Des Moines Senior AdvisorWinterset is the Madison County seat, known for its covered bridges and as John Wayne's birthplace, with about 5,520 residents in 2025 Census estimates. Madison County Health Care System is its critical access hospital.
Winterset has one nursing facility and no certified assisted living program on DIAL's roster, so families wanting assisted living usually look 25 to 30 minutes east in West Des Moines or north-east in Waukee and Adel.
How much licensed senior care does Winterset, Iowa have?
Winterset had about 5,520 residents in Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, and DIAL lists 0 certified assisted living programs and 1 nursing facility with Winterset addresses.
| Found in Winterset | Not found in Winterset | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Winterset |
Is there any certified assisted living in Winterset?
No certified program lists a Winterset address right now; the closest certified program is Edgewater ALP/D - Beacon Springs in West Des Moines, roughly 19.5 miles from the middle of the area.
| Facility | Miles away | Type | Units or beds | State fines since 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewater ALP/D - Beacon Springs 9225 Cascade Avenue, 50266 | 19.5 | ALP/D | 32 | 0 |
| StoryPoint Adel (assisted living) 621 302nd PL, 50003 | 19.7 | ALP | 88 | 0 |
| StoryPoint Adel (memory care) 621 302nd PL, 50003 | 19.7 | ALP/D | 26 | 0 |
| Holland Farms Senior Living 2800 Sunset Drive, 50211 | 19.9 | ALP | 116 | 1 |
Which nursing homes are in Winterset, and how does CMS rate them?
Winterset has 1 licensed nursing facility with 65 licensed beds; of the 1 that CMS rates, 0 hold four or five stars.
| Facility | CMS overall rating | Units or beds | Last CMS health inspection | Deficiencies cited | State fines since 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azria Health Winterset 1015 West Summit, 50273 | 1 of 5 | 65 | March 19, 2026 | 14 | 3 |
Have any Winterset facilities been fined by the state?
Yes: DIAL's Assessed Fines Report lists state fines from visits ending January 2023 to November 2026 for 1 certified or licensed facility in Winterset.
- Azria Health Winterset: 3 fines, most recently after a visit ending July 6, 2026 ($500 issued)
Each facility page lists the amounts. A past fine is not proof of a present problem; ask what changed.
How close is Winterset to a hospital?
From the middle of the area, the nearest general hospitals on DIAL's roster are Madison County Health Care System (about 0.0 miles) and UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Methodist West Hospital (about 20.4 miles).
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Center is about 28.4 miles away. All are straight-line distances between ZIP code centers, good for comparing places but not for estimating drive times.
Who helps older adults and caregivers in Winterset?
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.
Complaints about a certified program or licensed facility go to DIAL ((515) 381-7272 or its online complaint portal); suspected abuse of a dependent adult living at home goes 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.
