Page 2 of Best Nursing Homes in Des Moines, IA

Overview of Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines

The Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines is a nursing home in Des Moines, Iowa, designed for post-hospital recovery, surgery rehabilitation, and long-term care. Residents stay here for an average of 214 days, a timeline that reflects a steady balance between short-term therapy turnarounds and extended residential placements.

An on-staff doctor coordinates with a 24-hour nursing team that averages 3 hours and 36 minutes of direct care per resident daily. Registered nurses, practical nurses, and aides use this time to manage clinical treatments, physical rehabilitation, and daily medical monitoring. Outside, the property carries a walk score of 52, making the neighborhood moderately walkable, so visitors can handle a few simple tasks on foot, though most trips require a car.

Inspectors conduct regular health and safety surveys at this facility to check compliance with standard care rules. This summary does not list specific deficiency patterns, so asking the director of nursing to show you their latest state survey results during a tour is a practical way to check their recent safety record.

Prospective residents can call the intake coordinator to check on open room availability or to map out the standard move-in steps. The front office handles billing through traditional Medicare, state Medicaid, and private pay, and the staff can provide details on the monthly social activity calendar.

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.

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.