Luther Park/Rose Glen Apartments

Pros

• The environment is pleasant and homey.
• Residents love the environment.
• The facility offers many amenities that residents can take advantage of.
• Residents have lived there for years and have no plans to move.
• Staff show genuine care for every tenant and create a vibrant, safe environment.
• The facility is great, clean, and secure.
• A resident loves the place and has been there seven years.
• It remains a nice place to live.
• The facility is kept pleasant and clean, with compassionate and understanding staff.
• Apartments are very nice and residents are friendly.

Cons

• The address was never correct and the driver told them to cancel, but reimbursement never occurred, which is bad for business.
• There is insufficient interaction with residents; staff are seen sitting or standing around talking instead of engaging with them.
• Freedoms for residents with memory issues are inappropriately restricted despite their awareness of most things.
• The lack of management skills affects the environment, with questions about the compassion claimed by management and leadership.
• Staff seem to just sit around rather than actively assisting residents.
• The current management leaves something to be desired and isn't like the place it once was.
• The Human Resources VP is described as very questionable and juvenile.
• Rent increases annually, sometimes substantially (for example, in 2019 rent rose by $45 to $920 for a one-bedroom), though housing vouchers can help.
• Visitors feel they are watched and judged, making visits stressful.

Review

Luther Park comes through in the accounts as a place that many people feel at home in, even as they acknowledge room for improvement. Several visitors describe a setting that is pleasant, welcoming, and easy to settle into - a homey atmosphere where the surroundings feel clean and cared for. One reviewer recalls a visit to a friend: the environment was "pleasant and homey," with the space looking nice and free of bad smells. Another family member echoes that sentiment, highlighting a place that looks very nice and stays clean, with a sense of safety in a well-kept environment.

For residents and their families, the amenities stand out as a major plus. One person notes, "I love it here at LPA! So many amenities that I can take advantage of or not," and shares a commitment formed after a year and a half of living there, with no plans to move ever. That sense of stability is reinforced by stories of long-term residents who clearly feel connected to the community. A brother who has lived there for seven years expresses gratitude and affection, calling it a great place that is clean and secure, with his brother enjoying the experience and spotting a stable, comforting routine.

Yet the stories are not uniformly glowing. Critics point to management and staff dynamics as a persistent tension within Luther Park. A number of reviews call out the leadership and management, suggesting that the facility's stated compassion does not always translate into lived reality. Phrases like "The lack of Management skills affects the environment here" and "Lies coming from Management and the Leadership of this place" convey a strong sense of disappointment with top-level leadership. Others echo that sentiment more cautiously, saying the place remains nice but that the current management leaves something to be desired, or that it would benefit from a refreshed leadership team.

Interpersonal care and day-to-day interactions also draw mixed reactions. Some families emphasize the importance of more engagement from staff with residents, especially those with memory issues. One comment urges allowing remembered residents to stay involved in small tasks - wiping a table or helping throw things away - rather than taking away all their freedom. Another family member notes that there could be more interaction with residents themselves, pointing to moments when nurses or workers were seen gathered in groups rather than attending to residents, which can leave a sense of distance rather than connection.

Operational experiences, including logistics and costs, add another layer of complexity to the picture. There are reports of a non-cohesive experience with services - an instance where the address was incorrect and a driver was told to cancel, yet reimbursement did not follow. These kinds of incidents are described as bad for business and frustrating for families trying to navigate support and transportation. Rent is another point of contention; one reviewer mentions annual increases, with a specific example noting a 2019 rise of $45 per month for a one-bedroom, while adding that housing vouchers can make the community a reasonable option for some residents.

Other comments remind readers that the community has many bright spots. A parent notes that the facility is frequently remodeled and remains pleasant and clean, with staff who are compassionate and understanding toward seniors. Cleanliness and security are highlighted repeatedly - locked entrance doors and a consistently tidy environment are mentioned as reassuring features. The overall tone from several people who have had loved ones living there over the years is warm, with gratitude for moments of care and for residents who have found happiness and stability within the walls of Luther Park.

Finally, there are personal, emotional dimensions to the experience that color every other observation. Some visitors describe feeling judged or watched when trying to visit loved ones, especially if the parent or grandparent is very ill. This sense of scrutiny contrasts with the genuinely kind sentiments of many staff and residents, creating a complicated portrait: a place that can be deeply comforting and nurturing on one hand, yet challenging or frustrating on another. A few reviews emphasize the everyday human impact - people who care deeply about their families, appreciate the small acts of kindness, and recognize the importance of a supportive, respectful environment - even as they call for improvements in management, better staff engagement, and more inclusive policies for autonomy and visitation.

Taken together, the reviews paint a nuanced picture of Luther Park. The community is frequently described as clean, safe, and welcoming, with a strong sense of camaraderie among residents and a supportive atmosphere when care staff are attentive and compassionate. At the same time, critics point to gaps in management, inconsistent engagement from leadership, and operational hiccups that can affect residents and their families. For many, Luther Park remains a place of comfort and stability, a home where relationships with staff and other residents can flourish, but where a more cohesive leadership approach and improved communication could unlock an even stronger, more consistently positive experience.

This part of Des Moines, Iowa, boasts a convenient location with a variety of healthcare options nearby, including family physicians, cardiologists, orthopedic centers, and dialysis services within a short distance. The area also offers easy access to multiple pharmacies and hospitals, ensuring that medical needs can be addressed promptly. In terms of dining options, residents can enjoy a mix of fast food chains like Long John Silver's and local favorites such as Tasty Tacos and Zombie Burger + Drink Lab. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee for those looking for a leisurely coffee break. For outdoor recreation, parks like Stone Park and Gray's Lake Park are just a short drive away. Overall, this area provides essential amenities and services for seniors looking to settle down in a well-rounded community.

Physicians

• Parks Area Family Physicians (0.4 miles)
• Penn Medical Center (1.4 miles)
• Iowa Health Cardiology (1.4 miles)
• DMOS Orthopaedic Centers (1.4 miles)
• DaVita East Des Moines Dialysis (1.4 miles)
• Des Moines Anesthesiologists (1.5 miles)
• UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Radiology Services (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Kayser Hearing Aid & Audiology (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Medicap Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Dahl's Pharmacy (4.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Unity Point Health (1.5 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center 7 South (2.1 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Pediatric Unit (2.1 miles)
• Select Specialty Hospital-Des Moines (2.1 miles)
• Mercy River Hills Surgery Center (2.2 miles)
• North 3 - IMMC (2.9 miles)
• UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center - Emergency Department (2.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Dairy Zone (1.8 miles)
• Tasty Tacos (1.9 miles)
• Long John Silver's (2 miles)
• Heather’s Kitchen (2.2 miles)
• Chicago Speakeasy (2.2 miles)
• Zombie Burger + Drink Lab (2.3 miles)
• Smokey Ds BBQ (2.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (4.1 miles)

Parks

• Stone Park (3.7 miles)
• Gray's Lake Park (4.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saylorville Baptist Church (4.2 miles)