The 5 Best Nursing Homes in Ames, IA for 2023
Ames is a city in central Iowa that is located about 30 miles north of Des Moines. It has a population of 66,258, and just under 10% of residents are aged 65 and over. Seniors in Ames have access to a range of excellent medical services at the Mary Greeley Medical Center, which is rated as high performing in four procedures by USN health ratings. Nursing home care costs in Ames are relatively low in comparison to the national average. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020, the average monthly cost of a semiprivate room in nursing home care in Ames is $7,080, which is less than the national average of $7,756.
Nursing homes provide constant medical care and supervision to seniors with chronic conditions who require a level of care and assistance. Services are administered by registered nurses and as a consequence of this, nursing home care is generally an expensive option. Seniors in Ames who don’t require such a high level of care may want to look at alternative care options such as assisted living and home care services.
This guide looks at the costs of nursing home care in Ames and lists services in the city.
Directory of Nursing Homes in Ames, IA
Northridge Village
3300 George Washington Carver Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010
Green Hills Community
2205 Green Hills Drive, Ames, IA, 50014
Accura Healthcare
3440 Grand Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010
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is a Caring Star Community
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Nursing Home Costs in Ames, IA
The average monthly cost of nursing home care in Ames is $7,080 for a semiprivate room and $7,460 for a private room.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities
Those seniors who are looking at moving to a nursing home care facility in Ames may be keen to know how the cost of care compares to other cities. Using the average monthly cost of a semiprivate room as a base point, the cost of care in Ames is lower than the national average of $7,756 and higher than the Iowa state average of $6,570.
The average monthly cost of care is similar in Des Moines at $7,148. However, the cost of care is lower in Sioux City ($6,509), Iowa City ($6,859) and Dubuque ($6,722) than in Ames.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
The lowest-priced care option in Ames is adult day care which has a monthly average cost of $1,463. Assisted living is a popular option that provides 24/7 assistance and has an average monthly charge of $3,723. Home care and home health care services have an average monthly cost of $5,053 and $5,815 respectively. At the high end of the cost scale, nursing home care has a monthly average fee of $7,080 for a semiprivate room and $7,460 for a private room.
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Ames, IA
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
- Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Free Resources for Seniors in Ames, IA
The following resources may be of interest to seniors in Ames who are looking for resources to help them to safely age in place for as long as possible and delay or even avoid the move to a nursing home care facility. One resource discusses state health insurance plan options and financial assistance for seniors who are looking at moving to long-term care in the near future.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| Heartland Senior Services Grocery Delivery | (515) 292-8890 | Heartland Senior Services offers a free grocery delivery service for seniors who are homebound in the Ames area. Volunteers are able to assist with placing grocery orders online or seniors can telephone their order into their local grocery store. Once the order is ready for collection a volunteer will pick up the groceries and deliver them to the senior at no charge. Volunteers can even assist in carrying in groceries and unpacking them. Seniors will be charged for the cost of the groceries purchased. |
| Heartland Senior Services Meals on Wheels | (515) 233-2906 ext. 218 | Heartland Senior Services in conjunction with Mary Greeley Medical Center delivers meals to homebound seniors in Story county who are no longer able to prepare their own food. Volunteers deliver a hot meal around noon each day from Monday to Friday. In addition to delivering the meal, volunteers spend time visiting the seniors to ensure they are feeling mentally and physically well. The volunteers will let the relevant authorities know if something is amiss. |
| SHIIP IOWA | (800) 351-4664 | SHIIP Iowa is a program that is funded by the federal government and the state of Iowa. The program aims to provide free and unbiased information to seniors and their caregivers regarding the various state health insurance plan options available. Trained volunteer counselors spend time one-on-one with seniors explaining the options and helping them to apply for the plan that suits them best. In addition, the counselors can explain financial assistance options available to seniors who need short or long-term care in a nursing home facility. |