Des Moines Senior AdvisorMadison County lies south-west of the metro, with Winterset as its seat and Earlham, St. Charles and Truro among its towns; about 17,270 people lived there on July 1, 2025.
20.3% of residents are 65 or older, with a median age of 42.2. Madison County has a critical access hospital and one nursing facility on DIAL's roster but no certified assisted living program, so many families look toward West Des Moines.
How many seniors and licensed care options does Madison County, Iowa have?
Madison County had about 3,501 residents aged 65 and older (20.3% of 17,270), including 404 aged 85 and older, on July 1, 2025, and DIAL lists 0 certified assisted living programs and 1 nursing facility there.
| Found in Madison County | Not found in Madison County | |
|---|---|---|
| Certified or licensed with a local address (DIAL) | Nursing facilities: 1 | — |
| No local certificate or license on file | — | Assisted living programs, Residential care facilities, Adult day services, Home health agencies, Hospices, Hospice houses |
| Dementia-specific assisted living | — | None certified in Madison County |
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025).
Which facilities are certified or licensed in Madison County?
Every certified assisted living program, residential care facility and nursing facility in Madison County on DIAL's roster (run November 6, 2026) appears below with units or beds, type and state fines.
| Facility | Type | Units or beds | City | Last DIAL survey (approx.) | State fines since 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azria Health Winterset 1015 West Summit, 50273 | NF | 65 | Winterset | March 2026 | 3 |
Where do Madison County families get free senior help?
Older adults in Madison County are served by Aging Resources of Central Iowa, the Area Agency on Aging at 5838 Grand Avenue, Suite 106, Des Moines, IA 50312 ((515) 255-1310, toll-free 1-800-747-5352), which handles information and assistance, options counseling, caregiver support, meal programs and elder rights.
Its services include information and assistance, options counseling, family caregiver support, nutrition programs, elder rights and abuse prevention. Complaints about a certified program or licensed facility go to DIAL at (515) 381-7272, residents' rights questions to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-866-236-1430, and suspected abuse of a dependent adult at home to Iowa HHS at 1-800-362-2178. PACE is available here: Immanuel Pathways Central Iowa ((515) 270-5000, 7700 Hickman Road, Windsor Heights, IA 50324) enrolls Madison County residents aged 55 and older who meet nursing facility level of care.
How far do Madison County residents travel for hospital care?
From Winterset, the county seat, the nearest general hospital on DIAL's roster is Madison County Health Care System, on the same block, and downtown Des Moines is about 28 miles away.
Next come UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Methodist West Hospital (about 20 miles) and UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Center (about 28 miles). These are straight-line distances, not driving routes.
