Independent Living Communities in Des Moines, IA

Glen Meadows Retirement is West Des Moines, Iowa's premier independent living community. The community comprises 119 apartments for adults 55 and over — including studio apartments, one, two, and three-bedroom suites, and a variety of floor plans. Glen Meadows Retirement is all-inclusive, providing five-star services on a month-to-month basis. A single monthly charge includes all services, utilities, phone, cable, and internet. Spacious common areas feature a 150-seat state-of-the-art theater, library, billiards and game room, conversation areas with fireplaces, concierge lounge with bar, flat-screen TV, game tables, superb fitness and exercise room facilities, spa area, laundry facility, and business center. Residents savor the variety found in an industry-first all-inclusive Freedom Dining Program. With three fresh chef-prepared meals daily, residents can choose from a variety of menu options and dining experiences with flexible hours. Coffee, juice, ice cream, and snacks are available all day. Weekly housekeeping service is provided, along with transportation to and from appointments and shopping trips. Numerous planned activities, social events, and travel opportunities abound. Live-in managers and concierge and valet services are available 24/7, ensuring resident safety. Every resident receives an emergency alert pendant, guaranteeing peace of mind to friends and family that their loved ones are protected during emergencies. Pets are warmly welcome at Glen Meadows Retirement, with no additional pet deposit. A guest suite is available for residents' family members to reserve for visits. A travel program whisks residents to any of Resort Lifestyle Communities' other properties, where they can reserve a guest suite free for one week — meals included. Fitness and wellness programs including aerobics, weight lifting, yoga, walking clubs, sittercises, and many more boost resident wellness. A beauty salon/barber shop is close on the property. Residents can participate in a book club, bridge and poker games, or go on excursions to museums, cultural events, and casinos. Residents often say they wish they would have made the move sooner—those who make the move while they are still healthy tend to retain, or even improve, their health living in an independent retirement community like Glen Meadows. Socialization, security, and peace of mind are vital benefits provided to all residents. Socializing not only contributes to a longer, happier life, but also improves cognitive performance. Building a circle of support with new friends at Glen Meadows will enrich your life in countless ways. Visit Glen Meadows soon!

"After a few years of considering a move my parents finally made the leap to move to Independence Living in Waukee. The staff was so helpful with each step, answering my numerous questions. They genuinely care about the people who live in this community- they know my parents by name and all of us family who visits- I'm greeted by name every time I come. The lunch is wonderful, servers are caring and attentive and the head chef Linda is a treasure! All members of leadership do whatever they need to be involved with people who lives here. Even the executive director washes walkers and paints fingernails! Talk about humble leadership. There are numerous varied activities to satisfy a number of interests. The apartments are comfortable and you have the freedom to decorate and make them feel as homelike as you want. Each member of leadership stops by and visits new residents within a couple weeks of moving in to get to know people and create relationships. Respect, valuing people, care, kindness- these are all values the employees that work here embody. I would go so far to say employees are an extension of the resident community - it is all one big "family". I cannot recommend this safe, secure, comfortable community enough."

"I had visited several times over the years. The place was always spotless. It had a very clean and neat rooms. Very large hallways, which was great. You would always see some elderly around. Wither it be playing cards, solving puzzles, or watching a group movie there always seemed to be something going on which is fantastic. I imagine it must get terrible boring without activates running all the time. The rooms where my grandparents stayed were huge. The also provided extremely large bathrooms which is always nice. The staff was always friendly. Every time I went they always seemed so happy to help out. (Of course they are paid to do this, but it was nice nonetheless) Overall the place was great. I always enjoyed visiting and when I end up retiring I would love to live in a place like that. "

Upside is truly an exclusive opportunity to live independently on your own terms. We offer luxury living options with over 2,500+ apartments in our network across the country alongside a dedicated and experienced personal concierge support system. Upside is a uniquely designed senior living alternative to help you live completely independently. The Upside team helps you find a luxury-style apartment living option and provide you with extra layers of care and assistance, whenever and however you need it. Once you're settled in your new home, we connect you to your personal concierge and expert on all things aging. The Upside concierge is available to help arrange meal and grocery deliveries, transportation services, schedule appointments, assist with technology, and so much more! Anything you need, Upside is just a quick phone call or text away.

"My husband and I live at Scottish Rite Park. We have been here for 10 years, so this is home for us. We are in an independent living situation, but adjacent to us in the building, we have health care, memory care, and assisted living. So it's a full continuum of care. The community is well organized. They're sensitive to elderly needs. Good communication, good food. It's an excellent community. We've been very, very thankful to be here. It was where we would have wanted my brother to be initially, but they have only a limited assisted living unit. But it has priority to those who come from their independent living units, so there's quite a waiting list for assisted living, so my brother was not able to come here. The food is excellent. They have a good chef. There's variety and adaptation to people's needs. The building was built in the 1970s, but they are constantly updating. Right now, they're updating our water system so that we have a more balanced water system in regard to the heat and cold and so forth of the water. They're constantly working. It was built by the Masonic Group of Des Moines. You don't have to be a masonic member to live here, but it was established in the 1970s by the Masons and they've done a good job of keeping the facility in beautiful condition."

"The rooms at Sage Independence were nice. The place was neat and the people were friendly. We didn't try any of their food or anything like that, but the facilities were very nice, and the location was very good. Connie, our representative, was very nice. My wife liked the location because it was close to a lot of things that she was interested in. It was a five also for the cleanliness part. Any time you wanted a ride anywhere, say to the grocery store, the doctor's office, or the movie theater, they would provide transportation to and from them. That was one good thing about Sage that some of the others don't offer."

"Luther Park Apartments is very clean, very beautiful, and they keep it very well designed and updated everywhere. They have lovely apartments. The people who manage it are very friendly and easy to get along with. They provide free breakfast for everyone and there's free coffee all day long. They have pizza parties occasionally for the residents. It's a really nice community. Everyone seems to get along. They have a bus that takes people to the store and different places they need to go. They have an activity room with a pool and there are people playing cards on each floor. They buy their food downstairs. They have tables upstairs where they put together puzzles, and they have a room with exercise machines and computers. They're good at keeping people updated, and they have speakers that come for those who are interested. My mother was a resident for several years. We really like the staff and they have very good food."

"The Shores at Pleasant Hill assisted living facility was one of the places we saw while looking in the region for our great aunt. The exterior was designed like a hotel or resort, with nicely appointed and beautifully landscaped greenery overlooking nearby Copper Creek Lake. Some of the seniors maintain the garden. The lobby was clean and fresh with very nice staff to greet us. We first saw the fitness center which had well maintained equipment and ample rooms. They also had daily classes and the residents could safely navigate the lovely patio grounds with adequate supervision as necessary. Their library was impressive, with many good books and games. They also offer Internet access. They also have a convenient salon, Internet cafe and work spaces for various hobbies and crafts. The meal menus all had healthy food options for all kinds of diets. The dining room was quite nice, with plenty of space. The food we saw looked and smelled delicious. Healthy snacks are offered all day and into the evening, as well as whenever residents request them. The living spaces were generous, with several different floor plans to choose from and the safety of the residents is assured at all times. The residents are taken to many interesting events in the region -- to take advantage of the many cultural activities. The many planned outings feature everything from book readings and discussions to the arts, and visits to local museums, galleries, film and theater. This is a full service senior community with a very attentive staff -- and we could see how anyone would really enjoy living in this environment. "

"I visited The Arbordale. The reason that they got a little higher rating than the others is because of two things that are really important to my dad. One is that they're remodeling all of their apartments, so they're more upgraded, and then their chef does accommodate food allergies. The person who did the tour has been with the facility for a very long time, so they're just very welcoming and warm, and they know everything about the facility. Since they're remodeling all of the rooms, I really like them. They're all updated, have newer appliances, and are more modern. All of the apartments have balconies or little patios off to the side."

"I visited Martina Place. It's a Catholic place, so they did have religious activities for their residents. It's very new and very lovely. It also seemed very clean. The staff was very helpful too. They have this pod level system wherein they have small groups of 10 rooms around a small dining area. Each little area is separate from others. The idea is you wouldn't have these long hallways. When we were there, we didn't see anybody out. It was 1:30 in the afternoon though. "

"I was at The Cottages at Johnston Commons. They call them little cottages. They are like little homes and I only rented there. Your garage was attached to your home. I really did like living there. I'm wearing something around my neck so if there is a problem and I fall or something, the beep will go off and somebody will come and help me. They've got several places that they have two cottages on one side and two cottages on the other side, but if you rent a two-bedroom place, you get a two-car garage. It's very convenient across the street from the library. A lot of people have lived there for a long time. They're brand new. I was the first person to be in my little apartment. I was there 14 years and I was very happy with it. The cottages are covered with cement bricks on the outside, but you have your garage attached, and it has remote on it. They want you to keep your place nice and neat. I had no problems living there and I never missed a payment for rent. You get a complete kitchen. They have a community room that you can rent and I usually rented it at Christmastime. They have a small exercise area. If you wanted something fixed, you had to actually do it online and tell them what was wrong. They insist on keeping the facility and the yard outside clean and neat because in Johnston, they want to keep their town clean and neat. If you put something on your patio that they don't like, you are forced to take it down. They don't really have any activities. You can go in and have a birthday party or you can go and play your own bingo, but they don't provide it. Once in a while, they will have an ice cream thing or whatever and you're welcome to go there. They're very nicely done on the inside. You get a stove, a microwave and a nice-sized kitchen. I did so much baking in that place. When I started there, I paid $165. When I left there, I paid almost $2000. They raise their rent and it's not low. All in all, it was a very nice place to live. If you want to live someplace where you don't have to go up and down the hallways or whatever, that's a good place because they're all individual doors."

Vintage Cooperative of Altoona offers a maintenance-free alternative to home ownership that is uniquely different from other housing options. Featuring the finest in quality construction, our floor plans and common areas are thoughtfully designed keeping the needs of those on the plus side of 55 in mind. Read on and discover why Vintage Cooperative of Altoona is more than just a building…it’s a Lifestyle!

"My mom is 72 years old and loves her 1 bedroom. She loves going down to the community room and participating in activities with Sarah. She has made several friends from joining activities. I have dealt with the property manager, Krystal, and she is wonderful and listens to any concerns or questions. The maintenance guy is very polite and courteous. My mom really enjoys the community."

Edencrest at Pleasant Hill, located at 6151 Martha Miller Drive in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, is a premier senior living community offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care services. Nestled in the Rising Sun neighborhood, this community provides a serene environment designed to cater to the diverse needs of its residents. The community features 70 thoughtfully designed apartment homes, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. Residents can enjoy a variety of amenities such as fitness centers, gathering spaces, and on-site barber shops, all aimed at enhancing their quality of life. Additional conveniences include housekeeping services, laundry facilities for both linens and personal clothing, and resident transportation services. For leisure and engagement, Edencrest offers activities like music sessions, games, book clubs, yoga classes, gardening, arts and crafts, and off-site excursions. Dining options are flexible, with in-room kitchenettes, a communal dining room offering shared meals, room service, and accommodations for special dietary needs, including diabetic, kosher, and vegetarian diets. Edencrest at Pleasant Hill is managed by Highmark Senior Living, a subsidiary of Hubbell Realty Company, ensuring a high standard of care and operations. The community's location offers residents easy access to walking trails, golf courses, parks, and a variety of restaurants, providing ample opportunities for recreation and socialization. With its comprehensive services and prime location, Edencrest at Pleasant Hill stands as a welcoming and supportive environment for seniors seeking a vibrant community. To learn more about this provider's license and review other available state reports, please visit: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Health Facility Database