A middle-range Medicare rating. Review each component and visit in person before deciding.
based on 55 Google reviews

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Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines has a middle-range Medicare overall rating. Strengths include knowledgeable rehabilitation therapy team. Some reviewers note concerns about neglect and poor hygiene (e.g., bed sores, lack of bathing, soiled clothing) (mentioned by 7 reviewers). Review the health-inspection, staffing, and quality-measure components separately, then visit in person.
The Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines receives highly polarized feedback, with recent reviews highlighting significant concerns regarding facility cleanliness, neglect, and poor communication. While some reviewers praise the rehabilitation therapy team and specific staff members, many families report issues with call light response times, hygiene, and building maintenance.
Quality Themes
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Distribution · 62 analyzed
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“My mom stayed here for rehab and if we would’ve known how horrible this place was, she never would’ve gone. In fact, we removed her and took her home because they ran out of her meds. The final straw.”
“It is the lowest quality Nursing home in all of Des Moines. It smells like pee, FEW employees actually look like they work or do anything, and it is a cluttered mess.”
“The partnership between the clinical and rehabilitation (therapy) team will offer a holistic approach of care, addressing all needs of your loved one.”
Both RN and total nursing hours are below the EveryPlace reference benchmarks. Ask the facility how it staffs each shift for current resident needs.
Reference benchmarks (0.75 RN and 4.1 total nursing hours per resident/day) are comparison targets, not current federal minimum requirements.
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
9
measures
5
measures
3
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Detailed Medicare record · up to 3-year lookback
This facility has significant recurring problems that prompted 19 complaint-triggered investigations from families and staff reporting concerns. Persistent issues span infection control, fire safety systems, and care planning, with ongoing deficiencies in accident prevention and resident rights appearing across multiple surveys. While all violations show correction dates, the pattern of repeated problems in core safety and care areas, including serious concerns about abuse reporting and maintaining adequate nursing staff, suggests systemic challenges that warrant careful consideration.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that corridors are separated from use areas by walls constructed to limit the passage of smoke.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 2, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Fed violations: 7, State violations: 1
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
for profit
The Ensign Group
346 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 3.2/5 · Rank 254 of 328
Owners
Gateway Healthcare LLC
Owner · Organization
The Ensign Group INC
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Port, Barry
Individual is an Owner, Partner or Trustee of Any Adp of the Snf
Key personnel
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Medicare Care Compare
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Google Reviews
55 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
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Original nursing home datasets
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