Independent Living in Iowa

Iowa is often referred to as the “Land of the Rolling Prairie” due to the immense fertile plains that cover the region. The state is famous for its farms, growing crops such as corn and soybeans. Iowa is more than just farmland, however – it’s home to many quaint, rural towns as well as larger cities such as Sioux City and Des Moines. Its varied landscape, relatively low cost of living, and proximity to major Midwestern cities like Chicago and Minneapolis make Iowa a convenient location to call home and a great place to retire.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 70 independent living communities in Iowa. The median monthly cost of independent living in Iowa is about $1,950.

Iowa’s independent living communities aren’t regulated unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. Because of this, stand-alone independent living communities are only required to abide by rental and general housing regulations. Many communities do have certain resident requirements, however. For example, some communities only welcome residents aged 55+ years old, though others raise the minimum age requirement to 62.

Regulations for independent living communities in a senior care community

Independent living communities sharing a building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit are subject to the same regulations as those facilities. In this case, they adhere to regulations the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) enforces.

Regulations for stand-alone independent living communities

For stand-alone independent living communities, senior residents and communities maintain a landlord-tenant relationship. Landlords and tenants must only comply with Iowa’s housing and apartment regulations.

Landlords must:^[01]

• Follow building and housing codes that ensure health and safety
• Make repairs to keep the home in a fit, livable condition
• Provide garbage receptacles and removal
• Supply hot and cold running water and heat (unless the tenant pays the utility company directly, and the water heater and furnace are under the tenant’s control)
• Maintain facilities and appliances like electric wiring, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning
• Keep common areas of apartments clean and safe

Besides paying rent on time, tenants are responsible for:^[01]

• Following any building and housing codes that apply to them, and that affect health and safety
• Keeping the home clean
• Disposing of garbage correctly
• Not damaging or abusing the home purposefully or carelessly, or allowing a guest to do so
• Not disturbing neighbors’ peace and quiet
• Properly using appliances and facilities like plumbing, heating, wiring, and air conditioning

Protections against discrimination

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act all provide Iowa tenants protection from discrimination at the federal level. The Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 also offers an additional layer of protection. Iowa residents are safeguarded from discrimination based on:

• Color
• Creed
• Familial status
• Gender identity
• Mental disability
• National origin
• Physical disability
• Race
• Religion
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

The law additionally requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations, when necessary, so tenants with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy a dwelling. Some examples are waiving a no pets policy for those with a service animal or providing an accessible parking space for someone with mobility issues.

The law also states housing providers must allow tenants with disabilities to modify housing, when reasonable, at the tenant’s expense. Things like a wheelchair ramp, grab bars in the bathroom, or widened doorways for wheelchair access all qualify.

How to find independent living community inspection reports

Iowa doesn’t inspect and report on stand-alone independent living communities at a state level, but many cities do ensure communities remain up-to-date on building codes and zoning expectations.^[02] For instance, Oskaloosa’s rental program requires rentals to be registered with the City and to undergo a housing inspection once every three years. Some cities make these inspection reports available online, so if you’re curious about a certain property, it may be worth contacting your local housing authority.

The state’s Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) conducts unannounced inspections of independent living communities that are part of an assisted living and/or memory care community every two years. These inspections can occur sooner if complaints or incidents are reported through their online complaint form or the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. If deficiencies are discovered, a facility must submit a Plan of Correction (POC) to the DIA within 10 working days to address the problem. After the POC has been proposed, the DIA will confirm the changes have occurred within 30 days.

The DIA’s online inspection tool publicly displays an assisted living or memory care facility’s demographics, recertification results, and incident/complaint reports. You can search for a specific facility under the “entity search” category by its name, city, county, entity type, or designation type. So, to find memory care facilities, search for “assisted living programs for people with dementia” under “entity type”. The long-term care ombudsman can also provide insight about a certain community’s violation history.

Iowa Department of Health contact information

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Lucas Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319

Phone: (800) 972-2017