Bickford of Fort Dodge

    1536 20th Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
    • Assisted Living

    Exceptional care, clean home-like environment

    I'm very pleased with the care my loved one receives - staff are warm, attentive and responsive, nurses and the admin go above and beyond, and communication with family is prompt. The facility is beautiful, clean and home-like, meals are excellent home-cooked fare, activities keep residents engaged, and I feel confident my loved one is thriving; I'd definitely recommend a visit.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Pricing

    Prices shown are estimates and subject to change. Contact your senior living advisor for current pricing.

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Mild cognitive impairment
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.52·(33)

    Overall rating

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

      4.3
    • Staff

      4.4
    • Meals

      4.8
    • Amenities

      4.2
    • Value

      1.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, attentive caregiving staff
    • Responsive family communication
    • Home-cooked meals with meal accommodations
    • Clean, well-maintained facility and grounds
    • Comfortable, homelike interior and studio/single suites
    • Engaging social activities and seasonal events
    • Friendly, welcoming resident community
    • Prompt maintenance and organized operations
    • Separate dining room and structured meal service
    • Clear cost overview provided during tours

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staffing levels and scheduling
    • Variable leadership and supervisory availability
    • Elevated out-of-pocket costs and limited Medicare certification
    • Gaps in financial/personal-property safeguards and POA oversight
    • Variability in staff experience and training
    • Occasional gaps in family communication continuity
    • Marketing or admissions promises misaligned with delivered services
    • Location access and traffic constraints

    Summary of reviews

    Review content indicates a facility with several clear strengths alongside notable operational concerns. Positively, many families describe warm, compassionate caregiving: staff are repeatedly characterized as attentive, patient, and willing to go above and beyond. Multiple accounts praise prompt communication with families, a maintenance team that responds effectively, and staff who make residents feel welcome and comfortable. The resident community is described as friendly and social, with newcomers forming connections quickly.

    Dining and daily life receive consistent praise. Reviewers highlight home-style meals, a separate dining room, and accommodations for dietary needs. Activity programming appears active and varied — examples include bingo, daily activity calendars, and seasonal events such as trunk-or-treat — which contribute to an engaged atmosphere. The physical environment is also a positive: the building and grounds are described as clean, well maintained, and decorated in a homelike style, with studio and single-room suite options noted as attractive living arrangements.

    At the same time, there are recurring operational concerns to weigh. Staffing levels and scheduling are described as inconsistent; reviewers note periods when staffing feels stretched and when supervisors or the director are difficult to reach. This has implications for both day-to-day responsiveness and perceived continuity of care. There is also variability in leadership experience and supervisory oversight — some families compliment the administrator, while others describe inexperienced or unavailable management.

    Financial and procedural issues appear as a separate pattern. Several reviewers raised concerns about the facility’s pricing, limited Medicare certification affecting affordability, and perceived high fees. There are serious, individual claims about personal-property and power-of-attorney matters; these are best interpreted as allegations that point to potential gaps in safeguards and financial oversight rather than definitive facility-wide conclusions. Prospective families should request clear written policies on billing, POA procedures, and personal-property controls during tours.

    Overall, impressions are mixed but often favorable regarding day-to-day resident life: caring staff, good food, social activities, and a well-kept physical environment. The primary risk areas are operational — staffing consistency, leadership availability, cost/coverage transparency, and procedural controls around finances and personal property. Prospective residents and families would benefit from focused questions about staffing patterns by shift, administrator availability, Medicare/insurance status, and documented safeguards for valuables and POA authority before making a placement decision.

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    Location

    Map showing location of Bickford of Fort Dodge

    Bickford of Fort Dodge is located at 1536 20th Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA, 50501.

    About Bickford of Fort Dodge

    Bickford of Fort Dodge serves seniors with many living options all on one campus, offering independent living for those who want to maintain their own routines, assisted living services for people who need support with daily tasks like bathing or medication, and memory care settings for seniors needing safe care due to Alzheimer's or other dementia. The community has continuing care features, so residents can receive more help as their needs change, including access to nursing home care and hospice services without having to move away, and they welcome both short-term respite stays and long-term arrangements. Apartments are private and come with their own bathrooms, door locks for security, and kitchenettes where residents can prepare snacks, plus every unit has emergency call systems in case someone needs help right away, which feels comforting and safe, especially with ergonomic design touches and showers made for seniors. Bickford of Fort Dodge welcomes pets and offers pet therapy, and residents can relax and make friends in shared areas like the residents lounge, activity room, sunroom, and screened porch, and there's a beauty salon right on site if someone wants a haircut without having to leave the building, while regular meals are prepared by chefs who focus on both flavor and nutrition, and there are always options for social gatherings and worship services both inside and outside. Seniors can join meditation, support groups, educational programs, and various activities aimed at keeping their minds and bodies active, and community staff takes care of housekeeping, laundry, and provides transportation if residents want to get out for appointments or recreational outings. Security is important-Bickford uses controlled access buildings and has caregivers and a registered nurse close at hand for care coordination and attention. The staff supports medication management and helps residents as needed, including mobility assistance, with customized, all-inclusive care service plans so there aren't surprise fees, and families say the staff keeps the buildings tidy and pays attention to small things that matter. People can decorate their apartments to feel more like home since the community wants each person to keep their own style, and Wi-Fi is available everywhere in the building for those who want to stay in touch with loved ones. Bickford uses the HigherPath senior health model, which means there's a focus on proactive health and well-being-staff tries to spot issues early and keep everyone as independent as possible for as long as possible, whether someone's in independent living, assisted living, or memory care. Bickford of Fort Dodge has received several awards for care and engagement, and residents can take tours of the place to see daily life, meals, and activities, with both indoor and outdoor spaces like walking paths and a courtyard to encourage fresh air and movement, and all these pieces come together to make a safe, comfortable life for seniors, no matter what level of care they need.

    About Bickford Senior Living

    Bickford of Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $4,753 per month.

    Bickford of Fort Dodge offers assisted living.

    There are 27 photos of Bickford of Fort Dodge on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 1536 20th Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

    No, Bickford of Fort Dodge 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 number1736
    StatusActive
    Facility typeAssisted Living Programs
    Capacity49 residents
    EffectiveJune 1st, 2026
    ExpiresMay 31st, 2028
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    20

    Reports

    21

    Citations

    12

    Complaints

    22

    Years

    27 Aug 2025Complaint
    Identified deficiencies in updating service plans after significant changes and in maintaining timely nurse reviews.
    • 481-69.26(3)Service Plans
    • 481-69.27(1)Nurse Review
    13 Feb 2025Complaint
    Found no deficiencies cited in relation to the investigated incidents and complaints.
    11 Dec 2024Complaint
    Found no deficiencies.
    19 Jun 2024Complaint
    Investigated an elopement; found the program did not report the incident to the Department within 24 hours.
    • 481-67.4(4)Program Notification to Department
    01 Nov 2023Incident
    Found no deficiencies cited during the investigation.
    18 May 2023Complaint
    Identified deficiencies in tenant rights, billing responsiveness, staff training/delegation, and employment background checks.
    • 481-67.3(4)Tenant rights - free from abuse
    • 481-67.3(5)Tenant rights - reasonable response to requests
    • 481-67.9(4)aStaffing - Nurse delegation procedures
    • 481-67.19(3)cRecord Checks - criminal history evaluations
    13 Sept 2022Complaint
    Investigated allegations of mistreatment and found failures to provide adequate treatment and timely reporting of abuse, affecting multiple tenants.
    • 481-67.2(3)Program Policies and Procedures
    • 481-67.2(3)Program Policies and Procedures
    • 481-67.3(1)Tenant Rights
    • 481-67.3(1)Tenant Rights
    03 Feb 2022Complaint
    Found no deficiencies cited after investigating complaints and the infection control visit.
    20 Feb 2019Complaint
    Found no deficiencies.
    27 Mar 2018Renewal
    Verified no deficiencies were cited during recertification of the dementia program; census totaled 28 residents.
    17 Aug 2017Complaint
    Investigated a complaint and found a regulatory insufficiency due to untimely nurse reviews after a significant change.
    • Regulatory Insufficiency: Nurse reviews not completed timely after significant changes
    07 Apr 2016Renewal
    Found no deficiencies cited during the recertification monitoring evaluation.
    17 Dec 2015Incident
    Determined the tenant-rights allegation lacked evidence; no deficiencies were cited.
    17 Aug 2015Incident
    Investigated the incident; no regulatory insufficiencies were identified.
    08 Dec 2014Complaint
    Regulatory insufficiencies were identified due to staff not following program policies and procedures and failure to notify the Department. A civil penalty was assessed.
    • Iowa Code § 231C.14(1)(a); Iowa Admin Code 481 IAC 67.17(1)(a)Civil penalties; regulatory insufficiencies
    10 Oct 2013Complaint
    Investigated a complaint about tenant management and found regulatory insufficiencies related to admitting or retaining tenants with certain conditions.
    • IAC r. 481-69.23(1)c(1)(2)Regulatory Insufficiency
    14 Feb 2012Renewal
    Concluded that there were no regulatory insufficiencies noted during monitoring.
    26 Sept 2011Incident
    Investigated a complaint alleging theft of a resident's narcotic medication and found no regulatory insufficiencies.
    14 Aug 2010Incident
    Investigated and substantiated regulatory insufficiencies in medication and staffing; a $500 civil penalty was assessed.
    04 Nov 2004Complaint
    Investigated and found multiple regulatory insufficiencies related to tenant assessments, elopement management, and service planning. Specifically, assessments were not completed prior to admission or after changes; a tenant with repeated elopements was retained; and service plans were not prepared, updated timely, or signed.
    • 321 IAC 25.23(1)Assessment of tenants prior to admission
    • 321 IAC 25.23(2)Ongoing assessment for changes in condition
    • 321 IAC 25.23(3)Exclusion/transfer criteria for tenants
    • 321 IAC 25.24Written exception for higher level of care
    • 321 IAC 25.28Service plan development prior to occupancy
    • 321 IAC 25.28Service plan updates when changes occur
    • 321 IAC 25.28Signatures of multidisciplinary team for service plans

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

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