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Nursing homes in Des Moines, IA

12 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes, with ratings, staffing and inspection results from CMS.

Nursing homes
12
in Des Moines
Certified beds
998
across all 12
Adults 65+
27,045
Census estimate for Des Moines
Certified beds per 1,000 adults 65+
36.9
city total vs. Census 65+ estimate
Within 25 miles
44
of the center of Des Moines
Nursing HomesAssisted Living 15Memory Care 8Independent Living 6Home Care 5Senior Apartments 26
Showing 1–4 of 4 nursing homes within 10 mi of Des Moines
Filters
Sort: Highest rated
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Source: CMS Care Compare, Nursing Home Provider Information, processed Sep 1, 2026. Distance is measured from the center of Des Moines (U.S. Census Bureau).

Nearby

Nursing homes near Des Moines

Counting neighboring towns, there are 44 nursing homes within 25 miles of the center of Des Moines, 32 more than in Des Moines itself. Distances are straight-line miles.

Closest outside Des Moines

See all 44 within 25 miles

Nearby cities

Within 25 miles, closest first

Local overview

Nursing home care in Des Moines at a glance

Des Moines has 12 nursing homes in our directory, drawn from CMS Care Compare records. No single ZIP code dominates: the nursing homes are spread across 6 ZIP codes, and the busiest, 50316, has 3. By size, the most common group is 50 to 99 beds (7 of 12 that report it).1

By ZIP code

  • 503163
  • 503123
  • 503152
  • 503102
  • 503141
  • 503171
Nursing homes in Des Moines by the ZIP code on their license or certification record.1

By certified beds

  • Under 50 beds2
  • 50 to 99 beds7
  • 100 beds or more3
Size is the certified beds on the public record.1

Licensing and oversight

How nursing home care is regulated in Iowa

Nursing homes are licensed by the state and, to accept Medicare or Medicaid, certified by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Iowa state survey agency inspects them for CMS, and the results are published on Medicare’s Care Compare.34

Report a problem
Call 1-877-686-0027 or file a complaint online.3
Inspection reports
Medicare Care Compare publishes each nursing home’s inspection findings, staffing and penalties.4

Paying for care

Ways to pay for nursing home care in Iowa

Programs that can help, by name. Eligibility rules are set by each program, so confirm with the agency before you plan around one.

Medicaid
The Iowa Medicaid program can cover long-term care for people who qualify on income, assets and care needs. Which services it covers depends on the program, so ask the state Medicaid agency.5 Iowa Medicaid agency
Medicare
Medicare Part A covers short-term skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days, for up to 100 days per benefit period. It does not pay for long-term custodial care.67
Veterans benefits
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities may qualify for the VA pension with Aid and Attendance.8 The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs helps with claims (515-252-4698).9
Medicare counseling
Iowa’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives unbiased one-on-one help with Medicare and related coverage questions: 1-800-351-4664.10

Local resources

Local help for families in Des Moines

Official agencies and nonprofit helplines, with phone numbers and links taken from their own directories.

  • Area Agency on Aging

    Aging services for Polk County11

    1-800-677-1116

    The Eldercare Locator connects you with the Area Agency on Aging that serves Polk County.

    Website

  • Long-term care ombudsman

    Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program12

    (515) 393-1710

    Free, independent advocate for residents of care facilities.

  • Report abuse or neglect

    Iowa Adult Protective Services

    800-362-2178

    Adult Protective Services takes reports about adults at risk.

  • Health facility complaints

    Iowa state survey agency3

    1-877-686-0027

    Website

  • Medicare counseling (SHIP)

    Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)10

    1-800-351-4664

    Website

  • Veterans benefits

    Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs9

    515-252-4698

    Website

  • Medicaid

    Iowa Medicaid agency5

    Website

Questions families ask

Frequently asked questions about nursing home care in Des Moines

How many nursing homes are in Des Moines, IA?

WeFoundCare lists 12 nursing homes in Des Moines, IA, from public licensing and certification records. Within 25 miles of the center of Des Moines there are 44.

How many beds can nursing homes in Des Moines serve?

12 of the 12 nursing homes report certified beds, for a combined 998 beds. The Census Bureau estimates 27,045 adults age 65 and older live in Des Moines.

Which Des Moines ZIP codes have the most nursing homes?

50316 (3), 50312 (3), 50315 (2). In all, 6 ZIP codes in Des Moines have at least one.

Where can I see inspection results for nursing homes in Des Moines?

Medicare’s Care Compare publishes federal inspection and quality results. Each listing on this page links to its detail page with the figures we import from CMS.

Who can help if there is a problem with care in Des Moines?

The long-term care ombudsman is a free, independent advocate for residents. In Polk County, call (515) 393-1710. To report suspected abuse or neglect, call Iowa Adult Protective Services at 800-362-2178.

Are there nursing homes near Des Moines?

Nearby cities with listings include Pleasant Hill (1, 5.7 mi), Carlisle (1, 7.1 mi), Norwalk (2, 7.6 mi).

Guides

Guides for families choosing nursing home care

Other types of care

Other senior care in Des Moines

Methodology

About this data

How the figures on this page are built. Each number links to its source below.

  • Listings come from CMS Care Compare (Nursing Home Provider Information), Sep 1, 2026.1 A listing appears under the city on its license or certification address.
  • Adults 65+ is the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimate for Des Moines (Census place). Census boundaries can differ from the mailing-address city used for listings, so per-1,000 figures are a guide, not a precise rate.13
  • Certified beds is the figure on the public record; 12 of 12 nursing homes report it.
  • Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Des Moines (U.S. Census Bureau place center). “Nearby” means within 25 miles and can include other states.
  • Agency contacts come from each program’s own directory and are checked when we rebuild the data. WeFoundCare does not rate or rank communities.

Sources and references

  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Nursing Home Provider Information. data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/4pq5-n9py Accessed Sep 1, 2026.
  2. Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. dia-hfd.iowa.gov/DIA_HFD Accessed .
  3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: State Survey Agency contact information. cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/contact-information Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Care Compare. medicare.gov/care-compare Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  5. National Association of Medicaid Directors: Medicaid Directors. medicaiddirectors.org/about/medicaid-directors Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  6. CMS / Medicare.gov: Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care (2026 cost sharing). medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care Accessed Oct 17, 2026.
  7. CMS / Medicare.gov: Long-term care coverage. medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care Accessed Oct 17, 2026.
  8. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance. va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  9. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: State Veterans Affairs Offices. discover.va.gov/external-resources Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  10. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center (funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living): Find your local SHIP. shiphelp.org/ships Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  11. U.S. Administration for Community Living: Eldercare Locator. eldercare.acl.gov Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  12. National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center / National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: Find your Long-Term Care Ombudsman. theconsumervoice.org/get-help Accessed Oct 18, 2026.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B01001. data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B01001 Accessed Oct 18, 2026.