Des Moines Senior AdvisorIs assisted living licensed or certified in Iowa?
Certified. Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing certifies assisted living programs for two years at a time under Iowa Code chapter 231C, rather than licensing buildings the way it licenses nursing facilities.
The certificate attaches to the program that delivers services, and tenants hold their apartments under an occupancy agreement.
What is the difference between an ALP and an ALP/D in Iowa?
An ALP is a general assisted living program; an ALP/D is a dementia-specific assisted living program, which must keep awake staff on site around the clock, train staff in dementia care and have written missing-tenant procedures.
Many Des Moines communities hold both certificates at one address and appear in our directory twice.
How often does Iowa inspect assisted living programs?
DIAL must monitor every certified program at least once during each 24-month period (481 IAC 67.10), and it also investigates complaints and incidents in between.
Our facility pages show roughly when DIAL last visited each program, from the state's Survey Due Report.
Can a place call itself assisted living in Iowa without certification?
No. Iowa Code 231C.3 forbids representing a program to the public as assisted living unless DIAL has certified it, and public money may not pay an uncertified program.
If a building advertises assisted living but is not on DIAL's roster, ask why and check with DIAL at (515) 381-7272.
What is a residential care facility in Iowa?
A residential care facility (RCF) is a separate Iowa license under Iowa Code chapter 135C for people who need supervision and help with daily living but not nursing care; some serve older adults and others serve adults with mental illness or disabilities.
DIAL also licenses 10 residential care facilities in the six counties, 7 of which serve older adults; the rest serve adults with mental illness or disabilities.
Does independent living need a license in Iowa?
Not if it offers only housing and amenities; once a program provides personal or health-related care to tenants, it needs DIAL certification as an assisted living program.
Many metro retirement campuses pair independent apartments with a certified program and sometimes a nursing facility.
Who licenses nursing homes in Des Moines?
DIAL licenses nursing facilities under Iowa Code chapter 135C and 481 IAC chapter 58, and its surveyors inspect certified homes for CMS.
CMS publishes the inspection results and star ratings on Care Compare.
