Arbor Springs-West Des Moines

    7951 EP True Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.09·(33)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.9
    • Staff

      4.0
    • Meals

      4.2
    • Amenities

      3.5
    • Value

      2.2

    Pros

    • Dementia-focused programming
    • High caregiver-to-resident staffing ratio
    • Compassionate, attentive caregiving
    • Personalized, hands-on care
    • Neighborhood-style floor plans with private living rooms and kitchens
    • Central supervision and good sightlines
    • Home-like resident rooms and dining areas
    • Comprehensive on-site clinical services (physician, dental, therapies)
    • Good-quality meals and dining assistance
    • Varied social activities and community outings
    • Effective restorative and physical therapy services
    • Strong end-of-life and family support

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staffing levels and staff engagement
    • Leadership instability and poor administrative communication
    • Gaps in clinical oversight and medication management
    • Admissions transparency issues and rehab-first placement incentives
    • Limited payment options (private-pay only)
    • Deferred maintenance and odor concerns in some areas
    • Variable nursing skill and supervision quality
    • Delays in administrative processes (refunds, tax documentation)

    Summary of reviews

    Overall impression: Reviews present a mixed but distinctive profile. Many families describe strong dementia-centered programming, attentive direct care, and a residential environment designed for visibility and small-group living. At the same time, a notable portion of feedback points to operational weaknesses—primarily around staffing consistency, management communication, and clinical oversight—that produce uneven experiences across residents.

    Care quality and staff: The facility is frequently described as having compassionate, hands-on caregivers and a high caregiver-to-resident ratio that supports individualized attention and successful rehabilitation for some residents. Reviewers cite examples of proactive health updates, effective restorative and physical therapy, and meaningful progress for residents who arrived with limited mobility. Conversely, there are recurring concerns about inconsistent staff engagement (for example, aides who appear distracted or do not complete expected care tasks), staff turnover, and variability in nursing skill. These patterns suggest that while clinical capability exists, its delivery can be uneven depending on staffing and supervision on a given day.

    Dining and activities: Dining is a consistent strength for many families—meals are described as high-quality, with snacks and dining assistance available when needed. The dining and room layout is often characterized as home-like, and staff responsiveness to missed meals is noted positively. Activity programming is another strong area: the community offers small-group activities, holiday events, outings (such as local shopping trips), baking and music activities, and targeted dementia-appropriate engagements. Therapy services (skilled, restorative, and physical therapy) are highlighted as effective components of care and rehabilitation.

    Facilities and design: The building layout receives favorable comment for its neighborhood pods, private living-room-style common areas, and sightlines that facilitate central supervision. Many families describe rooms as comfortable and appropriately sized, and some report the campus as well-kept and top-end. However, other reviewers note signs of aging in parts of the facility and odor concerns in some areas, indicating variability in maintenance and sanitation attention across the campus.

    Management, admissions, and administration: Several reviews flag administrative and communication problems—leadership turnover, slow responses on refunds and tax documentation, and perceived gaps in oversight. Concerns are also raised about admissions practices that emphasize short-term rehab placements and about transparency regarding room availability and placement priorities. The facility accepts private pay and is described as expensive; it does not accept Medicaid, which is an important limitation for families to consider.

    Notable patterns and recommendation: The pattern in the reviews is polarized: many families praise the staff’s compassion, dementia expertise, and the facility’s design and services, while others describe inconsistent implementation of those strengths due to staffing and management issues. Prospective families should weigh the facility’s dementia-focused model, therapy resources, and neighborhood layout against operational risks such as staffing variability, administrative delays, and limited payment options. When evaluating this community in person, ask specific questions about recent staffing stability, clinical oversight and medication-review processes, maintenance schedules for resident areas, admissions and rehab-placement policies, and proof of current staffing ratios and training. These targeted inquiries can help determine whether the strong elements cited by many families are likely to be reliable for a particular prospective resident.

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    Medicare Ratings

    3·/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

    Ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Care Compare). View on Medicare.gov

    Location

    Arbor Springs-West Des Moines is located at 7951 EP True Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA, 50266.

    About Arbor Springs-West Des Moines

    Arbor Springs-West Des Moines focuses on caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, from the early stages to the late stages, and what makes it stand out is that it's Iowa's only Continuing Care Retirement Community that fully specializes in dementia care, and the place is divided into six "neighborhoods," with each neighborhood having up to ten residents who have their own private bedroom and bath, a memory box by the door to help them find their room, and a living room where everyone gets together, and all these neighborhoods are built around a Main Street area that's got a sidewalk café, therapy room, community center, and even a beauty salon for the residents, which is handy when you want to feel a little more yourself. The staff includes certified and licensed caregivers who know how to help people with Alzheimer's and related conditions, nurses who give out medications and keep an eye on vital signs, and caregivers who help with daily needs like bathing or dressing, guide activities from snack making to pet therapy, and even help organize outings, physical therapy, and holiday parties. Lots of people appreciate the way the dining rooms feel cozy and homelike since folks eat with others from their own neighborhood, and there are safe, secure courtyards where you can enjoy fresh air and a bit of nature without worries about getting lost, and that extra safety matters when you're supporting people living with memory loss. Medical professionals visit the community and see residents on-site, so families don't have to worry too much about getting to outside appointments when that becomes tough. Arbor Springs offers both long-term and short-term care, so some people are there for years while others come for short rehabilitation or respite stays. The award-winning design of the building is meant to help people feel at home, safe, and comfortable, and the staff works hard to make the atmosphere positive and respectful, and they're known for being friendly and helpful to both residents and visitors. The care team uses a Montessori approach, which means they encourage independence and give residents a chance to do hands-on activities instead of just sitting around, and the small neighborhoods help reduce confusion and wandering. The facility works with recognized organizations like IHCA's Premier Partners, AHCANCAL, and the National Alliance, which means they keep up with good ideas and current standards. There's transportation and parking nearby, and the meals are nutritious and made with quality ingredients. Arbor Springs belongs to the Iowa Health Care Association network, and if you want more information, they do keep their details online at www.arborsprings.org, and for folks living in or near West Des Moines, it's one of those places built specifically to support seniors who need more structure, safety, and care as they face memory loss.

    People often ask...

    Arbor Springs-West Des Moines offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

    There are 5 photos of Arbor Springs-West Des Moines on Mirador.

    Yes, Arbor Springs-West Des Moines allows residents to age in place and adjust their level of care as needed.

    The full address for this community is 7951 EP True Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

    No, Arbor Springs-West Des Moines does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Safety & Compliance

    In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing licenses assisted living and long-term care programs, conducting recertification visits and complaint investigations.

    License number2033
    StatusClosed
    Facility typeAssisted Living Programs for People with Dementia
    Capacity28 residents
    EffectiveMay 26th, 2005
    ExpiresMay 26th, 2006
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    2

    Reports

    7

    Citations

    2

    Complaints

    22

    Years

    25 Aug 2004Complaint
    Identified multiple deficiencies in admissions documentation, assessments, service planning, staffing, safety systems, and activity programming.
    • 321 IAC 25.22Occupancy agreement transfer criteria
    • 321 IAC 25.23(1)Mental status evaluation prior to admission
    • 321 IAC 25.23(2)Functional, cognitive or health status evaluation within 30 days of admission
    • 321 IAC 25.28Service plans include activities for tenants who cannot plan their own activities
    • 321 IAC 25.33Staff training and delegation to RN
    • 321 IAC 25.37(2)Exit door alarm system
    • 321 IAC 25.39Activity programming reflecting individual differences
    29 Jul 2004Complaint
    Investigated the complaint and found no regulatory insufficiencies.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Arbor Springs-West Des Moines. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Arbor Springs-West Des Moines directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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