Des Moines Senior AdvisorMill Pond, at 1201 SE Mill Pond Court in Ankeny (Polk County), is a nursing facility certified for Medicare and Medicaid with 60 certified beds and Iowa nursing facility license 770477. Mill Pond holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5 in Care Compare data dated October 1, 2026.
How many stars does Mill Pond have from CMS?
Mill Pond holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5, with 4 stars for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 4 for quality measures on CMS's five-star scale.
| CMS / DIAL measure | Value |
|---|---|
| CMS overall stars | 5 of 5 |
| Health inspections (CMS stars) | 4 of 5 |
| Staffing (CMS stars) | 5 of 5 |
| Quality measures (CMS stars) | 4 of 5 |
| Certified beds and average daily census | 60 beds, 57.6 residents a day |
| Name as CMS lists it | Mill-Pond |
| Ownership (CMS) | Non profit - Corporation |
| Chain affiliation (CMS) | Presbyterian Homes & Services, 21 homes nationwide |
| Medicare/Medicaid certification since | September 19, 1995 |
| Iowa license (DIAL) | 770477; 60 licensed beds; Current through 01/02/2027 |
| State fines since January 2023 (DIAL) | 2, totaling $325 after adjustment |
Its average census of about 58 residents fills roughly 96% of certified beds, above the 89% typical of certified homes in the six-county metro.
How many deficiencies were cited at Mill Pond?
The latest standard health inspection CMS has on file for Mill Pond took place March 19, 2026 and produced 3 health deficiencies: 3 from the routine survey and 0 from complaint visits.
For comparison, March 6, 2025's survey recorded 6 deficiencies, with 0 more citations from infection-control checks; the latest-cycle median among Des Moines-area certified homes is 6, so this home's newest count is not out of line.
Within CMS's three-year penalty window it lists no federal fines and 0 payment denials.
Iowa's own Assessed Fines Report adds 2 state fines since January 2023: April 15, 2024, $500 issued; December 12, 2023, $0 issued. A suspended state fine usually means CMS imposed its own penalty for the same findings.
How much nursing time do residents at Mill Pond get?
Payroll data submitted to CMS shows 4.47 nursing hours per resident per day at Mill Pond, higher than the metro median of 4.01, with registered nurses supplying 0.97 of those hours (higher than the metro median of 0.64).
On weekends, total nurse staffing falls to or stays at 3.92 hours per resident-day. Nursing staff turnover is 25.0%, lower than the metro median of 47.2%; RN turnover is 27.3%. CMS counts 0 administrator departures during its measurement period.
What is the closest nursing home to Mill Pond?
Its 60 certified beds make it smaller than the Polk County median of 76 licensed nursing facility beds. The nearest other certified home is Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny, about 2.2 miles away as the crow flies, with a CMS rating of 2 of 5.
| Facility | Miles away | Units or beds | CMS overall rating | Last CMS health inspection | Deficiencies cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny View Care Center 410 NW Ash Drive, 50023 | 2.2 | 94 | 2 of 5 | January 14, 2026 | 9 |
| The Bridges at Ankeny 3510 Northwest Abilene Road, 50023 | 2.2 | 100 | 2 of 5 | March 17, 2026 | 8 |
| On With Life 715 SW Ankeny Road, 50023 Serves adults with disabilities or mental illness | 2.3 | 28 | 4 of 5 | September 4, 2025 | 1 |
| Trinity Center at Luther Park 1555 Hull Avenue, 50316 | 7.1 | 120 | 1 of 5 | December 23, 2025 | 10 |
| Bishop Drumm Retirement Center 5837 Winwood Drive, 50131 | 7.2 | 150 | 1 of 5 | July 21, 2025 | 26 |
Where is Mill Pond, and what shares its campus?
Mill Pond is in Ankeny, Polk County, and UnityPoint Health Des Moines Iowa Lutheran is the closest general hospital on DIAL's roster, about 8.0 miles away by straight line.
Broadlawns Medical Center follows at roughly 8.6 miles. These are straight-line distances, not drive times.
At the same address DIAL also lists Mill Pond AL (certified assisted living program, 80 units), Mill Pond ALP/D (dementia-specific assisted living program, 36 units). CMS identifies the home as part of a continuing care retirement community.
What should we ask Mill Pond before choosing it?
Use the federal record as a checklist: ask to read the full statement of deficiencies from March 19, 2026, even though the count (3 deficiencies) is not high for the area.
- Turnover of 25.0% is at or under the metro median; ask which charge nurses have worked nights the longest.
- Ask what led to the federal or state fines listed above and whether the underlying problem is closed.
- Occupancy is about 96%; ask whether there is a waiting list and whether rehab beds are kept separate.
- CMS lists a resident council; ask when it meets and whether family members may attend.
- If Medicaid may pay later, confirm Mill Pond accepts Iowa Medicaid for long stays and which managed care plans it contracts with.
