Rose Of East Des Moines

Pros

• The staff and Open Arms team welcome mom immediately.
• The activities director, Open Arms care, cooks, and residents are wonderful and friendly.
• The care team has made the transition smooth.
• The family is happy and impressed with the care.
• The facility is beautiful and offers many activities for residents to enjoy.
• The staff, management, nursing, and kitchen team provide great experiences.
• Residents feel at ease living at The Rose.
• The director is appreciated for creating an open, welcoming environment.
• The apartments are beautiful and clean with bright, light-filled windows.
• The nurses are fantastic and the care is great.

Cons

• The staff do very little to help.
• There is theft and residents talk down to staff, with a general lack of respect.
• The food is not fit for anyone to eat.
• Since the new admin arrived, rules have been changed constantly about what can be done.
• The activities have been lacking since the Activity Director was let go.
• There have been snakes in the building and a cockroach on the dinner table.
• There is a lack of housekeeping; cleaning is hit or miss.

Review

This community is best suited for families seeking a warm, socially active senior living home near Des Moines, with an easy, practical path from independence to assisted living. Rose of East Des Moines shines for residents who value a robust calendar of activities, accessible on-site staff, and a safety-focused culture that encourages timely assistance. It suits older adults who appreciate a welcoming, family-like atmosphere, lighthearted routines, and proximity to family for regular visits. For families, the strongest draw is the sense of community and the comfort that help is readily available around the clock, along with a setting that feels like home, not a hospital.

However, this community may require alternatives for those who demand rock-solid leadership continuity and consistently flawless day-to-day operations. Leadership turnover in recent months has affected program consistency and the cadence of activities, and that drift can leave some residents feeling unsettled. Those needing high-acuity medical support or memory-care-focused services should look elsewhere, as the emphasis here remains on independent-to-assisted living rather than intensive clinical care. Medicaid/elderly waiver processing can also be a friction point, with waitlists and occasional administrative delays complicating planning. For anyone who cannot tolerate episodic service gaps or pest-related concerns, exploring other options is prudent.

On balance, the Rose’s strengths are concrete and repeatedly echoed by families: a welcoming, responsive staff that handles transitions smoothly; nurses and aides described as caring and attentive; and a leadership team committed to maintaining an open, friendly environment. The facility itself regularly earns praise for cleanliness, bright common areas, safe, walkable grounds, and proactive resident checks around the clock. The dining program is solid, emphasizing healthy meals, and the activities calendar delivers variety, from social games to gentle fitness, that keeps residents engaged and connected. The overall atmosphere combines warmth with practical, reliable care in a way that resonates with many families.

Yet the drawbacks are real and worth weighing. Administrative turnover has disrupted continuity, and the removal of key program staff has temporarily narrowed activity options, frustrating residents who relied on routine bingo and other favorites. Housekeeping can be uneven, with occasional missed cleanings that force families to intervene. Pest intrusions, including snakes and cockroaches, raise legitimate concerns about maintenance and preventive controls. While Medicaid options exist, the financial and administrative complexities can slow entry, and a long waitlist means some families must plan well in advance. These issues do not negate the care quality, but they do temper the overall experience.

Despite these tensions, the pros offset many cons for families prioritizing a strong sense of community, safety, and social engagement. The people who make up Rose of East Des Moines are often described as genuine, approachable, and dedicated to residents’ well-being, and that commitment tends to endure even during leadership transitions. The combination of proximity to familiar neighborhoods, accessible outdoor spaces, and a reputation for attentive, 24/7 staff care creates a reassuring foundation for daily living. With leadership stability and a steady infusion of diverse activities, the value and satisfaction rise markedly for residents who fit the social and care profile.

For families evaluating options, the practical move is to focus on leadership continuity, current activity breadth, and housekeeping reliability during tours. Ask to meet the present director and the activity coordinator, confirm how often programming runs and how quickly changes are implemented, and verify cleaning schedules along with pest-control practices. Clarify Medicaid/elderly waiver timelines and obtain a grounded sense of entry wait times. If an active, welcoming community with a home-like feel near Des Moines is the priority, Rose of East Des Moines should be near the top of the list. If stability in administration, flawless housekeeping every week, and high-acuity medical support are non-negotiables, it pays to compare this community with others that offer stronger guarantees in those specific areas.

This area of Des Moines, Iowa, offers convenient access to a variety of healthcare providers, including physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies within a short distance. The proximity to Penn Medical Center, Iowa Health Cardiology, and other medical facilities ensures easy access to quality healthcare services. In terms of dining options, residents can enjoy a selection of restaurants such as Tasty Tacos and Zombie Burger + Drink Lab nearby. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, parks like Stone Park and Gray's Lake Park are within a few miles for leisurely walks or picnics. Additionally, the presence of cafes like Starbucks provides opportunities for socializing with friends or enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee. Overall, this area offers a blend of healthcare amenities, dining choices, and natural surroundings for seniors seeking a well-rounded living environment in Des Moines.

Physicians

• Penn Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• Iowa Health Cardiology (0.5 miles)
• DMOS Orthopaedic Centers (0.5 miles)
• DaVita East Des Moines Dialysis (0.5 miles)
• MercyOne East Village Family Medicine Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Des Moines Anesthesiologists (0.6 miles)
• UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Radiology Services (0.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Unity Point Health (0.6 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center 7 South (1.3 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Pediatric Unit (1.3 miles)
• Select Specialty Hospital-Des Moines (1.3 miles)
• Mercy River Hills Surgery Center (1.4 miles)
• UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center - Emergency Department (2 miles)
• North 3 - IMMC (2 miles)

Restaurants

• Tasty Tacos (0.7 miles)
• Heather’s Kitchen (1.1 miles)
• Zombie Burger + Drink Lab (1.2 miles)
• Dairy Zone (1.2 miles)
• Iowa Taproom (1.3 miles)
• Ritas Cantina (1.5 miles)
• Long John Silver's (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Kayser Hearing Aid & Audiology (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Osco Pharmacy (3.3 miles)

Parks

• Stone Park (2.5 miles)
• Gray's Lake Park (3.5 miles)
• Sayers Park (4.3 miles)