Brio of Johnston

Pros

• Brio consistently exceeds expectations in care and service.
• The staff at Brio are kind, caring, and dedicated across all roles.
• Brio's memory care area helps residents thrive with engaging activities and attentive support.
• Brio is regarded by community members as the best place of its kind in Des Moines.
• The care at Brio is outstanding, with staff going above and beyond for residents.
• Brio is a beautiful facility, with comfortable apartments and quality dining.
• Brio's physical and occupational therapy teams provide very good care.
• Families highly recommend Brio for elder care.

Cons

• A patient was labeled "Independent" after only one physical therapy session and discharged before she was ready.
• The Brio experience was described as beyond disappointing due to care and communication issues.
• A family member was discharged without pain medications and with unclear information about where prescriptions were sent.
• A nurse practitioner was abrasive toward the patient, causing her to cry.
• There was an incident where a lab test was mislabelled and results were not provided until after discharge.
• The skilled rehab was criticized as having too many issues to list, despite the facility's appearance.
• The reviewer would not recommend Brio to anyone.

Review

Brio of Johnston is best suited for families that want a modern, well-staffed campus with strong memory-care and rehab options and a culture of attentive, hands-on care. The community's layout and finishes project an upscale, home-like environment that appeals to residents who value dignity, privacy, and social engagement. Memory care is a clear strength, with caregivers and activities designed to keep residents connected and active, and the facility is repeatedly cited by insiders as among the Des Moines area's best. For seniors who respond well to consistent routines, visible leadership, and daily opportunities for movement, conversation, and companionship, Brio offers a compelling fit.

Alternatives become worth considering when medical management must be flawless and predictable or when budget constraints loom. Several reviews note variability in skilled-nursing performance, including delays in medications, inconsistent lab follow-up, and miscommunications during transitions. Families with residents who have complex health needs, frequent medication changes, or fragile medical status may prefer a setting with deeper, more reliable clinical oversight and fewer handoffs. The higher price tag - while justifiable for some - may push families toward less costly options if the perceived medical risk is elevated or if consistent care delivery is non-negotiable.

Key strengths offset the main concerns where they matter most. The strongest reasons to choose Brio include the warmth and competence of frontline caregivers, accessible leadership, and a culture that treats residents with genuine respect. Dining is frequently praised, and rehabilitation teams are described as capable and engaged. For memory-care residents, programming and activity opportunities can translate into meaningful daily life, sometimes turning challenging diagnoses into a calmer, more purposeful experience. When families see steady communication and consistent staff presence, these positives can mitigate worries about occasional operational gaps.

That said, the cons are not inconsequential. Several reviews describe skilled-nursing missteps, delays in lab work or medication processing, and discharge decisions that left family members feeling the resident was returned to the community before readiness. Interactions with clinicians have, at times, felt brusque or unresponsive, underscoring potential communication gaps. Transitions into and out of rehab or SNF services appear especially vulnerable to these gaps, with risks of hospital readmission highlighted in some accounts. In scenarios where medical oversight and timely coordination are central concerns, these threads significantly influence overall confidence in the care plan.

For families weighing Brio, a purposeful site visit with targeted questions will reveal how well the community aligns with specific needs. Clarify how medical care is coordinated, who oversees the resident's plan, how quickly labs and results are communicated, and how pain management and prescriptions are handled on admission and discharge. Scrutinize the rehab pathway - therapy schedules, progress notes, and criteria for returning home versus ongoing care. Verify billing practices, especially what is included in the flat-rate structure and what might trigger add-ons. Ask for concrete examples of successful memory-care programming, staff continuity, and direct lines of communication to leadership when concerns arise.

Bottom line: Brio of Johnston stands out for families prioritizing a bright, active environment with strong memory-care and rehab services and a workforce that genuinely cares. When medical oversight, timely medication management, and reliable SNF coordination are non-negotiable, these factors warrant careful probing and perhaps comparison to alternatives. The consistently positive experiences, resident and family praise, and a reputation for excellence in certain circles make Brio a compelling option - provided due diligence confirms that the level of medical integration and communication will meet the specific risks and preferences of the loved one.

This part of Johnston, Iowa, offers a variety of essential services and amenities that may be beneficial for seniors looking to reside in the area. There are several physicians' offices nearby, including Johnston Family Physicians and Iowa Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center, as well as pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medications. In terms of dining options, there are restaurants like Health House Food and Taste of New York within a short distance. Additionally, there are parks like Terra Park and Lions Park for outdoor recreation opportunities, along with a hospital, Mercy Franklin Center, for medical emergencies. The community also provides options for entertainment with Flix Brewhouse Des Moines theater located nearby. Overall, this part of Johnston offers a convenient and diverse range of resources for seniors seeking a comfortable living environment.

Physicians

• Johnston Family Physicians (1.4 miles)
• Iowa Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center (2.5 miles)
• Vision Eye Clinic (2.9 miles)
• Mercy Family Medicine of Urbandale (3.7 miles)
• Mercy Urbandale Medical Clinic (4.1 miles)
• Christian Eye Clinic (4.2 miles)
• Eyemart Optical Outlet - North Des Moines (4.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Health House Food (2.1 miles)
• Taste of New York (2.2 miles)
• Culver's (2.6 miles)
• Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe (2.7 miles)
• El Mariachi (2.8 miles)
• Viva Mexican Restaurant (3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• National Pharmaceutical Returns (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.5 miles)
• Onnen Co. (4.6 miles)
• Walgreens (5.1 miles)

Parks

• Terra Park (2.7 miles)
• Lions Park (3.8 miles)
• Waterford Disc Golf Course (5.1 miles)
• Stonegate Park (6.4 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse Des Moines (4.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Main Street Cafe & Bakery (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saylorville Baptist Church (6 miles)
• Living Faith Lutheran Church (6.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Mercy Franklin Center (6.1 miles)