Des Moines Senior AdvisorWhich Iowa counties does Des Moines Senior Advisor cover?
Six counties: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie, the Census Bureau's Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan area, all regulated by the same state agency and all part of Iowa Medicaid.
| County | Population | 65+ | 85+ | Median age | Assisted living programs | Nursing facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 516,546 | 82,024 | 9,083 | 36.9 | 52 | 30 |
| Dallas County | 118,457 | 17,182 | 2,006 | 36.7 | 13 | 8 |
| Warren County | 57,331 | 10,546 | 1,305 | 39.2 | 9 | 6 |
| Jasper County | 38,153 | 8,262 | 1,002 | 42.3 | 3 | 5 |
| Madison County | 17,270 | 3,501 | 404 | 42.2 | 0 | 1 |
| Guthrie County | 10,782 | 2,901 | 275 | 46.4 | 2 | 2 |
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025); Iowa DIAL Entity Report run November 6, 2026.
Do all six counties share one aging agency?
Five do: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper and Madison counties are served by Aging Resources of Central Iowa, while Guthrie County belongs to the Elderbridge Agency on Aging region.
The split decides where you call for options counseling and caregiver support. PACE follows a similar line: Immanuel Pathways Central Iowa enrolls residents of the five central counties but not Guthrie.
Which metro county has the oldest population?
Guthrie County: 26.9% of residents were 65 or older in 2025 Census estimates, with a median age of 46.4, against 21.7% in Jasper, 20.3% in Madison, 18.4% in Warren, 15.9% in Polk and 14.5% in Dallas County.
Dallas County is the youngest and fastest-growing of the six, which is why so much new assisted living has opened in Waukee and West Des Moines, while the rural counties rely on a few long-standing local providers.
Where is most of the region's licensed senior care?
In Polk County: Des Moines and its Polk County suburbs hold most of the metro's assisted living programs, nursing facilities, home health agencies and hospices, Dallas County has a fast-growing cluster in West Des Moines and Waukee, and the outer counties have a handful each in their county seats.
Each county page lists every certified or licensed facility and the straight-line distance from the county seat to the nearest hospitals and to downtown Des Moines.
How many older adults live in the six counties?
Census Bureau estimates put 124,416 residents aged 65 and older in the six counties on July 1, 2025, including 14,075 aged 85 and older, the group most likely to need daily help.
Polk County holds most of those older residents in raw numbers, but Guthrie, Jasper and Madison have much higher shares of residents 65 and older, which is why families there so often weigh local options against the larger choice in the metro core.
Side by side
| Shared by all six counties | Different from county to county | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules | DIAL certification and licensing, Iowa Medicaid rules | Area Agency on Aging |
| Hotlines | DIAL (515) 381-7272, Ombudsman 1-866-236-1430, Iowa HHS 1-800-362-2178 | Local aging agency phone |
| PACE | Available in Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper and Madison | Available in Guthrie |
| Costs | The same Iowa CareScout medians | Actual quotes |
