With its attractive downtown and capital city amenities, Ankeny has all of the charm of a small village with many of the services that a larger city typically provides. A suburb of Des Moines, the Ankeny metro area is home to about 56,000 residents and is considered one of the most secure areas to live in the entire United States. Persons aged 65 and over account for 10% of the population. Seniors living in Ankeny can access many medical services, both within the town and in nearby Des Moines. The Iowa Clinic Ankeny Campus provides an array of medical care options in addition to handling urgent care needs. The Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines is a state-of-the-art health care center that offers specialty clinics, support groups and balance classes.
According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, nursing home costs in Ankeny are somewhat cheaper than the national average of $7,756 per month. Ankeny’s average costs are $7,148 a month for a semiprivate room in a nursing home.
Nursing homes offer 24-hour emergency care and supervision, room and board, medication monitoring and personal care services, all of which can become expensive. This level of care may not be necessary for individuals who choose to live in a less restrictive environment by utilizing home health care or assisted living arrangements.
Directory of Nursing Homes in Ankeny, IA
1201 Southeast Mill Pond Court, Ankeny, IA, 50021
Mill-Pond is a facility in Ankeny, Iowa that provides both nursing home and assisted living services for its residents. Relatives, guests, and residents all express happiness with the level of comfort
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Mill-Pond is a facility in Ankeny, Iowa that provides both nursing home and assisted living services for its residents. Relatives, guests, and residents all express happiness with the level of comfort and care provided by the nurses and staff. Guests comment favorably on the homey and friendly the community and frequently mention the delicious food and the big helpings. There are a wide variety of activities for residents to enjoy, including ice cream socials, tea parties, Wii bowling, baseball and field trips; often there are at least two events scheduled each day.
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Mill-Pond is a facility in Ankeny, Iowa that provides both nursing home and assisted living services for its residents. Relatives, guests, and residents all express happiness with the level of comfort
… (read more)
Mill-Pond is a facility in Ankeny, Iowa that provides both nursing home and assisted living services for its residents. Relatives, guests, and residents all express happiness with the level of comfort and care provided by the nurses and staff. Guests comment favorably on the homey and friendly the community and frequently mention the delicious food and the big helpings. There are a wide variety of activities for residents to enjoy, including ice cream socials, tea parties, Wii bowling, baseball and field trips; often there are at least two events scheduled each day.
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715 SW ANKENY ROAD, Ankeny, IA, 50021
410 N W ASH DRIVE, Ankeny, IA, 50021
3510 Northwest Abilene Road, Ankeny, IA, 50023
2571 GUTHRIE AVENUE, Des Moines, IA, 50317
My mom was a resident in the memory care unit at Valley View for 5 years She received excellent care and we were always able to see her day or night before Covid. Her private room was lovely. The a
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My mom was a resident in the memory care unit at Valley View for 5 years She received excellent care and we were always able to see her day or night before Covid. Her private room was lovely. The activities staff member, Starr was awesome and during the covid probably her best friend. They also always kept us informed about everything about mom. Our mom passed away on Friday, December 11th.
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My mom was a resident in the memory care unit at Valley View for 5 years She received excellent care and we were always able to see her day or night before Covid. Her private room was lovely. The a
… (read more)
My mom was a resident in the memory care unit at Valley View for 5 years She received excellent care and we were always able to see her day or night before Covid. Her private room was lovely. The activities staff member, Starr was awesome and during the covid probably her best friend. They also always kept us informed about everything about mom. Our mom passed away on Friday, December 11th.
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1555 HULL AVENUE, Des Moines, IA, 50316
I have two friends in this facility now. Little assistance by staff to feed someone unable to feed themself. Pressure ulcers ( bedsores) not uncommon. Residents in wheelchairs herded into groups in
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I have two friends in this facility now. Little assistance by staff to feed someone unable to feed themself. Pressure ulcers ( bedsores) not uncommon. Residents in wheelchairs herded into groups in front of tv’s with sound very low or off. Long rows of recliners with sleeping patients with open mouths, on first floor. Rarely see staff out on floor,. Many residents (2nd floor) appear fearful and withdrawn after less than a week there. I would not put any if my family members in here.
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I have two friends in this facility now. Little assistance by staff to feed someone unable to feed themself. Pressure ulcers ( bedsores) not uncommon. Residents in wheelchairs herded into groups in
… (read more)
I have two friends in this facility now. Little assistance by staff to feed someone unable to feed themself. Pressure ulcers ( bedsores) not uncommon. Residents in wheelchairs herded into groups in front of tv’s with sound very low or off. Long rows of recliners with sleeping patients with open mouths, on first floor. Rarely see staff out on floor,. Many residents (2nd floor) appear fearful and withdrawn after less than a week there. I would not put any if my family members in here.
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2401 East 8th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50316
My mother-in-law is at Union Park Health Services. We live out of state, but they are wonderful with calling us at anytime if there are any slight issues, like weight loss or a doctor’s recommendati
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My mother-in-law is at Union Park Health Services. We live out of state, but they are wonderful with calling us at anytime if there are any slight issues, like weight loss or a doctor’s recommendation to add anything. When she was not eating, they brought in a nutritionist to find out her needs and what she liked. She is gaining weight again, and I guess she is doing better. They are short staffed like most nursing homes, but overall, our experience has been good.
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My mother-in-law is at Union Park Health Services. We live out of state, but they are wonderful with calling us at anytime if there are any slight issues, like weight loss or a doctor’s recommendati
… (read more)
My mother-in-law is at Union Park Health Services. We live out of state, but they are wonderful with calling us at anytime if there are any slight issues, like weight loss or a doctor’s recommendation to add anything. When she was not eating, they brought in a nutritionist to find out her needs and what she liked. She is gaining weight again, and I guess she is doing better. They are short staffed like most nursing homes, but overall, our experience has been good.
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5837 Winwood Drive, Johnston, IA, 50131
After my life altering accident, the cnas, nurses and staff were caring and have put me on a great road to recovery. They created a comfortable, healing environment & helped me set up my room and
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After my life altering accident, the cnas, nurses and staff were caring and have put me on a great road to recovery. They created a comfortable, healing environment & helped me set up my room and electronics to feel as close to home as possible. Thank you all so much! This place has an outstanding therapy dept. They have given me the most wonderful gift of teaching me to walk again! Thank you everyone!
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After my life altering accident, the cnas, nurses and staff were caring and have put me on a great road to recovery. They created a comfortable, healing environment & helped me set up my room and
… (read more)
After my life altering accident, the cnas, nurses and staff were caring and have put me on a great road to recovery. They created a comfortable, healing environment & helped me set up my room and electronics to feel as close to home as possible. Thank you all so much! This place has an outstanding therapy dept. They have given me the most wonderful gift of teaching me to walk again! Thank you everyone!
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1002 West Washington Avenue, Polk City, IA, 50226
We found Polk City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for my brother. It’s a care center also. He’s been there probably about five weeks now. His situation has improved. The skilled care there has be
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We found Polk City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for my brother. It’s a care center also. He’s been there probably about five weeks now. His situation has improved. The skilled care there has been exceptional. They’ve really helped him improve his situation. He’s much better than he was when we first took him in. I’m very impressed with the staff. He is on Medicaid, so his room is a typical Medicaid room. It’s a little bit bigger than what we have looked at other places. It meets what we expected. The food seems fine; I know he’s very, very happy with it. The place is very clean. You can tell that they try to keep the public areas, the sitting areas, and everything clean.
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We found Polk City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for my brother. It’s a care center also. He’s been there probably about five weeks now. His situation has improved. The skilled care there has be
… (read more)
We found Polk City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for my brother. It’s a care center also. He’s been there probably about five weeks now. His situation has improved. The skilled care there has been exceptional. They’ve really helped him improve his situation. He’s much better than he was when we first took him in. I’m very impressed with the staff. He is on Medicaid, so his room is a typical Medicaid room. It’s a little bit bigger than what we have looked at other places. It meets what we expected. The food seems fine; I know he’s very, very happy with it. The place is very clean. You can tell that they try to keep the public areas, the sitting areas, and everything clean.
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5900 PIONEER PARKWAY, Johnston, IA, 50131
Nursing Home Costs in Ankeny, IA
A semiprivate room in an Ankeny nursing home averages $7,148 a month. The corresponding price for a private room is $7,604.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities
When comparing the monthly average costs of semiprivate nursing home rooms in Ankeny with those of other areas, Ankeny’s costs are $608 cheaper than that of the average U.S. city. However, Ankeny’s nursing home costs are $578 more expensive than the state average. Seniors living in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City pay $608 and $289 less a month, respectively, for nursing home care than they do in Ankeny, while equivalent care in the Waterloo area is just $30 cheaper per month.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Other types of senior care in Ankeny are important to consider when comparing costs. Adult day care services are the least expensive option at $1,517. Home care and home health care cost $5,148 a month each, with assisted living facilities slightly less pricey at $5,005. Nursing homes are more expensive, with a semiprivate room averaging $7,148 and a private room costing $7,604 per month.
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
Nursing home (private room)
Note: Data for Ankeny was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Des Moines Area, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Ankeny, IA
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
- Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Free Resources for Seniors in Ankeny, IA
This table of resources may be helpful for seniors living in Ankeny. Some of the services and programs listed make it easier for the elderly to age in place in their own homes, delaying or completely avoiding nursing home placement. Other resources help seniors better understand and get the nursing home care they need.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
| Polk County Senior Services | 515-286-3484 | Polk County offers senior citizen services at the Ankeny Senior Citizen Center. Transportation to community dining sites is available, as are rides for weekly grocery shopping trips. A Meals on Wheels program delivers lunches to homebound seniors; a financial management counseling service is also offered to seniors and others with low incomes. Other Polk County services include fitness classes, tai chi lessons and bingo games. An annual Senior Fest & Health Fair is held each May at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. |
| Ankeny Service Center | 515-965-1976 | This organization coordinates and provides services such as the Our Daily Bread program, which offers baked goods twice weekly to Ankeny seniors in need. The Ankeny Service Center also provides transportation assistance for medical appointments and errands, food vouchers for perishable items, and referral services to other service organizations. |
| Aging Resources of Central Iowa | 515-255-1310 | This Area Agency on Aging serving Polk County helps seniors live independent and dignified lives in their homes and neighborhoods. The organization helps older adults connect with useful services and programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease program, which helps keep seniors active and prevent falls. A family caregiver program answers questions and provides emotional support to loved ones. A variety of nutrition and wellness programs include hot-meal delivery, congregate meals, nutrition education and similar assistance. |
