Elder Care Cost in Des Moines, IA (2026)
Assisted living in Des Moines, IA averages $4,200/month (7% below national avg). Nursing home private room: $8,400/month. In-home aide: $5,200/month.
Source: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2024–2025
Assisted Living
$4,200
per month
Nursing Home
$8,400
private room
In-Home Aide
$5,200
44 hrs/week
Memory Care
$5,900
per month
Adult Day Care
$1,450
per month
How Des Moines, IA compares
Care type
Assisted Living
Des Moines, IA
$4,200/mo
National avg
$4,500/mo
Nursing Home
private room
$8,400/mo
$9,733/mo
In-Home Aide
44 hrs/week
$5,200/mo
$5,339/mo
Memory Care
$5,900/mo
$6,200/mo
Annual costs in Des Moines, IA
Assisted living
$50,400/year
or $4,200/month
Nursing home (private room)
$100,800/year
or $8,400/month
Most families need 2–4 years of care on average. At Des Moines, IA assisted living rates, that's $100,800–$201,600 total before insurance or Medicaid.
Des Moines, IA vs Iowa statewide average
Assisted living
Des Moines, IA is 1% below the state average
Nursing home (private)
Understanding care types in Des Moines, IA
Assisted Living — $4,200/mo
Private apartment-style living with meals, housekeeping, medication management, and help with bathing or dressing. Good fit when someone needs regular support but not 24-hour nursing. No Medicare coverage. Most families pay privately.
Nursing Home — $8,400/mo
24-hour skilled nursing care. Required when someone needs ongoing medical attention — wound care, IV medications, physical therapy. Medicare covers the first 100 days after a qualifying hospital stay; Medicaid pays for long-term stays for those who qualify.
In-Home Aide — $5,200/mo
A home health aide comes to the house — typically 44 hours/week based on survey methodology. Covers personal care, light housekeeping, and companionship. Part-time (20 hrs/week) runs roughly $2,600/month in Des Moines, IA.
Memory Care — $5,900/mo
A secured unit within or attached to an assisted living facility, designed for residents with Alzheimer's or other dementias. Higher staff ratios and specialized programming push costs $1,700/month above standard assisted living in Des Moines, IA.
Nearby cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$4,100/mo
assisted living
Plano, TX
$4,600/mo
assisted living
Springfield, MA
$5,700/mo
assisted living
Myrtle Beach, SC
$4,000/mo
assisted living
Huntsville, AL
$3,800/mo
assisted living
Sacramento, CA
$5,500/mo
assisted living
Syracuse, NY
$5,000/mo
assisted living
Minneapolis, MN
$4,700/mo
assisted living
Kansas City, MO
$3,800/mo
assisted living
Full Iowa data
Statewide averages, Medicaid coverage details, and all care-type breakdowns.
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