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107 Best Medicaid Nursing Homes in Iowa

107 of the 388 Medicare-certified nursing homes in Iowa (28%) are top-graded Medicaid-certified, and all are listed below. 107 of the 107 graded homes earn an A and 0 earn a D or F. Nurse staff turnover runs 33.8%, 10.3 points lower than the 44.1% across all homes there. Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown grades highest at A (99 out of 100).

How top-graded Medicaid-certified homes in Iowa compare

This group set against every nursing home in Iowa, from the current CMS release.

Nursing hours per resident per day

4.27

All homes in Iowa: 3.82

Better than the local average

Nurse staff turnover

33.8%

All homes in Iowa: 44.1%

Better than the local average

Average ElderGrade score

89.6/100

All homes in Iowa: 77.9/100

Better than the local average

Grade spread

A

107 grade A,

The best-graded top-graded Medicaid-certified home in Iowa is Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA, grade A, 99/100.

Every top-graded Medicaid-certified nursing home in Iowa

Showing 41 to 60 of 107, best-graded first.

A

90.5/100

Sibley Specialty Care

Sibley, IA · Osceola County

CMS 5/546 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.40 /day
Staff turnover
27%
Serious cites
0

Sibley Specialty Care runs 46 beds as a nonprofit, and the numbers that stand out most are on the workforce side: staff turnover of 27% sits well under the national 45.8% average, which suggests people tend to stay. Daily nurse staffing of 3.40 hours per resident is about 12% under the national figure, though, and weekends run roughly 16% lighter than weekdays, so coverage isn't uniform. Ten deficiencies appear on the current record, two tied to abuse and none at the harm level, with the most recent inspection in May 2025. The quality and staffing ratings are both strong; inspections are the softer spot.

A

90/100

Chautauqua Guest Home #2

Charles City, IA · Floyd County

CMS 5/553 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.02 /day
Staff turnover
41%
Serious cites
0

Chautauqua Guest Home #2 runs a 53-bed operation in Charles City, and the staffing numbers are the strongest part of its case. At 4.02 nurse hours per resident day, it sits about 4% above the national average, and the weekend dip of roughly 10% below its own weekday level is modest, worth knowing, but not alarming. Turnover lands at 41.3%, slightly better than the 45.8% national figure, which suggests the crew sticks around better than most. Two deficiencies on record, one serious enough to involve actual harm, is the item that deserves a direct question when you visit. The most recent inspection was September 2025, so the picture is current.

A

90/100

Oaknoll Retirement Residence

Iowa City, IA · Johnson County

CMS 5/570 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.28 /day
Staff turnover
28%
Serious cites
0

Oaknoll runs a leaner, steadier operation than most. Nurse staffing sits at 5.28 hours per resident day, roughly 37% above the national average, and weekends barely dip from that pace, only about 3% below weekday levels, which is where a lot of homes quietly cut corners. Staff turnover is 27.9%, well under the 45.8% national figure, so the people caring for residents tend to stick around. Inspections back that up: a 5/5 health inspection rating, seven deficiencies on record with none at the harm or jeopardy level and none abuse-related, and the most recent visit in September 2025. One caveat worth naming: the quality measure score is 2/5, so the clinical-outcome data isn't as strong as everything else here.

A

90/100

Mill-Pond

Ankeny, IA · Polk County

CMS 5/560 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.58 /day
Staff turnover
37%
Serious cites
0

Mill-Pond runs on 4.58 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 19% above the national average, and that staffing shows up in the five-star rating CMS gives it for workforce. Weekend coverage dips about 9% below its own weekday level, so ask how that plays out on a Sunday. Staff turnover sits at 37.1%, better than the 45.8% national figure. The current record lists 10 deficiencies, none at the harm or jeopardy level, though 3 are abuse-related, worth asking about directly. The last inspection was March 2026, and the health inspection and quality measure ratings both came in at 4 out of 5.

A

90/100

Kanawha Community Home, Inc.

Kanawha, IA · Hancock County

CMS 5/526 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.52 /day
Staff turnover
39%
Serious cites
0

Kanawha Community Home runs a tight ship for a 26-bed for-profit in Hancock County. Nurse staffing sits at 4.52 hours per resident day, roughly 17 percent above the national average, and the health inspection record is clean where it counts: three deficiencies total, none at the harm or jeopardy level, none tied to abuse, with the last inspection in September 2025. Staff turnover lands at 38.5 percent against a national average near 46, which for this industry is stability, not churn. The one soft spot is weekends, when coverage dips about 8 percent below the home's own weekday levels. A small building with low turnover and steady weekday staffing can absorb that; families should still ask who's on duty Saturday and Sunday.

A

90/100

Sunrise Retirement Community

Sioux City, IA · Woodbury County

CMS 5/574 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.09 /day
Staff turnover
38%
Serious cites
0

Sunrise Retirement Community runs on 5.09 nurse hours per resident day, roughly a third more than the national average, and that shows up in its staffing rating. Weekend coverage dips about 10% below weekday levels, which is common but worth knowing if your visits land on Saturdays. Staff turnover sits at 37.8%, better than the 45.8% national figure, so the people caring for residents tend to stick around longer than elsewhere. The current inspection record shows 11 deficiencies, none at the harm level and none abuse-related, with the last survey in September 2025. As a nonprofit with 74 beds, it's smaller than many, and its health inspection rating holds at 4 out of 5.

A

90/100

Twilight Acres

Wall Lake, IA · Sac County

CMS 5/539 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.07 /day
Staff turnover
35%
Serious cites
0

Twilight Acres runs on a nonprofit model with 39 beds in Wall Lake, and the numbers behind it look steady. Nurse staffing sits at 4.07 hours per resident day, about 6% above the national average, though weekends dip roughly 9% below what the home staffs on weekdays, worth asking about if your family visits or calls on Saturdays and Sundays. Annual turnover is 34.5%, noticeably lower than the 45.8% national figure, which suggests caregivers tend to stay. The inspection record shows 7 deficiencies, none at the harm level, but one is abuse-related, so ask directly how that was resolved. Its last inspection was in December 2025, and quality measures score at the top of the federal scale.

A

90/100

Community Care Center

Stuart, IA · Adair County

CMS 5/565 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.48 /day
Staff turnover
20%
Serious cites
0

Community Care Center in Stuart runs a tight ship on staff retention, 20.4% turnover is less than half the national average of 45.8%, which means the people caring for residents tend to stick around. That stability shows up in the quality and staffing star ratings, both 5 out of 5. The tradeoff is that daily nurse staffing sits at 3.48 hours per resident, about 10% under the national figure, and weekends dip roughly 10% below what the home itself provides on weekdays. Twelve deficiencies appear on the current record, none at the harm level, though three are abuse-related. The last inspection was December 2025, so the picture is recent.

A

90/100

Mercyone Dyersville Senior Care

Dyersville, IA · Dubuque County

CMS 5/540 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.06 /day
Staff turnover
38%
Serious cites
0

Mercyone Dyersville Senior Care runs about 4.06 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 5% above the national average, and weekends dip about 10% below its own weekday levels, worth asking about if your family visits mainly on Saturdays and Sundays. Staff turnover sits at 37.5%, well under the 45.8% national figure, which matters for whether your parent sees the same faces month to month. The inspection record is clean where it counts: six deficiencies total, none at the harm level and none abuse-related, with the most recent survey in November 2025.

A

89.5/100

Lutheran Retirement Home

Northwood, IA · Worth County

CMS 3/542 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.57 /day
Staff turnover
42%
Serious cites
0

Lutheran Retirement Home is a small church-affiliated nonprofit in Northwood, and its staffing is genuinely strong, 4.57 nurse hours per resident day, about 18 percent above the national average, with turnover at 41.9 percent, better than the 45.8 percent norm. Weekends run roughly 17 percent leaner than weekdays, so coverage isn't perfectly even. The trouble sits on the inspection side: 13 deficiencies on the current record, four of them at the harm or jeopardy level and three abuse-related, plus one fine of $24,922. That split, high staffing and quality marks alongside serious inspection findings, is worth asking the administrator about directly, particularly what changed after the February 2026 survey.

A

89/100

Holy Spirit Retirement Home

Sioux City, IA · Woodbury County

CMS 3/578 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.09 /day
Staff turnover
44%
Serious cites
0

Holy Spirit Retirement Home runs on a nonprofit model with 78 certified beds, and its nurse staffing sits at 4.09 hours per resident day, about 6% above the national average of 3.86. Weekend coverage drops roughly 11% below its own weekday level, so the margins are thinner on Saturdays and Sundays. Annual turnover is 44.4%, essentially in line with the national 45.8%. The inspection record carries 30 deficiencies, none at harm or jeopardy level, though two are abuse-related, and the most recent inspection was April 30, 2026. Quality measures score well above average while the health inspection side lags behind.

A

89/100

Good Neighbor Home

Manchester, IA · Delaware County

CMS 4/5112 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.33 /day
Staff turnover
27%
Serious cites
0

Good Neighbor Home runs a genuinely strong staffing operation for a 112-bed nonprofit in Manchester. Nurses provide 4.33 hours per resident day, about 12% above the national average, and turnover sits at 27.2% against a national 45.8%, that kind of retention matters more than any single number, because consistent caregivers know the residents. The catch is inspections: eight deficiencies on the current record, three of them serious enough to involve harm or jeopardy, with a $6,279 fine attached. State surveyors last visited in June 2025. Weekend coverage also dips roughly 14% below weekday levels, so care can thin out when families visit. Strong hands on staff, but quality measures and inspection history both sit at two stars.

A

89/100

Gracewell, An Eventide Community

Denison, IA · Crawford County

CMS 5/584 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.64 /day
Staff turnover
19%
Serious cites
0

Gracewell runs leaner on nurse hours than the typical American nursing home, 3.64 per resident day against a national average of 3.86, and weekends dip about 10% below its own weekday coverage. What stands out more is who stays: turnover sits at 18.5% when the national figure is 45.8%, so the people caring for residents here tend to still be there next year. The inspection record backs that up, with 10 deficiencies on file, none involving harm or jeopardy and none abuse-related, and a survey as recent as August 2025. For a nonprofit home, that combination of steady staff and a clean harm record counts for more than the raw hours suggest.

A

89/100

Keystone Nursing Care Center Inc

Keystone, IA · Benton County

CMS 5/555 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.75 /day
Staff turnover
39%
Serious cites
0

Keystone Nursing Care Center runs 55 beds under corporate for-profit ownership, and its inspection record is genuinely strong, a 5-star health inspection rating with just three deficiencies on file, only one at the harm level and none tied to abuse. Quality measures also score 5 stars. Where it gives ground is staffing: 3.75 nurse hours per resident day sits about 3% under the national average, weekend coverage drops roughly 12% below its own weekday level, and the staffing rating lands at 3 stars. Turnover is the brighter spot at 38.6%, well under the 45.8% national figure. Its last inspection was September 2025.

A

89/100

The Suites At Western Home Communities

Cedar Falls, IA · Black Hawk County

CMS 5/572 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.56 /day
Staff turnover
44%
Serious cites
0

The Suites At Western Home Communities runs about 4.56 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 18% above the national average, and weekend staffing only dips about 5% below weekday levels, a small gap, which matters because weekends are where a lot of homes quietly thin out. Turnover sits at 43.6%, slightly better than the 45.8% national figure but still meaning nearly half the nursing staff turning over in a year. The inspection record shows 13 deficiencies, none at the harm or jeopardy level, though two are abuse-related, worth asking about directly. With a nonprofit owner, a recent March 2026 inspection, and 4s across health inspection and quality measures alongside that 5 on staffing, the numbers point to a home that's well-staffed and currently in good standing.

A

89/100

Southeast Iowa Healthcare Center

Keokuk, IA · Lee County

CMS 4/555 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
2.94 /day
Staff turnover
36%
Serious cites
0

Southeast Iowa Healthcare Center runs lean on daily nurse coverage, 2.94 hours per resident, roughly a quarter below the national figure, and weekends dip about 14% under its own weekday levels, so families should ask how that gap gets covered. What offsets it: turnover sits at 35.9%, well under the 45.8% national rate, meaning the aides and nurses who are there tend to stay. The inspection record is clean where it counts, six deficiencies with none causing harm and nothing abuse-related, and the most recent survey was in January 2026. A for-profit LLC with 55 beds, this is a stable, recently inspected home that runs thin on hours rather than on care quality.

A

88.5/100

Good Samaritan - Villisca

Villisca, IA · Montgomery County

CMS 3/546 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.43 /day
Staff turnover
32%
Serious cites
0

Good Samaritan - Villisca runs 46 beds as a nonprofit, and its staff turnover of 32.4% sits well below the national average of 45.8%, that kind of retention matters when you're relying on the same people to notice changes in a resident's condition. Nurse staffing, though, is 3.43 hours per resident day, roughly 11% under the national average, and weekends run about 18% lighter than weekdays, so coverage thins out exactly when families tend to visit. The current inspection record carries 18 deficiencies, including one at the harm level and two related to abuse, with the last inspection dated January 29, 2026.

A

88.5/100

St Luke's Regional Medical Center Snf

Sioux City, IA · Woodbury County

CMS 5/520 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
10.85 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center SNF is a 20-bed nonprofit unit in Sioux City, and the staffing numbers are the first thing that stand out. At 10.85 nurse hours per resident day, it runs far above the national average of 3.86, that's not a rounding difference, it's a different model of care. Weekend staffing dips about 7% below its own weekday level, worth knowing if you'll be visiting Saturdays and Sundays. On the regulatory side, the record is clean where it counts: three deficiencies total, none at the harm or jeopardy level, none abuse-related, and the last inspection was July 2025. Ownership changed within the past year, so ask how that's affected day-to-day operations.

A

88/100

Manly Specialty Care

Manly, IA · Worth County

CMS 3/544 bedsNon-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.60 /day
Staff turnover
27%
Serious cites
0

Manly Specialty Care runs a nonprofit home with 44 certified beds, and the staffing picture is mixed. Nurses provide 3.60 hours per resident day, roughly 7% under the national average of 3.86, and weekends dip about 8% below the home's own weekday coverage. Retention is a genuine strength: 27% turnover against a national 45.8%. Where the record gets concerning is inspections, a 2-out-of-5 health inspection rating, 21 deficiencies on file including one at the harm level and four tied to abuse, plus a $13,627 fine. The most recent inspection was March 5, 2026. Steady caregivers matter, but the enforcement history is what a family should ask about directly.

A

88/100

Lake Mills Care Center

Lake Mills, IA · Winnebago County

CMS 4/561 bedsFor-profitMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.62 /day
Staff turnover
25%
Serious cites
0

Lake Mills Care Center runs 61 certified beds under corporate ownership, and its nurse staffing sits at 3.62 hours per resident day, roughly 6% under the national average of 3.86. Weekends drop about 12% below the home's own weekday coverage, so the thinnest shifts land when families tend to visit. Turnover is the bright spot: 25% annually against a national 45.8%, meaning aides and nurses here tend to stay. The inspection record shows six deficiencies, one serious enough to involve harm or jeopardy, with nothing abuse-related; the last survey was April 2026. Quality measures score well, but staffing and health inspection results both land mid-range, which is what holds this home back from the top tier.

Frequently asked questions

How many top-graded Medicaid-certified nursing homes are there in Iowa?
There are 107 top-graded Medicaid-certified Medicare-certified nursing homes in Iowa, 28% of the 388 nursing homes there.
Are top-graded Medicaid-certified nursing homes better staffed?
In Iowa they average 4.27 total nursing hours per resident per day, against 3.82 for all nursing homes in Iowa, a difference of +0.45 hours. Staff turnover averages 33.8% against 44.1%.
Which top-graded Medicaid-certified nursing home grades best in Iowa?
Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA, grade A, 99 out of 100.
Does being top-graded Medicaid-certified mean a nursing home is safe?
No. Of the 107 graded top-graded Medicaid-certified homes in Iowa, 107 grade A and 0 grade D or F.
Do top-graded Medicaid-certified nursing homes in Iowa accept Medicaid?
107 of the 107 are certified to accept Medicaid. See Medicaid and nursing homes.

Before you shortlist in Iowa