Iowa Assisted Living

Are you searching for the perfect assisted living facility in Iowa? Whether it’s your first time exploring the state or you have been enjoying your stay in The Hawkeye State for decades, it’s essential to identify the best assisted living facility for you or your aged parent. If you are searching for the best assisted living facility in Iowa, you should understand that there are a variety of factors to consider. This is not a decision to be rushed into, and if you do require immediate care, then find in-home senior care while you search for the best assisted living facility to age in place.

How to Find the Best Assisted Living Facilities in Iowa

It is certainly possible to find your ideal, assisted living facility without even realizing it. But do not make these common mistakes during your Iowa assisted living search:

• Too many options to choose from that make the entire process complicated

Iowa is home to a variety of senior housing and assisted living options for the elderly. If you are not well prepared and clear about the qualities that are most important to you, then you might become confused with the various senior living options presented to you.

• Inadequate preparation

Before you begin your search for an assisted living facility in Iowa, you must evaluate your options and make adequate preparations accordingly. Usually, you might come across an assisted living facility that meets all your needs, but the costs might be too high for your budget.  Hence, it is essential to prepare financially, to understand your budget, and to be knowledgeable about the various benefits and supplemental financial resources that may be available to you.

• Narrowed options

When it comes to assisted living options, you can unconsciously narrow your search options when you are not aware of the opportunities available. If you find yourself in such a situation, you should seek the services of an expert. Most times, the staff at the assisted living community will be ready to answer your questions.

What if you have taken these steps already, how can you identify the perfect assisted living facility in Iowa when you see one?

• How did you feel when you walked through the door of the assisted living facility?

Did you feel welcomed or comfortable when you toured the assisted living facility? Were the staff compassionate and happy with their respective jobs? Were they comfortable answering the questions you asked?

• Do they provide a wide range of amenities and residential recreational activities?

Do you feel like you would enjoy participating in their residential recreational activities and excursions?

Many assisted living facilities in Iowa offer a wide range of residential recreational activities according to the anticipated general needs of senior Iowans. If you have special needs as an elderly, you must inspect the amenities and services provided by each facility. What are the amenities that you noticed?

• What if your needs change?

You might need minimal assistance with daily living now, but what if your needs change in the future? What will the community manager and coordinators do in such cases? How will the costs change? If they do offer increased care as your needs change, it’s to your advantage.

These questions are vital to enable you to make the right choice. Ensure you are aware of all such factors, so that when you find a facility that meets all your needs, you will quickly identify it. It is also important to remember that no senior care place is perfect, but you should identify the assisted living facility where you would feel comfortable aging in place for years to come.

Cost of Assisted Living in Iowa & Available Payment Resources

The average cost on the least expensive end of an assisted living facility in Iowa is $3,847 monthly in areas such as Sioux City and Dubuque.  That’s slightly below the national average. Davenport and Cedar Rapids are among the more expensive areas for Iowa senior living. All cities rank just below the national average up to slightly more. We must of course keep in mind that these are base-rates. What this means is, when it comes time for memory care then the rate goes up. It can bring the monthly cost over and above $1,000 more. This means some careful planning must be done both for the present and the possible future to be able to afford assisted living or assisted living with memory care in Iowa.

If paying for assisted living and memory care both is an issue, you may want to get a bit creative with the resources you may already have at your disposal. If the senior that needs care is a veteran or retired public servant then there may be some organizations to benefit them there. If they have a reverse mortgage, annuities or a home they can rent out, that is another good resource to help pay for assisted living. Long-term-care insurance is also another option if you are not in your mid to late 70’s, which is generally the time when LTC insurance companies will reject new policy sign-ups. Additionally, make sure that assisted living is the right level of care needed. There are other long-term care and living options available, such as retirement homes in Iowa among others. Start making an action plan toward some of these things and see what you come up with.

The Health and Disability waiver is available for assisted living, adult day care and adult foster care costs, as well as for seniors who are at home and want to avoid or delay a nursing home stay. The age requirement is 65 plus.

Medicaid on its own without one of the waiver programs will not cover personal care services in Iowa assisted living centers. The waivers can help but they, like most states, are geared to keep the person at home and out of any type of senior living facility because it costs the state less money.

Regulations for Iowa Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living institutions are referred to as Assisted Living Programs or Dementia-Specific Assisted Living Programs in Iowa.

The governmental division that oversees the licensing of assisted living in Iowa is The Department of Inspections and Appeals in the Health Facilities Division or ALP. They are actually certified, not licensed, in this state but certification is considered legally equal to licensing.

The physical unit requirements for assisted living centers are as follows. After July 4, 2001 the single occupancy Iowa assisted living units are to be no less than 240 square feet and 190 square feet for a converted structure that is not new construction. This is not including closets, bathrooms or any non-living space. For two person assisted living units, no less than 340 square feet for new construction and 290 square feet for converted are required.

Single and double occupancy senior living units are determined by the square footage allowed for each. A single allows max 1 person and double allows max 2 people. Each unit must have a full bathroom with a full bathtub, sink and toilet.