Cedar Rapids Today

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Belle Plaine Specialty Care stood out as the third largest nursing home in Benton County, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Data shows that the nursing center had a total of 46 beds available, five less than the average in Benton County as of the fourth quarter of 2023. They aided an average of 43 residents during that period.

Belle Plaine Specialty Care had an overall rating of 2 from the CMS, which lags behind the average of 2.9 recorded for nursing homes in Iowa.

During the quarter, The Vinton Lutheran Home stood out as the largest nursing home in Benton County, with 61 beds available. Keystone Nursing Care Center, Inc. came in second place, with 55 beds available.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, Belle Plaine Specialty Care achieved a zero-incident record for fines and penalties.

In total, there were three non-profit nursing homes in Benton County, Iowa.

According to US Census data, in 2020, nearly 1 in 6 Americans were aged 65 years or older. Since 1920, the older population skyrocketed from 4.9 million to 55.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of roughly 1,000%, five times higher than the average growth for the overall U.S. population.

A 2021 study suggests that nearly half of this age group, roughly 28 million individuals, may require long-term services and support. Additionally, the study projects that over a third of them may eventually need nursing home care.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

Rank	Nursing Home	Overall Rating
1	The Vinton Lutheran Home	2
2	Keystone Nursing Care Center, Inc.	3
3	Belle Plaine Specialty Care	2
4	Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehabilitation, LLC	5