Live-In Caregivers in West Des Moines, IA

About 1,394 West Des Moines residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 50% of homes in West Des Moines have three or more bedrooms (60% in Polk County), while 14% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.2 rooms.

Of West Des Moines households headed by someone 65 or older, 5,376 own their home and 1,412 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 542 owners and 405 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $17.34 an hour (the Iowa median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,757 a month (67% of the $5,587 monthly median income of West Des Moines households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,624 a month (226% of the $5,587 monthly median income of West Des Moines households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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.