Quick answers
- Is Bickford Cottage Ames licensed?
- Bickford Cottage Ames appears on the official license list of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Health & Safety Division (list dated October 30, 2025, retrieved October 31, 2026) as “Assisted Living Program”, license number S0024, status: licensed. Check the state record for the latest status and inspection reports.
- How many residents can Bickford Cottage Ames have?
- The state license lists a capacity of 63. This is the licensed maximum, not the number of places free today.
- Where is Bickford Cottage Ames?
- 2418 Kent Ave, Ames, IA 50010, Story County, Iowa.
- What is the phone number of Bickford Cottage Ames?
- (515) 233-6000, as listed by the state.
- What is the closest hospital emergency room?
- Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames (about 1.2 mi in a straight line). In a medical emergency, call 911.
What to ask when you visit
A general checklist for any assisted living or residential care home. It is not medical or legal advice.
- Is the license current? Can I see the latest state inspection report and how any problems were fixed?
- What does the monthly fee include, and what costs extra (levels of care, help with medicines, laundry, transport)?
- How and how often are fees raised, and with how much notice?
- What help with daily activities is offered (bathing, dressing, medicines), and who gives it?
- How many staff are on duty during the day and at night? Is a nurse on site or on call?
- What happens if care needs increase? When would a resident have to move out?
- Is there a memory-care area for people with dementia, and is the home licensed for it?
- Does the home accept Medicaid (or a state waiver program), long-term care insurance or veterans’ benefits?
- How are medical emergencies handled, and which hospital is usually used?
- Can I talk with residents and families, share a meal, and visit at different times of day?
- What does the contract say about moving out, discharge and refunds? Ask for a copy to read at home.
Read the state record before you visit: state license search.
Free official help: the Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living), 1‑800‑677‑1116, eldercare.acl.gov, can connect you with your area agency on aging and your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, who helps residents and families with concerns about a home.
Other licensed homes nearby
From the same official state lists, by straight-line distance from the center of the ZIP code (not driving distance).
- Northridge Village0.0 mi · Ames, IA · capacity 68
- Lindens5.6 mi · Ames, IA · capacity 32
- Rose of Ames5.6 mi · Ames, IA · capacity 112
- Waterford at Ames Assisted Living5.6 mi · Ames, IA · capacity 122
- Indian Creek Independent & Assisted Living Apts.7.4 mi · Nevada, IA · capacity 36
- Windsor Manor Nevada7.4 mi · Nevada, IA · capacity 70
Nearest hospital emergency rooms
Hospitals that list emergency services in Medicare (CMS) data, by straight-line distance.
- Mary Greeley Medical Center1.2 mi · Ames, IA
- Story County Hospital8.1 mi · Nevada, IA
- Boone County Hospital15 mi · Boone, IA
License information
| License type (as the state names it) | Assisted Living Program |
|---|---|
| License number | S0024 |
| License status | Licensed |
| Licensed capacity | 63 |
| Address | 2418 Kent Ave, Ames, IA 50010 |
| County | Story |
| State | Iowa |
| Phone | (515) 233‑6000 |
| Licensing agency | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Health & Safety Division |
| Inspection reports | Search this home on the state website → |
| Corrections | Report an error or suggest an update → |
Sources
- Official license list of Iowa — Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Health & Safety Division, list dated October 30, 2025, retrieved October 31, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau ZIP code areas (Gazetteer) — approximate position (center of the ZIP code area) used for distances