Bickford of West Des Moines

Q: What neighborhood is Bickford of West Des Moines in?

Bickford of West Des Moines is in the Hawthorne Drive neighborhood of West Des Moines.

Q: Is Bickford of West Des Moines in a walkable area?

Bickford of West Des Moines has a walk score of 59. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

Q: What is the license number of Bickford of West Des Moines?

According to IA state health department records, Bickford of West Des Moines's license number is S0043.

Q: When does Bickford of West Des Moines's license expire?

According to IA state health department records, Bickford of West Des Moines's license expires on April 30, 2027.

Q: What is the occupancy rate at Bickford of West Des Moines?

Bickford of West Des Moines's occupancy is 53%.

Q: What is the best email address for Bickford of West Des Moines?

The team at Bickford of West Des Moines can be reached at Tesse.Lester@bickfordseniorliving.com.

Q: Who is the administrator of Bickford of West Des Moines?

Tesse Lester is the administrator of Bickford of West Des Moines.

Overview of Bickford of West Des Moines

Bickford of West Des Moines is known for its outstanding assisted living facilities and memory care services. They recognize the challenges that aging can bring and offer valuable support in your area. Providing an intimate and transparent environment to seniors, they go beyond traditional nursing homes, fostering a vibrant community with engaging activities like art, baking, and music, creating a tight-knit and uplifting atmosphere.

In addition to these engaging activities, Bickford excels in culinary offerings, accommodating special diets with high culinary standards and restaurant-style dining. Their services encompass medication management, a resident monitoring system, transportation, and a pet-friendly environment. Notably, they have designed spaces tailored to the unique needs of seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s, creating a harmonious facility. Discover their exceptional assisted living and memory care options in your area.

(515) 679-6451

Managed by Tesse Lester

Executive Director

Tesse Lester serves as the Executive Director at Bickford of West Des Moines, leading the community with a dedicated team of caregivers committed to providing exceptional care for residents. She plays a central role in ensuring a warm and supportive environment for seniors and their families.

66-bed community

A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.

27 years in operation

A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care.

Walk Score: 59 / 100

Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate

53%

Lower than the Iowa average: 75.4%

Occupied beds

35 / 66

Average residents per home in Iowa 51 per day

StatusActive

IssuanceApril 30, 2025

ExpirationApril 30, 2027

CountyPolk

License NumberS0043

Year Opened04/30/1999

Bickford of West Des Moines is administrated by Tesse Lester.

Respite Care

24-Hour Staffing

Email [email protected]

Fax5152230151

Salon Services

Outdoor Spaces

Dining Options

ActivitiesActivities are designed to keep residents engaged, social, and active.

Specific ProgramsMontessori Memory Care

Food DescriptionDining options include homestyle food with made-from-scratch recipes.

What does this home offer?

Pets Allowed

Housing Options: Private Rooms

Building Type: Single-story

Transportation Services

Fitness and Recreation

Types of Care at Bickford of West Des Moines

Assisted Living Memory Care

Since 2005 · 21 years of data 39 deficiencies 32 inspections

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Iowa state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2005 vs. Iowa state average

Overall vs. IA average

Latest Inspection October 15, 2025

Deficiencies Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

Metric	This Facility	IA Average	vs. IA Avg
Total deficiencies Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.	39	27	This facility has 44% more total deficiencies than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (39 vs. IA avg 27).↑ 44% worse
Deficiencies per year Average deficiencies per year since 2005.	1.9	1.3	This facility has 46% more deficiencies per year than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (1.9 vs. IA avg 1.3).↑ 46% worse
Deficiencies per inspection Average deficiencies per inspection.	1.2	1.8	This facility has 33% fewer deficiencies per inspection than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (1.2 vs. IA avg 1.8).↓ 33% better

Inspections State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

Metric	This Facility	IA Average	vs. IA Avg
Total inspections Combined count of all routine and focused inspections. Excludes complaint investigations.	32	15	This facility has 113% more total inspections than a typical Iowa assisted living residence (32 vs. IA avg 15).↑ 113% worse

Inspection breakdown

15complaint investigations

8renewal/recertification inspections

7incident investigations

2follow-up inspections

Inspection Reports Summary An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.

The most recent inspection on October 15, 2025, found no deficiencies during complaint investigations. Earlier inspections showed a pattern of occasional deficiencies related mainly to tenant retention criteria—specifically retaining tenants requiring two-person assistance—and staff training, including background checks and dementia-specific education. Complaint investigations were mostly unsubstantiated, with no enforcement actions or fines listed in the available reports. Prior reports noted issues with alarm systems and individualized service plans, but these were addressed over time. The overall trend suggests improvement, with recent inspections showing fewer and less frequent deficiencies.

Read the full inspection reports for this facility, including detailed findings and corrective actions.

Show Inspection Reports

Elderly Waiver

Iowa Medicaid Elderly Waiver

Age 65+

General Iowa resident, Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need.

Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual

Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).

Rural focus; waitlists possible.

Benefits

In-home care (5-7 hours/day) Meals ($6/meal) Respite (240 hours/year) Adult day care ($60/day)

Iowa Family Caregiver Support

IA NFCSP

Age Caregiver of someone 60+

General Iowa resident.

Income Limits No strict limit; prioritizes low-income.

Asset Limits Not applicable.

Limited slots; rural emphasis.

Benefits

In-home respite (4-6 hours/day) Adult day care (~$60/day) Short-term facility care (up to 5 days)

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Iowa Medicare Savings Program

Age 65+ or disabled

General Iowa resident, Medicare Part A/B.

Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month (QMB), ~$3,380/month (SLMB), ~$3,598/month (QI)—individual.

Asset Limits $9,430 (individual), $14,130 (couple).

Three tiers; no waitlist.

Benefits

Covers Part B premiums ($174.70/month) Deductibles ($240/year) Copays (~20%)

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Iowa PACE

Age 55+

General Iowa resident, nursing home-level care need, safe with PACE support.

Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, Medicaid-eligible

Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).

Limited to western Iowa (e.g., Council Bluffs); expanding slowly.

Benefits

Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Medical care Meals Transportation Therapy Respite

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

Iowa VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Age 65+ or disabled veteran/spouse

General Iowa resident, wartime service, need for ADL help (A&A) or homebound.

Income Limits (2025) Net income < ~$1,984/month (veteran with dependent, A&A); pension offsets income.

Asset Limits ~$155,356 net worth limit

High veteran demand in rural areas.

Benefits

Cash (~$1,433-$2,642/month veteran, ~$951-$1,318 spouse) for care costs (e.g., in-home, assisted living)

Able Up Iowa

Age 65+ or disabled

General Iowa resident, ability to repay loan, need for assistive tech or mods.

Income Limits (2025) No strict limit; must demonstrate repayment capacity.

Asset Limits Not specified; credit-based.

Loans up to $25,000; statewide via Easterseals partnership.

Benefits

Loans for wheelchairs Ramps Walk-in tubs (~$500-$10,000 avg.) Reducing reliance on paid care

1.2 miles from city center Estimated distance in miles from West Des Moines's city center to Bickford of West Des Moines's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 2.03 miles to nearest hospital (DeAnn L. Nerem, PsyD)

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The information below is reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.

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