Senior care in Des Moines

How much licensed senior care does Des Moines have?

The City of Des Moines had about 212,086 residents in Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, and DIAL lists 15 certified assisted living programs and 12 nursing facilities with Des Moines mailing addresses in the four areas we map.

Is Des Moines growing or shrinking?

Slightly shrinking: the city's estimate fell from 214,032 in the 2020 base to 212,086 in 2025, while Ankeny, Waukee, West Des Moines and the other suburbs grew quickly, which is where most new senior living has been built.

For care decisions, the mailing address matters less than the drive for the relatives who will visit most, which is why the area pages group facilities by ZIP code and the suburb pages list the closest alternatives across city lines.

Which hospitals serve Des Moines seniors?

DIAL's roster shows UnityPoint Health's Iowa Methodist and Iowa Lutheran hospitals, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and Broadlawns Medical Center inside the city, with UnityPoint Methodist West in West Des Moines; most rehab and nursing home referrals begin with a discharge from one of them.

• Broadlawns Medical Center (200 licensed beds)
• MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center (768 licensed beds)
• UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Center (482 licensed beds)
• UnityPoint Health Des Moines Iowa Lutheran (224 licensed beds)

Where do Des Moines families get free help?

Aging Resources of Central Iowa at 5838 Grand Avenue, Suite 106, Des Moines, IA 50312 ((515) 255-1310) is the Area Agency on Aging for Polk County and seven neighboring counties, offering options counseling, caregiver support and meal programs.

Complaints about a certified program or licensed facility go to DIAL ((515) 381-7272); residents' rights questions go to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-866-236-1430; abuse of a dependent adult at home goes to Iowa HHS at 1-800-362-2178. Immanuel Pathways Central Iowa serves Polk County from Windsor Heights.