The Hawkeye State, Iowa, is home to cities such as Davenport, Des Moines, Mason City, and plenty more. The history here is long and rich, and an excavation of a 3,800 year old park turned up a variety of artifacts. If you enjoy history and historically significant sites, not to mention nature, art, and  great food – there’s plenty to do in Iowa. You can visit the Capital Building, spend some time at the State Fair, visit any number of the countless historic sites, and more. And of course, let’s not forget about some of the best fishing in the entire country.

Iowa is a nice place to retire, and offers a number of assisted living facilitates for those who are looking for a group home. There’s more to Iowa than the hardworking farmers who help feed the nation, now let’s take a look at some thorough information when it comes to assisted living in Iowa.

Quick Facts about Iowa

• The median household income in Iowa is $60,855, which puts them in 16^th place
• The population of Iowa is 3,134,693 which puts this state in 30^th place.
• There’s a town called Sabula which exists on an Island.
• According to Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Snake Alley in Burlington is considered to be the most crooked street in the entire world – so drive slowly!

Types of Assisted Living in Iowa

In Iowa, the emphasis on assisted living really encompasses the root of both of those words. The residents’ dignity and quality of life are very important, along with keeping in close contact with their families and loved ones, their interests, enjoying their lives, while also doing so in a place that is safe and secure, with caring staff keeping an eye on them.

If a facility is home to people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, their staff members will need additional training to correctly deal with the unique challenges posed by these conditions. Alarms and security procedures are important aspects, along with keeping good documentation. Programs can be catered to an individual’s needs and interests, as well.

Requirements for Moving in or Moving Out

Initial assessment information: While applying for care in an Iowa facility, the resident will also need to attach an evaluation form with general information about their capacity and needs. This should be updated on a regular basis, especially if there are any changes.

There are a number of different conditions that can cause a resident to be asked to leave in order to seek more approve care elsewhere. This includes things like severe mental illness, drug addiction, being very ill in a way that won’t improve, being bed-ridden and unable to move around, or if advanced health care is required. The initial evaluation will take care of seeing if any of these criteria are met, or not. There are also other reasons one may not be admitted into a care facility, for instance if they simply require more care than a facility is able to offer.

General Information About Care

Bathroom requirements: Iowa does a good job when it comes to the bathroom requirements because every tenant’s room in the facility is required to have their own bathroom with a tub or shower, a sink, and a toilet. A bathroom for each unit sounds like it should be standard, but looking around at other states, Iowa’s minimum requirement is far above average.

Medication handling: The medical standards are a bit looser than certain other states. There’s an option, a resident can administer their own medication, or a nurse can delegate it to another care giver, so long as the nurse keeps a watchful eye for any bad reactions or negative side effects.

Fire and Safety information: Newly built facilities are required to have sprinkler systems in order to put out or contain a potential fire, however older facilities aren’t required to retroactively add in that in. The minimum requirements for fire safety are alarms and detectors in every bedroom, on every floor, and outside of the rooms as well.

Staff Training and Requirements

Every staff member working in a facility has to have training on a number of specific things, including what to do in emergencies, and being prepared for the numerous events that can happen in a place like this. They need to know the fire protocols inside and out, what to do what accidents happen, and a lot more.

Furthermore, if a staff member is going to be working with vulnerable residents, such as those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, they’re required to have additional special training within the first month of working there. Also, additional training is required on a yearly basis in order to stay up to date.

Medicaid for Assisted Living in State and Additional Information

In Iowa, Medicaid will cover up to $1,300 per month for the elderly. It’s possible to get further assistance through other services if required, so it’s best to speak to the Adult Services Bureau for additional information. It’s a good idea to speak to them about your specific case and needs, as they’ll be able to let you know exactly what you may, or may not, qualify for whether the care is for you or somebody that you care about.