The Life Center in Des Moines sits on Polk Boulevard and is part of the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center, offering several levels of care including skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, memory care, respite care, and hospice care. The community has all private rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning, cable TV, Wi-Fi, telephones, and kitchenettes, which makes daily life more comfortable for residents. Staff help with medication, bathing, dressing, daily living needs, and moving around, and the facility provides 24-hour supervision and up to 16 hours of nursing care per day. There's a wide range of rehab programs like physical, occupational, and speech therapies, all set up to help people recover and stay active.
Dining includes restaurant-style meals, special diets for allergies or diabetes, and all-day dining, so meal times stay flexible. Residents can join many activities-there are daily programs, community-sponsored events, outdoor activities, arts and music, scheduled trips, and faith-based Jewish programs. There's a movie theater, fitness room, wellness center, small library, computer center, prayer space, beauty salon, gardens, and walking paths, as well as a spa/wellness area and game room. The staff speak several languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese, and there's a focus on making everyone feel welcome.
Housekeeping, laundry, move-in help, transportation, parking, meal prep, concierge, personal mail delivery, support services, and linen services all take some burden off residents and families. The multidisciplinary care team manages health, therapy, and personal needs, with licensed memory care and Alzheimer's programs built to support dignity and quality of life. Social services and support for families are a regular part of life here, and there's a focus on a home-like, holistic environment that cares for both body and spirit. The Life Center is non-profit, accepts Medicaid and Medicare, and works as a continuing care retirement community, so it's possible to move between care levels if needs change. Residents and families can join councils to share ideas about the community, and there are business office services like notary and mail support, with house items and care products provided. The place is next to a major highway and near a park with walking paths and an observatory. The staff take pride in building relationships, trying to meet the unique needs of each resident, and providing honest, compassionate support every day.
