Prime Towers Apartments and Nursing Home sits at 600 E 5th St in the heart of the East Village in Des Moines, IA, and folks tend to say it's a pretty straightforward place for seniors who need different kinds of support, whether you're looking for independent living, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing. The building offers a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options, with private or semi-private rooms averaging about 200 square feet, and some apartments even face the Des Moines skyline or quiet private courtyards, so it doesn't feel tucked away from the world. There's an indoor heated parking garage, elevators, wheelchair ramps, and wide halls for easy access, plus an exercise room and hair salon to help keep up a bit of a routine, and there's a pet policy that lets residents keep cats and small dogs within certain weight limits. Smokers can step outdoors if they want, since the whole building stays smoke-free.
Meals come prepared and three times a day, and daily activities take place on site if you want to stay busy, with a simple calendar featuring three group activities every day, and there's also indoor and outdoor common areas for gathering or quiet moments. Memory care serves folks living with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, keeping the environment secure but comfortable, with calm spaces to limit confusion and activities meant to help jog memory and keep routines familiar.
The nursing and rehab side offers 44 beds for people who need more medical care, with 24/7 nursing staff available and a doctor who comes by twice a week for check-ins. A therapy gym, about 900 square feet, gives space for both rehab and therapy, including options like physical, occupational, and speech therapy overseen by doctorate-level staff, three in physical therapy and one in occupational therapy. There's assistance for those who need help managing medications, bathing, eating, and other everyday tasks. Seniors who choose the independent lifestyle get a little more freedom, with one or two-bedroom apartments that come with kitchen appliances, in-unit washer/dryer, and storage units at no extra cost, and the mailroom's indoors if the weather's no good.
Prime Towers keeps things neighborly with social programming and plenty of community activities, but there isn't any pressure to join in if you'd rather keep to yourself. Independent, assisted, and memory care apartments provide different levels of help, and the staff doesn't push beyond what you ask for. The building rates 4.0 stars, based on people's reviews, which seems about in line with what you'll find from folks who've lived there or helped a family member settle in. The facility does allow men and women but keeps the environment no-frills and accessible, aiming to help seniors stay involved or get extra help if they need it, all while letting folks hold on to their sense of independence as best as possible.
