10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Des Moines, IA

Often, seniors and their loved ones cover the costs for memory care residency using a variety of payment options including savings and other personal funds, veteran benefits and grants, Medicaid, and Medicare. By combining many types of payment methods, seniors and their family members can help make a move to a memory care facility in Des Moines financially feasible.

In this section, you’ll learn how programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and VA benefits can be used to pay for memory care in Des Moines.

When you’re searching for the right memory care home for your loved one, you want to find one that meets all expected laws and regulations. In Iowa, every memory care facility, regardless of whether it’s a standalone property or part of a broader community such as a complex of buildings that includes senior apartments or assisted living housing, is required to be licensed by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA).

This means memory care facilities, wings, wards, and other units must meet minimum personnel, security, hygiene, care, staff training, and related standards, as well as pass regular annual inspections carried out by the Iowa DIA. Inspections include evaluating memory care facilities in the following categories:

• Proper resident care and services, including medication management, personal care, and activity programming.
• Adequate staffing levels and staff training, including the qualifications of the administrator and direct care staff.
• Satisfactory physical environment, including building safety, cleanliness, and maintenance.
• Upheld resident rights, including privacy, dignity, and freedom from abuse and neglect.

If a memory care facility doesn’t pass an inspection, it must take corrective actions within a specific timeframe as outlined by the DIA. You can find inspection reports on all licensed memory care facilities by searching the Direct Care Worker Registry & Health Facility Database.

Memory care facilities must meet all the regulations outlined for assisted living facilities (or assisted living programs), as well as follow Iowa state law. They can then be certified as dementia care units, which require them to follow additional staffing requirements (primarily dementia- and Alzheimer’s-specific training). Finally, the facility is also mandated to have alarms on exits and be able to remove kitchen appliances from residents’ living spaces.

Iowa Department of Health contact information

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-281-7689
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Des Moines memory care facilities

All Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in Iowa, Polk County, and the city of Des Moines. However, memory care facilities — considered a type of assisted living facility — are advised to use preventative measures to avoid the spread of all infectious diseases. These measures include those listed below.

Enjoying a high quality of life is essential for all seniors, including those living in memory care facilities. Just because someone is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t mean they can’t participate in a wide range of activities and events. Even though they may need assistance with some daily personal care tasks like bathing, dressing, taking medications on time, and regularly eating nutritious meals and occasional snacks, most seniors who require memory care want to lead as normal a life as they can.

In a highly-ranked Des Moines memory care community, this goal of being treated with dignity and being able to exercise individual freedom within safe parameters can become a reality. The vast majority of memory care housing options within the city are designed to help seniors with memory care issues continue to thrive.

Living arrangements created for aging in place

As you browse through the memory care choices in Des Moines, you’ll notice that only two of our partners are standalone facilities. The rest offer one campus that combines memory care residential living with other types of senior living arrangements.

For instance, one facility boasts units for those seeking senior apartments, independent living, assisted living, and memory care. This may be a convenient choice if your loved one has recently been diagnosed with a memory care condition but is still generally independent. It can also be beneficial if you have two married relatives, such as parents or grandparents, who want to be close but have varying medical needs.

You can find eight facilities that incorporate memory care into their assisted living housing and seven that feature independent living and assisted living in addition to memory care.

Safe living for seniors with memory care needs

Personal safety is a critical element of any memory care location. This is why all memory care facilities in Des Moines that are partnered with A Place for Mom include 24-hour, round-the-clock staff supervision within a secured community. Most also have very specialized care to help residents navigate some of the common symptoms associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s, including disorientation, wandering, and restlessness.

To ensure that each resident receives routine evaluation for disease progression, nearly all the memory care communities have visiting therapists and specialists. That way, your loved one’s every need will be met by professionals with extra training.

The comfort of beloved pets

When you entrust your loved one’s care to someone else, you want to know that they’re getting the most value and enjoyment out of their new housing experience. One way to ensure constant stimulation is by finding a memory care unit or community that allows cats or dogs, which all of our partners allow. Having the companionship of a known pet can make your family member feel more at home.

Constant stimulation for mind and body

Regular activities like crafting and fitness programs and access to onsite libraries and communal TV lounges can make living in a memory care facility cozier for residents. With an activity director on staff at 82% of our partner facilities, your loved one will be engaged in things to do. Since 77% of our partners have enclosed courtyards, you feel good about knowing your loved one will be able to enjoy getting outside while staying safe.

Health care for seniors in Des Moines

Transportation for seniors in Des Moines

Although memory care patients should only explore Des Moines with a traveling companion, they have many options for getting around. One is free or for-a-price transportation offered by their preferred memory care housing community. According to A Place for Mom research, 88% of memory care units offer access to free transportation and 82% offer transportation services for an additional fee.

If you prefer to rely upon public transportation to take your loved one around the city, you can usually find a bus during the day. All buses are maintained by the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, and seniors can enjoy discounted fares. Be aware that the free door-to-door Paratransit Bus Plus service could be available if your loved one is considered low-income or is disabled. However, it’s best to call the Transit Authority at (515) 286-3484 to ask about any special transportation arrangements for the senior in your life.

Senior activities in Des Moines

When your loved one is first diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you might assume that they have to stop doing the activities they enjoy. Quite the opposite is true. Seniors with memory care needs can still engage in plenty of recreational experiences as long as they’re accompanied by a trustworthy and dedicated adult companion. This means it’s easier than you thought to help your parent, grandparent, spouse, or other loved one make the most of living in Des Moines.

To jumpstart your exploration, head to the Memory Cafe on Grand. The facility is an adult day center that’s created just for seniors with dementia and their family and friends. To learn more about the Memory Cafe concept, check out their Facebook Group.

On-the-go ideas for physical and mental fun

There’s quite a variety of indoor and outdoor things to do with your relatives in Des Moines. Whether you’re already a resident of the city or are just visiting for a weekend or longer, consider making day trips to a few of the city’s 76+ parks. You can see which parks are best suited for the features your loved one would most like by visiting the Des Moines Parks and Recreation site.

Be sure to include Gray’s Lake Park in your lineup of park visits. It’s a huge space with lots of opportunities to casually walk down wheelchair-accessible paths, see native plants and animals, do some birdwatching, or just relax by the water. If you discover that your relative responds well to being in natural settings, bookmark the Iowa Department of Natural Resources page outlining statewide national parks. As long as you have personal transportation and your loved one can handle longer trips away from the memory care facility, you may want to occasionally visit some of these parks together.

Art and Beauty on Display

Indulging in things that are beautiful by nature and by design is always possible in Des Moines. Take the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, for instance. Seniors can traverse the grounds for a discounted rate. Only a short distance away by bus or car is the impressive Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a great location to stroll through when the weather’s friendly.

Be sure to take some time out of your weekend or week to see the free Des Moines Arts Center. You’ll be introduced to both known and unsung artists and their works. To see more art from emerging creators, take a trip to the Polk County Heritage Gallery.

Entertainment for all ages and stages

Watching TV all day can become repetitive. Mix up your loved one’s entertainment with a trip to the Des Moines Symphony to see a live concert. Or check out the Des Moines Civic Center for Broadway-level musicals and individual performances. Baseball enthusiasts will love going to a Principal Park game to see the minor league Iowa Cubs test their mettle.

It’s hard to beat the wonders of the Blank Park Zoo. The Zoo was recently honored with a 2022 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. It’s a nice location to get some light physical exercise and be introduced to a wide range of land, sea, and air creatures from across the globe.

Delicious flavors and treats for every appetite

Like so many other major cities, Des Moines is home to countless eateries, coffeehouses, diners, and restaurants. Whether your loved one prefers authentic sushi or southern barbeque, you can find the right cuisine for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner outing. For a more laid-back foodie environment, try the Downtown Farmers Market to taste-test some local ingredients, recipes, and fare.