Nursing homes in Des Moines and central Iowa

What is a nursing home in Iowa?

A nursing facility licensed by DIAL under Iowa Code chapter 135C that provides licensed nursing care around the clock, rehabilitation and help with all daily activities, usually certified by CMS for Medicare and Medicaid.

its roster lists 52 licensed nursing facilities in the six metro counties with 3,594 beds, and CMS rates 51 of them, 21 at four or five stars overall (Care Compare data as of October 1, 2026).

Who needs a nursing home rather than assisted living?

People who need daily skilled nursing, more than part-time health care, routine two-person transfers or total help with daily activities, or who are recovering from a hospital stay and need daily therapy.

Iowa's assisted living limits in 481 IAC 69.23 mark the line.

What does a nursing home cost around Des Moines?

Iowa's 2025 medians are $111,325 a year for a semi-private room and $120,450 for a private room, about $305 and $330 a day.

Medicare covers short skilled stays after a qualifying hospital admission; Iowa Medicaid covers long stays for eligible residents.

How should we choose a Des Moines nursing home?

Check CMS's overall, inspection and staffing stars, the latest deficiencies and any Iowa state fines in our directory, then visit at a mealtime and ask about staffing, turnover and Medicaid acceptance.

Proximity to the family members who will visit most matters a great deal. Ask about weekend staffing, how call lights are answered, and how residents' preferences, such as wake-up times and meals, are recorded.

What should families know about Iowa Medicaid in a Des Moines nursing home?

Most long-stay residents eventually rely on Iowa Medicaid, so confirm before admission that the home accepts Iowa Medicaid for long-term care and contracts with the resident's managed care plan, and ask how a private-pay resident converts.

In 2026 the institutional income limit is $2,982 a month, with a Medical Assistance Income Trust for higher incomes, and the resource limit is $2,000 for a single person. A spouse at home keeps protected resources and income. Federal rules generally let a resident who converts to Medicaid stay in the same certified home, and they protect residents from discharge without notice and appeal rights.

Where is nursing homes available across the Des Moines metro?

This is how DIAL's roster spreads nursing homes across Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties.