In-Home Dementia Care in West Des Moines, IA

Local figures

Dementia Care in West Des Moines, IA: the local picture

1,394

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

10,723

residents 65 or older (15% of West Des Moines)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

West Des Moines has about 1,394 residents aged 85 or older among 10,723 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Polk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older West Des Moines residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

West Des Moines compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.7%	7.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	15%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,044	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around West Des Moines

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Clive, IA	4.5 mi	3,026	433
Windsor Heights, IA	5.2 mi	985	125
Waukee, IA	5.9 mi	3,250	370
Urbandale, IA	6.0 mi	6,881	874
Norwalk, IA	6.4 mi	2,002	380
Grimes, IA	8.9 mi	1,199	99

Nursing homes near West Des Moines

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Harmony West Des Moines	West Des Moines, IA	0.9 mi	1 of 5	113	(515) 222-5991
Cedar Ridge Village	West Des Moines, IA	2.5 mi	3 of 5	40	(515) 369-2100
Edgewater, A Wesleylife Community	West Des Moines, IA	2.6 mi	4 of 5	40	(515) 978-2400
Arbor Springs Of West Des Moines L L C	West Des Moines, IA	2.7 mi	1 of 5	56	(515) 223-1135
Walnut Ridge	Clive, IA	4.0 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 222-4000
Pine Acres Rehabilitation And Care Center	West Des Moines, IA	4.2 mi	not rated	140	(515) 223-1223

Hospices serving West Des Moines

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Moments Hospice Of Des Moines LLC	Hiawatha, IA	1.6 mi	(515) 316-6400
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines	West Des Moines, IA	1.6 mi	(515) 223-3813
Suncrest Hospice, LLC	West Des Moines, IA	1.6 mi	(515) 327-6026
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	6.3 mi	(515) 271-6777

Straight-line miles from the center of West Des Moines. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in West Des Moines

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,587 monthly median income of West Des Moines households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in West Des Moines: common questions

What nursing homes are near West Des Moines?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Harmony West Des Moines in West Des Moines (0.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Cedar Ridge Village in West Des Moines (2.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Edgewater, A Wesleylife Community in West Des Moines (2.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in West Des Moines?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,587 monthly median income of West Des Moines households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near West Des Moines

More senior care near West Des Moines

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in West Des Moines

More for West Des Moines families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in West Des Moines, IA