Hospice of Central Iowa

Pros

• EveryStep was there every step of the way, providing comfort and care for their mother.
• The staff are truly compassionate and understand the meaning of compassion.
• Katie, the social worker, created a special birthday cake for the mother and found ways to soothe and comfort her.
• The nursing team - Kathleen, Ana, and Deanna - provided daily updates with kindness and genuine concern.
• Chaplain Gordon read scripture and prayed with the mother, offering spiritual support.
• Amy and Rose were consistently available for questions and concerns.
• The staff are described as angels on earth for the care they provided.
• EveryStep's teamwork helped keep loved ones together with family members at the end.
• The organization offered additional support, such as grief counseling and meaningful sympathy gestures.
• Christine and her team are genuinely caring advocates for patients and families.

Cons

Review

EveryStep Hospice stands out in a way that lingers long after the days of care have passed. From the very first moment they entered the picture, they carried with them a sense of unwavering presence and measured compassion that felt more like a promise than a service. In the most daunting of times, when distance between families and their loved ones can seem to amplify the ache, EveryStep was there "every step of the way" - attentive to the smallest needs, attuned to every concern, and gently comforting in every moment. The care extended beyond medical tasks and into the realm of sacred care, where kindness and respect for a patient's dignity become the centerpiece of the experience.

The heart of this care lay in the people who showed up every day with not just expertise but true humanity. Katie, the social worker, stood out for the way she infused everyday moments with care - she even baked a special birthday cake for mother because the family was far away, and she continually found ways to soothe and comfort, including playing hymnals that echoed through the room. The nursing team - Kathleen, Ana, and Deanna - made it a practice to keep the family in the loop with updates on mood, health, and well-being, always offered with kindness and genuine concern. Chaplain Gordon brought spiritual comfort through scripture and prayer, offering encouragement in the last chapters of life. Amy and Rose were consistently available for questions and reassurance. Taken together, these professionals created a tapestry of care that felt like a warm, well-orchestrated coalition focused squarely on easing suffering and honoring the patient.

The reviews speak to a shared conviction: the people who work at EveryStep genuinely understand what compassion means in practice. They seem to hire staff who carry a sincere conviction about the importance of compassionate action, and that conviction translates into tangible acts - small gestures that profoundly affect families who are navigating the fragility of end-of-life moments. One reviewer highlighted how the team's compassion extended beyond the bedside to facilitate family connection, enabling a beloved daughter to travel back to the United States for a final visit. In another testament, a family member found solace in the way the team supported a mother and father who were both in home hospice care, coordinating with an assisted living facility so the parents could remain together. The sense of being cared for as whole people - parents, spouses, siblings, and children - rang through every message.

Several stories underscore the human wingspan of this work. A family described the last days of a loved one's life as the best possible under challenging circumstances, thanks to superb communication and a relentlessly patient approach. Another account spoke of the love and dedication that accompanied the end of life, with staff staying through the moments after breathing ceased, answering questions, and ensuring the dignity of the final goodbye. The support did not end with a death; some families received ongoing outreach and grief counseling, a reflection of a commitment to care that transcends the immediate medical needs. The company's gestures - sendings of sympathy cards and keepsakes like a metal rose sculpture - left lifelong imprints of gratitude and healing.

Across the spectrum of experiences, families repeatedly emphasize how EveryStep became an anchor during the most turbulent times. The care teams were described as a cohesive unit whose members - nurses, aides, social workers, and volunteers - worked in concert to meet needs, alleviate discomfort, and honor wishes. One reviewer voiced a sentiment echoed by many: EveryStep felt like a measure above and beyond ordinary care, a place where the patient's wellbeing and the family's emotional health were tended with equal reverence. In moments of crisis, the responsiveness and availability - 24/7 readiness to answer questions, provide reassurance, and coordinate services - gave families confidence and a sense of control when it mattered most.

In the most personal recollections, the staff's impact is framed as a source of spiritual and emotional healing. Christine's work at EveryStep was singled out for praise, described as truly wonderful - a reminder that person-to-person advocacy and genuine concern are at the core of the organization's mission. The environment they create is consistently characterized as compassionate and respectful, a place where care never feels transactional but rather a shared journey toward comfort, dignity, and peace. Even when the circumstances are hardest, those who experience EveryStep's care carry with them a narrative of kindness that helps families face loss with greater strength and less isolation.

Taken as a whole, these narratives form a portrait of hospice care that transcends medical procedure and becomes a living testament to human generosity. The staff are portrayed as more than professionals; they are partners who walk beside families through the most intimate and challenging hours, from the practicalities of daily comfort to the quiet, sustaining acts of faith and memory. The gratitude expressed is not merely for competent care, but for a humane, present, and deeply compassionate experience that honors lives and eases the pain of saying goodbye. In moments of heartbreak, the EveryStep team has provided what families describe as healing - not just for the person who passed, but for those left behind, carrying forward the memory of angels on earth who believed in the goodness of humanity and the comfort of being seen, heard, and cherished.

This part of West Des Moines, Iowa, offers a convenient and well-equipped area for senior living. With several physicians and healthcare facilities within close proximity, including Iowa Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC and Iowa Health Physicians, seniors can easily access medical care when needed. There are also a variety of dining options nearby such as The Keg Stand and Olive Garden, as well as pharmacies like Walgreens for prescription needs. Additionally, the area features parks like Kawanis Park for outdoor recreation and Covenant Presbyterian Church for spiritual support. With hospitals like Iowa Methodist Medical Center nearby for advanced medical services, seniors can feel confident in their healthcare options while enjoying the amenities this area has to offer.

Physicians

• Iowa Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC (0.1 miles)
• Eyton Young MD (0.2 miles)
• Allergy Institute, PC (0.5 miles)
• Iowa Health Physicians - Dr Stahl (0.6 miles)
• Iowa Sleep (0.7 miles)
• Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery Center (1 miles)
• Iowa Retina Consultants (1.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Valley West Mall (0.3 miles)
• The Keg Stand (0.4 miles)
• Jethro’s BBQ n’ Bacon Bacon (0.4 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Teds Coney Island West (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• MedPharm Iowa (1.5 miles)
• Onnen Co. (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.7 miles)
• St Kilda Collective (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Covenant Presbyterian Church (0.7 miles)
• Shepherd Of The Valley (1 miles)

Hospitals

• Iowa Methodist Medical Center (1 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center West Lake (2.3 miles)
• Spay Clinics (3.3 miles)
• Mercy Franklin Center (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Kawanis Park (1.5 miles)
• Lions Park (3.1 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse Des Moines (3.3 miles)