The Best Senior Living Communities in Iowa City, IA

The Villages at Marion is located in a vibrant commercial section of Marion, IA, one of the Midwest's fastest-growing cities. The facility is just down the road from the Lindale Mall, where residents find plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining. For outdoor recreation, seniors can take advantage of nearby green spaces such as the 70-acre Boyson Park, which features a picnic area and scenic trail. The Villages at Marion offers independent and assisted living options for Iowa seniors. Assisted living residents may receive help with personal care activities and medication management. Residents may also benefit from safety measures such as emergency pull cords and personal alert pendants, and staff is available around the clock to help when needed. The facility offers a memory care program for seniors living with Alzheimer's or dementia. The Villages at Marion includes a variety of amenities, including a fitness room, large dining area and puzzle lounge. Comfortable sitting areas are available for socializing with friends and family, and residents can also take advantage of walking paths and patios on the manicured grounds. The community's resident-run entertainment committee plans regular social events, such as live musical acts. To learn more about this provider’s license and review other available state reports, please visit: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Health Facility Database

"We toured Bickford of Marion. It's a smaller community, so it's more personable. It seems like they take pride in their facility. The staff was very friendly and the ones we met had all been there for a while, which is a good sign when you're looking at a place like that. The studio was pretty small. We wouldn't necessarily want to put my mother-in-law in a studio apartment, but we did get to peek our head in one of the one-room apartments, and it's a reasonable room and it would feel like home. We did not try the food, but it smelled good, and the menu looked good. They're installing a new security system, so they have sensors on the doors, and they've got a new wristband program that they can call for help on and they can detect falls. I think they said there are sensors on the bathrooms so they can monitor how often they go to the bathroom to detect UTIs and other issues associated with the bathroom. I don't remember seeing any issues as far as cleanliness goes. It was organized and clean."

"I toured Pearl City Place. It was a good facility. James, who gave me the tour, was outstanding, but they had no immediate availability for my needs. I needed it right now, for my mother. The facility is smaller than a couple of the others I've toured. They were okay. In memory care, two people were in a room, but the rooms were much smaller. There was not much room besides a bed and a nightstand. They were cramped, and for most of their memory care, people who were in there were worse off than my mother, so I don't think that would have been appropriate for her. The dining area was nice, but I did not eat the food. It was smaller, and the whole facility was scaled down a bit."

"I've been to The Keystones of Cedar Rapids to visit a family member in their assisted living. They have a rental room available that you can stay in for extended visits, and I did that. I like that they had a guest room so family members could stay on the premises from out of town. I ate most of my meals there, too, and they ranged from very good to decent. The furnishings in the public areas are very nice. The tea room is also very nice. The room of the person I came to visit has good space and lighting and is furnished. She likes the shower. The dining area had nice individual tables and some more private dining areas. It's a little noisy. I saw the beauty salon and barber door, but I didn't see it in action. I think they'll drive you to appointments, too, if you need a ride. The staff member was friendly and honest when talking about pricing and levels of care. It's over $6,000 a month, so it's expensive. I have some concerns about the care in some ways. We had some confusion where my family member didn't think she got speech therapy but they said she did. I was actually there and know that she did not get it but we're trying to straighten that out."

"My husband will be moving to CountryHouse - Cedar Rapids. We chose it because it's new, it's clean and they have sufficient staff. They have a nurse on duty, and they have a therapy therapist on duty. This is a memory care-only place. They were very helpful, very honest and told me everything up front. The rooms are sufficient and it's easy to get around, it's not real large. They have a salon and a therapy area, the facility was beautiful."

"My dad spent three weeks in the Mercy Hospital stroke recovery while he was still in there. It was just a rehab facility, and it was all right. Most of the staff that worked there actually lived in our community, so we knew them personally. "

"My sister went to Briarwood Health Care Center. They can do medication and do the rehabilitation. It is an older facility, but it's well kept up and it's bright. The walls are painted. Nothing's falling apart. The rooms are kind of institutional, but that's fine. The staff is very good to my sister. They're helpful and outgoing. They talk to her, so that's good. I know that they have a happy hour, a card club, and arts and crafts. I've not had the food myself. It can be institutional style, but it does have flavor and it's a varying menu. If there's something that you do not like on the menu, you have options other than getting what they have that day. Instead of having a hamburger, you can have a salad. The staff is always helpful, always congenial, and cordial, and they talk a lot with her."

"Oaknoll Retirement Residence is a very pleasant and nice place. The setting is really nice. There are several dining rooms and a number of activities. They have a theater and a pool. The studio room in my price range, was small and I would have to bring in my own furniture. The staff is extremely knowledgeable. They have everything there. "

"I toured Legacy Retirement Community. It looked very comfortable. They were very friendly and very effective. The rooms and the common areas were very clean and spacious."

"Regency Heights Apartments was great and nice. The place was friendly and looked really inviting. It was a little more than what we could afford at the time though. The place is beautiful and I would love to have been able to move into it right now. The director who toured us around was great."

"My friend fell out of a wheel chair this morning and NOTHING was done about it!!!! The beds have NO railings for safety. It’s nasty dirty there. I believe the local health department and the Ombudsman needs to be called. This is AWFUL!!!!!!"

"both my mother and my late aunt, her sister were residents of Emerson Point . I cannot say enough about the caring and attentive nature of both staff and administration. it is my firm belief Renee, my mother's nurse saved her life in the fall of 2013 with her swift action. The facility is clean and very comfortable. A special shout-out to the aides who remain patient and caring. Thank you allowing me to feel at ease having my mother under your care. Kudos!!! "

"I found Melrose Meadows Retirement Community to be very nice, light, and pleasant. One of the nicest things was the pool. The dining room and everything that was presented was very nice. The staff was very helpful and gave me all the information that I requested. I saw a studio room and saw that I would have to bring my own furniture in. "

"I want to thank Windmill Manor for caring for my husband the last two years. He had Louie bodies dementia and was in Garden Court. Their staff is amazing and became our family. I know at times he was more than a handful but they were always kind & patient with him. I stayed with him 24/7 the last couple weeks of his life as I couldn’t leave his side we had been together 59 yrs. they made sure I was comfortable and supported me at this very difficult time both fiscally and mentality.words cannot describe my gratitude and appreciation of the love I felt from all staff members from administrators, his doctor, CNA’s nurses, cooks, cleaning, laundry and maintenance, you are all my family! You will always be in my heart. Thank You! "