In-home care in Des Moines and central Iowa

What kinds of in-home care are available in Des Moines?

Skilled home health from DIAL-licensed agencies, usually after an illness and often paid by Medicare, and non-medical help from private-duty agencies or individual aides for bathing, meals, housekeeping and companionship.

DIAL lists 20 home health agencies, 11 hospices and 3 inpatient hospice houses with offices in the six metro counties.

What does in-home care cost in Iowa?

CareScout's 2025 Iowa median for non-medical home care is about $41 an hour, $94,037 a year at 44 hours a week, eighth-highest among states; Medicare home health visits cost an eligible patient nothing.

The Elderly Waiver and PACE can pay for help at home for eligible members.

Who pays for in-home care in Iowa?

Families pay for most hourly help; Medicare pays for skilled home health for homebound patients; the Elderly Waiver pays for homemaker, aide and attendant care for eligible Iowans 65 and older; and PACE covers home care for its participants.

Long-term care insurance and VA Aid and Attendance also help many families.

How do we choose an in-home care agency around Des Moines?

Ask about screening, training, supervision, backup coverage, minimum shifts and billing, and for skilled care confirm the agency is Medicare-certified for the services ordered.

Get a written service agreement and keep a log of visits in the first weeks. Ask who supervises aides in the home, how often a supervisor visits, and how the agency handles a change in condition between visits.

When is in-home care no longer enough?

When help is needed at night or at unpredictable times, when paid hours climb past roughly 28 a week, or when the person is isolated or unsafe between visits despite the help.

At Iowa's 2025 medians, round-the-clock home care costs several times the assisted living median, and finding reliable overnight aides is hard in the metro's tight labor market. Adult day services can cover daytime hours for less. When the plan starts to strain, tour a few assisted living programs before a crisis forces the decision.

Where is in-home care available across the Des Moines metro?

This is how DIAL's roster spreads in-home care across Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties; agencies have no bed count.