Page 3 of Best Independent Living in Des Moines, IA

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 27 independent living communities in Des Moines, IA using IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in IA
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Des Moines, IA our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Des Moines, IA.
27 homes
Other senior care options in Des Moines:
Avg Walk Score: 52/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Des Moines, IA. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 88The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Des Moines, IA. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
Overview of The 44 Dsm

Ideally set in the harmonious neighborhood of Des Moines, IA, The 44 Dsm is an idyllic retreat that offers independent living. The community has a variety of beautifully furnished and spacious one- and two-bedroom accommodations, ensuring residents’ comfort and safety. Residents also gain easy access to their necessities with local shops in the area.

A thoughtfully planned calendar of engaging activities and enriching programs is conducted, encouraging residents to live actively and maintain social connections. Delightful restaurants and shops surrounding the area also provide residents with various dining options to satisfy their dietary needs and preferences. The community is a great option for those looking to downsize in retirement, especially with its warm and friendly setting.

Contact The 44 DSM

Overview of Fort Des Moines Senior Housing

Make the most of your best years at Fort Des Moines Senior Housing, a distinct community located in the quiet setting of Des Moines, IA, offering independent living. Featuring purposely built and spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans, the community ensures residents’ comfort and safety. Maintenance services and plenty of convenient apartment features, residents enjoy a hassle-free living.

A thoughtfully curated calendar of fun recreational activities and engaging programs is conducted to keep residents active and socially connected. Delightful restaurants and shops are also available nearby, providing residents with various dining options to meet their dietary needs and preferences. Amenities include an activities room, a beauty salon, a chapel, a fitness center, a theater room, a garden, and an outdoor gazebo, creating the ideal setting for a blissful retirement.

Contact Fort Des Moines Senior Housing

Overview of Luther Park Apartments

Luther Park Apartments is a blissful retreat in Des Moines, IN, offering independent living. Those 62+ can find the accommodation that best matches their preferences, with specially designed and sophisticated one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The community also helps with chores and maintenance, ensuring residents enjoy a hassle-free living.

Here, residents can spend their days as they please, as cozy communal spaces and leisure activities are available for their recreation and wellness. Lunch services are also provided, so residents have a hassle-free dining experience that caters to their dietary needs and preferences. With its extensive amenities and exceptional services, residents are guaranteed the finest retirement experience.

Contact Luther Park Apartments

Overview of Holiday Beaverdale Estates

A residential senior living community offering assisted living and independent living choices for older adults in Des Moines, Iowa, is Holiday Beaverdale Estates. Nestled in the Beaverdale neighborhood on Douglas Avenue, it provides a residential setting that captivates seniors seeking supportive care with varying independence levels.

Assisted living here supports occupants needing help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, medication management, and meal preparation, while encouraging as much independence as possible for each person. This type of care environment typically pairs personal assistance with a residential setting that many families find more serene and personal than larger facilities. For those wanting less support, the independent living option lets active seniors enjoy community amenities and social opportunities with minimal care assistance, so it fits those who cherish autonomy and an engaged lifestyle. The Beaverdale area where Holiday Beaverdale Estates sits scores 64 on the Walk Score, indicating moderate walkability. In turn, some errands can be done on foot, but a quick drive is required for most trips. The neighborhood offers a quieter, residential character that suits those prioritizing a neighborhood feel over a busier commercial setting. Nearby family members will perceive the area as relatively and easily navigable for regular visits.

Holiday Beaverdale Estates accepts assisted living and independent living occupants, making it a flexible choice for families with different care needs or for people with possibly changing needs. For those considering the home, an on-site tour is the best way to evaluate room options, see daily amenities and activities, and discuss specific care services and pricing directly with the team.

Contact Holiday Beaverdale Estates

Overview of Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Des Moines, Iowa, is a 150-bed nursing home run by Sylvania Franciscan Health. The community admits short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term residents, accepting payment through Medicare, Medicaid, and private funds. The facility maintains an average occupancy rate of 72 percent, with typical resident stays lasting around 172 days.

Clinical care includes specialized orthopedic therapy and skilled nursing, with staff on-site 24 hours a day. Residents receive an average of 3 hours and 58 minutes of direct nursing attention daily, under the supervision of registered nurses who perform regular health assessments. For local seniors who live at home, the campus offers daytime adult care programs and short-term respite stays.

The neighborhood has a walkability score of 67 out of 100, indicating that the surrounding area is moderately walkable for visitors and families.

Prospective residents looking for a community that offers a full continuum of nursing care and daytime programming can call Bishop Drumm Retirement Center directly to verify bed availability or discuss enrollment details.

Contact Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

Overview of Trinity Center at Luther Park

Operating under the Gardens at Luther Park organization, Trinity Center at Luther Park is a 120-bed nursing home that provides short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled care for residents aged 55 and older. The building maintains a high local volume with a 91% occupancy rate and manages an extended 239-day average length of stay. Financial coverage handles a standard mix of Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay sources. The campus is built in an exceptionally walkable downtown neighborhood, making local errands and shops easily accessible on foot.

Daily care lines supply an average of 4 hours and 34 minutes of direct nursing time per resident each day, with a combination of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides covering the floor alongside on-site physical therapists. On the compliance side, public monitoring files from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing indicate that state inspectors have noted recurring administrative issues centered on care documentation, food handling protocols, and basic infection control.

Beyond the medical operations, daily life on the campus is organized around faith-based Christian values, spiritual support programs, regular activities, and local volunteer networks.

Prospective representatives researching faith-based senior care options or multi-level nursing setups can review these state health filings to assess the property’s operational history. The public records outline a busy, highly occupied facility backed by solid daily direct care hours and a walkable location, balanced against some recurring regulatory points regarding kitchen and documentation maintenance.

Contact Trinity Center at Luther Park

Overview of Copper Shores Village

Copper Shores Village is part of the Immanuel senior living network in Des Moines, Iowa. The community is open to residents 55 and older and spans independent living, assisted living, and memory care under one roof.

Immanuel operates outside the federal CMS framework, which means no Medicare or Medicaid certification. Private pay is the payment model here, consistent with how most faith-affiliated independent and assisted living communities in Iowa are structured. The Immanuel brand is organized around a lifelong learning and wellness orientation, with a faith-based community identity built into the model. Programming includes recreational activities and socialization; 24-hour care is available.

The Walk Score of 42 puts this in the “some errands walkable, most require a car” range, which is fairly typical for Des Moines residential neighborhoods outside the core.

Copper Shores Village is a faith-oriented, multi-level care community in Des Moines for adults 55 and older, built around wellness and engagement programming and operating on a private-pay basis as part of the Immanuel network.

Contact Copper Shores Village

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Des Moines, IA

What is the average cost of independent living in Des Moines, IA?

The average monthly cost of independent living in Des Moines, IA is approximately $1,879. Actual rates vary by community, level of care, and floorplan.

What is the price range for independent living in Des Moines, IA?

Independent living in Des Moines, IA typically ranges from $511 - $4,741 per month, depending on the community, room type, and care needs.

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 27 independent living communities in Des Moines, IA. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Des Moines, IA?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Des Moines, IA, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in Des Moines, IA?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.