Salem Lutheran Homes was founded as a non profit corporation in the fall of 1932.  Reverend Anders Hansen,  the Pastor of Elk Horn Lutheran Church, saw the need for a facility to accommodate the elderly who had no family to care for them.  He shared his idea at an Iowa District Convention of the Lutheran Church in September of 1932.  With a constitution adopted on October 2, 1932 and a gift of $3,000 the project was underway.

Through the many years, many changes and additions have been made to respond to the mission of Salem Lutheran Homes which now consists of a 88 bed Health Care Center with an attached Special Care unit.  A remodeling and expansion project was completed 1998 which provided a modern update to meet the changing needs of the residents.