11 Government-Run Nursing Homes in Iowa

Nurse hours

4.74 /day

Staff turnover

25%

Serious cites

0

The Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown runs 702 certified beds as a state government operation, and the numbers behind its record are unusually steady. Nurse staffing sits at 4.74 hours per resident day, about 23 percent above the national average of 3.86, and weekend coverage dips only about 14 percent below its own weekday level, a gap that's common but worth knowing if your visits fall on Saturdays or Sundays. Staff turnover is 24.7 percent against a national average of 45.8 percent, meaning caregivers here tend to stay. The home carries just two deficiencies on its current record, neither at the harm level and none abuse-related, with its last inspection dated April 16, 2026.

Nurse hours

4.79 /day

Staff turnover

29%

Serious cites

0

Story Medical Senior Care runs on county ownership, and the numbers back up what that stability usually buys: 4.79 nurse hours per resident day, roughly a quarter above the national average, with staff turnover at 29.3% against a national 45.8%. Five deficiencies on the current record, none at the harm or jeopardy level, though three are abuse-related, worth asking about directly. Weekend staffing drops about 18% below weekday levels, a common pattern but still a gap you'd want to know about. The last inspection was April 30, 2026, so the record is recent. Quality and staffing measures both sit at the top of CMS's scale.

Nurse hours

4.19 /day

Staff turnover

26%

Serious cites

0

Buchanan County Health Center runs on county ownership, and the numbers that stand out most are the ones about people. Nurse staffing sits at 4.19 hours per resident day, roughly 8% above the national average, and the staff stays: turnover is 26.3% against a national rate near 46%. Weekends are leaner, though, about 19% below the home's own weekday coverage. The inspection record is mixed, 12 deficiencies, one serious enough to involve harm or jeopardy, plus a single $4,011 fine, and the last inspection was fairly recent, in March 2026. Quality and inspection ratings both came in at 4 out of 5, but those 12 deficiencies and the thin weekend hours are what pull the overall picture down.

Nurse hours

3.48 /day

Staff turnover

26%

Serious cites

0

Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center is city/county owned, which is unusual, most Iowa nursing homes are for-profit, and that shows up in how it's run. Weekend nursing coverage drops about 14% below its own weekday level, and overall nurse staffing sits around 3.48 hours per resident day, roughly 10% under the national average. What stands out is retention: 25.9% turnover against a national 45.8% means aides and nurses tend to stay, which matters more for daily care than a staffing number alone. Five deficiencies on record, none involving harm or abuse, and a March 2026 inspection rounds out a record with real consistency behind it.

Nurse hours

4.33 /day

Staff turnover

31%

Serious cites

0

Franklin General Hospital runs a tight ship on the numbers that matter most. Nurse staffing sits at 4.33 hours per resident day, roughly 12% above the national average, and the 30.6% turnover rate is well under the national 45.8%, experienced caregivers tend to stay. Weekend coverage dips about 17% below weekday levels, which is worth asking about if your family visits on Saturdays or Sundays. The county-owned home carries 8 deficiencies, none at the harm level, though 2 are abuse-related and deserve a direct question. Inspectors were last on site in May 2025.

Nurse hours

4.37 /day

Staff turnover

46%

Serious cites

0

Humboldt County Memorial Hospital runs a small county-owned unit, 28 beds, and the staffing numbers back up the ratings: 4.37 nurse hours per resident day, about 13% above the national average. The catch is weekends, when coverage drops roughly 17% below its own weekday level, so a fall or a change in condition on a Saturday may get a slower response than on a Tuesday. Turnover sits at 45.9%, essentially identical to the national average of 45.8%, meaning the staff you meet are about as likely to still be there next year as anywhere else. Seven deficiencies on record, none at the harm level and none abuse-related, with an inspection dated February 2026.

Nurse hours

3.91 /day

Staff turnover

34%

Serious cites

0

Prairie Ridge is city-and-county owned in Orange City, and the staffing numbers are the strongest thing it has going. At 3.91 nurse hours per resident day, it sits just above the national average, and weekend coverage dips only about 8% below weekdays, smaller than what many homes run. Turnover is 34%, well under the 45.8% national figure, which matters for whether you see the same faces. The tradeoff shows up elsewhere: eight deficiencies on record, none at harm level but one abuse-related, and a 2/5 on quality measures. The last inspection was April 2025, so the record is fairly current.

Nurse hours

3.80 /day

Staff turnover

40%

Serious cites

0

Akron Care Center is city-owned, which is unusual, most Iowa nursing homes are for-profit. Inspectors have found four deficiencies on its current record, none of them causing harm or involving abuse, and the most recent visit was in May 2025. Nurse staffing sits at 3.80 hours per resident day, a hair under the national average of 3.86, and weekends run about 11% thinner than weekdays, which is worth asking about if your family member needs more help on Saturdays and Sundays. Staff turnover is 40.4%, better than the 45.8% national figure but still meaning roughly two in five caregivers left within a year. Quality measure scores lag behind its inspection and staffing results.

Nurse hours

4.71 /day

Staff turnover

47%

Serious cites

0

Thomas Rest Haven runs on a city/county budget, and the staffing shows it: 4.71 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 22% above the national average. That's the strongest number here, though weekends drop about 16% below the home's own weekday coverage, so care thins out exactly when families tend to visit. The inspection record is the bigger concern. Eighteen deficiencies on file, including two at the harm level and two abuse-related, with one fine of $11,190 and a two-star health inspection rating. Turnover sits at 46.5%, essentially the national average, so continuity isn't unusual for the industry but isn't a strength. The last inspection was September 2025, so that record is recent.

Nurse hours

4.34 /day

Staff turnover

38%

Serious cites

0

Sunnycrest Manor is county-owned, and the numbers show a home that's better staffed than most, 4.34 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 12% above the national figure. Turnover sits at 38.4%, well under the 45.8% national average, which matters for whether your family sees the same faces month to month. The tradeoff shows up in care quality measures, where it scores near the bottom, and in 14 deficiencies on its current record, though none involved actual harm or abuse. Weekend coverage drops about 11% below weekday levels, so ask about Saturday and Sunday staffing specifically. Its last inspection was in March 2026, so the record is recent.

Nurse hours

3.07 /day

Staff turnover

18%

Serious cites

0

Palo Alto County Hospital runs a small 22-bed unit, and the numbers suggest it's well run. Staff turnover sits at 17.6%, very low next to the 45.8% national figure, which matters for familiarity and continuity in a place this size. The tradeoff is hours: 3.07 nurse staffing hours per resident day is about 21% under the national average, and weekends drop roughly 25% below the home's own weekday levels. One deficiency on the current record, none at harm level, no abuse findings, and a recent July 2025 inspection back that up. County-owned and financially steady, it looks like a home that keeps its people, with fewer hands on weekends.