Des Moines Senior AdvisorHow many adult day services programs are certified around Des Moines?
DIAL certifies 4 adult day services programs in the six counties with capacity for 80 participants in all.
| County | Programs | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 3 | 52 |
| Jasper County | 1 | 28 |
Who pays for adult day services in Iowa?
Families pay privately at most programs, but the Elderly Waiver covers adult day care for eligible Medicaid members 65 and older, and PACE participants attend the PACE organization's own day center in Windsor Heights.
CareScout's 2025 Iowa median for five days a week of adult day health care is $19,370 a year, about $1,614 a month, or roughly $74.50 a day. Iowa rules let an adult day program provide licensed nursing and therapy for no more than four hours a day per participant, so ask each one about nursing on site, dementia care and transportation.
What does DIAL certification of an adult day program require?
Certification under Iowa Code chapter 231D and 481 IAC chapters 67 and 70, which shares the general rules for assisted living and elder group homes: participant rights, staffing sufficient to meet participants' needs, background checks, nurse delegation, medication policies and DIAL monitoring with plans of correction.
A participant may receive licensed nursing and therapy combined with nurse-delegated help for no more than four hours a day. Programs must disclose their own admission and discharge criteria in writing, so ask what would end a participant's enrollment, such as wandering, incontinence or behavior, before you start. The roster above shows each program's capacity, certificate dates and any state fine since January 2023.
Why are there so few adult day programs on the list?
Because DIAL's roster counts only programs certified under Iowa Code chapter 231D, and the metro's certified programs are few; senior centers and meal sites run by Aging Resources of Central Iowa's partners are not certified adult day services.
For a daytime program closer to home, ask Aging Resources of Central Iowa ((515) 255-1310) about senior centers and caregiver respite options in your county.
| Facility | Certificate / license # | Units or beds | City | County | State fines since 2023 | Certificate status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dahl Adult Day Services 3520 Grand Avenue, 50312 | ADS106 | 30 | Des Moines | Polk | 1 | Current through 04/21/2028 |
| Grace Estates LLC 7300 Westown Parkway, Suite 120, 50266 | ADS136 | — | West Des Moines | Polk | 0 | Current through 06/14/2029 |
| New Horizons Center 718 NE Grant Street, 50021 | ADS018 | 22 | Ankeny | Polk | 0 | Current through 12/29/2026 |
| Willowbrook Adult Day Service 501 E 2nd Street North, 50208 | ADS108 | 28 | Newton | Jasper | 0 | Current through 05/30/2028 |
