State Licensing for Senior Communities and Care Services in Iowa

Search for Iowa Housing and Care

Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
Health Facilities Division
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA  50319-0001
(515) 281-4115
www.dia-hfd.iowa.gov

State Commission on Aging
www.iowaaging.gov

Types of Housing/Care	Search	Definitions
Adult Day Services	Adult Day Care	Adult Day Services means provision of personal care for dependent adults in a supervised, protective, congregate setting during some portion of a 24–hour day. Services offered in conjunction with adult day care/adult day health typically include social and recreational activities, training, counseling, meals for adult day care and services such as rehabilitation, medications assistance, and home health aide services for adult day health.
Affordable Senior Housing	Affordable Senior Housing	HUD 202 Program that offers rental assistance for seniors who meet the requirements of the federal program.
Assisted Living	Assisted Living	Assisted Living Facilities provide housing with services that may include, but are not limited to, health related care, personal care, and assistance with dressing, bathing, medications, housekeeping, and transportation. In April 2002, DEA entered into a partnership with the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Health Facilities Division (DIA), in regard to Assisted Living regulation.
Elder Group Home	Care Homes	Elder group home means a single-family residence that is operated by a person who is providing room, board, and personal care to three through five elders who are not related to the person providing the services within the third degree of consanguinity of affinity.
Home Health Agencies	Home Care	Home Health Agencies provide skilled nursing services and at least one of the following other therapeutic services: physical, speech or occupational therapy, medical social services of home health aide services to patients in their residences. The services must follow a written plan of treatment established by each patients attending physician in conjunction with agency staff.
Hospice	Hospice	Hospice Care is an alternative way of caring for terminally ill individuals which stresses palliative care (medical relief of pain) as opposed to curative or restorative care. Hospice Care is not limited to medical aspects, but addresses all physical, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient and emotional needs of the patient’s family. The emphasis of the Hospice Program is in keeping the Hospice patient at home with his or her family and friends as much as possible.
Nursing Facilities	Nursing	Nursing Facilities are institutions or distinct parts of institutions housing three or more elderly or disabled individuals for a period exceeding 24 consecutive hours, whose primary purpose is to provide health-related care and services, including rehabilitation, for individuals who because of mental or physical condition, require nursing care and other services in addition to room and board. Nursing facilities do not engage primarily in providing treatment or care for mental illness or mental retardation.
Residential Care Facilities	Care Homes	Residential Care Facilities are institutions, places, buildings, or agencies providing accommodation, board, personal assistance and other essential daily living activities for a period exceeding 24 consecutive hours. Individuals living in a residential care facility are unable to sufficiently or properly care for themselves because of illness, disease, or physical or mental infirmity, but do not require the services of a registered or licensed practical nurse, except for emergencies.

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