any type of heath services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be readily accessible upon request and should be kept for a period no less than 5 years from death or discharge date.

Residents in Iowa assisted living centers have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information at a cost not to exceed the community standard cost for photocopies.