Aase Haugen Home, found in Decorah, Iowa, is a community that's been serving older adults since 1915 and is now run by a board from twenty-three Lutheran and Christian congregations, staying true to its roots as a nonprofit started to make sure no one would pass on alone, and over the years it's grown into a senior living facility with 86 certified beds and a range of care options like independent living, assisted living, memory care-including a CCDI (Cognitive and Dementia Care Intensive) Unit-long-term nursing, skilled rehabilitation, hospice, and respite care. Residents can pick from private studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts, each with its own wheelchair-friendly bathroom and a small kitchen space, where folks bring their own furniture, decorations, TV, and things they need, and the apartments come with free cable, wireless internet, and daily wellness checks, while the staff takes care of weekly housekeeping and laundry for linens plus one personal load. The dining choices include three daily meals in private or shared spaces, with guest meals for $11, and there's also a beauty salon on site along with big, comfortable common rooms and a garden courtyard, plus activities, outings, and events meant to help people stay active and social.
Aase Haugen Home gets a 4-star nursing home rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and residents have rated it 8.4 out of 10, which is the second highest among the two communities in Decorah. The facility offers basic, moderate, and premium service packages, so support matches what folks need; for example, in the moderate package, the staff provides medication reminders, help with eye drops, daily bed making, and assistance with up to two daily living activities, while the premium package covers medication, help with three to four daily living activities, and meets Iowa's requirements for retaining residents with greater care needs. Nurse help is available at an added rate if a resident needs more support than what's included, and there's always a 24-hour emergency response system, so someone's there if help's needed fast, with nurse reviews and medication management built into certain care levels. People get to use Nu-Step exercise equipment independently, and coordinated outpatient rehabilitation services are available for recovery or therapy needs.
There's a focus on giving care in line with each resident's needs, though reports show three total deficiencies, including two for infection control and one for not always telling families or doctors about a resident's injury or health decline right away, as well as a nurse turnover rate of 69%, higher than average, though nurse staffing hours are about the same as the rest of Iowa. The facility's managed by Continuum Health Care Services since 2013, but ownership details aren't specific. Besides utilities like water, heat, and electricity, everything's included except for phone service, and extra laundry is available for a fee. Aase Haugen Home accepts private pay, most insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. The place is licensed with the Iowa Department of Health and aims for a family-oriented setting, tailoring services under unique names like Vennehjem or Nabotunet for independent living, and providing a variety of amenities and specialized care programs to suit each resident's situation, with an emphasis on dignity, comfort, and meeting individual choices.
