Holiday Illahee Hills sits on a hill with nice views of the countryside near Urbandale, Iowa, just outside West Des Moines and close to places like Mercy Medical Center and Valley West Mall, and does give you a peaceful feeling right when you drive up, looking out over the manicured lawns, landscaped gardens, and nearby fishing lakes and golf courses, and you'll usually hear people talking about the pleasant walking paths and quiet neighborhood, since the building is only two stories tall and sits among gardens, so you can sit out on a patio any warm day and watch the sun or just stroll around if you feel up for it. The community offers both apartments and cottages with one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio floor plans from about 310 to 686 square feet, and people can bring their pets and decorate how they want to make their space feel like home, and you'll see a mix of sleeping alcoves, patios, balconies, and kitchenettes, all with comfortable beds, dining tables, walk-in showers or tubs, safety rails in bathrooms, and individual thermostat controls for each unit, so you can keep your room the way you like it. There's the option for handicap barrier-free units and cottages too, which makes a difference for a lot of folks, and there's parking out in the lot and under some covered spaces, plus transportation for errands and doctor visits when you need it, which comes in handy if going out on your own is tough some days.
Inside, you'll find inviting lounges, a library, a beauty salon, chapel, fitness equipment, a game room, and a big entertainment room with a large screen TV where people get together to watch movies or play Wii golf, and there are common areas with things like a baby grand piano and decorative curio cabinets that give the place a cozy touch. Residents gather for meals in a dining room set with round tables, stylish chandeliers, and large windows, and three meals a day are cooked from scratch by the chefs, usually with a private room set aside if you want to celebrate something special or have guests over, and there's always a coffee pot going in the lounge, which is nice for visits throughout the day with friends. Weekly housekeeping, linen service, and a laundry room for residents are standard, so you don't have to worry about the big cleaning jobs, and there's WiFi in the common areas, a business center, and a locked mailbox system for privacy and security.
Holiday Illahee Hills keeps things social, so you'll find a steady list of activities like book clubs, art classes, poker or casino nights, card circles, and fitness classes, plus organized outings, field trips, and walks on the neighborhood trails, and all the while, people find it easy to meet each other because of all the shared spaces and events going on, and with community managers living on site, there's always someone around for extra support and 24-hour security. The community offers independent living for older adults aged 55 and up, and allows residents to hire home care agencies or third-party providers for whatever care or therapy they need, which can include skilled nursing, diabetes care, IV care, respiratory care, wound care, medication management, and therapy services, along with help from aides for dressing, bathing, grooming, or medication reminders, so the options go all the way from independent living to assisted living, skilled nursing, and even memory care with extra support for Alzheimer's or dementia, as all the different levels are right there on one campus.
The grounds include gardens, patios for outdoor dining or sitting, and lawn areas for walks, while many folks like to venture out to nearby Saylorville Lake or take part in the local fishing or golf, since transportation services make that possible. There's a feeling of comfort and flexibility, since people can arrange for all their support services right on-site using Home Instead or any outside providers, and all apartments include modern kitchenettes and cable TV, which makes daily life easier for everyone. Holiday Illahee Hills gives residents a steady routine, chances to stay active or social, and varying care options, in a peaceful setting just outside the city, which helps keep life straightforward while letting folks make the place feel like their own.
