Bickford of Ames

    2418 Kent Ave, Ames, IA 50010
    • Assisted Living

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    Reviews

    4.15·(65)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.5
    • Staff

      4.1
    • Meals

      3.8
    • Amenities

      4.2
    • Value

      1.7

    Pros

    • Clean, well-maintained facilities
    • Varied room and floorplan options
    • Pleasant interior atmosphere and lighting
    • Well-kept outdoor courtyard and grounds
    • On-site salon and private dining room
    • Allows small pets
    • Homemade, well-liked meals
    • Engaging community activities and events
    • Attentive, compassionate caregivers
    • Strong COVID-19 precautions and timely updates
    • Single-story, mobility-friendly layout
    • Helpful tour staff and dedicated family advocate
    • Small-community feel with active resident interactions
    • Accessible common areas and transportation services

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staff conduct and responsiveness
    • Medication-administration and privacy process gaps
    • Limited variety in activity programming
    • Perceived restrictive access and security controls
    • Inconsistent admissions and family-communication processes
    • Variable dining quality and consistency
    • Small resident rooms and occasional common-area crowding
    • Pricing increases and relatively high cost structure
    • Weak role-boundary controls for some staff
    • Management inconsistency in policy enforcement
    • Tendency toward overly cautious clinical or dementia protocols

    Summary of reviews

    Overall impression: Reviews describe a generally well-kept, attractive community with many strengths in physical plant, staffing relationships, and infection-control practices. The campus is frequently characterized as clean, pleasantly lit, and mobility-friendly; reviewers highlighted an enclosed courtyard, single-story floorplan, salons, private dining, and flexible common spaces. Many families and residents praised specific employees (notably a family advocate role and long-tenured caregiving staff) for personalized support and strong transition assistance.

    Care and staff: Strengths center on warm, attentive caregiving from specific team members and a sense that staff are capable and compassionate. Several reviewers praised prompt caregiver attention when needed and ongoing relationships between staff and residents. However, reviewers also identified variability in staff conduct and responsiveness: accounts indicate inconsistent tone and bedside manner among different employees, occasional unresponsiveness, and uneven professionalism. These comments point to a facility-wide pattern of inconsistent caregiver behavior rather than a uniformly negative staffing picture.

    Clinical processes and safety: There are operational concerns around medication administration and resident privacy during medication distribution events. Reviewers described experiences that imply medication processes may at times be handled in ways that compromise privacy or timeliness, suggesting a need to review workflows and training. A small number of comments referenced concerns following a resident's death and family communication around that event; more broadly, families noted gaps in incident-response communication and desired clearer, more timely outreach from management in clinical situations.

    Dining and activities: Many reviewers enjoyed the homemade meals and praised dining-room cleanliness and hospitality; others described the dining experience as merely adequate, indicating variability in food quality. Activity programming receives both positive and critical remarks: the community runs events and social activities that engage residents, but some families found the offerings limited in variety or repetitive. This suggests the activity calendar can be meaningful for some residents yet may not meet the interests of all households.

    Facilities and amenities: The physical features are a consistent strength. Cleanliness, attractive seasonal décor, accessible common areas, and an inviting courtyard were repeatedly noted. The facility’s small size contributes to a home-like feel for many, though it also corresponds with smaller resident rooms and occasional crowding in shared spaces. Allowing small pets and offering on-site services (salon, private dining, transportation) are frequently cited positives.

    Management and administrative issues: Reviews indicate mixed experiences with admissions, billing, and front-desk communication. Positive feedback highlights efficient billing and helpful admissions staff; negative feedback centers on last-minute cancellations, miscommunication during intake, unreturned calls from management, and perceptions of inconsistent policy enforcement. Security measures such as fob-controlled entry were described by some as restrictive, which may affect visitor experience depending on personal preference. Pricing was mentioned repeatedly as relatively high and subject to increases, which prospective residents should factor into decisions.

    Notable patterns and takeaways: If you are considering this community, strengths to weigh include the clean, well-maintained environment, accessible layout, supportive individual staff members (notably a proactive family advocate), and on-site amenities. Areas to investigate during a tour are medication workflows and privacy during administration, the activity calendar and how it matches your loved one’s interests, staffing consistency across shifts, specific visitation/security policies, and detailed explanations of fees and any recent pricing changes. Overall, the facility presents a mix of strong physical and relational assets with some operational inconsistencies that prospective residents and families may want to clarify before moving forward.

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    Location

    Bickford of Ames is located at 2418 Kent Ave, Ames, IA, 50010.

    About Bickford of Ames

    Bickford of Ames is a senior living community where seniors find a range of care options, with services for independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and adult day care, and they even offer respite and hospice care when needed. The community has a nationally recognized HigherPath senior health model, which means they've got a safety net care team focused on keeping residents happier, healthier, and living longer, and their happiness ratings are about twice what you'd see at most places. People get to choose private, customizable apartments, so they can decorate and keep their favorite things close, and every apartment has a private bathroom and door locks for privacy and security. The place aims for a home-like feeling with common areas inside and outside, a sunroom, a courtyard, and screened porches, plus a resident lounge where folks can gather for activities, watch TV, or chat.

    Meals come scratch-made every day at the Family Table and you can expect options for those who prefer vegetarian or special diets, with restaurant-style dining and homestyle food that folks tend to enjoy. Residents get support for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medicine management, and the nursing staff includes a registered nurse for care coordination, plus nurses and a doctor on call, and services from therapists like speech, occupational, and physical therapy, along with podiatrist and dentist visits available if needed.

    There's a packed calendar with plenty of social activities, outings, and on-site devotionals or worship, and support groups designed to keep residents engaged, mentally active, and connected. Those with memory loss have a dedicated memory care area and programs tailored for dementia or Alzheimer's, with safety features and special support in place, and the staff remains nearby and friendly at all hours. People benefit from a daily routine in a community where transportation's included, laundry and housekeeping are taken care of, and there's an emergency call system in every apartment for peace of mind. Bickford of Ames accepts both men and women, is wheelchair accessible, and lets residents age in place as their needs change, without hidden costs thanks to their all-inclusive approach to service plans.

    About Bickford Senior Living

    Bickford of Ames is managed by Bickford Senior Living.

    Bickford Senior Living was founded in 1991 by Don and Judie Eby when they were unable to find quality assisted living care for Don's mother, Mary Bickford, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The company opened its first facility in November 1992 in Kansas, becoming one of the state's first assisted living residences. Headquartered in Olathe, Kansas, Bickford remains a family-owned and operated business committed to serving families with compassionate care for over three decades. Today, Bickford Senior Living operates approximately 54-61 communities across 10 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Virginia, and Georgia.

    People often ask...

    Bickford of Ames offers assisted living.

    There are 30 photos of Bickford of Ames on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 2418 Kent Ave, Ames, IA 50010.

    No, Bickford of Ames does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Safety & Compliance

    In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing licenses assisted living and long-term care programs, conducting recertification visits and complaint investigations.

    License number1734
    StatusActive
    Facility typeAssisted Living Programs
    Capacity49 residents
    EffectiveMarch 5th, 2025
    ExpiresMarch 5th, 2027
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    30

    Reports

    7

    Type A Citations

    2

    Type B Citations

    22

    Complaints

    21

    Years

    04 Mar 2026Complaint
    Investigated a complaint and found no regulatory deficiencies cited. Follow-up review also found no deficiencies.
    04 Mar 2026Revisit
    Found no deficiencies.
    23 Oct 2025Complaint
    Regulators found multiple gaps in incident reporting, medication management, staff training, tenant rights, and service plan development and updates.
    • 481-67.2(1)eProgram Policies and Procedures
    • 481-67.2(3)Program Policies and Procedures
    • 481-67.3(2)Tenant Rights
    • 481-67.3(5)Tenant Rights
    • 481-67.9(4)aStaffing
    • 481-69.25(3)Tenant Documents
    • 481-69.26(2)Service Plans
    • 481-69.26(3)Service Plans
    29 May 2025Complaint
    Identified deficiencies in nurse delegation training timing and in eye-drop administration during medication passes.
    • Type BIAC 481-67.9(4)bNurse delegation procedures - b
    • fIAC 481-67.9(4)fNurse delegation procedures - f
    20 Feb 2025Complaint
    Identified a deficiency in tenant rights due to inconsistent provision of adequate and appropriate services, including medication management problems for one resident.
    • 481-67.3(2)Tenant rights
    01 May 2024Complaint
    Identified failures to follow medication administration policies and incomplete documentation of personal cares for a tenant.
    • 481-67.2(3)Program Policies and Procedures
    • 481-69.25(1)qTenant Documents
    28 Jun 2023Revisit
    Identified lack of timely nurse delegation training and undated delegation documentation for staff.
    • Type B481-67.9(4)bNurse delegation procedures
    23 Mar 2023Complaint
    Identified deficiencies in incident reporting and care after a fall, including missing witness statements and inadequate handling of a head injury and communication with families.
    • 481-67.2(1)dIncident reports must include witness statements
    • 481-67.3(2)Tenant rights - Adequate care, treatment and services
    13 May 2021Incident
    Found no deficiencies.
    30 Oct 2019Incident
    Found no deficiencies.
    19 Aug 2019Renewal
    Investigated a staffing background-check issue; found that a hire did not have a background check completed prior to employment and the finding was confirmed.
    • 481-67.19(3) Record ChecksRecord Checks
    28 Jan 2019Complaint
    Found no deficiencies. No regulatory insufficiencies were cited during the investigation.
    10 Oct 2018Complaint
    Found no deficiencies. The census counted 37 tenants, 10 with cognitive disorder and 27 without.
    21 Mar 2018Complaint
    Investigated a complaint and found no regulatory deficiencies.
    22 Feb 2018Incident
    Found no deficiencies.
    06 Nov 2017Revisit
    Found a regulatory insufficiency due to failure to consistently ensure tenants met admission and retention criteria.
    • 481-69.23(1)ICriteria for Admission/Retention of Tenants
    13 Jul 2017Complaint
    Identified deficiencies related to tenant rights and admission criteria, with failure to provide required care and services as directed by service plans and to ensure proper tenant eligibility.
    • 481-67.3Tenant Rights
    • 481-69.23(1)iCriteria for Admission/Retention of Tenants
    27 Dec 2016Incident
    Found no deficiencies. The investigation did not identify regulatory insufficiencies.
    25 Jan 2016Complaint
    Identified regulatory insufficiency due to failure to complete incident reports and inadequate program policies.
    • 231C.14(1)(b) and 481 IAC 67.17(1)(b)Program Policies and Procedures - Regulatory Insufficiency
    30 Sept 2015Revisit
    Investigated the complaint and conducted a revisit; found no regulatory insufficiencies.
    30 Mar 2015Complaint
    Identified regulatory insufficiencies in tenant care and program administration, including medications, staffing, and recordkeeping. Several areas required corrective attention.
    • Type A481-67Initial Comments
    • Type A481-67.5(6)aMedications
    • Type A481-67.5(6)aMedications
    • Type A481-67.19(3)cRecord Checks
    • Type A481-67.19(3)cMobility/Transfer Safety
    • Type A481-67.19(3)cStaffing/Communication Records
    25 Mar 2014Complaint
    Identified regulatory insufficiencies in policies and procedures, staffing, incident reporting, and service planning during the licensing investigation.
    • Type AIAC r. 481-67.2Regulatory Insufficiency
    • IAC r. 481-67.9(1)Regulatory Insufficiency
    • IAC r. 481-67.9(4)(g)Regulatory Insufficiency
    • IAC r. 481-69.26(1)Regulatory Insufficiency
    11 Feb 2013Renewal
    Investigated a monitoring visit and found no regulatory insufficiencies. The review covered program census and dementia-specific definitions.
    13 Nov 2012Incident
    Investigated a complaint about a resident fall resulting in a hip fracture. No regulatory insufficiencies were noted.
    13 Sept 2012Complaint
    Investigated a complaint about service planning, tenant documentation, and food service; found no deficiencies.
    12 Jul 2012Complaint
    Investigated a complaint and issued a civil penalty for regulatory noncompliance; documented multiple troubling incidents.
    • Iowa Code 231C.14Civil Penalty
    • IAC 481-67.12(3)dCivil Penalty
    06 Jul 2011Complaint
    Investigated an elopement incident and found no regulatory deficiencies cited.
    22 Jan 2009Renewal
    Identified a regulatory insufficiency for not completing required employee background checks before hiring; a final certification was issued and a civil penalty may be assessed if no appeal is filed.
    • Iowa Code 135C.335Employee record checks prior to hire
    16 Jan 2007Complaint
    Found no deficiencies during the on-site evaluation.
    12 Jan 2005Complaint
    Identified deficiencies in evaluating tenants after hospital returns and updating service plans to reflect changes in condition. Three of four files reviewed showed these deficiencies.
    • 321 IAC 25.23(1) and/or 25.23(2)Evaluation of tenant's functional, cognitive, and health status upon returning from hospital
    • 321 IAC 25.28Update of service plans on change in condition or return from hospital

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Bickford of Ames. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Bickford of Ames directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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