Best Nursing Homes in Des Moines, IA

Overview of Wesley Acres

A community that strives in exceedingly making its residents comfortable, the Wesley Acres offers the best balance of urban living and assistance with everyday living.  A proud member of the Wesley Senior Living Group, Acres places integrity at the heart of its mission; ensuring that residents can feel inspired in creating a better life with the continuum of care being provided. Wesley Acres is an elegant senior living home that aims to enhance and enrich the lives of its residents. 

Wesley offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their engaging activities and programs to name a few are the recreational activities, fitness activities, and entertainment programs available for residents to take part in at the library, media room, or outdoor social areas.

Overview of Valley View Village

Valley View Village 2571 is a high-standard nursing home in Des Moines, IA, that offers a wide range of care options, from independent living to rehabilitation. Promoting a welcoming environment, the community strives to maintain connections for older adults’ happiness and wellness. Delicious dining, recreational activities, and pet-friendly spaces are among the community’s unique features that make it an ideal retirement destination. With its dedication to residents’ welfare, personalized care plans are crafted to meet their healthcare needs and lifestyle preferences.

Hobby groups, fun excursions, and spiritual activities are just some of the activities that residents can join for leisure and wellness. The community also features a variety of amenities, including a library, well-maintained gardens, and walking paths, dedicated to enriching residents’ living experiences. As a community of its own, Valley View Village has all the local amenities needed for residents’ needs and leisure. This retirement community is one of Iowa’s finest choices for senior living, especially for its wide range of care options and extensive amenities.

Tucked away in Waukee, IA Independence Village of Waukee is a one-of-a-kind senior living community that offers an array of care options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. The community offers a wide range of apartment floor plans, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom apartments, and shared suites for memory care residents. A dedicated care team is available 24-hours a day to provide licensed support and various assistance, from daily living activities to medication reminders, and mobility assistance.

Committed to offering a nurturing and engaging environment that fosters social interaction and vibrant living, the community offers a wide array of activities and events inspired by residents’ interests and skills. Residents also enjoy a personalized dining experience, consisting of tastefully prepared meals tailored to their dietary needs and tastes. Here, residents are given access to the necessities they need to live a fulfilling golden years.

Overview of Life Center

Offering excellent memory care, long-term care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services, The Life Center is a dependable senior living community in Des Moines, IA that helps residents maintain a sense of individuality and freedom while receiving additional support. The community features a reliable nursing team available 24-hours a day and an extensive rehabilitative program, featuring physical, speech, and occupational therapies that help residents maintain their highest level of functionality.

Residents also delight in an array of convenient services that help them live a maintenance-free lifestyle such as housekeeping, laundry, package delivery services, and more. A registered dietician carefully reviews the residents’ therapeutic diets to ensure they are receiving the proper nutrition and nourishment. With Life Center, residents are guaranteed to lead the lifestyle they deserve surrounded by compassionate support and care.

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.

Overview of Azria Health Park Place

Azria Health Park Place is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Des Moines. It is proud to be one of the few communities in the city that delivers exceptional individualized care for its unique residents. They aim to change the meaning of recovery for seniors through the outstanding level of care delivered by their patient-friendly staff to offer the best care possible for their residents. Azria strives to have all its residents experience the comprehensive and exemplary care offered.

Expect nothing but quality regarding their service: an advanced level of recovery found in long-term and post-acute rehabilitative services. They also proudly offer specialized care programs such as neurological and stroke services, orthopedic care, prosthetic training, pulmonary rehabilitation, post-cardiac care, and wound care– all created to have the right provision of multidisciplinary healthcare services such as therapy, enriching activities, and discharge planning.

Overview of Everystep

EveryStep is a nonprofit hospice and home health organization headquartered at 3000 Easton Boulevard in Des Moines, Iowa. Administered by Leann Uhlenhopp and operating since 1992, the organization serves over 30 counties through a network of branches including Centerville, Mount Ayr, and Winterset. Licensed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), EveryStep provides end-of-life care in private homes, nursing facilities, and dedicated hospice houses.

State and federal oversight is conducted through CMS Medicare Conditions of Participation. Between 2010 and 2025, DIAL performed 15 complaint investigations, resulting in a per-inspection average of 2.1 deficiencies, which is 17% above the state average. While a 2019 survey identified 11 deficiencies related to care planning and physician orders, the most recent inspection on June 24, 2025, resulted in zero deficiencies. No fines or immediate jeopardy findings are currently on record.

Professional support includes a multidisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, and spiritual counselors available 24/7. Beyond hospice and home health, EveryStep operates specialized programs like the Amanda the Panda children’s bereavement program and veteran-specific recognition services. The organization is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) and maintains a 93% family caregiver recommendation rate, which exceeds the Iowa average of 88%.

The East Village headquarters features a Walk Score of 91, serving as a hub for community health and grief support. The Kavanagh House in Des Moines offers a home-like inpatient setting with private bedrooms, family kitchens, and landscaped gardens for acute symptom management. Available services encompass music and pet therapy, assistance with daily living activities, and respite care for primary family caregivers.

Prospective residents and their representatives should consider the organization’s established history and its recent clean regulatory trajectory. It is advisable to ask the intake coordinator about the current frequency of interdisciplinary team reviews and how the organization ensures physician orders are integrated into the care plan within the standard 15-day window.

Overview of Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation

Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation is an 80-bed community at 5608 SW Ninth Street in Des Moines, Iowa. Administered by Dirk Timm and operated by Gateway Healthcare LLC, the facility provides skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitative therapy to Polk County residents. The campus maintains a high occupancy rate of 89% and is located in a walkable area near central city services.

State and federal oversight currently assigns the facility a 1-star overall rating, which signifies performance categorized as “Much Below Average”. Historical records indicate a high frequency of citations, with the facility averaging 16.2 deficiencies annually between 2020 and 2025, the highest rate among state benchmarks in this review context. While a November 2025 follow-up survey concluded with zero new citations, earlier reports identified recurring concerns regarding abuse reporting, medication management, and infection control. Since 2024, the facility has also incurred federal penalties totaling over $380,000 for non-compliance with health standards.

Professional care is guided by a staffing model that delivers approximately 3 hours 43 minutes of daily nursing time per resident. Registered Nurse (RN) presence is currently 30 minutes per resident day, a figure that is roughly 32% below the Iowa state average. Despite these staffing gaps, long-stay quality measures hold a 4-star rating, reflecting positive outcomes in pain management and physical function. Conversely, short-stay metrics indicate a rehospitalization rate that is 14% higher than the state mean.

The campus environment provides 24-hour medical oversight alongside specialized wellness initiatives like the “Stay Active” program. Residents have access to in-house physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as private rooms and organized social engagement. While not part of a continuing care retirement community, the facility operates dedicated wings for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments. Medicare and Medicaid are both accepted to support varied placement needs.

Older adults and their representatives should evaluate the current bedside care standards and abuse prevention protocols during a facility tour. It is advisable to ask the administrator for documented proof of corrective actions regarding the 2025 citations and to verify that the current nursing coverage is sufficient to meet the resident’s specific recovery or long-term care goals.