Grand Living At Tower Place

    540 S 51st St, West Des Moines, IA, 50265
    4.5 · 93 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Warm staff, luxury living, active

    I moved my mom here and we love it - the staff are outstanding, welcoming to families, and genuinely know residents by name; the food is excellent, apartments feel like luxury condos, and the resort-style amenities and nonstop activities keep everyone engaged. Move-in was seamless, therapy and proactive health monitoring were well coordinated, and the dual-certified model lets residents age in place. A few reviewers mentioned occasional staffing/leadership and memory-care inconsistencies, so I'd tour and ask questions, but overall I highly recommend this warm, active community.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.51 · 93 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.2
    • Staff

      4.6
    • Meals

      4.5
    • Amenities

      4.8
    • Value

      4.0

    Pros

    • Highly praised, attentive and caring staff
    • Personalized attention; staff know residents’ names
    • Wide range of daily activities and social events
    • Resort-like, beautifully designed and well-maintained facility
    • Multiple on-site dining venues and restaurant-style dining
    • High-quality, flavorful and generous meals
    • Indoor pool, fitness rooms, professional trainers and exercise classes
    • Seamless move-in coordination and supportive admissions process
    • Continuum of care (independent living to assisted living in same apartment)
    • On-site rehab/therapy services (PT/OT) and exceptional rehab care
    • Housekeeping and maintenance services (weekly apartment cleaning)
    • Complimentary transportation, chauffeur/limousine service
    • Family-inclusive events and strong family communication
    • Safe, secure environment with locked/specialty floors
    • Underground/heated garage and concierge services
    • Pet friendly with dog park
    • Varied amenities (bar/social hours, wood shop, barber/hairdresser, chapel)
    • Flexible, month-to-month payment model (no large buy-in)
    • Bright, clean, modern decor often praised by reviewers
    • Staff responsiveness in health emergencies and proactive health monitoring
    • Multiple dining options including specialty dishes and dessert bars
    • Community fosters social connections and pleasant resident culture
    • Attention to small details and strong housekeeping leadership
    • Numerous offsite outings and excursions
    • Perception of improved resident wellbeing and quality of life

    Cons

    • Isolated reports of understaffing and insufficient caregiver coverage
    • Some reviewers reported undertrained staff or leadership issues
    • Mixed reports about memory care quality and Alzheimer’s care
    • Occasional dining service problems (long waits, service logistics)
    • Limited or no vegetarian/vegan meal options reported
    • A few comments about managerial or leadership shortcomings
    • Isolated reports of nurses or management treating staff/residents poorly
    • Inconsistent safety/sanitation messaging (masking concerns mentioned)

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment: The reviews for Grand Living at Tower Place are overwhelmingly positive, with a strong majority of comments praising the staff, amenities, social programming, and the aesthetic quality of the building. Most reviewers describe a warm, attentive and personable staff who provide individualized care, foster social connections, and respond promptly to medical or personal needs. Residents and families repeatedly characterize the community as resort-like, clean, and beautifully appointed, and many mention a marked improvement in health, mood, or family peace of mind after moving in.

    Staff and care quality: The most consistent strength across reviews is the quality and demeanor of the staff. Reviewers frequently use terms such as caring, attentive, warm, professional, and “go above and beyond.” Staff are noted for learning and using residents’ names, offering personalized attention, and coordinating clinical responses when needed (examples include proactive stroke monitoring and arranging PT/OT). Admissions and move-in processes are described as smooth and low-pressure. The community also receives praise for providing a care continuum—dual certification that allows residents to remain in the same apartment when moving from independent to assisted living—and for its on-site rehab and therapy resources, which reviewers called exceptional in some accounts.

    Facilities and amenities: The property is widely described as stunning, modern, and well maintained. Features highlighted include multiple restaurant-style dining rooms, bar/social hours, indoor pool, fitness center with professional trainers, weekly housekeeping, in-room washer/dryer in many units, heated/underground parking, concierge and chauffeured transportation, woodworking shop, on-site salon, and pet-friendly spaces including a dog park. Interior design and landscaping are repeatedly praised; reviewers often compare the atmosphere to a luxury hotel or resort. The building’s compact, accessible layout and the availability of both private and communal spaces are noted as supportive of independence while facilitating community life.

    Dining and food quality: Most reviewers praise the food—high-caliber presentation, flavorful entrees (prime rib, beef tenderloin, lobster tail, dessert bars), and generous portions. Multiple dining venues and attentive serving staff receive positive mention. However, this area shows some variability: there are isolated but specific criticisms about dining service logistics (long waits, seating/serving issues, and one report of being moved across the dining room) and at least one complaint about lack of vegetarian/vegan options that resulted in a resident going hungry. Overall, food quality is a strong selling point, but service consistency and menu variety, especially around dietary preferences, are areas to watch.

    Activities, social life and wellness programming: The activity program is a clear strength in the reviews. Residents describe “constant action” with numerous daily offerings, from fitness classes and professional trainers to offsite excursions (baseball outings, shopping trips, apple orchard visits), s’mores around the fire pit, and large family events (Super Bowl party, family fun day). Program leadership and event coordination are specifically commended for being creative and inclusive. Reviewers consistently note a vibrant social environment and new friendships formed, which contributes to reported improvements in mental wellbeing.

    Management and operational concerns: While praise for leadership and staff is common, there are recurring, though less frequent, critical comments about management and staffing. A subset of reviewers reported understaffing, undertraining, broken promises, marginal leadership, or poor treatment of staff by management—concerns that they feared could impact care continuity. These criticisms are not the majority but are significant because they relate to operational reliability and quality assurance. Given the dual narrative—many reports of excellent service and a minority of serious operational critiques—prospective residents and families should ask targeted questions about staffing ratios, training, turnover, and memory care protocols during tours.

    Memory care and specialized services: Reviews about memory care and Alzheimer’s services are mixed. Some families specifically praise attentive caregivers, good redirection techniques, and compassionate memory-care experiences. Others, however, describe inadequate attention, insufficient processes, and unsatisfactory outcomes for residents with dementia-related needs. This split underscores variability in individual experiences and suggests that memory care quality may depend heavily on staffing levels, specific caregiver assignments, and the acuity of residents’ needs.

    Safety and health protocols: Many reviewers indicate the community feels safe and secure (locked floors, attentive staff, strong maintenance). There are positive accounts of proactive health monitoring and rapid response to emergencies. A few reviewers raised concerns about inconsistent masking or safety messaging from staff; these are isolated but noteworthy, particularly for families prioritizing infection control.

    Patterns and recommendations: The dominant patterns are exceptional staff interaction, strong amenities, an active social environment, and high-quality food. Recurrent minor negatives are service consistency in dining, limited vegetarian/vegan options, and some flagged issues around management/staffing and memory care. For prospective residents and families, recommended due diligence includes asking about current staffing ratios (particularly in assisted living and memory care), turnover rates, the specific menu options for specialized diets, and the community’s protocols for infection control and emergency medical responses. A tour should verify whether the community’s strengths (staff attentiveness, programming, physical amenities) align reliably with individual care needs, especially if memory care is a consideration.

    Conclusion: Grand Living at Tower Place emerges as a high-quality, resort-like senior living community with numerous enthusiastic endorsements for staff, amenities, programming, and food. While most reviews reflect a very positive resident and family experience, a smaller number of serious operational concerns—chiefly around staffing, management practices, and variability in memory care—warrant careful, specific follow-up by prospective residents and families. Overall, the aggregate feedback suggests a community that provides a lively, supportive environment and strong day-to-day living experience for many residents, with a few areas to probe further to ensure a good match for individual needs.

    Location

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