Iowa
A residential care facility provides accommodation, board, personal assistance and other essential daily living activities for more than 24 hours to three or more people not related to the owner or administrator (within the third degree). Residents must be unable to adequately care for themselves but must not need RN or LPN services except in an emergency. DIAL also licenses assisted living facilities and elder group homes, and separately licenses intermediate care facilities for persons with mental illness (3+ residents, with nursing care). DIAL took over DIA's health facility licensing in the 2023 state government realignment.
License categories
Residential care facility (RCF)Assisted living facility / programElder group home
Key laws
Iowa Code ch. 135C (§ 135C.1 definitions)
Health Care Facilities — official text
481 IAC Chapter 57
Residential Care Facilities — official text
Key requirements
- License required for 3+ unrelated individuals who need personal care and supervision but not routine nursing care
- Staff must provide 24-hour coverage and be awake at all times while on duty (481—57.11)
- Admission requires a written order signed by a primary care provider certifying the person needs no more than personal care and supervision (481—57.13)
- Administrator must meet one of several education/experience options, e.g., a two-year human services degree plus two years' experience or a department-approved one-year training program (481—57.10)
- In-service education is required annually for direct-contact employees, and department heads need at least 10 contact hours of education per year